James Cromwell

Biography

James Cromwell is an American actor who trained at HB Studio and has worked in film and television since the 1970s. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Manhattan, he came from a performing family: his mother, Kay Johnson, acted, and his father, John Cromwell, both directed and acted. After a 1974 guest spot on The Rockford Files, he made his film debut in Murder by Death (1976). The 1980s brought supporting parts in Tank and Revenge of the Nerds (1984). He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Babe (1995), then appeared in Star Trek: First Contact (1996), L.A. Confidential (1997), The Green Mile (1999), The Queen (2006) and The Artist (2011). His television work brought an Emmy win for American Horror Story: Asylum and three nominations for Succession, and he voiced roles in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) and Big Hero 6 (2014).

86years old

Turns 87 on January 27in 103 days

Born January 27, 1940Los Angeles
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
James Oliver Cromwell (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 64
Career span: 48 years1976 to 2024

Genres

Drama58%, 37 films
Action33%, 21 films
Comedy31%, 20 films
Adventure17%, 11 films
Thriller16%, 10 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Early training
Cromwell earned a B.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University in 1964, and he also trained as an actor at HB Studio.
First role
Cromwell made his first appearance on television in a 1974 episode of The Rockford Files, where he played a tennis instructor named Terry.
First role
Cromwell's first lead role on television came in 1975, when he played Bill Lewis in the short-lived series Hot l Baltimore.
Behind the camera
In 2015, Cromwell served as an executive producer on the documentary Imminent Threat. The film looks at how the War on Terror has affected civil liberties.
Beyond film
Cromwell starred as James Tyrone Sr. in Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night, staged by the Druid Theatre Company at Dublin's Gaiety in October 2007 for the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival's 50th Anniversary.

