James Cromwell
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting189
movieLiving With A Visionary
2026
Narrator (voice)
tvBAT-FAM
2025
Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth (voice)
tvMurder in a Small Town
2024
George Wilcox
movieRebel Ridge
2024
Judge
tvSugar
2024
Jonathan Siegel
movieMerry Little Batman
2023
Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
tvLaw & Order: Organized Crime
2021
Miles Darman
movieEmperor
2020
John Brown
tvStar Trek: Lower Decks
2020
Dr. Zefram Cochrane (voice)
tvOperation Buffalo
2020
Cranky
movieNever Too Late
2020
Jack Bronson
movieThe Immortal
2019
Grandfather
movieThe Laundromat
2019
Joseph David Martin
tvThe Family
2019
Douglas Coe
movieJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
2018
Benjamin Lockwood
tvSuccession
2018
Ewan Roy
tvCounterpart
2017
Yanek
movieMarshall
2017
The Judge
movieThe Promise
2016
Henry Morgenthau Sr.
tvThe Young Pope
2016
Cardinal Michael Spencer
tvBerlin Station
2016
Gilbert Dorn
tvThe Detour
2016
J.R.
movieThe Perfect Crime: Leopold & Loeb
2016
Self - Narrator (voice)
movieBig Hero 6
2014
Professor Robert Callaghan (voice)
movieIn Between Songs
2014
Narrator
tvMurder in the First
2014
Warren Daniels
tvHalt and Catch Fire
2014
Jacob Wheeler
movieThe Trials of Cate McCall
2013
Justice Sumpter
movieA Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington
2012
Self - Interviewee
movieStill Mine
2012
Craig Morrison
movieSoldiers of Fortune
2012
Haussman
movieCowgirls n' Angels
2012
Terence Parker
movieHide Away
2011
The Ancient Mariner
movieAdmissions
2011
The Clerk
movieThe Artist
2011
Clifton
tvAmerican Horror Story
2011
Dr. Arthur Arden
movieMemorial Day
2011
Bud Vogel
movieFarm to Fridge
2011
Narrator
tvSotto il cielo di Roma
2010
Pope Pius XII
moviePope Pius XII
2010
Pope Pius XII
tvBoardwalk Empire
2010
Andrew W. Mellon
movieSecretariat
2010
Ogden Phipps
movieBeyond All Boundaries
2009
Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift / Fleet Admiral William Halsey
movieSurrogates
2009
Dr. Lionel Canter
movieThe Last Days of Lehman Brothers
2009
Hank Paulson
tvImpact
2009
Lloyd
movieA Lonely Place for Dying
2009
Howard Simons
movieW.
2008
George H.W. Bush
tvMy Own Worst Enemy
2008
Alistair Trumbull
movieSpider-Man 3
2007
Captain Stacy
movieBecoming Jane
2007
Mr. Austen
movieDante's Inferno
2007
Virgil (voice)
movieThe Queen
2006
Prince Philip
movieAvenger
2006
Paul Devereaux
tvPope John Paul II
2005
Cardinal Adam Sapieha
movieThe Longest Yard
2005
Warden Hazen
movieI, Robot
2004
Dr. Alfred Lanning
tvSalem's Lot
2004
Donald Callahan
movieA Carol Christmas
2003
Ghost of Christmas Future (uncredited)
tvAngels in America
2003
Roy's Doctor
movieThe Snow Walker
2003
Walter "Shep" Shepherd
movieBlackball
2003
Ray Speight
movieRFK
2002
President Lyndon Baines Johnson
movieThe Sum of All Fears
2002
President Fowler
movieSpirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
2002
The Colonel (voice)
movieA Death in the Family
2002
Joel Lynch
movieThe Magnificent Ambersons
2002
Major Amberson
tv24
2001
Phillip Bauer
tvCitizen Baines
2001
Elliott Baines
tvStar Trek: Enterprise
2001
Dr. Zefram Cochran (uncredited)
tvSix Feet Under
