---
name: "James Whitmore"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-whitmore"
fi1m_id: "james-whitmore"
imdb_id: "nm0926235"
tmdb_id: 6577
wikidata_id: "Q313040"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 October 1921"
died: "6 February 2009"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-05T01:03:44.828336+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# James Whitmore

## Identity

James Whitmore

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/james-whitmore
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** james-whitmore
- **IMDb ID:** nm0926235
- **TMDB ID:** 6577
- **Wikidata ID:** Q313040
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whitmore, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313040, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926235/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6577

Actor. Born 1 October 1921 in White Plains, New York, USA. Died 6 February 2009.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 October 1921, White Plains, New York, USA
- **Died:** 6 February 2009
- **Active:** 1949–1997
- **Also known as:** James Allen Whitmore Jr., جیمز ویتمور
- **Frequently works with:** [Arthur Hornblow Jr.](https://film.one/person/arthur-hornblow-jr.md)
- **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 80 (1), 1950s 80 (2), 1960s 84 (1), 1990s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 78 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Action 2, Crime 2, Adventure 1, Music 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $77m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whitmore, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313040, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926235/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6577

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Shawshank Redemption*](https://film.one/film/the-shawshank-redemption.md) (84), [*Oklahoma!*](https://film.one/film/oklahoma.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

James Whitmore was an American actor who appeared in more than 150 stage, film and television roles over a career spanning five decades. Born James Allen Whitmore Jr. on 1 October 1921 in White Plains, New York, he studied at Yale University and served in the US Marine Corps during the Second World War before training as an actor at the American Theatre Wing.

He made his Broadway debut in Command Decision (1947), winning a Tony Award, and received an Academy Award nomination for his early film role in Battleground (1949). Whitmore was known for character parts in films including The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Them! (1954), Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994), in which he played the prison librarian Brooks Hatlen. He also performed one-man stage shows as Harry S. Truman, Theodore Roosevelt and Will Rogers, earning a second Oscar nomination for the film version of Give 'em Hell, Harry! (1975). Whitmore won a Grammy and an Emmy Award, and died on 6 February 2009 in Malibu, California.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, latimes.com, imdb.com, thetimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *The Shawshank Redemption* (1994), Fi1m 84, as Brooks Hatlen — [page](https://film.one/film/the-shawshank-redemption.md)
- *Planet of the Apes* (1968), Fi1m 84, as President of the Assembly — [page](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *Oklahoma!* (1955), Fi1m 72, as Mr. Carnes — [page](https://film.one/film/oklahoma.md)
- *The Asphalt Jungle* (1950), Fi1m 88, as Gus Minissi — [page](https://film.one/film/the-asphalt-jungle.md)
- *Battleground* (1949), Fi1m 80, as Kinnie — [page](https://film.one/film/battleground.md)

