Get to know James Cromwell: Biography, Age, Career, Net Worth, Height, Relationship & More
Robert King
Updated on January 04, 2026
James Cromwell is an American actor and activist known for his extensive work as a character actor, and has received a Primetime Emmy Award as well a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Babe.
James Cromwell is best known for his role as Dr. Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact and has been nominated for an Oscar, three Emmy Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards during his career.
James Cromwell started out as a character actor in supporting roles in the 1980s and has since appeared in numerous television movies and miniseries.
James Cromwell’s Biography
James Oliver Cromwell born January 27, 1940, is an American actor and activist known for his extensive work as a character actor, and has received a Primetime Emmy Award as well a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Babe (1995).
Some notable roles of James Cromwell include in Star Trek: First Contact (1996), L.A. Confidential (1997), The Green Mile (1999), The Queen (2006), W. (2008), Secretariat (2010), The Artist (2011), Still Mine (2013), and Marshall (2017). He has also voiced roles in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), and Big Hero 6 (2014).
James Cromwell is also well known for his roles in television including Angels in America (2003), Six Feet Under (2003–2005), American Horror Story: Asylum (2012–2013), Boardwalk Empire (2012-2013), The Young Pope (2016), Succession (2018–present), and Counterpart (2018–2019). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in American Horror Story: Asylum (2012).
James Cromwell’s first television appearance was in a 1974 episode of The Rockford Files, playing tennis coach Terry. A few weeks later, he began appearing regularly as Stretch Cunn ingham on All in the Family. In 1975, he made his television debut as Bill Lewis in the short-lived series Hot Baltimore, and as Captain Leo Baldonaro in the episode “Last Laugh” of MA
S*H. A year later, he made his film debut in Neil Simon’s classic detective spoof Murder by Death.James Cromwell made appearances in films with supporting roles in Tank and Revenge of the Nerds (both 1984). He guest starred on the sitcom Night Court, playing a mental patient, along with Kevin Peter Hall. He had starring roles in the critically acclaimed films Babe (1995), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), The Education of Little Tree (1997), L.A. Confidential (1997), The Green Mile (1999), The General’s Daughter, (1999) and Snow Falling on Cedars (1999).
James Cromwell’s first Star Trek role was on Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1990, in the season 3 episode “The Hunted”, followed by the 1993 episode “Birthright, Part 1” as Jaglom Shrek. He also played Dr. Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact (1996), the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot episode “Broken Bow”, and the 2022 Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3 premiere episode, “Grounded”. The Star Trek: Enterprise episode “In a Mirror, Darkly” reused some of the First Contact footage.
James Cromwell appeared in another Star Trek role on the television series Deep Space Nine, in the episode “Starship Down” as Hanok. He also voiced the Colonel in DreamWorks’ Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
In 2020, James Cromwell starred in the Australian comedy-drama film Never Too Late. He starred in Operation Buffalo, an Australian television comedy-drama series about the atomic bomb tests in outback Australia, which screened on ABC from 31 May 2020. He is featured in the HBO Max show Julia, as Julia Child’s father, John McWilliams.
In 2021, James Cromwell executive produced the psychedelic comedy Mondo Hollywoodland, directed by Janek Ambros, who also directed Imminent Threat. James Cromwell’s involvement in the civil rights movement during a multi-state theater tour of the Deep South in 1964 was a major influence on him. The courage of local activists and guest activists. James Cromwell played high school football with civil rights activist Mickey Schwarner who was murdered along with two fellow activists in Mississippi in 1964 struck James Cromwell. andconvinced him to become an activist.
James Cromwell then became involved in the anti-Vietnam War movement, and in the late 1960s served as a member of the Panther Party Advocacy Commission, formed to defend 13 Black Panthers imprisoned in New York on charges of conspiracy. All 13 were eventually released. In a 2004 interview with CNN, James Cromwell praised the Panthers.
In an October 2008 interview, James Cromwell criticized the Republican Party and the George W. Bush administration, saying their foreign policy would “destroy us or the whole planet.” He endorsed Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign in the 2016 US presidential election.
James Cromwell’s Nationality
James Cromwell is an American born in Los Angeles, California, United States.
James Cromwell’s Net Worth
James Cromwell has a net worth of $8 Million dollars
Where is James Cromwell from?
James Cromwell is from Los Angeles a sprawling Southern California city and the center of the nation’s film and television industry. Near its iconic Hollywood sign, studios such as Paramount Pictures, Universal and Warner Brothers offer behind-the-scenes tours.
