| James Cromwell |

Cromwell at 23rd Genesis Awards - Beverly Hills, California, March 2009 |
| Born |
James Oliver Cromwell
January 27, 1940 (1940-01-27) (age 70)
Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other name(s) |
Jamie Cromwell |
| Occupation |
Actor |
| Years active |
1975–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Anne Ulvestad (1976-1986)
Julie Cobb (1986-2006) |
James Oliver Cromwell (born January 27, 1940) is an American film and television actor. He has been nominated for an Oscar, three Emmy Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards during his career.
Early years
Cromwell was born in Los Angeles, California and was raised in Manhattan, New York. He was adopted by actress Kay Johnson and actor, director and producer John Cromwell, who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era.12 He was educated at The Hill School, Middlebury College and Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), where he studied engineering. Like both his parents, he was drawn to the theater, doing everything from Shakespeare to experimental plays.
Career
Cromwell's first television performance was in a 1974 episode of The Rockford Files playing Terry.3 A few weeks later,4 he began a recurring role as Stretch Cunningham on All in the Family. In 1975 he took his first lead role on television as Bill Lewis in the short-lived Hot l Baltimore, and a year later he made his film debut in Neil Simon's classic detective spoof Murder by Death.
In 1980, Cromwell guest-starred in the two-part pivotal episode "Laura Ingalls Wilder" of the long-running television series Little House on the Prairire. He played "Harve Miller," one of "Almanzo Wilder's" (Dean Butler) old friends. He comes to visit Almanzo, who lives with his shy sister, Walnut Grove's school teacher "Eliza Jane." Eliza Jane and Harve spend time together over the next few weeks, and she falls in love, for the first time, with Harve. Eliza, however, misunderstands some comments Harve has made, and he stuns her, at Nellie's restaurant, by announcing he wishes to marry another woman in a different town. Harve is totally unaware that she had feelings of love towards him. She takes Almanzo's wagon to the town of Sleepy Eye to seek him out before he marries someone else. She finally gathers the courage to tell him that she loves him. Instead, he tells Eliza that it is too late, he is already married. Eliza lies to everyone, and claims she is marrying Harve and moving away. This allows seventeen-year-old Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert) to take over her job as school teacher, giving Laura and Almanzo desperately needed income, and allowing Laura to move into their home to marry Almanzo at last.
While Cromwell continued with regular television work throughout the 1980s, he made real inroads in film business for his supporting roles in the films Tank and Revenge of the Nerds. His starring roles in the 1990s critically-acclaimed films Babe (1995), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), L.A. Confidential (1997), The Green Mile, and Snow Falling on Cedars (both 1999) were breakout roles for him, and made him more bankable in Hollywood. He also played Dr. Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot Broken Bow (the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "In a Mirror, Darkly" later reused some of the First Contact footage).5 He has appeared on other Star Trek television series The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, though not as Cochrane (his appearances on these shows predated his role in First Contact), he guest starred in episodes including "The Hunted", "Birthright" (Part I and II) and "Starship Down".
Cromwell also had additional success on television throughout his career. His role as newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst in the television film RKO 281 earned him an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie. The following year, he receive his second Emmy Award nomination for playing Bishop Lionel Stewart on the NBC medical drama series ER. In 2004, he guest-starred as former President D. Wire Newman in the The West Wing episode "The Stormy Present". From 2003 to 2005, Cromwell played George Sibley in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under, which earned him his third Emmy Award nomination in 2003. Along with the rest of his castmates, he was also nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2005 and 2006. The following year, Cromwell played Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in The Queen (2006), that earned Dame Helen Mirren an Academy Award for Best Actress. He also guest starred as Phillip Bauer, father of lead character Jack, in the sixth season of the Fox thriller drama series 24.
In October 2007, Cromwell played the lead role of James Tyrone Sr. in the Druid Theatre Company's production of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night, at the Gaiety in Dublin as part of the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival's 50th Anniversary.6 More recently, Cromwell played George Herbert Walker Bush in Oliver Stone's W. (2008), that chronicles the unlikely rise to power of his son up until the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In an interview, Cromwell revealed that Stone had originally offered the role to Warren Beatty and Harrison Ford.7
Personal life
He has long been an advocate of leftist causes. In an October 2008 interview, he strongly attacked the Republican Party and the George W. Bush administration, saying their controversial foreign policy would "either destroy us or the entire planet."7 In the late 1960s, he was a member of "The Committee to Defend The Panthers", a group organized to defend 13 members of the Black Panther Party who had been imprisoned in New York on charges of conspiracy. All thirteen were eventually released. In a 2004 interview with CNN.com, Cromwell praised the Panthers.8 He became a vegetarian in 1974 after seeing a stockyard in Texas and experiencing the "smell, terror and anxiety."9 He became an ethical vegan while playing the character of Farmer Hoggett in the movie Babe in 1995. He frequently speaks out on issues regarding animal cruelty for PETA, largely the treatment of pigs.10
Cromwell is known for his unusually tall stature; he stands at 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m).citation needed
Cromwell was married to Anne Ulvestad from 1976 to 1986. They had three children. He married his second wife, Julie Cobb, on 29 May 1986.