## Complete filmography (150)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Meet Mr. Miracle-Gro: The Horace Hagedorn Story* (2005), Actor
- *A Minute with Stan Hooper* (2003), series, as Dr. Goldman
- *Mister Sterling* (2003), series, as William Sterling Sr.
- *A Ring of Endless Light* (2002), as Grandfather
- *The Majestic* (2001), as Stan Keller
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Milton
- *Here's to Life!* (2000), as Gus Corley
- *Swing Vote* (1999), as Daniel Morissey
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Raymond Oz
- *The Relic* (1997), as Dr. Albert Frock
- *The Shawshank Redemption* (1994), as Brooks Hatlen — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-shawshank-redemption.md)
- *Roots of Roe* (1993), as Pope Pius XI (voice)
- *Old Explorers* (1990), as Leinen Roth
- *Sky High* (1990), as Gus Johnson
- *Glory! Glory!* (1989), as Lester Babbitt
- *Favorite Son* (1988), series, as The President
- *Nuts* (1987), as Judge Stanley Murdoch
- *All My Sons* (1987), as Joe Keller
- *George Burns Comedy Week* (1985), series, as Ebenezer Scrooge
- *The Ray Bradbury Theater* (1985), series, as Craig Bennett Stiles
- *The Adventures of Mark Twain* (1985), as Mark Twain (voice)
- *Love Those Trains* (1984), as Narrator
- *Celebrity* (1984), series, as Clifford Casey
- *The Klan: A Legacy of Hate in America* (1982), as Narrator
- *Hail Columbia!* (1982), as Narrator
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Joe Keller
- *Code Red* (1981), series, Actor
- *Mark, I Love You* (1980), as Dwight Hamilton
- *The First Deadly Sin* (1980), as Dr. Sanford Ferguson
- *Rage!* (1980), as Borski
- *The Golden Honeymoon* (1980), as Charley Tate
- *The Horror Show* (1979), as (archive footage)
- *The White Shadow* (1978), series, as Jake Reeves
- *The Word* (1978), series, as George Wheeler
- *Bully: An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt* (1978), as Teddy Roosevelt
- *The Serpent's Egg* (1977), as Priester
- *The Flying Misfits* (1976), as Capt. James 'Jim' Gutterman
- *Give 'em Hell, Harry!* (1975), as Harry S. Truman
- *I Will Fight No More Forever* (1975), as General Oliver O. Howard
- *The Canterville Ghost* (1974), as Hyram B. Otis
- *The Balloon Vendor* (1974), as Antonio
- *Where the Red Fern Grows* (1974), as Grandpa
- *Man Belongs to the Earth* (1974), as Narrator
- *High Crime* (1973), as Commissioner Aldo Scavino
- *The Harrad Experiment* (1973), as Philip Tenhausen
- *Temperatures Rising* (1972), series, as Vincent Campanelli
- *Chato's Land* (1972), as Joshua Everette
- *If Tomorrow Comes* (1971), as Frank Phillips
- *The Challenge* (1970), as Overman
- *Tora! Tora! Tora!* (1970), as Admiral William F. Halsey
- *Then Came Bronson* (1969), series, as Wilson Ford
- *Guns of the Magnificent Seven* (1969), as Levi
- *My Friend Tony* (1969), series, as Prof. John Woodruff
- *The Split* (1968), as Herb Sutro
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Harry Roarke
- *Madigan* (1968), as Chief Inspector Charles Kane
- *Planet of the Apes* (1968), as President of the Assembly — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *Nobody's Perfect* (1968), as Capt. Mike Riley
- *Waterhole #3* (1967), as Capt. Shipley
- *Cowboy in Africa* (1967), series, Actor
- *The Danny Thomas Hour* (1967), series, as Professor John Woodruff
- *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, Actor
- *Custer* (1967), series, Actor
- *Chuka* (1967), as Lou Trent
- *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Harry Swain
- *T.H.E. Cat* (1966), series, Actor
- *Shane* (1966), series, as Harry Himber
- *Tarzan* (1966), series, Actor
- *The Monroes* (1966), series, Actor
- *The Tenderfoot* (1966), as Captain Ewell
- *The Loner* (1965), series, as Doc Fritchman
- *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as Handy, Joshua Hawks, Marshal Seth Campbell, Tom Wills
- *Run for Your Life* (1965), series, as Chief Jim Holland
- *National Geographic Specials* (1965), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *For the People* (1965), series, Actor
- *The Tenderfoot* (1964), series, as Captain Ewell
- *Slattery's People* (1964), series, Actor
- *12 O'Clock High* (1964), series, Actor
- *Black Like Me* (1964), as John Finley Horton
- *The Long Lost Life of Edward Smalley* (1963), as J. Marvin Bean
- *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as J. Marvin Bean, Major Will Stanton
- *The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters* (1963), series, as Foxy Smith
- *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Joe Piante
- *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1963), series, Actor
- *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, as Martin Burnham
- *Going My Way* (1962), series, Actor
- *Combat!* (1962), series, as Hertzbrun
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Capt. Piper Pritican, Marshal Krug, Ezra Hollis, Carl Kabe
- *Icarus Montgolfier Wright* (1962), Actor
- *Alcoa Premiere* (1961), series, Actor
- *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor
- *Bus Stop* (1961), series, Actor
- *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Henry Clay Kincaid
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1961), series, Actor
- *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor
- *The Law and Mr. Jones* (1960), series, as Abraham Lincoln Jones
- *Checkmate* (1960), series, as Detective Lt. Dave Harker
- *The Chevy Mystery Show* (1960), series, as Philip Selby
- *Who Was That Lady?* (1960), as Harry Powell
- *The Detectives* (1959), series, Actor
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, Actor — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as John Postley
- *Face of Fire* (1959), as Monk Johnson
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Sgt. Joe Duclos, Colonel John Macklin
- *The Restless Years* (1958), as Ed Henderson
- *Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor
- *Decision* (1958), series, Actor
- *The Deep Six* (1958), as Cmdr. Warren Meredith
- *The Young Don't Cry* (1957), as Rudy Krist
- *Panic!* (1957), series, Actor
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Jeb, Ben Kincaid, Joel Begley, Jonas, Narrator (voice)
- *Crime in the Streets* (1956), as Ben Wagner
- *The Eddy Duchin Story* (1956), as Lou Sherwood
- *The Last Frontier* (1955), as Gus
- *Oklahoma!* (1955), as Mr. Carnes — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/oklahoma.md)
- *Crossroads* (1955), series, as Father Emil Joseph Kapaun
- *The 20th Century Fox Hour* (1955), series, Actor
- *Playwrights '56* (1955), series, Actor
- *The McConnell Story* (1955), as SSgt. / Maj . / Col. Ty 'Dad' Whitman
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Amos Campbell, Jim Forbes, Timothy Fitzpatrick
- *Battle Cry* (1955), as MSgt. Mac
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Stash Prohaska, Tom Miller
- *Studio 57* (1954), series, Actor
- *Them!* (1954), as Sgt. Ben Peterson
- *The Command* (1954), as Sgt. Elliott
- *The Great Diamond Robbery* (1954), as Mr. Remlick, Lawyer
- *Kiss Me Kate* (1953), as Slug
- *All the Brothers Were Valiant* (1953), as Fetcher
- *The United States Steel Hour* (1953), series, Actor
- *The Girl Who Had Everything* (1953), as Charles "Chico" Menlow
- *Above and Beyond* (1953), as Maj. William M. Uanna
- *The Hoaxters* (1952), as Narrator (voice)
- *Because You're Mine* (1952), as Sergeant 'Bat' Batterson
- *Shadow in the Sky* (1952), as Lou Hopke
- *It's a Big Country* (1951), as Mr. Stacey
- *Angels in the Outfield* (1951), as Angel (voice) (uncredited)
- *Across the Wide Missouri* (1951), as Old Bill (uncredited)
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Tommy McDermott, Joe Benson
- *The Red Badge of Courage* (1951), as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- *Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone* (1950), as John Malone
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Tracy
- *The Next Voice You Hear...* (1950), as Joe Smith
- *The Asphalt Jungle* (1950), as Gus Minissi — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-asphalt-jungle.md)
- *Please Believe Me* (1950), as Vincent Maran
- *The Outriders* (1950), as Clint Priest
- *Battleground* (1949), as Kinnie — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/battleground.md)
- *The Undercover Man* (1949), as George Pappas
- *Studio One* (1948), series, as Sam
- *Kraft Television Theatre* (1947), series, Actor
- *Tony e il Professore*, series, as il professore

