Wikipedia

James Cromwell

This article is about the actor. For the diplomat, seeJames H. R. Cromwell.

James Oliver Cromwell[1](born January 27, 1940)[1]is an American actor and activist. Known for his extensive work as acharacter actor,he has received aPrimetime Emmy Awardas well as a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting ActorforBabe(1995). Other notable roles include inStar Trek: First Contact(1996),L.A. Confidential(1997),Deep Impact(1998),The Green Mile(1999),Space Cowboys(2000),[2]The Longest Yard(2005)[3]The Queen(2006),W.(2008),Secretariat(2010),The Artist(2011),Still Mine(2013),Marshall(2017),Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom(2018), andEmperor(2020).[4]He has also voiced roles inSpirit: Stallion of the Cimarron(2002), andBig Hero 6(2014).

James Cromwell
Cromwell in 2010
Born
James Oliver Cromwell

(1940-01-27)January 27, 1940(age 84)
Los Angeles,California,U.S.
Other namesJamie Cromwell
EducationCarnegie Mellon University(BFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • activist
Years active1974–present
Height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Spouses
Anne Ulvestad
​
​
(m.1977;div.1986)​
​
​
(m.1986;div.2005)​
​
​
(m.2014)​
Children3
Parents

Cromwell is also well known for his roles in television includingAngels in America(2003),Six Feet Under(2003–2005),American Horror Story: Asylum(2012–2013), for which he won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie,Boardwalk Empire(2012–2013),The Young Pope(2016),Counterpart(2018–2019),Succession(2018–2023), for which he earned threePrimetime Emmy Awardnominations for Outstanding Guest Actor, andSugar(2024).

Early life and education

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Cromwell was born inLos Angeles,California.[1]He is the son of actressKay Johnsonand actor and directorJohn Cromwell,[5]who wasblacklistedduring theMcCarthy era.His parents divorced in 1946.[6][7]He has English, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.[8][9]He graduated fromThe Hill Schoolin 1958,[10]and went on toMiddlebury College,[11]andCarnegie Mellon University,where he graduated with aB.F.A.in 1964.[12][13]He received his acting training atHB Studio.[14]

Career

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Cromwell's first television performance was in a 1974 episode ofThe Rockford Filesplaying Terry, a tennis instructor. A few weeks later,[15]he began a recurring role as Stretch Cunningham onAll in the Family.In 1975, he took his first lead role on television as Bill Lewis in the short-livedHot l Baltimore,and appeared onM*A*S*Has Captain Leo Bardonaro in the episode "Last Laugh". A year later, he made his film debut inNeil Simon's classic detective spoofMurder by Death.[16]Cromwell portrayed four different characters in four episodes ofBarney Miller(1977–1981). In 1977 he appeared inThree's Companyepisode- "Chrissy's Night Out" as Detective Lannigan.

In 1980, Cromwell guest-starred in the two-part episode "Laura Ingalls Wilder" of the long-running television seriesLittle House on the Prairie.He played Harve Miller, one of Almanzo Wilder's old friends.[citation needed]

While Cromwell continued with regular television work throughout the 1980s, he made appearances in films with supporting roles inTankandRevenge of the Nerds(both 1984). He guest-starred on the sitcomNight Court,playing a mental patient, along withKevin Peter Hall.He had starring roles in the critically acclaimed filmsBabe(1995),The People vs. Larry Flynt(1996),The Education of Little Tree(1997),L.A. Confidential(1997),The Green Mile(1999),The General's Daughter,(1999),Snow Falling on Cedars(1999),Space Cowboys(2000) andThe Longest Yard(2005). Cromwell's firstStar Trekrole was onStar Trek: The Next Generationin 1990, in the season 3 episode "The Hunted",followed by the 1993 episode"Birthright, Part 1"as Jaglom Shrek. He also played Dr.Zefram CochraneinStar Trek: First Contact(1996), theStar Trek: Enterprisepilot episode "Broken Bow",and the 2022Star Trek: Lower Decksseason 3 premiere episode, "Grounded". TheStar Trek: Enterpriseepisode "In a Mirror, Darkly"reused some of theFirst Contactfootage.[17]Cromwell also appeared in aStar Trek: Deep Space Nineepisode, "Starship Down",as Hanok. He also voiced the Colonel inDreamWorks'Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.[18]

