JC
Photo of James Cromwell

James Cromwell

Actor, ProducerBorn January 27, 1940 (85 years)
James Oliver Cromwell (born 27 January 1940) is an American film and television actor, probably best known for his role as Dr. Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact. 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 29 May 1986.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • L.A. Confidential
  • The Artist
  • The Promise
  • W.
  • The Snow Walker
  • The Trials of Cate McCall
  • Renegade
  • Hunter
  • Still Mine
  • Oh, God! You Devil
  • The Young Riders
  • Masters of Science Fiction
  • Cowgirls 'n Angels
  • Mondo Hollywoodland
  • The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made
  • Never Too Late
  • Hawkeye
  • Running for Good: The Fiona Oakes Documentary
  • Owd Bob
  • A Christmas Without Snow

Known For

  • The Green Mile
  • I, Robot
  • L.A. Confidential
  • Spider-Man 3
  • The Longest Yard
  • Big Hero 6
  • The Artist
  • Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
  • Surrogates
  • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
  • The Sum of All Fears
  • The Queen
  • Deep Impact
  • Babe
  • The General's Daughter
  • Eraser
  • Space Cowboys
  • American Horror Story
  • The People vs. Larry Flynt
  • Star Trek: First Contact
  • Becoming Jane
  • Succession
  • Babe: Pig in the City
  • Six Feet Under

