James Cromwell
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Biography
Despite spending years honing his craft on stage and building a career on television and in film, actor James Cromwell spent the better part of two decades struggling to make his name in the shadow of his famous father, director John Cromwell. Though he found steady work on sitcoms like "All in the Family" (CBS, 1970-79) and on the big screen in films like "Murder by Death" (1976), Cromwell became so disillusioned trying to make it in show business that he spent 18 months trying to find himself; even hitchhiking across the Sahara Desert on his own. Cromwell began hitting his stride as a character actor in supporting roles in the 1980s, making his way in numerous made-for-television movies and miniseries, while earning some dubious acclaim as the nerdy father of an über-geek in "Revenge of the Nerds" (1984). He finally achieved critical acclaim and Academy Award recognition for his endearing performance in "Babe" (1995), which helped propel his career. But it was his portrayal of a murderous Machiavellian police captain in "L.A. Confidential" (1997) that made audiences aware of his diverse talents, which paved the way to more prominent roles in large-scale films like "The Green Mile" (1999), "The Sum of All Fears" (2002), "The Queen" (2006) and "W" (2008). He also landed high-profile television roles, most notably on "Six Feet Under" (HBO, 2001-05), which granted the ever-busy Cromwell the recognition he richly deserved.
Born on Jan. 27, 1940 in Los Angeles, CA, Cromwell was raised by his father, John Cromwell, a noted director blacklisted during the McCarthy era, and his mother, Kay Johnson, a prominent film actress who appeared in "Thirteen Women" (1932) and her husband's picture, "Of Human Bondage" (1934). Growing up in a show business family no doubt instilled his desire to be an actor at an early age. But after attending The Hill School, a prestigious boarding school in eastern Pennsylvania, Cromwell set his sights on becoming an engineer, attending Middlebury College in Vermont, then Carnegie Institute of Technology (later renamed Carnegie Mellon University). After a year at Carnegie, Cromwell dropped out to pursue acting full-time, working regional theater as both an actor and a director in productions of "The Iceman Cometh" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, "Beckett" at the Cleveland Playhouse and "Othello" at the American Shakespeare Festival. Cromwell joined director John O'Neal's Free Southern Theater in New Orleans, where the young actor had his first taste of racial injustice, leading to a lifetime of social and political activism, including a tour of bombed-out churches in the South during the 1960s.
While he remained politically active - he worked for the Black Panthers to arrange bail for their jailed leaders and was arrested himself at anti-war protests - Cromwell spent the next couple of decades struggling to establish his career. He made his first strides in the early 1970s while performing in a play at the Mark Tapper Forum in Los Angeles, where he was spotted and subsequently cast as Jerome "Stretch" Cunningham, comic foil for famed curmudgeon Archie Bunker (Caroll O'Connor), on "All in the Family." Cromwell next landed a regular series role as Bill the Desk Clerk on the sitcom, "The Hot L Baltimore" (ABC, 1974-75), then made his feature film debut in "Murder by Death" (1976), playing the over-attentive chauffeur to French private investigator, Milo Perrier (James Coco). Continuing to appear on television, he was the absentee husband to the dim-witted daughter (Beverly Archer) of a Hollywood agent (Nancy Walker) on the short-lived sitcom, "The Nancy Walker Show" (ABC, 1976).
After the failed pilot-turned-TV movie, "The Girl in the Empty Grave" (NBC, 1977), Cromwell settled into a long string of supporting roles in television movies like "A Christmas Without Snow" (CBS, 1980) and "The Wall" (CBS, 1982). Back in features, he played a corrupt deputy sheriff in "Tank" (1982), then was the nerd father of an even nerdier son (Robert Carradine) being sent off to college in "Revenge of the Nerds" (1984), a role he reprised in the sequels, "Revenge of the Nerds II" (1987), "Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation" (Fox, 1992) and "Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love" (Fox, 1994). Meanwhile, he maintained a steady, albeit unrecognized presence on the small screen, appearing as the deputy chief of police in "The Last Precinct" (NBC, 1986), as Dana Ivey's milquetoast husband in "Easy Street" (NBC, 1986-87), and as Bruce Weitz's friend in "Mama's Boy" (NBC, 1987-88). Following an episode of "Life Goes On" (ABC, 1989-1990), Cromwell was buried in the cast of "Things That Go Bump in the Night" (ABC, 1989) and had a bit more prominence in the disaster drama, "Miracle Landing" (CBS, 1990), a true story about an Aloha Airlines flight that managed to land despite having the top skin of its fuselage ripped off during flight.
