All My Children's James Mitchell Dead at 89

Three-decade soap star, aka patriarch Palmer Cortland, succumbs to heart disease

All My Children actor James Mitchell died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 89 years old when he succumbed to pneumonia contracted during his years-long battle with heart disease.

The actor spent nearly 30 years as the tough-edged patriarch Palmer Cortland on the long-running soap opera, including an appearance in its 40th anniversary episode this month.

Mitchell began his career dancing with the American Ballet Theater. He went on to star in Broadway musicals such as Brigadoon and Carousel before landing a regular gig with the ABC daytime serial in 1979.