Cromwell's role as newspaper tycoonWilliam Randolph Hearstin the television filmRKO 281earned him anEmmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie.The following year, he received his second Emmy Award nomination for playing Bishop Lionel Stewart on theNBCmedical drama seriesER.In 2004, he guest-starred as former president D. Wire Newman inThe West Wingepisode "The Stormy Present".From 2003 to 2005, Cromwell playedGeorge Sibleyin theHBOdrama seriesSix Feet Under,which earned him his third Emmy Award nomination in 2003. Along with the rest of his castmates, he was also nominated for twoScreen Actors Guild Awards for Best Ensemble in a Drama Seriesin 2005 and 2006. The following year, Cromwell playedPrince Philip, Duke of EdinburghinThe Queen(2006), that earnedHelen MirrenanAcademy Award for Best Actress.He also guest-starred asPhillip Bauer,father of lead characterJack,in thesixth seasonof theFoxthriller drama series24.[19]

In October 2007, Cromwell played the lead role of James Tyrone Sr. in theDruid Theatre Company's production ofEugene O'Neill'sLong Day's Journey into Night,at theGaiety in Dublinas part of theUlster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival's50th Anniversary.[20]That same year he received the King Vidor Memorial Award from theSan Luis Obispo International Film Festivalfor his artistic achievements in film. Cromwell playedGeorge H. W. BushinOliver Stone'sW.(2008), that chronicles the rise to power ofBush's sonup until the2003 invasion of Iraq.[21]Cromwell also provided the voice of the main villain Professor Robert Callaghan/Yokai in the Disney movieBig Hero 6.

In 2015, Cromwell executive produced the documentaryImminent Threatwhich tackles the War on Terror's impact on civil liberties.[22]

In 2016 Cromwell starred inHBO's seriesThe Young PopealongsideJude LawandDiane Keaton.[23]In 2018, he appeared inHBO'sSuccession,andStarz'sCounterpart.[24]

In 2020, Cromwell starred in the Australian comedy-drama filmNever Too Late.[25]Cromwell starred inOperation Buffalo,an Australian television comedy-drama series about the atomic bomb tests in outback Australia, which screened onABCfrom 31 May 2020.

He is currently featured in theHBO MaxshowJulia,as Julia Child's father, John McWilliams.[26]

In 2021, Cromwell executive produced the psychedelic comedyMondo Hollywoodland,directed by Janek Ambros, who also directedImminent Threat.[27]

Activism

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Cromwell has long been an advocate of progressive causes, particularly regardinganimal rights.He became avegetarianin 1974 after seeing a stockyard in Texas and experiencing the "smell, terror and anxiety".[28]He becameveganwhile playing the character of Farmer Hoggett in the 1995 filmBabe.[29]He frequently speaks out on issues regarding animal cruelty forPETA,largely on the treatment of pigs.[30]In 2017, he was arrested during a PETA protest againstSeaWorld's treatment of orca whales, at which he spoke about marine mammals' suffering and premature deaths.[31]

Cromwell served as the narrator of the short filmFarm to Fridge,a documentary produced byMercy for Animals.[32]

Cromwell andJ. G. Hertzlershow their arrest citations at the Crestwood station protest, 2016

In February 2013, Cromwell was arrested along with animal rights activist Jeremy Beckham for interrupting aUniversity of WisconsinBoard of Regents meeting while showing a graphic photo of a cat to protest about alleged mistreatment of animals on campus.[33][34]The incident, which garnered widespread press coverage, was resolved on March 25, 2013, when an attorney representing Cromwell entered no-contest pleas to the non-criminal offense and agreed to pay $100 forfeitures and court costs of $263.50.[35]In December 2015, he was removed from an event in New York for heckling an energy company receiving an award.[36]On December 18, 2015, Cromwell and five other people were arrested while protesting against the construction of a natural gas power station inWawayanda, New York,near his home inWarwick, New York.[37]He and his fellow protesters, called the "Wawayanda Six", were convicted of disorderly conduct and obstruction of traffic. They were fined $375, due June 29, 2017, and sentenced to 16 hours of community service.[38][39][40]After refusing to pay the fine, he was sentenced to a week in jail, scheduled to go on July 14.[41]However, they were released three days later on July 17.[42]Cromwell and fellowStar TrekactorJ. G. Hertzlerwere among the 19 people arrested inWatkins Glen, New York,on June 6, 2016, for a protest against underground gas storage in salt caverns nearSeneca Lake.[43]On June 6, 2017, he was escorted out of a Democratic Party fundraiser (whichNew York GovernorAndrew Cuomoand House Minority leaderNancy Pelosiattended) after disrupting the event by protesting about the power station.[44]Cromwell was again arrested, this time for trespassing after taking part in a protest along with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) atSeaworldon July 24.[45]