In Arthur Hiller's "The Babe" (1992), an endearing chronicle of the life and career of George Herman "Babe" Ruth (John Goodman), he appeared briefly as a monk at a boarding school for boys who introduces a young boy and future slugger to the game of baseball as a means of unleashing his pent-up anger. Then after two decades toiling in small, often meaningless roles, Cromwell finally earned his due in Chris Noonan's "Babe" (1995), playing Farmer Hoggett, a gentle shepherd who recognizes the special qualities of a piglet adept at herding sheep. Cromwell gave a charming, joyful and wholly dimensional portrayal of the farmer, earning him a 1995 Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. After tackling a supporting role in the Arnold Schwarzenegger action thriller "Eraser" (1996) and playing the inventor of the warp drive in "Star Trek: First Contact" (1996), Cromwell delivered an uncanny performance as banker and founder of the right-wing watchdog group Citizens for Decent Literature in Milos Foreman's excellent biopic, "The People vs. Larry Flynt" (1996), which starred Woody Harrelson as the unflinching publisher of Hustler magazine.
Because he built up his resume playing goofballs on sitcoms, the bespectacled father of a nerd on film and a kindly farmer who befriends a talking pig, no one was prepared for the sheer cunning, manipulation and coldhearted evil he displayed in "L.A. Confidential" (1997), Curtis Hanson's award-winning adaptation of James Ellroy's labyrinth tome about police corruption in 1950s Los Angeles. Cromwell played Captain Dudley Smith, head of a Los Angeles precinct who turns a blind eye to violence and corruption. A political animal who tries to school Ed Exley, a young, but ambitious detective (Guy Pierce), Smith runs his department with a heavy hand, though he remains loyal to those willing to do his bloody bidding behind closed doors, which includes the uncontrollably violent Det. Bud White (Russell Crowe). In the end, the incorruptible Exley discovers that Smith has been a kind of crime boss, running drugs and committing murders, which leads to forming partnerships with White and "Hollywood" Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) and confronting Smith in a violent showdown. Though overshadowed by the emergence of Russell Crowe as a star and the film itself at the Academy Awards, Cromwell nonetheless established himself as a multifaceted character performer.
Returning to a softer mode, Cromwell was cast as an Appalachian mountain man raising his part Native American grandson (Joseph Ashton) in the family drama "The Education of Little Tree" (1997) and reprised his role as Farmer Hoggett in the sequel "Babe: Pig in the City" (1998). With his star on the rise, he was seen in no less than four high-profile television and feature film projects the following year. He played a cold-hearted Army captain whose troubled soldier daughter is found dead in the big-screen adaptation of Nelson DeMille's novel "The General's Daughter" (1999) and earned an Emmy nomination for his deft portrayal of William Randolph Hearst in "RKO 281" (HBO, 1999), the critically acclaimed drama about the making of Orson Welles' (Liev Schreiber) classic "Citizen Kane" (1941). Cromwell then had the pivotal role of a judge overseeing a murder trial in the Ethan Hawke weeper "Snow Falling on Cedars" (1999), followed by a small part as a private detective in the crime drama "A Slight Case of Murder" (TNT, 1999). The actor followed those projects up by appearing in the live televised version of the Cold War thriller "Fail Safe" (CBS, 2000) opposite George Clooney and Richard Dreyfuss, then supported Clint Eastwood, James Garner and Tommy Lee Jones in the comedic drama about aging astronauts going back into space in "Space Cowboys" (2000).
In 2001, Cromwell enjoyed a nice run on the small screen, beginning with an Emmy-nominated turn as a dying bishop in a story arc on the long-running medical drama, "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009). He subsequently co-starred in the adaptation of "The Magnificent Ambersons" (A&E, 2002) before undertaking the title role in the short-lived CBS fall drama "Citizen Baines" (CBS, 2001), about a former three-term U.S. Senator adjusting to life back in his home state after losing a bid for re-election. Cromwell - an outspoken actor who would take stances on various social and political issues - continued in a political vein on screen as well, playing the president in the Tom Clancy military thriller "The Sum of All Fears" (2002) and a resentful Vice President Lyndon Johnson in the cable biopic "RFK" (FX Network, 2002). The actor continued to leapfrog successfully between high-profile film and television projects, playing a scientist in the sci-fi thriller "I, Robot" (2004) and the warden in Adam Sandler's remake of "The Longest Yard" (2005). After co-starring in the acclaimed HBO miniseries "Angels in America" (2003), about several interconnected lives in New York during the onset of the AIDS epidemic, Cromwell co-starred in a television remake of Stephen King's horror classic "Salem's Lot" (2004).
In 2004, Cromwell enjoyed another career-defining role in "Six Feet Under" (HBO, 2000-05), playing the much-married professor George Sibley, who weds the Fisher family matriarch Ruth (Frances Conroy) without revealing his dark secret. The actor stayed with the series through its final season. After playing Cardinal Sapieha in the miniseries "Pope John Paul II" (CBS, 2006) and Prince Philip to Helen Mirren's Elizabeth II in "The Queen" (2006), Cromwell was a nice fit as Philip Bauer, father to anti-terrorist agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), on "24" (Fox, 2001-2010). He was next cast in the disappointing sequel "Spider-Man 3" (2007), playing police captain George Stacy, who was the father of the web-slinger's friend and possible love interest Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard). In perhaps one of his most anticipated roles, Cromwell portrayed former president George H.W. Bush in "W" (2008), director Oliver Stone's love-it-or-hate-it biopic on President George W. Bush (Josh Brolin). Following supporting turns in the sci-fi/action thriller "Surrogates" (2009) and the heartwarming drama "Secretariat" (2010), Cromwell was part of an exceptional cast for the silent black-and-white critical darling, "The Artist" (2011).
