Actor James Whitmore arrives at the American Civil Liberties Union Bill of Rights dinner in Beverly Hills, California in this Dec. 11, 2006 file photo. Whitmore died at his home in Malibu at the age of 87, Feb. 6, 2009. [Xinhua]

James Whitmore, the veteran Tony- and Emmy-winning actor died Friday of lung cancer at his Malibu home at the age of 87, according to U.S. media reports Saturday.

Whitmore's son, Steve, said the actor was diagnosed with the disease a week before Thanksgiving.

Whitmore won his Tony Award in 1948 for his lead role in the World War II drama "Command Decision."

In the following years, he brought American icons Will Rogers, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt to life in one-man show.

In 1949, Whitmore was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe as supporting actor in the war movie "Battleground." And he was nominated for an Academy Award as best actor in 1975 for his role in the long-running "Give 'Em Hell, Harry!" which traced the life of the 33rd president.

He won an Emmy Award in 2000 for his recurring role on the drama "The Practice." His final TV appearance came in a 2007 episode of CSI.

"He cared about acting; his whole life was dedicated to the theater and to movies," said actor David Huddleston, a longtime friend who appeared in Whitmore's 1964 movie "Black Like Me" and did a couple of plays with him. "I asked James Cagney one time to tell me the best thing you can about acting. He said never to get caught at it. That's kind of how I'd sum up Jim Whitmore."

"I know my father leaves a large footprint. So many in the motion picture business and the acting business loved and admired him, and we, the family, share in that admiration and love," Steve Whitmore said.

"He was nominated for the Academy Award twice. He's an Emmy Award winner, but that was all a means to an end to him -- to provide for those he loved and cared for," he said. "He was glad to be able to do what he loved and provide.

"We appreciate everybody and thank you all for your thoughts and prayers."

In addition to his son, Whitmore is survived by his wife Noreen, sons James Jr. and Dan, eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2009)