Hume Cronyn
Canadian-American actor, playwright, and husband of Jessica Tandy.
Hume Blake Cronyn Jr. was born on July 18, 1911, in London, Ontario, and died on June 15, 2003. A Canadian-American actor, screenwriter, and playwright, he worked extensively in theater, television, and film. Over his career, he won three Primetime Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards, and was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. He was married to actress Jessica Tandy, and together they received the Kennedy Center Honor in 1986 and the National Medal of Arts in 1990. In 1999, he earned a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.
Cronyn was one of five children. His father, Hume Blake Cronyn Sr., was a businessman and a Member of Parliament for London, Ontario; the Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory at Western University and asteroid 12050 Humecronyn are named after him. His mother, Frances Amelia Labatt, was an heiress to the Labatt brewing company, being the daughter of John Labatt and granddaughter of John Kinder Labatt. On his father's side, his great-grandfather, the Right Reverend Benjamin Cronyn, was an Anglican bishop and founder of Huron College, which later became the University of Western Ontario. His great-uncle, Benjamin Cronyn Jr., was a prominent citizen and early mayor of London, Ontario, but was later indicted for fraud and fled to Vermont; he built the mansion Oakwood, now the head office of Info-Tech Research Group. Cronyn was also a cousin of theater producer Robert Whitehead and a first cousin of artist Hugh Verschoyle Cronyn. He was the first boarder at Elmwood School in Ottawa (then called Rockliffe Preparatory School), boarding there from 1917 to 1921. He later attended Ridley College in St. Catharines and McGill University in Montreal, where he joined the Kappa Alpha Society. As a young man, he was an amateur featherweight boxer skilled enough to be nominated for Canada’s 1932 Olympic boxing team.
After Ridley College, Cronyn attended McGill University, switching his major from pre-law to drama. He continued his acting studies under Max Reinhardt and at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 1934, the same year he joined The Lambs, he made his Broadway debut as a janitor in *Hipper's Holiday* and became known for his versatility in stage roles. He won a Drama Desk Special Award in 1986 and the National Medal of Arts in 1990. His first Hollywood film was Alfred Hitchcock’s *Shadow of a Doubt* (1943), followed by Hitchcock’s *Lifeboat
- born
- July 18, 1911, London, Ontario, Canada
- died
- June 15, 2003, from prostate cancer
- field
- Actor, screenwriter, playwright
- nationality
- Canadian-American
- known_for
- Stage and screen performances with Jessica Tandy; roles in Shadow of a Doubt, The Seventh Cross, Cocoon; Tony Award for Polonius opposite Richard Burton's Hamlet
Lore & Background
Cronyn was born in London, Ontario, one of five children. His father, Hume Blake Cronyn Sr., was a businessman and Member of Parliament; his mother, Frances Amelia Labatt, was an heiress of the Labatt brewing company. His paternal great-grandfather, the Right Reverend Benjamin Cronyn, was the first bishop of the Anglican diocese of Huron and founded Huron College. Cronyn attended Elmwood School, Ridley College, and McGill University, where he switched from pre-law to drama. He was an amateur featherweight boxer nominated for Canada's 1932 Olympic Boxing team.
Cronyn made his Broadway debut in 1934 as a janitor in Hipper's Holiday. His first Hollywood film was Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt (1943), followed by Lifeboat (1944). He worked on the screenplays of Rope (1948) and Under Capricorn (1949). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Seventh Cross (1944) and won a Tony Award for his performance as Polonius opposite Richard Burton's Hamlet (1964). He starred with Jessica Tandy in the radio series The Marriage (1953–1954) and later in many stage, film, and television productions, including The Gin Game, Cocoon, and Foxfire.
Cronyn married Emily Woodruff in late 1934 or early 1935 in a secret 'lavender marriage'; they divorced in 1936. He married Jessica Tandy in 1942; they had a daughter, Tandy, and a son, Christopher. After Tandy's death in 1994, Cronyn married author/playwright Susan Cooper in July 1996. He died on June 15, 2003, from prostate cancer at age 91.
Reader's Guide
Hume Cronyn's significance lies in his versatile career spanning stage, film, and television, and his enduring partnership with Jessica Tandy. He received major honors including three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, the Kennedy Center Honor (1986), and the National Medal of Arts (1990). His work with Alfred Hitchcock—both as actor and screenwriter—and his performances in films such as The Seventh Cross and Cocoon cemented his place in Hollywood history. Cronyn also contributed to Canadian culture, receiving the Order of Canada in 1988 and a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 1999. His legacy includes his autobiography A Terrible Liar (1991) and his association with the Stratford Festival, where he acted and served on the board of governors. His marriage to Tandy produced celebrated collaborations, and his later marriage to Susan Cooper continued his creative work.
Did You Know?
- Cronyn was an amateur featherweight boxer nominated for Canada's 1932 Olympic Boxing team.
- He bought the screenplay What Nancy Wanted from Norma Barzman, later filmed as The Locket (1946).
- Cronyn and Jessica Tandy were both awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degrees by the University of Western Ontario on the same day in 1974.
- His great-uncle Benjamin Cronyn Jr. was an early mayor of London, Ontario, but fled to Vermont after being indicted for fraud.
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