James Cromwell
Born
January 27, 1940 (85 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
James Oliver Cromwell (born January 27, 1940) is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. Zefram Cochrane in “Star Trek: First Contact,” as well as his roles in “Babe,” “L.A. Confidential,” and “Spider-Man 3.” He has been nominated for an Oscar, three Emmy Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards during his career.
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. 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.
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." He became a vegetarian in 1974 after seeing a stockyard in Texas and experiencing the "smell, terror and anxiety." 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.
Cromwell was married to Anne Ulvestad from 1976 to 1986. They had three children. He married his second wife, Julie Cobb, on May 29, 1986.
Merry Little Batman
Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
2023
Prancer: A Christmas Tale
Bud
2022
The Immortal
Grandfather
2019
The Laundromat
Joseph David Martin
2019
Countdown to Year Zero
2019
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Benjamin Lockwood
2018
Marshall
The Judge
2017
The Promise
Henry Morgenthau Sr.
2016
50 Years of Star Trek
Self
2016
The Perfect Crime: Leopold & Loeb
Self - Narrator (voice)
2016
Walking the Mile
Self
2014
Big Hero 6
Professor Robert Callaghan (voice)
2014
In Between Songs
Narrator
2014
The Trials of Cate McCall
Justice Sumpter
2013
A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington
Self - Interviewee
2012
Still Mine
Craig Morrison
2012
Soldiers of Fortune
Haussman
2012
Cowgirls n' Angels
Terence Parker
2012
Hide Away
The Ancient Mariner
2011
The Artist
Clifton
2011
Memorial Day
Bud Vogel
2011
Farm to Fridge
Narrator
2011
Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
2010
Secretariat
Ogden Phipps
2010
Beyond All Boundaries
Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift / Fleet Admiral William Halsey
2009
Surrogates
Dr. Lionel Canter
2009
The Last Days of Lehman Brothers
Hank Paulson
2009
Starz Inside - Unforgettably Evil
Self
2009
A Lonely Place for Dying
Howard Simons
2009
W.
George H.W. Bush
2008
Tortured
Jack
2008
Spider-Man 3
Captain Stacy
2007
Becoming Jane
Mr. Austen
2007
Dante's Inferno
Virgil (voice)
2007
The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird
Self
2006
The Queen
Philip of Edinburgh
2006
King Leopold's Ghost
2006
Avenger
Paul Devereaux
2006
Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy
Narrator
2005
The Longest Yard
Warden Hazen
2005
Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde
Self
2004
I, Robot
Dr. Alfred Lanning
2004
The Snow Walker
Walter "Shep" Shepherd
2003
Blackball
Ray Speight
2003
RFK
President Lyndon Baines Johnson
2002
The Sum of All Fears
President Fowler
2002
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
The Colonel (voice)
2002
Project Viper
MP 1
2002
A Death in the Family
Joel Lynch
2002
Space Cowboys
Bob Gerson
2000
Fail Safe
Gordon Knapp
2000
RKO 281
William Randolph Hearst
2000
Snow Falling on Cedars
Judge Fielding
1999
The Green Mile
Warden Hal Moores
1999
The Bachelor
Priest
1999
A Slight Case of Murder
John Edgarson
1999
The General's Daughter
General Joseph Campbell
1999
Babe: Pig in the City
Farmer Arthur Hoggett
1998
Deep Impact
Alan Rittenhouse
1998
Species II
Senator Ross
1998
Owd Bob
Adam MacAdam
1998
The Education of Little Tree
Nonno
1997
L.A. Confidential
Dudley Smith
1997
The People vs. Larry Flynt
Charles Keating
1996
Star Trek: First Contact
Dr. Zefram Cochrane
1996
Eraser
William Donohue
1996
Babe
Farmer Hoggett
1995
Indictment: The McMartin Trial
Judge Pounders
1995
The Shaggy Dog
Charlie Mulvihill
1994
Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love
Mr. Skolnick
1994
Romeo Is Bleeding
Cage
1993
Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation
Mr. Skolnick
1992
The Babe
Brother Mathias
1992
Miracle Landing
B.J Cocker
1990
The Runnin' Kind
Uncle Phil
1989
The Rescue
Adm. Rothman
1988
China Beach: Pilot
Ambassador at Large Roland Weymouth
1988
Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
Mr. Skolnick
1987
The Last Precinct
Chief Bludhorn
1986
Explorers
Mr. Müller
1985
Revenge of the Nerds
Mr. Skolnick
1984
Tank
Deputy Euclid
1984
The House of God
Officer Quick
1984
The Man with Two Brains
Realtor
1983
The Rainmaker
Noah Curry
1982
Barefoot In the Park
Harry Pepper
1982
Nobody's Perfekt
Dr. Carson
1981
A Christmas Without Snow
Reverend Lohman
1980
The Cheap Detective
Schnell
1978
Peeping Times
Bernard Mantee
1978
Deadly Game
Deputy Malcom Rossiter Jr.
1977
The Girl in the Empty Grave
Deputy Malcolm Rossiter Jr.