How old is James Cromwell?
Born on January 27, 1940, James Cromwell is 83 years
James Cromwell’s Height & Weight
James Cromwell stands 6 feet 6¼ inches (1.99 m) tall and weighs 88 kg (194.01 lbs)
James Cromwell’s Career
James Cromwell is also well known for his roles in television including Angels in America (2003), Six Feet Under (2003–2005), American Horror Story: Asylum (2012–2013), Boardwalk Empire (2012-2013), The Young Pope (2016), Succession (2018–present), and Counterpart (2018–2019). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in American Horror Story: Asylum (2012).
James Cromwell’s first television appearance was in a 1974 episode of The Rockford Files, playing tennis coach Terry. A few weeks later, he began appearing regularly as Stretch Cunningham on All in the Family. In 1975, he made his television debut as Bill Lewis in the short-lived series Hot Baltimore, and as Captain Leo Baldonaro in the episode “Last Laugh” of MAS*H. A year later, he made his film debut in Neil Simon’s classic detective spoof Murder by Death.
James Cromwell made appearances in films with supporting roles in Tank and Revenge of the Nerds (both 1984). He guest starred on the sitcom Night Court, playing a mental patient, along with Kevin Peter Hall. He had starring roles in the critically acclaimed films Babe (1995), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), The Education of Little Tree (1997), L.A. Confidential (1997), The Green Mile (1999), The General’s Daughter, (1999) and Snow Falling on Cedars (1999).
James Cromwell’s first Star Trek role was on Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1990, in the season 3 episode “The Hunted”, followed by the 1993 episode “Birthright, Part 1” as Jaglom Shrek. He also played Dr. Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact (1996), the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot episode “Broken Bow”, and the 2022 Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3 premiere episode, “Grounded”. The Star Trek: Enterprise episode “In a Mirror, Darkly” reused some of the First Contact footage.
James Cromwell appeared in another Star Trek role on the television series Deep Space Nine, in the episode “Starship Down” as Hanok. He also voiced the Colonel in DreamWorks’ Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
In 2020, James Cromwell starred in the Australian comedy-drama film Never Too Late. He starred in Operation Buffalo, an Australian television comedy-drama series about the atomic bomb tests in outback Australia, which screened on ABC from 31 May 2020. He is featured in the HBO Max show Julia, as Julia Child’s father, John McWilliams.
James Cromwell’s Marital Status
James Cromwell married Ann Ulvestad in 1977, but they divorced in 1986 after having three children: Kate, John and Colin. James Cromwell then married actress Julie Cobb on May 29, 1986, but also got divorced in 2005for the second time. On January 1, 2014, for the third time, James Cromwell married actress Anna Stuart at the home of Stuart’s former Another World co-star Charles Keating.
James Cromwell is known for his height; at 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) as he is the tallest actor nominated for an Academy Award. His son John is even taller, standing 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m). In the 2012 film Memorial Day, John played the young Bud Vogel, while James played him as a grandfather, and both (father and son) Cromwells appear as the same character at different ages in American Horror Story: Asylum (2012) and the first season of Betrayal (2013).
James Cromwell’s Family & Siblings
James Cromwell is the son of actress Kay Johnson and actor and director John Cromwell, who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. His parents divorced in 1946. He has English, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.
James Cromwell graduated from The Hill School in 1958, and went on to Middlebury College, and Carnegie Mellon University, where he graduated with a B.F.A. in 1964. He received his acting training at HB Studio in New York City.
Why is James Cromwell famous?
James Cromwell is famous for his role as Dr. Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact.
James Cromwell’s Children
James Cromwell has three children named Kate, John and Colin. Kate Cromwell born in 1978, is the first and only daughter of James Cromwell. She is 45 years old and is said to be a freelance graphic designer and illustrator.
John Cromwell born in 1980, is the 43 year old son of James Cromwell. He is the first son of the actor, following in his footsteps known for movies such as Memorial Day (2012), American Horror Story (2011) and A .45 at 50th (2010).
Colin Cromwell born in 1982, is the 41 year son of James Cromwell who is also following in his footsteps as an actor and is known for Divergent (2014), Godzilla (2014) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).
James Cromwell’s Social Media
James Cromwell goes by the handle (@jamesocromwell) on Twitter but seems not to be on Instagram as there appears to be no handle linked to him.