Cronyn, Hume (1911-2003), was a Canadian actor who gained success both on the stage and in motion pictures. He became known for his versatility as a character actor. In 1942, Cronyn married the British actress Jessica Tandy. They starred together in several stage plays, notably the two-character comedy dramas The Fourposter (1951) and The Gin Game (1977). They also starred together in several films and on television. Cronyn was nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actor for his performance in the war drama The Seventh Cross (1944). He also won a 1964 Tony Award for his performance as Polonius in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Cronyn was born on July 18, 1911, in London, Ontario. He studied at Ridley College and McGill University and made his stage debut in Montreal in 1930 while still a student. By 1934, he was acting on Broadway. Cronyn made his motion-picture debut in Shadow of a Doubt (1943), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. His other notable films include Lifeboat (1944), Brute Force (1947), Sunrise at Campobello (1960), Cocoon (1985), and Cocoon: The Return (1988). Cronyn wrote an autobiography, A Terrible Liar (1991). He was coauthor, with the English-born writer Susan Cooper, of the play Foxfire (1980). Cronyn starred in the play with his wife. He died on June 15, 2003.