Filmography
Films
Television
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1974 |
The Rockford Files |
Terry |
Episode 1.3: "The Countess" |
| All in the Family |
Stretch Cunningham |
Appeared in three episodes |
| 1974, 1978 |
Maude |
Alfie
Dr. Farrington |
Episode 3.9: "Last Tango in Tuckahoe"
Episode 6.13: "The Obscene Phone Call" |
| 1975 |
Hot l Baltimore |
Bill Lewis |
Main cast member |
| Barbary Coast |
Roy |
Episode 1.4: "The Ballad of Redwing Jail" |
| 1976 |
Stranded |
Jerry Holmes |
TV film |
| Insight |
Norman |
Episode "Jesus B.C." |
| The Nancy Walker Show |
Glen |
|
| Once an Eagle |
J. L. Cleghorne |
Mini-series |
| 1977 |
Police Story |
Lutz |
Episode 4.20: "Ice Time" |
| The Girl in the Empty Grave |
Deputy Malcolm Rossiter Jr. |
TV film |
| M*A*S*H |
Captain Leo Bardonaro |
Episode 6.3: "Last Laugh" |
| Three's Company |
Detective Lannigan |
Episode 2.9: "Chrissy's Night Out" |
| Deadly Game |
Deputy Malcolm Rossiter Jr. |
TV film |
| 1977, 1979, 1981 |
Barney Miller |
Sgt. Wilkinson
Neil Spencer
Jason Parrish
Dr. Edmund Danworth |
Episode 3.20: "Group Home"
Episode 6.6: "Strip Joint"
Episode 7.22: "Liquidation"
Episode 8.5: "Stress Analyzer" |
| 1978 |
Alice |
Detective Ralph Hilton |
Episode 3.9: "Who Ordered the Hot Turkey?" |
| 1979 |
Eight Is Enough |
Coach Pollard |
Episode 3.23: "The Better Part of Valour" |
| Diff'rent Strokes |
Father O'Brien |
Episode 2.7: "Arnold's Hero" |
| 1979, 1980 |
The White Shadow |
Mr. Hamilton
Art Commings |
Episode 1.13: "Mainstream"
Episode 2.22: "The Death of Me Yet?" |
| 1980 |
Flo |
Leon |
Episodes 1.1: "Homecoming" and 1.4: "Take My Sister, Please" |
| Little House on the Prairie |
Harve Miller |
Episodes 7.1: "Laura Ingalls Wilder: Part 1" and 7.2: "Laura Ingalls Wilder: Part 2" |
| A Christmas Without Snow |
Reverend Lohman |
TV film |
| 1981 |
Barefoot in the Park |
Harry Pepper |
TV film |
| 1982 |
The Rainmaker |
Noah Curry |
TV film |
| Nurse |
Paul Moore |
Episode 2.9: "A Place to Die" |
| The Wall |
Francisek |
TV film |
| Born to the Wind |
Fish Belly |
|
| Father Murphy |
Farley Webster |
Episodes 2.5: "The Reluctant Runaway: Part 1" and 2.6: "The Reluctant Runaway: Part 2" |
| 1984 |
Buffalo Bill |
Unknown |
Episode 2.2: "Jerry Lewis Week" |
| Gimme a Break! |
Russell Cosgrove |
Episode 3.22: "Class of '84" |
| Spraggue |
Lieutenant Hurley |
TV film |
| Earthlings |
Simon Ganes |
TV film |
| 1984-1985 |
Dallas |
Gerald Kane |
Appeared in three episodes |
| 1985 |
Night Court |
Alan |
Episode 2.14: "Nuts About Harry" |
| Family Ties |
John Hancock |
Episode 3.15: "Philadelphia Story" |
| Riptide |
Joey Dietz |
Episode 2.17: "Girls Night Out" |
| Hardcastle and McCormick |
Jake Fellows |
Episode 2.20: "Undercover McCormick" |
| Knight Rider |
Curtis |
Episode 3.18: "Ten Wheel Trouble" |
| Wildside |
Fake Buffalo Bill |
Episode 1.5: "Buffalo Who?" |
| Hill Street Blues |
Lowenhandler |
Episode 5.23: "Grin and Bear It" |
| Hunter |
Seymour Robbins |
Episode 1.19: "Sniper" |
| The Twilight Zone |
Obediah Payne |
Episode 1.6: "Examination Day/A Message from Charity" |
| 1985-1986 |
Scarecrow and Mrs. King |
Gregory |
Episodes 3.4: "Tail of the Dancing Weasel" and 3.18: "Wrong Number" |
| 1986 |
Amazing Stories |
Francis |
Episode 1.15: "One for the Road" |
| Magnum, P.I. |
French Policeman |
Episode 6.21: "Photo Play"; uncredited |
| The Last Precinct |
Chief Bludhorn |
|
| Dream West |
Major General David Hunter |
TV mini-series |
| 1987 |
Easy Street |
Quentin Standard |
Episode 1.13: "Frames and Dames" |