## Gallery

- ![Black and white photograph print of President Gerald R. Ford talks with actor James Whitmore and Margaret Truman Daniel, daughter of former president Harry S. T](https://film.one/media/person/83727/gallery-5cfe11c86bb6.jpg) Black and white photograph print of President Gerald R. Ford talks with actor James Whitmore and Margaret Truman Daniel, daughter of former president Harry S. T — Carl Albert Research and Studies Center, Congressional Collection, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/CAC_CC_001_18_28_0000_2751.jpg/1280px-CAC_CC_001_18_28_0000_2751.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![James Whitmore](https://film.one/media/person/83727/gallery-3bada6ef032f.jpg) James Whitmore — Campbell-Ewald Company, advertising agency for the show's sponsor, Chevrolet.  Ad or publicity agencies often distributed publicity materials on behalf of studios, program sponsors and networks in the 1950s and 1960s.., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/James_Whitmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of James Whitmore and Nancy Mygatt, his wife at the time, and their three sons in 1954. The boys are, from left-Stephen, James and Danny.](https://film.one/media/person/83727/gallery-4f0532ef1419.jpg) Photo of James Whitmore and Nancy Mygatt, his wife at the time, and their three sons in 1954. The boys are, from left-Stephen, James and Danny. — Warner Brothers Studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/James_Whitmore_family_1954.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Tri-City Drive-In theater advertisement for the American sci-fi film Them! (1954). From the 22 June 1954 San Bernardino Sun.](https://film.one/media/person/83727/gallery-6be1097b2782.jpg) Tri-City Drive-In theater advertisement for the American sci-fi film Them! (1954). From the 22 June 1954 San Bernardino Sun. — Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Tri-City_Drive-In_Ad_-_22_June_1954%2C_Loma_Linda%2C_CA.jpg/1280px-Tri-City_Drive-In_Ad_-_22_June_1954%2C_Loma_Linda%2C_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![James Whitmore](https://film.one/media/person/83727/gallery-03c558a991f3.jpg) James Whitmore — Image via TMDB
- ![James Whitmore](https://film.one/media/person/83727/gallery-3806683de187.jpg) James Whitmore — Image via TMDB
- ![James Whitmore](https://film.one/media/person/83727/gallery-2d24d1b4115b.jpg) James Whitmore — Image via TMDB
- ![James Whitmore](https://film.one/media/person/83727/gallery-5410ee5a41fc.jpg) James Whitmore — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 1976: Best Actor (nominated), for *Give 'em Hell*
- 1950: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Battleground*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1950: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (won), for *Battleground*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2000: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *The Practice*

### Other awards — 2 won

- Theatre World Award 1948: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Newcomer 1948: Tony Award for Best Newcomer (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/james-whitmore