James Mitchell was born on February 29, 1920 in Sacramento, California. He began studying dance when he was 19 years old and graduated from Los Angeles City College with a degree in drama. He then joined the Lester Horton's modern dance company where he started his professional career. He participated in the dance organization Bella Lewitzky Dance Foundation. He appeared in the production Bloomer Girl and Brigadon, and later on, Paint Your Wagon. He also participated in the American Ballet Theatre and Agnes de Mille Dance Theatre. His other significant stage appearances include Carnival!, Carousel, and The Threepenny Opera which was an off-Broadway production. In the late 1940's Mitchell became a contract player in Warner Brothers and later on, in Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. He appeared in productions like The Toast of New Orleans, Deep in My Heart, and Oklahoma!. Other movie roles include those in The Band Wagon, The Turning Point, Border Incident, Colorado Territory, and The Peacemaker. In 1979 he was cast for the soap opera All My Children.
Palmer Cortlandt is played by James Mitchell in the soap opera All My Children. Palmer was a powerful businessman who always made sure he had control of everything in his life, including his daughter Nina. She soon fell blind and fell in live with her doctor, Cliff Warner. Upon knowing this, Palmer convinced his daughter that she wasn't right for Cliff. Palmer was also a major rival in the life of and dealings of Adam Chandler. Palmer was married six times, but out of his wives, his favorite was Daisy Murdoch, Nina's mother, and Opal Gardner, with whom he has a son.
(Photo Courtesy of ABC)