James Allen Whitmore Jr. (October 1, 1921 â€" February 6, 2009) was an
American film, theatre, and television actor. During his career,
Whitmore won three of the four EGOT honors: a Tony, a Grammy, and an
Emmy. Whitmore also won a Golden Globe and was nominated for two
Academy Awards.Born in White Plains, New York, to Florence Belle (née
Crane) and James Allen Whitmore, Sr., a park commission official,
Whitmore attended Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, for
three years, before transferring to the Choate School in Wallingford,
Connecticut, on a football scholarship. He went on to study at Yale
University, but he had to quit playing football after severely
injuring his knees. After giving up football, he turned to the Yale
Dramatic Society and began acting. While at Yale, he was a member of
Skull and Bones, and was among the founders of the Yale radio station
(the student-run WOCD-AM, later renamed WYBC-AM). Whitmore planned on
becoming a lawyer and graduated with a major in government from Yale
University. When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the United
States Marine Corps Reserve in 1942 while finishing his degree, which
he completed in 1944. In the Marines, he trained at Parris Island and
Quantico, Virginia and Officers Candidate School, and was commissioned
a second lieutenant. After further training he was assigned to the 4th
Marine Division on Saipan in July 1944. While at Tinian, he contracted
amoebic dysentery and was hospitalized. He served on guard duty at the
Panama Canal Zone until his discharge in March 1946.After World War
II, Whitmore studied acting at the American Theatre Wing and the
Actors Studio in New York. At this time, Whitmore met his first wife,
Nancy Mygatt. They married in 1947, and the couple had three sons
before their divorce in 1971. The eldest son, James III, found success
as a television actor and director under the name James Whitmore, Jr.
The second son, Stephen, became the public spokesman for the Los
Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The youngest son, Daniel, was a
Forest Service Snow Ranger and firefighter before he launched his own
construction company. In 1979, Whitmore and Mygatt remarried, but they
divorced again after two years.
American film, theatre, and television actor. During his career,
Whitmore won three of the four EGOT honors: a Tony, a Grammy, and an
Emmy. Whitmore also won a Golden Globe and was nominated for two
Academy Awards.Born in White Plains, New York, to Florence Belle (née
Crane) and James Allen Whitmore, Sr., a park commission official,
Whitmore attended Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, for
three years, before transferring to the Choate School in Wallingford,
Connecticut, on a football scholarship. He went on to study at Yale
University, but he had to quit playing football after severely
injuring his knees. After giving up football, he turned to the Yale
Dramatic Society and began acting. While at Yale, he was a member of
Skull and Bones, and was among the founders of the Yale radio station
(the student-run WOCD-AM, later renamed WYBC-AM). Whitmore planned on
becoming a lawyer and graduated with a major in government from Yale
University. When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the United
States Marine Corps Reserve in 1942 while finishing his degree, which
he completed in 1944. In the Marines, he trained at Parris Island and
Quantico, Virginia and Officers Candidate School, and was commissioned
a second lieutenant. After further training he was assigned to the 4th
Marine Division on Saipan in July 1944. While at Tinian, he contracted
amoebic dysentery and was hospitalized. He served on guard duty at the
Panama Canal Zone until his discharge in March 1946.After World War
II, Whitmore studied acting at the American Theatre Wing and the
Actors Studio in New York. At this time, Whitmore met his first wife,
Nancy Mygatt. They married in 1947, and the couple had three sons
before their divorce in 1971. The eldest son, James III, found success
as a television actor and director under the name James Whitmore, Jr.
The second son, Stephen, became the public spokesman for the Los
Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The youngest son, Daniel, was a
Forest Service Snow Ranger and firefighter before he launched his own
construction company. In 1979, Whitmore and Mygatt remarried, but they
divorced again after two years.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.