Featured Videos

    Filmography

    2024
    Murder in a Small Town (2024) (TV Series) · as George Wilcox
    2024
    Rebel Ridge · as Judge
    2024
    Sugar (2024) (TV Series) · as Jonathan Siegel
    2023
    Merry Little Batman · as Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
    2022
    2022
    Julia (2022) (TV Series) · as John Mcwilliams
    2021
    Law & Order: Organized Crime (TV Series) · as Miles Darman
    2020
    Emperor · as John Brown
    2020
    Star Trek: Lower Decks (TV Series) · as Dr. Zefram Cochrane (voice)
    2020
    Never Too Late · as Jack Bronson
    2020
    Operation Buffalo (TV Series) · as Cranky
    2019
    The Laundromat · as Joseph David Martin
    2019
    The Family (2019) (TV Series) · as Douglas Coe
    2019
    2018
    Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom · as Benjamin Lockwood
    2018
    Succession (TV Series) · as Ewan Roy
    2017
    Counterpart (TV Series) · as Yanek
    2017
    Big Hero 6 The Series (TV Series) · as Callaghan
    2017
    Marshall · as The Judge
    2016
    The Promise · as Henry Morgenthau Sr.
    2016
    Berlin Station (TV Series) · as Gilbert Dorn
    2016
    The Young Pope (TV Series) · as Cardinal Michael Spencer
    2016
    The Detour (TV Series) · as J.r.
    2014
    Big Hero 6 · as Professor Robert Callaghan (voice)
    2014
    In Between Songs · as Narrator
    2014
    Murder in the First (TV Series) · as Warren Daniels
    2014
    Halt and Catch Fire (TV Series) · as Jacob Wheeler
    2014
    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (TV Series) · as Albert Fall
    2013
    2013
    Betrayal (TV Series) · as Thatcher Karsten
    2013
    Do No Harm (TV Series) · as Dr. Phillip Charmelo
    2012
    Still Mine · as Craig Morrison
    2012
    Memorial Day · as Bud Vogel
    2012
    Cowgirls 'n Angels · as Terence Parker
    2012
    Soldiers of Fortune · as Haussman
    2011
    Hide Away · as The Ancient Mariner
    2011
    Admissions · as The Clerk
    2011
    The Artist · as Clifton
    2011
    American Horror Story (TV Series) · as Dr. Arthur Arden
    2010
    Under the Roman Sky · as Pope Pius Xii
    2010
    Secretariat · as Ogden Phipps
    2010
    Boardwalk Empire (TV Series) · as Andrew W. Mellon
    2009
    Beyond All Boundaries · as Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift / Fleet Admiral William Halsey
    2009
    Surrogates · as Dr. Lionel Canter
    2009
    2009
    Impact (TV Series) · as Lloyd
    2009
    A Lonely Place for Dying · as Howard Simons
    2008
    W. · as George H.w. Bush
    2008
    My Own Worst Enemy (TV Series) · as Alistair Trumbull
    2007
    2007
    Tortured · as Jack
    2007
    Spider-Man 3 · as Captain Stacey
    2007
    Becoming Jane · as Mr. Austen
    2007
    Dante's Inferno · as Virgil (voice)
    2006
    The Queen · as Philip Of Edinburgh
    2006
    2006
    Avenger · as Paul Devereaux
    2005
    Pope John Paul II (TV Series) · as Cardinal Adam Sapieha
    2005
    2005
    2005
    In the Cutz (TV Series) · as Cast
    2005
    The Longest Yard · as Warden Hazen
    2004
    I, Robot · as Dr. Alfred Lanning
    2004
    2004
    Salem's Lot (2004) (TV Series) · as Donald Callahan
    2003
    A Carol Christmas · as Ghost Of Christmas Future (uncredited)
    2003
    Angels in America (TV Series) · as Roy's Doctor
    2003
    The Snow Walker · as Walter "shep" Shepherd
    2003
    Blackball · as Ray Speight
    2002
    RFK · as President Lyndon Baines Johnson
    2002
    The Sum of All Fears · as President Fowler
    2002
    Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron · as The Colonel (voice)
    2002
    Project Viper · as Mp 1
    2002
    A Death in the Family · as Joel Lynch
    2001
    The Magnificent Ambersons · as Major Amberson
    2001
    24 (TV Series) · as Phillip Bauer
    2001
    Star Trek: Enterprise (TV Series) · as Dr. Zefram Cochrane
    2001
    Six Feet Under (TV Series) · as George Sibley
    2000
    Citizen Baines (TV Series)
    2000
    Space Cowboys · as Bob Gerson
    2000
    Fail Safe · as Gordon Knapp
    2000
    Central Casting · as Cast
    1999
    The Green Mile · as Warden Hal Moores
    1999
    RKO 281 · as William Randolph Hearst
    1999
    Snow Falling on Cedars · as Judge Fielding
    1999
    The Bachelor · as Priest
    1999
    The West Wing (TV Series) · as President D. Wire Newman
    1999
    A Slight Case of Murder · as John Edgarson
    1999
    The General's Daughter · as General Joseph Campbell
    1998
    Babe: Pig in the City · as Farmer Arthur Hoggett
    1998
    Deep Impact · as Alan Rittenhouse
    1998
    Species II · as Senator Ross
    1998
    Owd Bob · as Adam Macadam
    1997
    1997
    L.A. Confidential · as Dudley Smith
