James Whitmore, the many-faceted character actor who delivered strong performances in movies, television and especially the theater with his popular one-man shows about Harry Truman, Will Rogers and Theodore Roosevelt, died Friday, his son said. He was 87.

The Emmy- and Tony-winning actor was diagnosed with lung cancer the week before Thanksgiving and died Friday afternoon at his Malibu home, his son Steve Whitmore said.

A World War II Marine Corps veteran, Whitmore bore a striking resemblance to actor Spencer Tracy. He was best known for his popular one-man shows about American leaders Harry Truman, Will Rogers and Theodore Roosevelt.

Whitmore won a Tony Award in 1948 for outstanding performance by a newcomer for his role of a cynical Army Air Forces sergeant in the Broadway production of "Command Decision." After Broadway, he moved to Hollywood, where he received an Oscar Award nomination for best supporting actor for his second film, the 1949 World War II drama Battleground.

Whitmore's performance in 1975 film Give 'em Hell, Harry! earned him the best actor Oscar nomination.

He went on to act in over 50 movies including The Asphalt Jungle (opposite Marilyn Monroe), Them!, Kiss Me Kate, Battle Cry, Oklahoma!, Planet of the Apes, Tora! Tora! Tora!, The Serpent's Egg, Nuts, and The Majestic.

Whitmore often appeared on television, starring in the series The Law and Mr. Jones (1960-1962), My Friend Tony (1969) and Temperatures Rising (1972-1973). He also guest-starred in a great many popular shows during the same period. In 1999 he received an Emmy as guest actor in a series for The Practice.

When yours truly was very young, I had occasion to watch Whitmore on stage in Washington DC in "The Magnificent Yankee", playing the role of Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., and his presence and voice made an impression upon me that lasted a lifetime. Whenever he would appear in an old late-night rerun of The Big Valley or The Invaders, I would stop and watch the episode, recalling that riveting performance.

Another star has flickered out in Hollywood—and there have been far too many over the past year. RIP James Whitmore.

With reporting from the AP and other agencies.