Shawshank Inmate James Whitmore Dies
James Whitmore didn't need a goodbye note to let us know he was here.
The veteran character actor, best known in his later years as Brooks, the prison librarian in The Shawshank Redemption, died Friday of lung cancer at his Malibu home, according to his son Steve Whitmore. He was 87.
Whitmore, a Tony Award winner in 1948 for his lead role in the World War II drama Command Decision (also his Broadway debut), didn't relegate himself to the theater world for long. He made his first film, The Undercover Man, a year later and continued to work consistently in movies and TV for the next 50 years, notching Oscar nominations for both supporting and lead actor, for 1949's Battleground and 1975's Give 'Em Hell, Harry!, respectively.
A new generation became acquainted with Whitmore when he taught Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman a sad lesson about prison life in Shawshank in 1994, and he went on to a recurring guest role in The Practice, for which he won an Emmy in 2000. His final TV appearance came in a 2007 episode of CSI.
The native of White Plains, N.Y., is survived by his third wife, Noreen, as well as three sons and eight grandchildren.
The Big Picture
It's a Hard Rock Life Taylor hits the ubiquitous music-themed chain restaurant while seeing the sites in Manchester
More PhotosMost Commented
- Bitch-Back! Breaking News—Johnny's a Hottie (915)
- Rob and Kristen "Relaxed" Together in NYC (676)
- Costars and Suits Give Robsten Their Blessings! (650)
- Truth, Lies & Ted: Twilight Special (478)
- Why Won't Sarah Palin Go Away? (446)
- Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment—or His? (430)
- Is New Moon Even Good? (422)
- Review: New Moon Is Either Just Fine or Way Mopey, Depending On Who You Are (357)
- Bitch-Back! Is There Drama on the Gossip Girl Set? (345)
- Ridiculous Twilight Hookups in an "All Taken" Cast (348)
Top 10 Stories
- GMA Doesn't Want Adam Lambert's Sloppy Seconds...Cue The Early Show!
- Goodbye or Good Riddance to Jon & Kate Plus 8?
- Oprah's Mom Settles Clothes Call Lawsuit
- Rihanna Sings Threesome, Avoids Going Naked on GMA
- Michael Lohan Runs Out of Family Members to Alienate, Starts Leaking Jon Gosselin Tapes
- It's a Sexy Job, but Adam Lambert's Gotta Do It!
- Donny Discovers Parts He Never Had Before for Dancing With the Stars Finale
- End of a Weird Era: Jon & Kate Plus 8 Signs Off
- Timbaland Denies Dumping Chris Brown
- New Sweet Home for Khloé and Lamar
Fashion Police
Sloppy SuitingGwyneth dares to experiment with hard-to-wear satin, but the result is dull and unpolished
More Photos
Latest Movie Reviews
Get Your E! News Now
10 Comments
-
Show the next 1 - 0 of 10 comments
Now loading...