Actor James Whitmore dies

Most people won’t know his name – or will know it, but can’t quite place it. Whitmore, however, was one of those steady, quality guys who always brought a positive to any project. He did many things – TV, film and stage, and he was always good.

Whitmore remained active to the end – even speaking at events to help elect Barack Obama.

Here’s the preview to Battleground, in which Whitmore was nominated for an Oscar:

James Whitmore, the Tony Award-winning, Oscar-nominated character actor with a thug’s face and a way with words, died Feb. 6 after a battle with lung cancer. Mr. Whitmore, 87, a White Plains, NY, native, landed a memorable late-career role as a grizzled prison librarian in the movie “The Shawshank Redemption.” He leaves behind decades of film, TV and stage work. He died at his home in Malibu, CA, his son, Steve, announced. His Tony Award in 1948 was in a category that no longer exists — Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer, for the play military Command Decision. – From Playbill

Craggy-faced film, television and stage actor James Whitmore has died at 87, the Los Angeles County, California, Sheriff’s Department confirmed Saturday. Details of his death and funeral arrangements were not available. Whitmore notably portrayed Harry Truman, Will Rogers and Theodore Roosevelt in one-man stage shows and created memorable characters in many movies and TV shows, including “The Twilight Zone.” – From CNN

James Whitmore, the veteran Tony and Emmy award-winning actor who brought American icons Will Rogers, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt to life in one-man shows, died Friday. He was 87. Mr. Whitmore died of lung cancer at his home in Malibu, said his son, Steve. He was diagnosed with the disease a week before Thanksgiving. “He cared about acting; his whole life was dedicated to the theater and to movies,” said actor David Huddleston, a longtime friend who appeared in Mr. Whitmore’s 1964 movie “Black Like Me,” and did a couple of plays with him. – From SFgate.com