James Cromwell movies on Netflix

Rebel Ridge2024IMDb rating 6.8as Judge
Merry Little Batman2023IMDb rating 6.4as Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
Prancer: A Christmas Tale2022IMDb rating 6.1as Bud
Emperor2020IMDb rating 6.0as John Brown
Never Too Late2020IMDb rating 6.0as Jack Bronson
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom2018IMDb rating 6.2as Benjamin Lockwood
Marshall2017IMDb rating 7.3as Judge Foster
The Promise2016IMDb rating 6.1as Henry Morgenthau Sr.
Big Hero 62014IMDb rating 7.8as Robert Callaghan (voice)
The Trials of Cate McCall2013IMDb rating 6.3as Justice Sumpter
Cowgirls n' Angels2012IMDb rating 6.1as Terence
Soldiers of Fortune2012IMDb rating 4.3as Samuel Haussman
Still Mine2012IMDb rating 7.4as Craig Morrison
Memorial Day2011IMDb rating 6.1as Bud Vogel
The Artist2011IMDb rating 7.8as Clifton
Secretariat2010IMDb rating 7.2as Ogden Phipps
Surrogates2009IMDb rating 6.3as Older Canter
Tortured2008IMDb rating 5.7as Jack
W.2008IMDb rating 6.3as George H.W. Bush
Becoming Jane2007IMDb rating 7.0as Reverend Austen
Spider-Man 32007IMDb rating 6.3as Captain Stacy
Avenger2006IMDb rating 5.7as Paul Devereaux
The Queen2006IMDb rating 7.3as Prince Philip
I, Robot2004IMDb rating 7.1as Dr. Alfred Lanning
Blackball2003IMDb rating 5.6as Ray
The John Garfield Story2003IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
The Snow Walker2003IMDb rating 7.3as Walter Shepherd
Project Viper2002IMDb rating 3.6as MP 1
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron2002IMDb rating 7.2as The Colonel (voice)
The Sum of All Fears2002IMDb rating 6.5as President Fowler
Fail Safe2000IMDb rating 7.4as Gordon Knapp
Space Cowboys2000IMDb rating 6.5as Bob Gerson
A Slight Case of Murder1999IMDb rating 6.9as John Edgarson
RKO 2811999IMDb rating 7.0as William Randolph Hearst
Snow Falling on Cedars1999IMDb rating 6.7as Judge Fielding
The Bachelor1999IMDb rating 5.1as Priest
The General's Daughter1999IMDb rating 6.4as Lt. Gen. Joseph Campbell
The Green Mile1999IMDb rating 8.6as Warden Hal Moores
Babe: Pig in the City1998IMDb rating 5.9as Farmer Arthur Hoggett
Deep Impact1998IMDb rating 6.3as Alan Rittenhouse
Species II1998IMDb rating 4.6as Senator Judson Ross
L.A. Confidential1997IMDb rating 8.2as Dudley Smith
Eraser1996IMDb rating 6.2as William Donohue
Star Trek: First Contact1996IMDb rating 7.6as Zefram Cochran
The People vs. Larry Flynt1996IMDb rating 7.3as Charles Keating
Babe1995IMDb rating 6.9as Farmer Arthur H. Hoggett
Indictment: The McMartin Trial1995IMDb rating 7.5as Judge Pounders
Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love1994IMDb rating 3.8as Mr. Skolnick
The Shaggy Dog1994IMDb rating 5.1as Charlie Mulvihill
Romeo Is Bleeding1993IMDb rating 6.5as Cage
Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation1992IMDb rating 3.9as Mr. Skolnick
The Babe1992IMDb rating 5.9as Brother Mathias
The Rescue1988IMDb rating 5.6as Adm. Rothman
Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise1987IMDb rating 5.1as Mr. Skolnick
A Fine Mess1986IMDb rating 4.8as Detective Blist
Explorers1985IMDb rating 6.4as Mr. Müller
Revenge of the Nerds1984IMDb rating 6.6as Mr. Skolnick
Tank1984IMDb rating 5.8as Deputy Euclid
The House of God1984IMDb rating 5.6as Officer Quick
The Man with Two Brains1983IMDb rating 6.4as Realtor
The Wall1982IMDb rating 6.9as Francisek
A Christmas Without Snow1980IMDb rating 5.7as Reverend Lohman
The Cheap Detective1978IMDb rating 6.4as Schnell
Murder by Death1976IMDb rating 7.2as Marcel

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Green Mile1999 Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mysteryas Warden Hal Moores
IMDb rating 8.61.6M votes
L.A. Confidential1997 Crime, Drama, Mysteryas Dudley Smith
IMDb rating 8.2664K votes
I, Robot2004as Dr. Alfred Lanning
IMDb rating 7.1622K votes
The Artist2011as Clifton
IMDb rating 7.8256K votes
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom2018as Benjamin Lockwood
IMDb rating 6.2388K votes
Surrogates2009as Older Canter
IMDb rating 6.3186K votes
The Sum of All Fears2002as President Fowler
IMDb rating 6.5135K votes
Big Hero 62014as Robert Callaghanvoice
IMDb rating 7.8562K votes

Most often with

Stephen Frears directed two of these films, Robert Moore two and Peter Medak two. Curtis Armstrong appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Curtis Armstrong