On October 31, 2019, Cromwell was again arrested with 34-year-old animal rights activist Jeremy Beckham. They were charged with disorderly conduct after police said they disrupted a meeting of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The two were part of a demonstration by PETA, protesting A&M's use of dogs for medical research. Both were released after posting bonds of $5,000 each.[46]

In May 2022, Cromwell superglued his hand to the counter of aManhattanStarbucksto protest the surcharge for plant-based milks.[47]Later that year, PETA named him their 2022 Person of the Year.[48]In April 2023, he helped rehome a pig destined for slaughter to the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary and named the pig "Babe".[49]

Personal life

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Cromwell married Ann Ulvestad in 1977.[50]They divorced in 1986. Together the couple had three children: Kate, John and Colin.[13]Cromwell married actressJulie Cobbon May 29, 1986; they divorced in 2005.[51]On January 1, 2014, Cromwell married actressAnna Stuartat the home of Stuart's formerAnother Worldco-starCharles Keating.[52][53]Cromwell lives inWarwick, New York.[54]

Cromwell is known for his height; at 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m),[5]he is the tallest actor nominated for an Academy Award. His son John is even taller, standing 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m).[1][55]In the 2012 filmMemorial Day,John played the young Bud Vogel, while James played him as a grandfather,[56]and both Cromwells appear as the same character at different ages inAmerican Horror Story: Asylum(2012) and the first season ofBetrayal(2013).

Political views

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Cromwell's experiences of theCivil Rights Movementwhile on a theatre tour through severalDeep Southstates in 1964 had a profound effect on him. The courage of local campaigners and visiting activists – Cromwell had played high school football with civil rights workerMickey Schwerner,who wasmurderedwith two of his colleagues in Mississippi in 1964 – convinced him to become an activist. He subsequently became involved in theanti-Vietnam Warmovement,[57]and by the late 1960s, Cromwell was a member of the Committee to Defend the Panthers, a group organized to defend 13 members of theBlack Panther Partywho had been imprisoned in New York on charges of conspiracy. All 13 were eventually released. In a 2004 interview withCNN,Cromwell praised the Panthers.[58]

In an October 2008 interview, Cromwell criticized theRepublican Partyand theGeorge W. Bushadministration, saying that their foreign policy would "either destroy us or the entire planet".[21]

He supported thepresidential campaignofBernie Sandersin the2016 U.S. presidential election.[59]

Filmography

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Main article:James Cromwell filmography

