James Mitchell, ‘All My Children’ Patriarch, Dies at 89

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — James Mitchell, who for nearly three decades played the gruff patriarch Palmer Cortlandt on the ABC soap opera “All My Children,” died here on Friday. He was 89.

The cause was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated by pneumonia, said his partner the Oscar award-winning costume designer, Albert Wolsky.

Mr. Mitchell appeared in more than 300 episodes of “All My Children.” He was a regular from 1979 to 2008 and returned for the show’s 40th-anniversary episode this month. His character was a wealthy businessman who wielded power over his children and over the fictional town of Pine Valley. “He loved playing mean,” Mr. Wolsky said.

Born in Sacramento in 1920 and trained as a dancer, Mr. Mitchell appeared on Broadway in “Brigadoon,” “Paint Your Wagon” and other musicals. He also danced with American Ballet Theater.

His film credits include the 1953 Fred Astaire musical “The Band Wagon,” the 1955 movie version of “Oklahoma!” and the ballet-themed 1977 film “The Turning Point.”

Mr. Mitchell also taught movement for actors at Yale University and at Drake University in Des Moines, which awarded him an honorary doctorate.

He is survived by Mr. Wolsky.