Hume Cronyn Article Index for
Hume
Website Links For
Hume
 

Information About

Hume Cronyn




Hume Blake Cronyn, OC , LL.D ( July 18 , 1911June 15 , 2003 ) was a stage and film actor.


EARLY YEARS

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 the Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory and asteroid (12050) ''Humecronyn'' are named), and his wife Frances Amelia Labatt , an heiress of the brewing company of the same name.

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 ''.

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



EXTERNAL LINKS