Awards and nominations

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Main article:List of awards and nominations received by James Cromwell
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1995 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Babe Nominated
2000 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie RKO 281 Nominated
2001 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series ER Nominated
2003 Six Feet Under Nominated
2013 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie American Horror Story: Asylum Won
2020 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Succession(episode: "Dundee") Nominated [60]
2022 Succession(episode: "Retired Janitors of Idaho") Nominated [61]
2023 Succession(episode: "Church and State") Nominated [62]
1997 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture L.A. Confidential Nominated
1999 The Green Mile Nominated
2004 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Six Feet Under Nominated
2005 Nominated
2011 Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture The Artist Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcd"James Cromwell Biography".TV Guide.Archived fromthe originalon September 12, 2015.[I]n 1995, he became the tallest actor ever nominated for an Academy Award.
  2. ^"Space Cowboys - Full Cast & Crew".TV Guide.RetrievedJuly 20,2024.
  3. ^"The Longest Yard".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedJuly 20,2024.
  4. ^"Canadian Screen Awards raises the star wattage"ArchivedOctober 31, 2016, at theWayback Machine.Toronto Star,March 3, 2013.
  5. ^abPelley, Rich (January 7, 2021)."James Cromwell: 'My father told me:" Don't be an actor, you're too damn tall "'".The Guardian.RetrievedJune 23,2024.
  6. ^"James Cromwell on the Promise and the hoops of Hollywood | San Diego Reader".
  7. ^"John Cromwell – Films as director:, Other films".Filmreference.Archivedfrom the original on January 6, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 28,2012.
  8. ^"John Oliver (" James ") Cromwell: b. 27 Jan 1940 Los Angeles, CA".AncestryRootsWeb. Archived fromthe originalon October 18, 2007.RetrievedJune 16,2016.
  9. ^"Pedigree of Cromwell's family".Ancestry RootsWeb.Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2015.RetrievedApril 9,2015.
  10. ^"About Us > Notable Hill Alumni".Pottstown, Pennsylvania:The Hill School.Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2019.RetrievedMay 26,2020.
  11. ^Cromwell, James, in"Gov. Shumlin Gets Request From James Cromwell: Switch State Beverage From Milk to Apple Cider".PETA.February 26, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on May 26, 2020.RetrievedMay 26,2020.I'm proud to have attended Middlebury College.
  12. ^"Oscar Night".Carnegie Mellon University.n.d.Archivedfrom the original on March 1, 2012.RetrievedMay 26,2020....CMU alumnus James Cromwell (A'64)....
  13. ^abLipton, Michael A. (March 25, 1996)."Pig's Best Pal".People.Vol. 45, no. 12.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2016.RetrievedMay 26,2020.He dropped out of Middlebury and enrolled as a theater major at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie-Mellon). A year later, 'I left in a huff,' he says. 'Institutions and I get on each other's nerves something fierce.'... A nine-year first marriage to actress Ann Ulvestad ended in 1986. Cromwell retained custody of their three children: Kate, now 18 and a freshman at Smith College, John, 16, and Colin, 14.
  14. ^"Alumni".HB Studio.Archivedfrom the original on May 12, 2020.RetrievedMay 26,2020.
  15. ^"All in the Family (a Titles & Air Dates Guide)".Epguides. November 27, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 28,2012.
  16. ^Welsh, James M.; Whaley, Donald M. (2013)."Cromwell, James (1940–)".The Oliver Stone Encyclopedia.Scarecrow Press. p. 54.ISBN978-0-8108-8352-9.
  17. ^"StarTrek Offers Commentary on 'In a Mirror, Darkly'".TrekToday. April 27, 2005.Archivedfrom the original on July 16, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 28,2012.
  18. ^Hamilton, Jill (2003)."Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron".In Tomassini, Christine; Schwartz, Carol (eds.).Magill's Cinema Annual, 2003.Gale Group. p. 447.ISBN978-1-55862-459-7.
  19. ^Bellafante, Ginia(2007)."In24's World, Family Is the Main Casualty ".In Burstein, Dan; de Keijzer, Arne J. (eds.).Secrets of24.Sterling. pp. 64–65.ISBN978-1-4027-5396-1.
  20. ^Gaiety Theatre Dublin, Ireland – Irish TheatreArchivedSeptember 28, 2007, at theWayback Machine
  21. ^ab"W: James Cromwell vs. George Bush Snr".SuicideGirls.October 15, 2008.Archivedfrom the original on October 17, 2008.RetrievedOctober 15,2008.
  22. ^"James Cromwell Champions Docu 'Imminent Threat' and Actor/Activist Has Stories to Tell".July 2, 2015.
  23. ^Anderson, Ariston (November 4, 2016)."James Cromwell on 'The Young Pope', 'Radical Politics', America's Need for 'Revolution' (Q&A)".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedMarch 27,2021.
  24. ^Feinberg, Scott (June 19, 2023)."From 'The Last of Us' to 'Succession': The Stacked Race for Drama Guest Actor".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJanuary 7,2024.