Back on the small screen, he played American industrialist Andrew Mellon in three episodes of "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO, 2010-14) before portraying a doctor and former Nazi engaging in sadistic experiments on the second season of the anthology series "American Horror Story" (FX, 2011- ). His uncharacteristically sinister turn was well received and resulted in his first Emmy win in 2013.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1974
Played recurring role of Jerome 'Stretch' Cunningham on CBS sitcom "All in the Family"
1974
Had first TV role on an episode of "The Rockford Files" (NBC)
1975
First lead role on TV, as Bill Lewis on short-lived "Hot L Baltimore" (ABC)
1976
Made TV miniseries debut in "Once an Eagle" (NBC)
1976
Played featured role on ABC series "The Nancy Walker Show"
1976
Made feature film debut in Neil Simon's "Murder By Death"
1977
Appeared in various roles on several episodes of "Barney Miller" (ABC)
1978
Again collaborated with writer Neil Simon for "The Cheap Detective"
1984
Played a corrupt deputy sheriff in James Garner-Shirley Jones film "Tank"
1984
Made first appearance as Mr. Skolnick, the father of main character Lewis, in hit comedy "Revenge of the Nerds"
1985
Played River Phoenix's dad in fantasy film "Explorers"
1986
Cast as Dana Ivey's husband on NBC sitcom "Easy Street"
1987
Reprised role of Mr. Skolnick for "Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise"
1990
Guest starred on sci-fi series "Star Trek: The Next Generation"
1995
Played Farmer Hoggett in Chris Noonan's "Babe"; earned Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor
1996
Played Dr. Zefram Cochrane in "Star Trek: First Contact"
1997
Formed Koshari Films with then-wife Julie Cobb
1997
Co-starred as the venal police chief in film adaptation of James Ellroy's "L.A. Confidential"
1998
Reprised Oscar nominated role of Farmer Hoggett for sequel "Babe: Pig in the City"
1999
Portrayed newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst in HBO movie "RKO 281"; received first Emmy nomination
1999
Appeared as the judge presiding over a murder trial in "Snow Falling on Cedars"
1999
Cast opposite Tom Hanks as the warden in supernatural prison drama "The Green Mile"
2000
Appeared in live CBS version of Cold War thriller "Fail Safe"
2000
Performed on stage as British poet A.E. Housman in Tom Stoppard's "The Invention of Love"
2001
Played title role on CBS drama series "Citizen Baines" as a former U.S. Senator
2001
Garnered an Emmy nomination for his role as a dying Catholic bishop on several episodes of "ER" (NBC)
2002
Co-starred in A&E miniseries "The Magnificent Ambersons"
2003
Landed recurring role as Ruth's second husband on HBO drama "Six Feet Under"; received third Emmy nomination
2003
Starred in award-winning HBO miniseries "Angels in America," adapted by Mike Nichols from Tony Kushner's play
2004
Played Father Donald Callahan in TNT miniseries "Salem's Lot," based on novel by Stephen King
2005
Cast as the Warden in remake of "The Longest Yard," starring Adam Sandler and Burt Reynolds
2006
Portrayed Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, opposite Helen Mirren in "The Queen"
2007
Cast as Captain Stacy, father of Bryce Dallas Howard's character in Sam Raimi directed "Spider-Man 3"
2007
Guest starred on sixth season of "24" (Fox) playing Phillip Bauer, the estranged father of Jack (Kiefer Sutherland)
2008
Co-starred in Oliver Stone's biopic "W." as former President George H. W. Bush
2009
Acted alongside Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, and Ving Rhames in "Surrogates"
2009
First executive produced feature, "A Lonely Place for Dying"
2010
Played supporting role in family feature "Secretariat"
2011
Cast in critically acclaimed black-and-white, nearly silent film "The Artist"
2012
Played former Nazi and surgeon Arthur Arden in FX miniseries "American Horror Story: Asylum"
2012
Portrayed Andrew W. Mellon on HBO's prohibition-era series "Boardwalk Empire"
2015
Cast as Jacob Wheeler on "Halt and Catch Fire"
2016
Played Cardinal Michael Spencer on "The Young Pope"
2016
Cast as J.R. on comedy series "The Detour"
2017
Portrayed Judge Foster in historical drama "Marshall"
2018
Played Benjamin Lockwood in "Jurassic Park" franchise entry "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom"
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