Robert Carradine

Larry B. Scott

John Goodman

Richard Dreyfuss

Robert Picardo

Stephen FrearsDirector, 2 films

Robert MooreDirector, 2 films Peter MedakDirector, 2 films

Films together

Curtis Armstrong5 films together, 1984 to 2002
Curtis Armstrong's page
- Project Viper2002IMDb rating 3.6Cromwell as MP 1Armstrong as Keach
- Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love1994IMDb rating 3.8Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickArmstrong as Dudley (Booger) Dawson
- Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation1992IMDb rating 3.9Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickArmstrong as Dudley 'Booger' Dawson, Esq.
- Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise1987IMDb rating 5.1Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickArmstrong as Booger
- Revenge of the Nerds1984IMDb rating 6.6Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickArmstrong as 'Booger'
Robert Carradine4 films together, 1984 to 1994
Robert Carradine's page
- Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love1994IMDb rating 3.8Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickCarradine as Lewis Skolnick
- Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation1992IMDb rating 3.9Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickCarradine as Lewis 'Lew' Skolnick
- Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise1987IMDb rating 5.1Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickCarradine as Lewis
- Revenge of the Nerds1984IMDb rating 6.6Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickCarradine as Lewis
Larry B. Scott4 films together, 1984 to 1994
Larry B. Scott's page
- Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love1994IMDb rating 3.8Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickScott as Lamar
- Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation1992IMDb rating 3.9Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickScott as Lamar
- Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise1987IMDb rating 5.1Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickScott as Lamar
- Revenge of the Nerds1984IMDb rating 6.6Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickScott as Lamar
John Goodman3 films together, 1984 to 2011
John Goodman's page
- The Artist2011IMDb rating 7.8Cromwell as CliftonGoodman as Al Zimmer
- The Babe1992IMDb rating 5.9Cromwell as Brother MathiasGoodman as George Herman 'Babe' Ruth
- Revenge of the Nerds1984IMDb rating 6.6Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickGoodman as Coach Harris
Richard Dreyfuss3 films together, 2000 to 2008
Richard Dreyfuss's page
- W.2008IMDb rating 6.3Cromwell as George H.W. BushDreyfuss as Dick Cheney
- The John Garfield Story2003IMDb rating 7.5Cromwell as HimselfDreyfuss as Himself
- Fail Safe2000IMDb rating 7.4Cromwell as Gordon KnappDreyfuss as President
Robert Picardo3 films together, 1985 to 1996
Robert Picardo's page
- Star Trek: First Contact1996IMDb rating 7.6Cromwell as Zefram CochranPicardo as Holographic Doctor
- Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love1994IMDb rating 3.8Cromwell as Mr. SkolnickPicardo as Chad Penrod
- Explorers1985IMDb rating 6.4Cromwell as Mr. MüllerPicardo as Starkiller / Wak / Wak and Neek's Father
Stephen FrearsDirector, 2 films, 2000 to 2006
All films by Stephen Frears
- The Queen2006IMDb rating 7.3Cromwell as Prince Philip
- Fail Safe2000IMDb rating 7.4Cromwell as Gordon Knapp
Robert MooreDirector, 2 films, 1976 to 1978
All films by Robert Moore
- The Cheap Detective1978IMDb rating 6.4Cromwell as Schnell
- Murder by Death1976IMDb rating 7.2Cromwell as Marcel
Peter MedakDirector, 2 films, 1993 to 1998
All films by Peter Medak
- Species II1998IMDb rating 4.6Cromwell as Senator Judson Ross
- Romeo Is Bleeding1993IMDb rating 6.5Cromwell as Cage
Also three films together4 more actors
- Bernie CaseyRevenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love (1994), Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation (1992) and Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
- Ted McGinleyRevenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love (1994), Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation (1992) and Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
- Donald GibbRevenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love (1994), Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise (1987) and Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
- Julia MontgomeryRevenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds In Love (1994), Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation (1992) and Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What James Cromwell's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

Top

Combined worldwide box office

$6.1 billion

38 of the 64 films have a worldwide figure.

38Worldwide figure
5US gross only
15Never in cinemas
6Figure not found

Top grosser

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom2018Benjamin Lockwood$1.3 billion

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 72% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom2018as Benjamin Lockwood
$1.3B21.7% of the total
2
Spider-Man 32007as Captain Stacy
$895M14.8% of the total
3
Big Hero 62014as Robert Callaghan (voice)
$658M10.9% of the total
4
Deep Impact1998as Alan Rittenhouse
$349M5.8% of the total
5
I, Robot2004as Dr. Alfred Lanning
$347M5.7% of the total
6
The Green Mile1999as Warden Hal Moores
$287M4.7% of the total
7
Babe1995as Farmer Arthur H. Hoggett
$254M4.2% of the total
8
Eraser1996as William Donohue
$242M4.0% of the total