1977
Murder by Death
Marcel Cassette
1976
Get Lost
Frederick (Red King)
Daddy Long Legs
Extra (uncredited)
1955
Night Vet
Dr. Abel Evergood
Murder in a Small Town
George Wilcox · (1 episode)
2024
Rebel Ridge
Judge
2024
Sugar
Jonathan Siegel · (8 episodes)
2024
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
Self · (1 episode)
2021
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Miles Darman · (2 episodes)
2021
Emperor
John Brown
2020
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Dr. Zefram Cochrane (voice) · (1 episode)
2020
Operation Buffalo
Cranky · (6 episodes)
2020
Never Too Late
Jack Bronson
2020
The Family
Douglas Coe · (5 episodes)
2019
That Guy... Who Was In That Thing 3: Trek Stars
Self
2019
Succession
Ewan Roy · (7 episodes)
2018
Counterpart
Yanek · (10 episodes)
2017
The Young Pope
Cardinal Michael Spencer · (10 episodes)
2016
Berlin Station
Gilbert Dorn · (1 episode)
2016
The Detour
J.R. · (3 episodes)
2016
Murder in the First
Warren Daniels · (1 episode)
2014
Halt and Catch Fire
Jacob Wheeler · (8 episodes)
2014
American Horror Story: Asylum
Dr. Arthur Arden
2012
La Classe américaine
Self
2012
The Artist: The Making of an American Romance
Self
2012
Hollywood as Character: The Locations of The Artist
Himself
2012
Admissions
The Clerk
2011
American Horror Story
Dr. Arthur Arden · (13 episodes)
2011
Sotto il cielo di Roma
Pope Pius XII · (2 episodes)
2010
Boardwalk Empire
Andrew W. Mellon · (1 episode)
2010
Impact
Lloyd · (2 episodes)
2009
My Own Worst Enemy
Alistair Trumbull · (6 episodes)
2008
Whatever You Desire: Making 'L.A. Confidential'
Self
2008
Masters of Science Fiction
(1 episode)
2007
Looking For Else
Self
2007
Pope John Paul II
Cardinal Adam Sapieha · (2 episodes)
2005
Salem's Lot
Donald Callahan · (2 episodes)
2004
A Carol Christmas
Ghost of Christmas Future (uncredited)
2003
Angels in America
Roy's Doctor · (4 episodes)
2003
The John Garfield Story
Self
2003
The Magnificent Ambersons
Major Amberson
2002
24
Phillip Bauer · (8 episodes)
2001
Citizen Baines
(9 episodes)
2001
Six Feet Under
George Sibley · (18 episodes)
2001
Walking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mile
Self / Warden Hal Moores
2000
The West Wing
President D. Wire Newman · (1 episode)
1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1999
The Client
Officer Joe Denton · (1 episode)
1995
Partners
(2 episodes)
1995
ER
Bishop Stewart · (4 episodes)
1994
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Birthright
Jaglom Shrek
1993
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Hanok · (1 episode)
1993
Home Improvement
Fred · (1 episode)
1991
American Dreamer
(1 episode)
1990
Christine Cromwell
(1 episode)
1989
Pink Cadillac
Motel Desk Clerk
1989
China Beach
(2 episodes)
1988
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Prime Minister Nayrok · (1 episode)
1987
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Jaglom Shrek · (2 episodes)
1987
Jake and the Fatman
(1 episode)
1987
Easy Street
(22 episodes)
1986
A Fine Mess
Detective Blist
1986
Matlock
(1 episode)
1986
Amazing Stories
Francis · (1 episode)
1985
The Twilight Zone
(segment "A Message From Charity") · (1 episode)
1985
Wildside
(1 episode)
1985
Oh, God! You Devil
Priest
1984
Hunter
Seymour Robbins · (1 episode)
1984
Spraggue
Lt. George Hurley
1984
Night Court
Alan · (1 episode)
1984
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
(2 episodes)
1983
Knight Rider
Curtis · (1 episode)
1982
Family Ties
John Hancock · (1 episode)
1982
The Wall
Francisek
1982
Foul Play
Bebet · (1 episode)
1981
Hill Street Blues
(1 episode)
1981
Flo
(1 episode)
1980
The White Shadow
Mr. Hamilton · (1 episode)
1978
The White Shadow
Art Commings · (1 episode)
1978
Diff'rent Strokes
(1 episode)
1978
Dallas
Gerald Kane · (3 episodes)
1978
Three's Company
Detective Lannigan · (1 episode)
1977
Eight Is Enough
(1 episode)
1977
Once an Eagle
J.L. Cleghorne · (7 episodes)
1976
The Nancy Walker Show
Glen · (12 episodes)
1976
All's Fair
(1 episode)
1976
Alice
(1 episode)
1976
Barbary Coast
Roy · (1 episode)
1975
Hot l Baltimore
(13 episodes)
1975
Barney Miller
Sgt. Wilkinson · (1 episode)
1975
Barney Miller
Neil Spencer · (1 episode)
1975
Barney Miller
Dr. Edmund Danworth · (1 episode)
1975
Barney Miller
Jason Parrish · (1 episode)
1975
The Rockford Files
Terry · (1 episode)
1974
Little House on the Prairie
(2 episodes)
1974
Police Story
(1 episode)
1973
M*A*S*H
(1 episode)
1972
All in the Family
Stretch Cunningham · (3 episodes)
1971
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Audience Member · (1 episode)
1944