At 85, with a career spanning five decades and an Oscar nomination to his name, James Cromwell could be enjoying a comfortable retirement. Instead, he has cemented his reputation as Tinseltown's most principled and fearless troublemaker.
The Uncompromising Principles of a Hollywood Veteran
In a remarkably candid interview, the Babe and Succession star reflects on a lifetime of speaking truth to power in an industry that prefers silence and compliance. "You have to push back, or they will eat you alive," Cromwell states, his voice resonating with the conviction that has defined both his career and his activism.
His reputation for disruption is legendary. From being arrested for protesting against the University of Wisconsin's animal research to shutting down production on Boardwalk Empire over a foie gras scene, Cromwell has consistently put his principles before his paycheck.
A History of Speaking Truth to Power
This is not a man who shies away from confrontation:
- He publicly called out Aaron Sorkin on the set of The West Wing for serving lobster, citing the creatures' suffering
- He was famously arrested for storming the stage during a New York Metropolitan Opera performance
- He helped organise the first-ever strike in the history of Star Trek during production of Star Trek: First Contact
"I've been arrested multiple times. I've been thrown off sets. I've been blacklisted," Cromwell acknowledges matter-of-factly. "But if you see something wrong, you have to say something. The system counts on your silence."
The Price of Principle in Hollywood
Cromwell believes his activism has cost him numerous roles and millions of dollars throughout his career. Yet he expresses no regret, only frustration that more of his colleagues don't join him in speaking out against injustice, whether it's animal cruelty, environmental destruction, or workers' rights.
"The fear is palpable in this industry," he observes. "People are terrified of being cancelled, of not working again. But true cancellation comes from compromising your values, not from standing by them."
Despite the professional repercussions, Cromwell's career has flourished in unexpected ways. His portrayal of the brutally conservative media mogul Ewan Roy in Succession brought him to a new generation of viewers, proving that integrity and success aren't mutually exclusive – even in Hollywood.
A Legacy of Resistance
As he approaches his ninth decade, Cromwell shows no signs of mellowing. He continues to organise, protest, and speak out, embodying his belief that artists have a moral responsibility to challenge power rather than serve it.
His message to young actors entering the industry is characteristically uncompromising: "Know who you are and what you stand for before they tell you who you should be. Because if you don't define yourself, the industry will happily do it for you – and you might not like the result."
In an era of carefully managed celebrity personas and corporate-approved activism, James Cromwell remains that rarest of Hollywood commodities: a true original who measures his worth not by box office returns or awards, but by the integrity of his choices and the courage of his convictions.
