Actor James Whitmore dead at 87

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor James Whitmore died Friday of lung cancer at his home in Malibu, Calif., his son, Steve, said. He was 87.

James Whitmore, a New York native and World War II veteran, reportedly was diagnosed with the disease in November.

"He was surrounded by what he considered to be the most important in his life, which was his family," Steve Whitmore told the Los Angeles Times. "He was loved and admired for his work as an actor, but he was loved and admired for being a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather to all those who knew him and loved him."

James Whitmore was known for his roles in the films "Battleground," "The Asphalt Jungle," "Them!," "Kiss Me Kate," "Oklahoma!," "Planet of the Apes," "Tora! Tora! Tora!," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Majestic," as well as for his work in a series of one-man stage shows in which he portrayed Will Rogers, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt, the Times noted.

He won a Tony Award in 1948 for outstanding performance by a newcomer in the Broadway production of "Command Decision," and took home an Emmy in 2000 for his guest appearance on "The Practice." He also starred in three TV series throughout his career -- "The Law and Mr. Jones," "My Friend Tony" and "Temperatures Rising."

Whitmore is survived by his third wife, Noreen Nash; his sons Steve, James Jr. and Dan; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, the Times said.