It’s likely that most people place James Whitmore, who died last week at 87, as the guy who sold Scotts Miracle-Gro plant food on TV. But I’ll remember him from an obscure public-television show that featured poetry readings and was titled “Anyone for Tennyson?”
Actually, I’ll also remember him from the telephone interviews he gave me over the years, usually to advance the publicity for the one-man shows he performed in the Twin Cities: “Will Rogers’ U.S.A.,” “Give ’Em Hell, Harry!” and “Bully,” the latter show about Theodore Roosevelt.
Promo interviews, sometimes called “advancers” — I’ve done a lot of them. They must be the bane of the touring artist, and many aren’t the least bit shy about letting you know it. The worst are the ones where the performer doesn’t even acknowledge the questions, but gives a standard spiel — here’s your quotes, fella — and signs off.
Whitmore, by contrast, seemed to enjoy conversation and he didn’t care if it loped all over the place. When I mentioned “Anyone for Tennyson?” the first time I interviewed him, he laughed and said, “Gosh, I didn’t think anybody remembered that show, but I really enjoyed doing it.”
Maybe that’s why I liked it. I’m not much of a poetry fan — and it’s likely that the public TV folks figured that most viewers were like me, because “Anyone for Tennyson?” was usually found late in the evening, or early morning. The show, as I recall, was taped in Austin, Texas, and it featured Whitmore and two other performers in casual clothes, exchanging readings and a little banter. It was artificial and relaxed and — well, I guess “friendly” is the word to describe it.
Whitmore, with his craggy face and bandy legs, brought the same kind of tone to his one-man shows about Rogers, Truman and Roosevelt. You were always aware of a master character actor, more modest than he might have been about his abilities, generous with himself.
He was fascinated by the men he portrayed on those one-man shows, but he once added, “I’m giving just a sketch of them.” Well, it was always more than a sketch.
If you want to see examples of his reach, rent “Kiss Me Kate,” the 1953 film musical, and watch his “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” duet with Keenan Wynn, the two of them playing likeable gangsters. Then rent “The Shawshank Redemption,” (1994), where he played an elderly convict who couldn’t take the pressure of being released.
He was an activist, showing up recently in videos for candidate Barack Obama and a public service announcement for religious diversity.
He had a long, varied career and he was a pro. The New York Times offers a look at his life here.
Sad news to come home to. James Whitmore was also a great character actor in Hollywood. One role that sticks in my mind was as the platoon sergeant in “Battleground”, one of the tiny handful of really good Hollywood WWII movies. It was a supporting role but the movie wouldn’t have been the same without him.
I remember Whitmore as Abraham Lincoln Jones, the TV lawyer with the expressive eyes and a slack jawed question forever on his face. He looked like my favorite Uncle Cliff who could blow smoke rings out his nose and his ears at the same time…and you better believe it. One could say, some men share a similar genius but a disimilar profession?
Good night Mr Jones and I tip my hat to you wherever you are.