    1996
    The People vs. Larry Flynt · as Charles Keating
    1996
    Star Trek: First Contact · as Dr. Zefram Cochrane
    1996
    Eraser · as William Donohue
    1995
    The Client (TV Series) · as Officer Joe Denton
    1995
    Strange Luck (TV Series) · as Minister
    1995
    Partners (TV Series)
    1995
    Babe · as Farmer Hoggett
    1995
    Indictment: The McMartin Trial · as Judge Pounders
    1995
    1994
    The Shaggy Dog · as Charlie Mulvihill
    1994
    ER (TV Series) · as Bishop Stewart
    1994
    Hawkeye (TV Series) · as Longsworth
    1994
    1993
    1993
    Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) · as Hanok
    1992
    Renegade (TV Series) · as Jeremy Silimen
    1992
    Picket Fences (TV Series) · as The Bishop
    1992
    1992
    The Babe · as Brother Mathias
    1991
    In a Child's Name (TV Series) · as Official
    1991
    Home Improvement (TV Series) · as Fred
    1990
    American Dreamer (TV Series)
    1990
    Miracle Landing · as B.j Cocker
    1989
    The Young Riders (TV Series) · as Jacob
    1989
    Life Goes On (TV Series) · as Bill Henderson
    1989
    The Runnin' Kind · as Uncle Phil
    1989
    Pink Cadillac · as Motel Desk Clerk
    1988
    American Experience (TV Series) · as Clarence Darrow
    1988
    The Rescue · as Adm. Rothman
    1988
    China Beach (TV Series)
    1987
    Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) · as Jaglom Shrek
    1987
    1987
    1986
    L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Attorney Hutton
    1986
    Easy Street (TV Series)
    1986
    A Fine Mess · as Detective Blist
    1986
    Dream West (TV Series) · as Maj. Gen. David Hunter
    1986
    Matlock (TV Series)
    1986
    The Last Precinct (TV Series) · as Chief Bludhorn
    1985
    Amazing Stories (1985) (TV Series) · as Francis
    1985
    The Twilight Zone (1985) (TV Series) · as (segment "a Message From Charity")
    1985
    Explorers · as Mr. Müller
    1985
    Wildside (TV Series)
    1985
    Mr. Belvedere (TV Series) · as Roy Gallagher
    1984
    1984
    Hunter (TV Series) · as Seymour Robbins
    1984
    Revenge of the Nerds · as Mr. Skolnick
    1984
    Tank · as Deputy Euclid
    1984
    Night Court (TV Series) · as Alan
    1984
    Riptide (1984) (TV Series) · as Joey Dietz
    1983
    1983
    Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series) · as Jake Fellows
    1983
    1983
    Buffalo Bill (TV Series) · as Staunton Mcmoller
    1982
    The Rainmaker · as Noah Curry
    1982
    Knight Rider (TV Series) · as Curtis
    1982
    Family Ties (TV Series) · as John Hancock
    1982
    Barefoot in the Park · as Harry Pepper
    1982
    The Wall · as Francisek
    1981
    The House of God · as Officer Quick
    1981
    Father Murphy (TV Series) · as Farley Webster
    1981
    Gimme a Break! (TV Series) · as Russell Cosgrove
    1981
    Born to the Wind (TV Series) · as Fish Belly
    1981
    Nobody's Perfekt · as Dr. Carson
    1981
    Nurse (TV Series) · as Paul Moore
    1981
    Hill Street Blues (TV Series)
    1980
    Magnum, P.I. (TV Series) · as French Policeman, At Airport
    1980
    A Christmas Without Snow · as Reverend Lohman
    1980
    I'm a Big Girl Now (TV Series) · as Bartender
    1980
    Texas (TV Series) · as Reginald
    1980
    Flo (TV Series)
    1979
    The Chisholms (TV Series) · as John Purdy
    1978
    The White Shadow (TV Series) · as Mr. Hamilton
    1978
    Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series)
    1978
    The Cheap Detective · as Schnell
    1978
    Dallas (TV Series) · as Gerald Kane
    1977
    Deadly Game · as Deputy Malcom Rossiter Jr.
    1977
    The Girl in the Empty Grave · as Deputy Malcolm Rossiter Jr.
    1977
    Eight is Enough (TV Series)
    1976
    Three's Company (TV Series) · as Detective Lannigan
    1976
    Once an Eagle (TV Series) · as J.l. Cleghorne
    1976
    The Nancy Walker Show (TV Series) · as Glen
    1976
    All's Fair (TV Series)
    1976
    Alice (TV Series)
    1976
    Murder by Death · as Marcel Cassette
    1976
    Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (TV Series) · as Reverend Buryfield
    1975
    Barbary Coast (TV Series) · as Roy
    1975
    Hot L Baltimore (TV Series)
    1975
    Barney Miller (TV Series) · as Neil Spencer
    1974
    1974
    The Rockford Files (TV Series) · as Terry
    1973
    Police Story (TV Series)
    1972
    M*A*S*H (TV Series)
    1972
    Maude (TV Series) · as Alfie
    1971
    All in the Family (TV Series) · as Stretch Cunningham
    1960
    Insight (TV Series) · as George Spelvin
    1955
    Daddy Long Legs · as Extra (uncredited)

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