Biography
Who is James Cromwell?
Early life and education
James Oliver Cromwell was born in Los Angeles, California, on January 27, 1940. His mother was actress Kay Johnson, and his father was actor and director John Cromwell. His parents divorced in 1946, and he grew up in Manhattan, New York City. James has English, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.
He attended The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1958. He continued his studies at Middlebury College and later graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.F.A. In 1964. Also, he received acting training at HB Studio.
Television and film career
James Cromwell began his screen career in 1974 with an appearance on The Rockford Files and a recurring role on All in the Family. He later appeared on M*A*S*H and Hot l Baltimore. His film debut occurred in the detective spoof Murder by Death. Throughout the 1980s, he took on various television and film work, including roles in Tank, Revenge of the Nerds, and Oh, God! You Devil.
In 1995, he starred as Farmer Hoggett in the film Babe, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He reprised this role in the sequel, Babe: Pig in the City. His extensive filmography includes appearances in Star Trek: First Contact, L.A. Confidential, Deep Impact, The Green Mile, Space Cowboys, I, Robot, The Longest Yard, The Queen, Spider-Man 3, W., Secretariat, The Artist, Still Mine, The Promise, Marshall, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Emperor.
Television roles and awards
James has built a long television resume. In the 1990s and 2000s, he appeared in ER, Angels in America, The West Wing, and Six Feet Under. His performance in American Horror Story: Asylum earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.
He also appeared in Boardwalk Empire, The Young Pope, Counterpart, and Succession. His work on Succession resulted in three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor. He also appeared in the HBO Max show Julia as John McWilliams.
Activism and personal interests
James is an advocate for progressive causes, particularly animal rights and environmentalism. He became a vegetarian in 1974 after witnessing conditions at a stockyard in Texas. He transitioned to a vegan diet while filming Babe. He speaks frequently on behalf of PETA regarding animal cruelty.
In 2013, he was arrested for interrupting a University of Wisconsin Board of Regents meeting to protest the treatment of animals. He paid a fine to resolve this. In 2015, he was arrested for protesting the construction of a natural gas power station in Wawayanda, New York. He and other protesters were convicted of disorderly conduct. He also executive produced the documentary Imminent Threat, which examines civil liberties and the War on Terror, and Mondo Hollywoodland.
Birthday and age
James Cromwell was born on January 27, 1940, which makes James 86 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. James shares the date with 35 other famous people.
Explore more
