James Cromwell American film and television actor. Date of Birth: 27.01.1940 Country: USA

1. Biography of James Cromwell
2. Education and Early Career
3. Rise in the Entertainment Industry
4. Recognition and Recent Work
5. Personal Life and Beliefs

Biography of James Cromwell

James Oliver Cromwell was born on January 27, 1940, in Los Angeles, California, USA. He grew up in Manhattan, New York, with his mother, actress Kay Johnson, and his father, actor, director, and producer John Cromwell, who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era.

Education and Early Career

Cromwell received his education at Hill School, Middlebury College, and Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) where he studied engineering. However, like his parents, Cromwell was drawn to the world of theater, from Shakespearean plays to experimental productions. His first television performance was in 1974 when he played Terry in an episode of "The Rockford Files". Shortly after, he landed the recurring role of Stretch Cunningham in the series "All in the Family". In 1975, he got his first leading role in the short-lived sitcom "Hot L Baltimore" and made his film debut the following year in the classic detective comedy "Murder by Death".

Rise in the Entertainment Industry

While continuing to work regularly in television in the 1980s, Cromwell made his breakthrough in the film industry with his role as Sheriff Baker in the movie "Tank" alongside James Garner and Shirley Jones. Another significant role was that of Mr. Skolnick, the father of the main character, Lewis, in the comedy film "Revenge of the Nerds". He reprised this role three more times in each of the sequels. In the 1990s, Cromwell gained recognition for his role as farmer Arthur Hoggett in the family adventure comedy "Babe" (1995), which earned him an Oscar nomination. He also received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Captain Dudley Liam Smith in the award-winning thriller "L.A. Confidential" based on James Ellroy's novel. This role propelled his career further in Hollywood. Cromwell played Dr. Cochrane in the sci-fi action film "Star Trek: First Contact" (1996) and appeared in the pilot episode "Broken Bow" of the series "Star Trek: Enterprise". He continued his "Star Trek" journey, appearing in the series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", but not as Dr. Cochrane. He played various guest roles in episodes such as "The Hunted", "Birthright, Part I and II", and "Starship Down".

Recognition and Recent Work

Cromwell achieved further success on television, portraying media mogul William Randolph Hearst in the biographical drama "RKO 281", earning him his first Emmy nomination in 2000. He received another Emmy nomination the following year for his role as Bishop Lionel Stewart in the series "ER". In 2004, he appeared as President D. Wire Newman in the series "The West Wing". Cromwell joined the cast of the HBO drama series "Six Feet Under" for its final three seasons, playing the character George Sibley, which earned him his third Emmy nomination.

In addition to his Oscar and Emmy nominations, Cromwell was twice recognized by the Screen Actors Guild, receiving nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Drama Series in 2005 and 2006. He also starred alongside Helen Mirren as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in the film "The Queen" (2006). Cromwell also appeared as Phillip Bauer, the father of the main character Jack Bauer, in the sixth season of the series "24". In October 2007, he played the lead role of James Tyrone Sr. in Eugene O'Neill's play "Long Day's Journey into Night" at the Gate Theatre as part of the Almeida Theatre Festival in Dublin.

Cromwell took on the role of the 41st President George Herbert Walker Bush in Oliver Stone's comedy biopic "W." (2008), which chronicled the controversial rise to power of his son, President George W. Bush. In an interview, Cromwell revealed that initially Stone offered him the role of Warren Buffett, which was later given to Harrison Ford.

Personal Life and Beliefs

Cromwell has been married twice and has three children. His first marriage was to actress Julie Cobb, which ended in divorce. His second marriage was to Anne Alvested, which also ended in divorce. Cromwell is known for his tall stature, standing at 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 meters), making him the tallest nominee in the history of the Academy Awards.

Throughout his career, Cromwell has been outspoken about his political beliefs. He has been a long-time supporter of left-wing causes and has been critical of the Republican Party and the Bush administration. In the late 1960s, he was a member of the "Committee to Defend the Panthers," an organization that defended 13 members of the Black Panther Party who were imprisoned on charges of conspiracy. In 1974, Cromwell became a vegetarian after witnessing the conditions of a Texas feedlot, and has been an advocate for animal rights, particularly for pigs, collaborating with organizations such as PETA.