Actor James Whitmore Dies, Was 87

James Whitmore appeared in over 50 movies, including "The Asphalt Jungle," "Kiss Me Kate," "Battle Cry," "Oklahoma!," "Planet of the Apes," "Tora! Tora! Tora!," "The Serpent's Egg," "Nuts," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Majestic."

But for some reason the movie that most sticks in my mind was "Them!," the 1954 science-fiction film about ants turned into giants by atomic testing (which was used as the cause for just about every monster in movies those days).

In 2000, James Whitmore won an Emmy Award as outstanding guest actor in a drama series for "The Practice."

His Tony Award was received in 1948 for outstanding performance by a newcomer in the role of Harold Evans in the Broadway production of "Command Decision."

But Whitmore was perhaps best known for his three one-man shows as Harry Truman in "Give 'em Hell, Harry!," as Teddy Roosevelt in "Bully" and as Will Rogers in "Will Rogers' U.S.A."

Whitmore is survived by his wife Noreen Nash whom he married in 2001. He is also the father of actor James Whitmore, Jr. and two other sons. Services are pending.