Hume Cronyn

Hume Blake Cronyn Jr. OC (July 18, 1911 – June 15, 2003) was a Canadian-American actor and writer. He had a prolific career across stage, television, and film. Born in London, Ontario, Cronyn was the son of a businessman and an heiress of the Labatt brewing company. He initially studied pre-law at McGill University before switching to drama, training under Max Reinhardt and at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In his early life, he was a noted amateur featherweight boxer. He made his Broadway debut in 1934 in 'Hipper's Holiday' and became known for his versatility. Notably, he won a Drama Desk Special Award in 1986, and the National Medal of Arts in 1990. Cronyn's first Hollywood film was Alfred Hitchcock's 'Shadow of a Doubt' (1943). He received an Academy Award nomination for 'The Seventh Cross' (1944) and won a Tony Award for 'Hamlet' (1964). Aside from acting, he also worked on screenplays, and was an active participant in the Stratford Festival. Cronyn was married thrice, with his longest marriage being to the actress Jessica Tandy, with whom he had two children and collaborated in numerous professional outings. He continued to act in later life, winning an Emmy for the TV Movie 'Age-Old Friends' in 1990 and appearing in films such as 'The Pelican Brief' (1993). Cronyn died in 2003, but his contribution to arts was acknowledged with several honours, including induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame and Canada's Walk of Fame.