From ETOnline.com

James Mitchell died on Friday, January 22, 2010 in Los Angeles of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, complicated by pneumonia. He was 89.

Mitchell joined the cast of "All My Children" in 1979, creating the role of Palmer Cortlandt, the wealthy patriarch of one of Pine Valley's most popular families. His final appearance was on January 5, 2010 ON the show's 40th anniversary episode.

Born and raised in Sacramento, Calif., Mitchell began his career as an accomplished dancer. He played leading roles in a number of Broadway musicals, including Brigadoon, Billion Dollar Baby, Bloomer Girl, Carousel, Carnival, Mack and Mabel and Paint Your Wagon. He appeared with the American Ballet Theater in New York, Europe and South America, and with the Agnes de Mille Dance Theater on tour throughout the United States. He also starred on tour in Funny Girl with Carol Lawrence, The Three Penny Opera with Chita Rivera, The King and I with Ann Blyth and in The Rainmaker with his then-future "All My Children" co-star, Frances Heflin. In addition he served as assistant to the director of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera production of Annie Get Your Gun, with Debbie Reynolds.

Mitchell's notable film roles included 'That's Dancing,' a retrospective of great dance numbers in movie musicals; 'The Turning Point, in which he played the artistic director; 'The Bandwagon' with Fred Astaire; 'Oklahoma' and 'Deep in My Heart' with Cyd Charisse. He also danced with Charisse in both her 1965 television special and in the Academy Awards Presentation program in 1966. From 1969 to 1973 he played the role of Professor Hathaway on the daytime series "Where the Heart Is." He also appeared in the ABC primetime series "Charlie's Angels."

Mitchell taught movement for actors and theater arts students, which he described as "an exchange of the disciplines of dancing and acting." He taught at Yale University and at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, which awarded him an honorary doctorate in fine arts.

He is survived by his long time partner, Albert Wolsky. Memorial services will be held at a later date.

I watched this show for about 22 years starting in around 77. I always found Palmer interesting but haven't watched for years. It's always sad when someone dies I feel bad for both is real family and his tv family.

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I am sorry to hear that he died. I started watching All My Children in 1979. I had just transfered to the University of Oklahoma and had a break in classes during the time it was on and everyday in the student union, tons of students gathered to watch this show. I just happened to wander in there and started hanging out and got hooked on it and have watched it off and on over the years. OMG, I just realized that's 30 years I've been watching it, LOL. It never matters how many days/weeks you miss, you always seems to know what's going on.

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Sad news...He was a great actor. My friend Leah and I got to meet him in NYC at a luncheon for the AMC Fan Club back in '95 I believe it was. I didn't realize he was that old. ~Lisa

I remember James Mitchell. It's sad he's gone but at least, 89 is a ripe, old age so he got a full life span. It sounds like they were good years for him.

Oh wow. I remember watching back when his character was so against his daughter Nina marrying Cliff!

I stopped watching soaps about 20 years ago, but it amazes me how I can easily remember some of these characters.

God bless him and his family - both on and off TV.

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Nina and Cliff
Jeff and Donna
Billy Clyde Tuggles and Estelle
Jenny and what was his name?
Erica and ...well everyone!

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Jenny and Greg.

Hailey and Mateo.

Remember Hailey with the black hair and all black leather, she sure was a "troubled teen" also known as Kelly these days, LOL. That's where she met her real life husband.

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Wow. He hasn't been on much the last few years and when he has been, the last few times he seemed fragile. Always sitting or holding on to someone - same as the actress who played Myrtle. I wonder if they'll have a memorial for him. Opal always talks about him being over seas on business, so I wonder if they'll have Palmer die. Sad...I love AMC.

Lisa

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I've been watching since 1971!! I hope they do have a memorial, we need him to have a send off.

Omg while sad he did live a long life god bless him. I remember him clearly especially the story line soooooo long ago with his daughter Nina and the doctor Cliff how he did not want his privileged daughter to marry him. Good old memories of All My Children and Pine Valley. A bit off topic with Erica Kane played more then 30 years by the beautiful and never aging Susan Lucci can anyone tell me how many times now has she been married for I do not watch the show anymore. However I clearly remember she was married many times, however she is ageless and so tiny and her real life Husband I believe Humbert not clear if I am pronoucning his name correctly is so tall compared to the tiny person she is which I could be that small sometimes when my clothes so not fit lol. In the rest to this actor rest in peace. Peace. Catherine

I loved Billy Clyde (Matthew Cowles)...What a great actor he was! He's married to actress Christine Baranski. ~Lisa

He was so funny. As a relatively innocent and overprotected teen that was my first knowledge of a pimp. And what a pimp he was.

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Billy Clyde omg I also forgot him and can see his face now and ladies kindly excuse me but I cannot think of the actress who played the extremely rich lady on the show, she was on there for years and since passed away, please help memorie tia and peace. Catherine

Phoebe Wallingford played by Ruth Warrick.

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Yes yes Anna thanks for remembering I remember her well, she was not a nice lady , but a wonderful actress she played a long time on t.v for a long time and I also remember Jenny and the Craig and their story line and then came Jessie and Angela so much trivia in thinking back.. Peace. Catherine