| Alison's Demise |
Humboldt Hobson |
TV film |
| 1988 |
China Beach |
Ambassador at Large Roland Weymouth |
Pilot |
| Mr. Belvedere |
Roy Gallagher |
Episode 5.1: "Fat Cats" |
| Mama's Boy |
Unknown |
|
| 1989 |
Christine Cromwell |
Arthur |
Episode 1.1: "Things That Go Bump in the Night" |
| 1990 |
Life Goes On |
Bill Henderson |
Episode 1.13: "Thacher and Henderson" |
| Miracle Landing |
B.J. Cocker |
TV film |
| Matlock |
Judge Raymond Price |
Episode 5.2: "Nowhere to Turn" |
| 1990, 1993 |
Star Trek: The Next Generation |
Prime Minister Nayrok
Jaglom Shrek |
Episode 3.11: "The Hunted"
Episodes 6.16: "Birthright: Part 1" and 6.17: "Birthright: Part 2" |
| 1991 |
The Young Riders |
Jacob |
Episode 2.14: "The Peacemakers" |
| Jake and the Fatman |
Havilland |
Episode 4.19: "It Never Entered My Mind" |
| In a Child's Name |
Unknown |
TV film |
| 1992 |
Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation |
Mr. Skolnick |
TV film; credited as "Jamie Cromwell" |
| 1994 |
Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love |
Mr. Skolnick |
TV film; credited as "Jamie Cromwell" |
| The Shaggy Dog |
Charlie 'the Robber' Mulvihill |
TV film |
| Home Improvement |
Fred |
Episode 4.9: "My Dinner with Wilson" |
| 1995 |
Renegade |
Jeremy Sullivan |
Episode 3.15: "Stalker's Moon" |
| Picket Fences |
The Bishop |
Episode 3.20: "Saint Zach" |
| Indictment: The McMartin Trial |
Judge Pounders |
TV film |
| Hawkeye |
Unknown |
Episode 1.17: "The Visit" |
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine |
Hanok |
Episode 4.6: "Starship Down" |
| 1995-1996 |
Partners |
Mr. Saxonhouse |
Episodes 1.11: "Do We Have to Write You a Check?" and 1.18: "Can We Keep Her, Dad?" |
| 1996 |
Strange Luck |
Minister |
Episode 1.13: "Healing Hands" |
| The Client |
Officer Joe Denton |
Episode 1.17: "The High Ground" |
| 1999 |
A Slight Case of Murder |
John Edgerson |
TV film |
| RKO 281 |
William Randolph Hearst |
TV film
Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 2000 |
Fail Safe |
Gordon Knapp |
TV play |
| 2001 |
ER |
Bishop Stewart |
Appeared in four episodes
Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor – Drama Series |
| Star Trek: Enterprise |
Dr. Zefram Cochrane |
Episode 1.1: "Broken Bow: Part 1"
Cromwell also appeared in archive footage in Episode 4.18: "In a Mirror, Darkly" |
| Citizen Baines |
Senator Elliot Baines |
Appeared in all seven episodes |
| 2002 |
A Death in the Family |
Joel Lynch |
TV film |
| The Magnificent Ambersons |
Major Amberson |
TV film |
| RFK |
President Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
| 2003 |
Angels in America |
Henry |
TV mini-series; chapters 1 and 4 |
| 2003-2005 |
Six Feet Under |
George Sibley |
Appeared in 27 episodes
Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2005, 2006) |
| 2004 |
The West Wing |
President D. Wire Newman |
Episode 5.10: "The Stormy Present" |
| 'Salem's Lot |
Father Donald Callahan |
TV mini-series |
| 2005 |
Pope John Paul II |
Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha |
|
| 2006 |
Avenger |
Paul Devereaux |
TV film |
| 2007 |
24 |
Phillip Bauer |
Appeared in eight episodes |
| Masters of Science Fiction |
Randolph Ludwin |
Episode 1.6: "Watchbird" |
| 2008 |
Hit Factor |
Orson Fierce |
Also producer |
| My Own Worst Enemy |
Alistar Trumble |
Appeared in six episodes |
| 2009 |
Strikeout |
Director |
TV film |
| Impact |
Lloyd |
TV mini-series |
| The Last Days of Lehman Brothers |
Hank Paulson |
Docu-drama |
Theatre
References
External links