Biography
He was born in London, Ontario, Canada, one of five children of Hume Blake Cronyn (a businessman and a Member of Parliament for London, and for whom Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory and asteroid (12050) Humecronyn are named) and his wife Frances Amelia Labatt, of the brewing company family. His grandfather was Verschoyle Cronin. His great-grandfather was Bishop Benjamin Cronyn, founder of Huron College at the University of Western Ontario. His great-uncle Benjamin Jr. was both a prominent citizen and early mayor of London, Ontario. Benjamin Jr. was later indicted for fraud and fled to Vermont. During his tenure in London he built a mansion called Oakwood, which currently serves as the head office of the Info-Tech Research Group.
Stage career
Hume Cronyn studied drama at McGill University, and continued his acting studies under Max Reinhardt and at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 1934, he made his Broadway debut as a janitor in "Hipper's Holiday" and became known for his versatility, playing a number of different roles on stage.
Film career
His initial Hollywood film was in 1943 in Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt. He later appeared in that director's Lifeboat and was a writer for the screenplays of Rope and Under Capricorn. He was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his performance in The Seventh Cross in 1944.
Personal life
Cronyn was married to actress Jessica Tandy from 1942 until her death in 1994, and appeared with her in many of their more memorable dramatic stage, film and TV outings, including The Gin Game, Foxfire, Cocoon and Cocoon: The Return.
He became an American citizen in 1966. His 1991 autobiography was called A Terrible Liar (ISBN 0688128440).
Hume Cronyn married author Susan Cooper in July 1996. In 1988, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He died at age 91 of prostate cancer at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Hume Cronyn was a cousin of Canadian-born theater producer, Robert Whitehead.
Broadway appearances
Hipper's Holiday - 1934
High Tor - 1937
There's Always a Breeze - 1938
Escape This Night - 1938
Off to Buffalo - 1939
Three Sisters - 1939
The Weak Link - 1940
Retreat to Pleasure - 1940
Mr. Big - 1941
Portrait of a Madonna - 1946 (Director)
The Survivors - 1948
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep - 1950
Hilda Crane - 1950
The Little Blue Light - 1951
The Fourposter - 1951
The Honeys - 1955
A Day By The Sea - 1955
The Egghead - 1957
The Man in the Dog Suit - 1958
Triple Play - 1959
Big Fish, Little Fish - 1961
Hamlet - 1964 (Tony Award for role of Polonius)
The Physicists - 1964
Slow Dance on the Killing Ground - 1964
A Delicate Balance - 1966
Promenade, All! - 1972
Noël Coward in Two Keys - 1974
The Gin Game - 1977 (performed, produced)
Foxfire - 1982 (performed, wrote play and lyrics)
The Petition - 1986
Filmography
Shadow of a Doubt - 1943
Phantom of the Opera - 1943
The Cross of Lorraine - 1943
Lifeboat - 1944
The Seventh Cross - 1944
Main Street After Dark - 1945
The Sailor Takes a Wife - 1945
A Letter for Evie - 1945
Ziegfeld Follies - 1946
The Postman Always Rings Twice - 1946
The Green Years - 1946
The Beginning or the End - 1947
Brute Force - 1947
The Bride Goes Wild - 1948
Top o' the Morning - 1949
People Will Talk - 1951
Crowded Paradise - 1956
The Moon and Sixpence - 1959 (television)
A Doll's House - 1959 - (television)
Juno and the Paycock - 1960 - (television)
Sunrise at Campobello - 1960
Cleopatra - 1963
Hamlet - 1964
The Arrangement - 1969
Gaily, Gaily - 1969
There Was a Crooked Man... - 1970
The Parallax View - 1974
Conrack - 1974
Rollover - 1981
Honky Tonk Freeway - 1981
The Gin Game - 1981 - (television)
The World According to Garp - 1982
Impulse - 1984
Brewster's Millions - 1985
Cocoon - 1985
*batteries not included - 1987
Foxfire - 1987 - (television)
Cocoon: The Return - 1988
Day One - 1989 - (television)
Age-Old Friends - 1989 - (television)
Christmas on Division Street - 1991 - (television)
Broadway Bound - 1992 - (television)
To Dance with the White Dog - 1993 - (television)
The Pelican Brief - 1993
Camilla - 1994
Marvin's Room - 1996
12 Angry Men - 1997 - (television)
Alone - 1997 - (television)
Seasons of Love - 1998 - (television)
Sea People - 1999 - (television)
Santa and Pete - 1999 - (television)
Yesterday's Children - 2000 - (television)
Off Season - 2001 - (television)
