John Cullum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Cullum
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Cullum in 1953
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| Born | March 2, 1930 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1956–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Emily Frankel
(m. 1959; died 2024) |
| Children | JD Cullum |
John Cullum (born March 2, 1930) is a famous American actor and singer. He has performed in many plays and musicals on stage. He won two Tony Awards for his roles in Shenandoah (1975) and On the Twentieth Century (1978). A Tony Award is a very important award for theatre actors.
John Cullum also received Tony nominations for other shows. These include On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1966), Urinetown The Musical (2002), and 110 in the Shade (2007).
Many people know him from his TV roles too. He played Holling Vincoeur in the TV show Northern Exposure. He was also Dr. Mark Greene's father in the medical drama ER. He appeared as a judge in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and as Big Mike in The Middle.
Contents
About John Cullum's Life and Career
Early Life and Family
John Cullum was born on March 2, 1930, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He went to Knoxville High School. Later, he studied at the University of Tennessee. He was even on the university's championship tennis team.
John Cullum was married to Emily Frankel from 1959 until she passed away in 2024. They had one son, JD Cullum, who is also an actor.
John Cullum's Acting Journey
John Cullum started his acting career on Broadway in 1960. His first role was Sir Dinadan in the musical Camelot. He also filled in for other main actors in the show.
In 1964, he played Laertes in a Broadway show of Hamlet. He acted alongside Richard Burton, a very famous actor.
First Starring Roles and Awards
In 1965, John Cullum got his first main role on Broadway. This was in the musical On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. He earned his first Tony Award nomination for this role.
He then played Edward Rutledge in the musical 1776. He was known for his powerful song "Molasses to Rum." He also acted in the 1972 movie version of 1776.
John Cullum became very well-known for playing Charlie Anderson in Shenandoah. This musical started in 1974. He won a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award for this role in 1975.
After Shenandoah, he starred in On the Twentieth Century in 1978. He won his second Tony Award for this show. He also received more Tony nominations for Urinetown The Musical in 2002 and 110 in the Shade in 2007.
Television Appearances
Besides his stage work, John Cullum has been in many TV shows. He was a regular on the CBS series Northern Exposure. He played Holling Vincoeur, a tavern owner.
He also had many appearances on the NBC show ER. He played David Greene, the father of Dr. Mark Greene. He was a lawyer and later a judge named Barry Moredock on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
John Cullum also appeared in Mad Men and The Middle. In 2012, he played Leap Day William in an episode of 30 Rock.
Later Stage Roles
In 2010, John Cullum was in the musical The Scottsboro Boys. This show was about a true story of injustice in the 1930s. He was the only non-African-American actor in the cast.
In 2007, John Cullum was honored by being added to the American Theatre Hall of Fame. This is a big achievement for theatre actors.
In 2017, when he was in his 80s, he joined the cast of the Broadway musical Waitress. He played the character of Old Joe.
John Cullum's Acting Roles
Theater Performances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960-1962 | Camelot | Sir Dinadan | Broadway |
| 1964 | Hamlet | Laertes | Broadway |
| 1965-1966 | On a Clear Day You Can See Forever | Dr. Mark Bruckner | Broadway |
| 1970-1972 | 1776 | Edward Rutledge | Broadway |
| 1974-1977 | Shenandoah | Charlie Anderson | Broadway |
| 1978-1979 | On the Twentieth Century | Oscar Jaffee | Broadway |
| 1983 | Private Lives | Victor Prynne | Broadway |
| 1989 | Shenandoah | Charlie Anderson | Broadway Revival |
| 2001-2003 | Urinetown | Caldwell B. Cladwell | Broadway |
| 2006-2007 | Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! | Old Max | Broadway |
| 2007 | 110 in the Shade | H.C. Curry | Broadway |
| 2010 | The Scottsboro Boys | The Interlocutor / Judge / Governor of Alabama | Broadway |
| 2014 | Casa Valentina | Terry | Broadway |
| 2017-2018 | Waitress | Old Joe | Broadway Replacement |
Film Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Richard Burton's Hamlet | Laertes | |
| 1972 | 1776 | Edward Rutledge | |
| 1983 | The Day After | Jim Dahlberg | TV movie |
| 1999 | Inherit the Wind | Judge Merle Coffey | |
| 2006 | The Night Listener | Pap Noone | |
| 2011 | The Conspirator | Justice Wylie | |
| 2013 | Kill Your Darlings | Professor Steeves | |
| 2014 | Love Is Strange | Father Raymond |
Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–95 | Northern Exposure | Holling Vincoeur | Main role, 110 episodes |
| 1997–2000 | ER | David Greene | 15 episodes |
| 2003–11 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Barry Moredock | 11 episodes |
| 2007 | Mad Men | Lee Garner, Sr. | 2 episodes |
| 2009–18 | The Middle | Big Mike | 9 episodes |
| 2012 | 30 Rock | Leap Day William | Episode: "Leap Day" |
| 2015 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Daddy's Daddy | Episode: "Kimmy's in a Love Triangle!" |
| 2017 | Madam Secretary | Senator Beau Carpenter | 4 episodes |
Awards and Nominations
John Cullum has received many awards and nominations for his acting.
Awards John Cullum Has Won
- 1966 Theatre World Award – for On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
- 1975 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor, Musical – for Shenandoah
- 1975 Outer Critics Circle Award, Best Performances – for Shenandoah
- 1975 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical – for Shenandoah
- 1978 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical – for On the Twentieth Century
- 1982 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience – for his one-man show Whistler
- 2007 Inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame
Awards John Cullum Was Nominated For
- 1966 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical – for On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
- 1993 Emmy Award Best Supporting Actor in a Drama – for Northern Exposure
- 2002 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical – for Urinetown
- 2007 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical – for 110 in the Shade
See also
In Spanish: John Cullum para niños
