Famous Canadian-American actor Hume Cronyn performed on both theatre and screen. He was born in London, Ontario, Canada, and made his acting debut in the play “Hipper’s Holiday” as a supporting part. Over the following several years, he played a number of roles on stage. He made his acting debut in Alfred Hitchcock’s psychological thriller “Shadow of a Doubt” in a minor part. The movie received an Oscar nomination. Cronyn made numerous other popular movies throughout the ensuing years. He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the movie “The Seventh Cross.” The movie was also financially successful. ‘Cocoon: The Return,’ a science fiction comedy drama film about some aliens and their human partners who are searching for specific cocoons, is one of his other important works. Additionally, he had a significant part in the American drama movie “Marvin’s Room.” He was nominated for the “Screen Actors Guild Award” as a result. Cronyn has won a number of awards for his contributions to theater and movies. Both the Canadian Walk of Fame and the American Theater Hall of Fame inducted him. Additionally, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Early Childhood & Life
On July 18, 1911, Hume Blake Cronyn Jr. was born in London, Ontario, Canada. His father, Hume Blake Cronyn Sr., was a businessman and a representative for London in parliament. Heir to the Labatt Brewing Company was his mother Frances Amelia.
He attended the Elmwood School before continuing his education at Ridley College and McGill University. He was also an amateur boxer at the time. He also pursued his education at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Hume Cronyn’s Career
Hume In 1934, Cronyn made his Broadway debut in the play “Hipper’s Holiday,” playing the part of a janitor. He performed in a number of additional theatrical roles throughout the ensuing several years.
In the 1943 psychological suspense picture “Shadow of a Doubt,” he made his acting debut. He played a supporting role in the Alfred Hitchcock-directed movie. The film received an Oscar nomination. Cronyn’s subsequent role was in Hitchcock’s suspenseful life-saving drama “Lifeboat.” He played a supporting character in the movie. Three Oscar nominations were received for it.
He had a significant part in Fred Zinnemann’s drama film “The Seventh Cross” in 1944. The narrative, which took place in Nazi Germany, focused on a prisoner who escaped from a concentration camp. Cronyn received an Oscar nomination for the movie. He had a minor part in the 1946 movie “The Green Years.” The movie received two Oscar nominations and was a great blockbuster.
Following that, Cronyn contributed to the screenplays for the films “Rope” (1948) and “Under Capricorn” (1949).
Over the following few years, he made additional appearances in movies like “Brute Force” (1947), “Crowded Paradise” (1956), “Sunrise at Campobello” (1960), and “Cleopatra” (1963). He earned the Tony Award in 1964 for his portrayal of Hamlet in Richard Burton’s “Hamlet.”
There Was a Crooked Man… (1970), Cocoon (1985), Cocoon: The Return (1988), and Camilla are some of the notable movies he also acted in (1994).
He had also appeared in many TV show episodes as a guest star over the course of his career. A Doll’s House (1959), The Gin Game (1981), Foxfire (1987), Age-old Friends (1989), and 12 Angry Men were only a few of the television movies in which he appeared (1997).
Hume’s Bigger Works
One of Hume Cronyn’s best-known works, “The Seventh Cross,” was a drama movie that was helmed by Fred Zinnemann in 1944. Spencer Tracy, Signe Hasso, Jessica Tandy, Herbert Rudley, Felix Bressart, and Agnes Moorehead were among the other actors in the movie.
The plot involved a prisoner breaking out of a concentration camp while taking place in Nazi Germany. Despite having a $1.3 million budget, the movie made $3.6 million in revenue. Cronyn received his first and only Oscar nomination as a result.
Cronyn also produced a successful 1946 American drama picture titled “The Green Years.” Victor Saville was the director of the movie. It was based on AJ Cronin’s novel of the same name, which came out two years earlier. The cast also featured Charles Coburn, Tom Drake, Beverley Tyler, Gladys Cooper, and Dean Stockwell in addition to Cronyn. The movie tripled it’s budget thanks to its commercial success. Additionally, it received two Oscar nods.
Another one of his notable works was “Cocoon,” a Ron Howard-helmed American sci-fi comedy drama. The movie was adapted from David Saperstein’s book of the same name. A group of senior citizens and their meeting with aliens was the subject of the tale. The movie enjoyed great commercial success. It also received numerous honors, including two Oscars. Criticism of it was received well.
In Bob Larbey’s 1989 television drama film “Age-Old Friends,” Cronyn portrayed the main character. Two guys at a retirement community battle for their independence and dignity in the novel. Cronyn received the coveted “Primetime Emmy Award” for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie” because of the movie.
Recognition & Achievements
Hume Cronyn received an Oscar nomination for “Best Supporting Actor” in 1944 for his work in the movie “The Seventh Cross.”
He has received numerous honors, three of which are Primetime Emmy Awards for his work in the TV movies “Age-Old Friends” (1989), “Broadway Bound” (1992), and “To Dance with the White Dog” (1993).
Cronyn earned the Tony Award in 1964 for his outstanding performance in Richard Burton’s “Hamlet.”
He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1974 along with his wife Jessica Tandy.
Both the American Theatre Hall of Fame and the Canda’s Walk of Fame inducted Cronyn in 1979 and 1999, respectively. Additionally, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
He also earned the “125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal” in 1992, among other accolades. He was given the Canadian equivalent of the “Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal” in 2002.
Personal Hume Cronyn’s first marriage to Emily Woodruff ended in divorce after only a brief period of time. After that, in 1942, he wed Jessica Tandy. The duo co-starred in a number of iconic films. Tandy, a daughter, and Christopher, a son, were their two children.
Cronyn wed Susan Cooper, an English author, and dramatist after Jessica passed away. Just one month shy of his 92nd birthday, Cronyn passed away from prostate cancer on June 15, 2003.
Estimated Net Worth
Hume is among the wealthiest and most well-liked actors in movies. Hume Cronyn’s net worth is roughly $1.5 million, according to our analysis of data from sources like Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.