James Whitmore was an American actor who performed in films, television and theatre. A veteran character actor and an exceptionally endowed performer, Whitmore’s brilliance can be judged by the fact that he is one of the handful actors who claim a Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe and Grammy to their credit. He also had two Academy award nominations in his kitty. It is interesting to note that Whitmore wanted to be a footballer in his childhood days. Severe knee injuries forced Whitmore to look beyond football which is when he tried his hand at acting. After being trained at Yale Dramatic Society, Whitmore polished his acting skills further at the American Theatre Wing and the Actors Studio in New York. His breakthrough in theatre came in 1948 with the play, ‘Command Decision’, one that won him Tony award. Next year, he left his indelible mark on films with the movie, ‘Battleground’. Tasting success early in his career did not dampen Whitmore’s energy or enthusiasm as he worked harder with each passing year. In the decade of 1950, Whitmore entered small screen. In his almost six decades of career in television, he played various roles to perfection and won great acclaim and applause.