Today is the 79th birthday of acclaimed actor and activist James Cromwell. With a career going back to 1974, Cromwell has close to 200 acting roles to his credit. He received an Oscar nomination for his role in 1995’s Babe as Farmer Hoggett (at 6’5″ he is the tallest actor to ever be nominated for an Oscar). He also played a supporting role in the following year’s Star Trek: First Contact where he became the first (and to date, only) actor to utter the phrase “star trek” in a Star Trek film or TV show. His other notable film roles over the years have included LA Confidential, The Green Mile, W., Big Hero 6, and The Longest Yard. He’s also played many roles on television over the years on shows such as Six Feet Under, ER, The Young Pope, Boardwalk Empire, and American Horror Story (for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie).

He’s also been a liberal activist for many causes dating back to the 1960s when he worked within the anti-Vietnam war movement as well as being a part of the Committee to Defend the Panthers. His activism and attitudes have not abated with age and he’s been arrested numerous times in recent years protesting a variety of causes with little indication that he plans on slowing down.

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