  25. ^Maddox, Garry (16 April 2019)Life is still busy over 70 for stars of new 'triumph over ageing' film,The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  26. ^"Meet the Cast of" Julia "".March 30, 2022.
  27. ^"James Cromwell Production 'Mondo Hollywoodland' Sets Release".July 9, 2021.
  28. ^"AR-News James Cromwell interview in The Age (Melbourne) focuses on animal rights".EnviroLink Network.June 23, 2003. Archived fromthe originalon March 8, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 28,2012.
  29. ^Cardoni, Salvatore (December 27, 2011)."James Cromwell: You Don't Own Another Creature".Takepart. Archived fromthe originalon February 25, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 28,2012.
  30. ^Shure, Marnie (September 17, 2020)."James Cromwell and PETA want pigs out of our Peeps".The Takeout.
  31. ^Rubin, Rebecca (July 25, 2017)."James Cromwell Arrested During SeaWorld Protest".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2017.RetrievedJuly 25,2017.
  32. ^"Farm to Fridge".Meatvideo.Archivedfrom the original on February 23, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 28,2012.
  33. ^WMTV (February 7, 2013)."Actor James Cromwell Arrested at UW Regents Meeting".Gray Television, Inc. Archived fromthe originalon October 18, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 7,2013.
  34. ^"James Cromwell Arrested Protesting UW Cat Experiments".PETA.February 7, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon February 11, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 7,2013.
  35. ^"Attorney for actor James Cromwell agrees to fine for pro-animal outburst".The Cap Times.March 25, 2013.Archivedfrom the original on August 15, 2017.
  36. ^"'Babe' Star James Cromwell Escorted From N.Y. Event for Heckling ".Yahoo Entertainment.December 3, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on March 5, 2016.RetrievedJune 16,2016.
  37. ^Randall, Michael (December 18, 2015)."Six protesters taken into custody in anti-CPV power plant demonstration".recordonline.Times Herald-Record.Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2015.RetrievedDecember 20,2015.
  38. ^Randall, Michael."'Wawayanda Six' convicted of disorderly conduct over power-plant protest ".Archivedfrom the original on August 6, 2017.RetrievedAugust 6,2017.
  39. ^"Actor among those guilty in" Wawayanda 6 "trial".Archivedfrom the original on August 6, 2017.RetrievedAugust 6,2017.
  40. ^Reed, Jana (June 7, 2017)."Wawayanda Six Charged with Disorderly Conduct".Archivedfrom the original on August 6, 2017.RetrievedAugust 6,2017.
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  42. ^""Wawayanda Three" walk free ".midhudsonnews.Archived fromthe originalon August 6, 2017.RetrievedAugust 6,2017.
  43. ^Star Trek Actors Arrested, Call on Gov. Cuomo to Boldly Go Beyond Fossil FuelsArchivedJune 7, 2016, at theWayback Machine-EcoWatch
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  46. ^"'Succession,' 'Green Mile' star James Cromwell arrested at Texas A&M protest ".
  47. ^"'Succession' star James Cromwell glues his hand to a Starbucks counter in a protest ".NPR.May 11, 2022.
  48. ^Jamie Burton, "James Cromwell Happy to Be 'Offensive' and 'Unpopular' On PETA's Behalf,"Newsweek,28 January 2022.
  49. ^Christian, Charlotte (April 9, 2023)."Vegan James Cromwell Names Rescued Pig" Babe "".Top 10 Films.RetrievedApril 9,2023.
  50. ^"James Cromwell > Companions".Turner Classic Movies.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2019.RetrievedMay 26,2020.
  51. ^"James Cromwell files for divorce".Associated Press.January 14, 2005.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2018 – viaUSA Today.
  52. ^"Emmy Winner James Cromwell Marries Soap Star Anna Stuart!".Closer.January 9, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on March 2, 2018.RetrievedMay 7,2018.
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  54. ^"James Cromwell: A bundle of contradictions".Chicago Tribune.July 25, 2013.
  55. ^Ellis, Cynthia (May 4, 2010)."Tribeca Film Festival Interview: John and James Cromwell ofA.45 at 50th".HuffPost.Archivedfrom the original on May 26, 2020.John is 6'8 to James' already very tall 6'7.
  56. ^"Memorial Day".Archived fromthe originalon May 12, 2016.RetrievedJune 16,2016.
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  58. ^"Black Panther, drunk priest, kind farmer".CNN. June 18, 2004.Archivedfrom the original on June 1, 2008.RetrievedMarch 23,2007.
  59. ^"James Cromwell on Twitter".Twitter.RetrievedAugust 11,2018.
  60. ^"72nd Emmy Awards Complete Nomination List"(PDF).Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.RetrievedJuly 28,2020.
  61. ^Lewis, Hilary; Nordyke, Kimberly (July 12, 2022)."2022 Emmy Awards Nominations Revealed".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJuly 12,2022.
  62. ^"Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 2023".Television Academy.RetrievedJuly 21,2023.

Further reading

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