2001
George Sibley
movieSpace Cowboys
2000
Bob Gerson
Walking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mile
2000
Self / Warden Hal Moores
movieFail Safe
2000
Gordon Knapp
movieSnow Falling on Cedars
1999
Judge Fielding
movieThe Green Mile
1999
Warden Hal Moores
movieRKO 281
1999
William Randolph Hearst
movieThe Bachelor
1999
Priest
tvThe West Wing
1999
President D. Wire Newman
movieA Slight Case of Murder
1999
John Edgarson
movieThe General's Daughter
1999
General Joseph Campbell
tvThe Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999
Self - Guest
movieBabe: Pig in the City
1998
Farmer Arthur Hoggett
movieDeep Impact
1998
Alan Rittenhouse
movieSpecies II
1998
Senator Ross
movieOwd Bob
1998
Adam MacAdam
movieL.A. Confidential
1997
Dudley Smith
movieThe People vs. Larry Flynt
1996
Charles Keating
movieStar Trek: First Contact
1996
Dr. Zefram Cochrane
movieEraser
1996
William Donohue
tvThe Client
1995
Officer Joe Denton
movieBabe
1995
Farmer Hoggett
movieIndictment: The McMartin Trial
1995
Judge Pounders
movieThe Shaggy Dog
1994
Charlie Mulvihill
tvER
1994
Bishop Stewart
movieRevenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love
1994
Mr. Skolnick
tvPicket Fences
1992
The Bishop
movieThe Babe
1992
Brother Mathias
movieMiracle Landing
1990
B.J. Cocker
movieThe Runnin' Kind
1989
Uncle Phil
moviePink Cadillac
1989
Motel Desk Clerk
movieThe Rescue
1988
Adm. Rothman
movieChina Beach: Pilot
1988
Ambassador at Large Roland Weymouth
tvStar Trek: The Next Generation
1987
Prime Minister Nayrok / Jaglom Shrek
movieA Fine Mess
1986
Detective Blist
tvMatlock
1986
Judge Raymond Price
movieThe Last Precinct
1986
Chief Bludhorn
tvAmazing Stories
1985
Francis
tvThe Twilight Zone
1985
(segment "A Message From Charity")
movieExplorers
1985
Mr. Müller
tvHunter
1984
Seymour Robbins
movieRevenge of the Nerds
1984
Mr. Skolnick
movieSpraggue
1984
Lt. George Hurley
movieTank
1984
Deputy Euclid
movieThe House of God
1984
Officer Quick
movieThe Rainmaker
1982
Noah Curry
tvKnight Rider
1982
Curtis
tvFamily Ties
1982
John Hancock
movieBarefoot In the Park
1982
Harry Pepper
movieThe Wall
1982
Francisek
movieNobody's Perfekt
1981
Dr. Carson
tvFoul Play
1981
Bebet
movieA Christmas Without Snow
1980
Reverend Lohman
tvThe White Shadow
1978
Mr. Hamilton / Art Commings
movieThe Cheap Detective
1978
Schnell
tvDallas
1978
Gerald Kane
moviePeeping Times
1978
Bernard Mantee
movieDeadly Game
1977
Deputy Malcolm Rossiter Jr.
movieThe Girl in the Empty Grave
1977
Deputy Malcolm Rossiter Jr.
tvThree's Company
1977
Detective Lannigan
tvOnce an Eagle
1976
J.L. Cleghorne
movieMurder by Death
1976
Marcel Cassette
tvMary Hartman, Mary Hartman
1976
Reverend Buryfield
tvBarney Miller
1975
Sgt. Wilkinson / Neil Spencer / Dr. Edmund Danworth / Jason Parrish
tvLittle House on the Prairie
1974
Harve Miller
tvAll in the Family
1971
Stretch Cunningham
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Audience Member
movieGet Lost
Frederick (Red King)
movieNight Vet
Dr. Abel Evergood
Production3
movieMondo Hollywoodland
2021
Executive Producer
movieRunning for Good: The Fiona Oakes Documentary
2018
Executive Producer
movieImminent Threat
2015
Executive Producer