John Cunningham obit

John Cunningham, Veteran Broadway Actor, Dies at 93

He made it to the Great White Way 15 times and worked in films including ‘Mystic Pizza’ and ‘In & Out,’ where he helped Kevin Kline “be a man.” 

He was not on the list.

John Cunningham, the busy character actor who appeared in the original Broadway productions of Company, Cabaret and The Sisters Rosensweig and in films including Mystic Pizza and Dead Poets Society, has died. He was 93.

Cunningham died Tuesday at his home alongside the 11th hole at the Rye Golf Club in Rye, New York, his family announced.

During a career that spanned nearly 70 years, Cunningham starred as Flan Kittredge in the original 1990-92 Broadway production of Six Degrees of Separation, then played John in the 1993 film version. (Donald Sutherland portrayed Flan in the movie.)

His 15 Broadway credits included turns as Nikos in Zorba, Robert and Peter in Company, Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret, Nicholas Pym in The Sisters Rosensweig, John Adams in 1776 and Captain E.J. Smith in Titanic.

“In theater you get to do it again, and again, and again,” he said in an interview with Playbill in 1997. “My whole pleasure is trying to get better. So my ritual is to take time with myself, review what has happened, prepare myself so that inspiration can happen to me in the moment onstage. Be prepared to be alive.”

He portrayed Mr. Windsor, father of Adam Storke and Matt Damon’s characters, in Donald Petrie’s Mystic Pizza (1988), and he was Ethan Hawke’s dad in Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society (1989).

He was often cast as uptight fathers or corporate execs.

Offscreen, he got laughs as the voice on the motivational “How to Be a Man” tape that Kevin Kline’s English literature teacher listens to in Frank Oz’s In & Out, and he was heard as the Fed Net newsreel announcer in another 1997 film, Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers.

In 1986, The New York Times wrote a piece about Cunningham in which he was described as “ever-reliable and ever-employed” and “a working actor’s actor.”

The son of a high school principal, Cunningham was born on June 22, 1932, and raised in New Paltz, New York. He graduated from Dartmouth College, then joined the U.S. Army and performed for troops stationed in West Germany and France in plays including The Caine Mutiny Court Martial and The Rainmaker.

After the service, Cunningham earned his master’s degree from Yale Drama School, then headed to New York to pursue an acting career with classmate and lifelong friend Dick Cavett.

Selected after an audition with Moss Hart before he had even hired an agent, Cunningham was 27 in 1960 when he played the Hungarian phonetician Zoltan and served as Edward Mulhare’s understudy for the role of Henry Higgins for more than two years in the national and international company of My Fair Lady.

He made his Broadway debut in 1963 in the musical Hot Spot, starring Judy Holliday, and his final onstage appearance came off-Broadway in Painting Churches in 2012.

Cunningham also worked in soap operas including The Secret Storm, The Doctors, Search for Tomorrow, One Life to Live and Loving, and he appeared eight times on Law & Order from 1991-2008.

His résumé included the films The Big Fix (1978), Hello Again (1987), School Ties (1992), For Love or Money (1993), Roommates (1995), Nixon (1995), The Jackel (1997) and Shaft (2000) and guest spots on 30 Rock, The Good Wife, Damages and Blue Bloods.

With friend and fellow actor Frances Sternhagen, Cunningham initiated and conducted a series of fund-raising shows called Playwrights and Players at the Rye High School Performing Arts Center beginning in 1989 (he was a Rye resident since 1969). The series brought playwrights Wendy Wasserstein, A.R. Gurney, Romulus Linney, Robert Anderson and John Guare to the school.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 70 years, Carolyn Cotton Cunningham, a former Rye City Council member; his children, Christopher, Catherine and Laura; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Entertainment Community Fund.

 

Actor

Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and Will Estes in Blue Bloods (2010)

Blue Bloods

7.7

TV Series

Preston Rourke

2013

1 episode

 

Julianna Margulies in The Good Wife (2009)

The Good Wife

8.3

TV Series

Gene Osterman

2011

1 episode

 

Glenn Close and Rose Byrne in Damages (2007)

Damages

8.1

TV Series

Senior Law Partner

2011

1 episode

 

Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, and Jack McBrayer in 30 Rock (2006)

30 Rock

8.3

TV Series

Paul

2009

1 episode

 

Cupid (2009)

Cupid

7.1

TV Series

Grayson Davis

2009

1 episode

 

Alone in the Dark (2008)

Alone in the Dark

5.4

Video Game

Theophile Paddington (voice)

2008

 

One Life to Live (1968)

One Life to Live

6.9

TV Series

Walter HoneycuttCarl Eberhart

1982–2008

2 episodes

 

Miranda Otto, Lucy Liu, Frances O'Connor, and Bonnie Somerville in Cashmere Mafia (2008)

Cashmere Mafia

6.5

TV Series

Dan Brooks

2008

1 episode

 

Law & Order (1990)

Law & Order

7.8

TV Series

Defense Attorney Daniel MetzlerCobbDonald Walsh ...

1991–2008

8 episodes

 

Dan Hedaya, Robert Vaughn, Erica Leerhsen, Anson Mount, Jamey Sheridan, and Jake Weber in The Warrior Class (2007)

The Warrior Class

5.0

Video

J.J. Tierney

2007

 

Silver Bells (2005)

Silver Bells

6.4

TV Movie

Sylvester Rheinback

2005

 

Joshua Bell, Hugh Downs, Renée Fleming, Alan Gilbert, Lorin Maazel, Natalia Makarova, Audra McDonald, Zubin Mehta, Itzhak Perlman, Louis Perry, Beverly Sills, Martin Bookspan, and Fred Child in Live from Lincoln Center (1976)

Live from Lincoln Center

8.7

TV Series

Fosca's Father

2005

1 episode

 

DC 9/11: Time of Crisis (2003)

DC 9/11: Time of Crisis

4.5

TV Movie

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

2003

 

Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant in Two Weeks Notice (2002)

Two Weeks Notice

6.2

Justice of the Peace

2002

 

Adam Goldberg, Rick Hoffman, and Tom Everett Scott in The $treet (2000)

The $treet

7.3

TV Series

Mr. Sherman

2001

1 episode

 

Ricky 6 (2000)

Ricky 6

6.1

Officer #1

2000

 

Samuel L. Jackson in Shaft (2000)

Shaft

6.0

Judge

2000

 

Isn't She Great (2000)

Isn't She Great

5.4

Nelson Hastings

2000

 

LateLine (1998)

LateLine

6.8

TV Series

Bob Cornell

1999

1 episode

 

Tate Donovan, Kim Raver, and Louis Ferreira in Trinity (1998)

Trinity

6.9

TV Series

Father Glancy

1998

1 episode

 

The Jackal (1997)

The Jackal

6.4

Donald Brown

1997

 

Dina Meyer and Casper Van Dien in Starship Troopers (1997)

Starship Troopers

7.3

Fed Net Announcer (voice)

1997

 

Kevin Kline in In & Out (1997)

In & Out

6.4

'Be a Man' Tape Instructor (voice)

1997

 

States of Control (1997)

States of Control

6.3

Paul, the Director

1997

 

Sharon Stone in Last Dance (1996)

Last Dance

5.7

William J. McGuire

1996

 

Anthony Hopkins in Nixon (1995)

Nixon

7.0

Bob

1995

 

Madeline Kahn, Mary Tyler Moore, Gregory Harrison, Melina Kanakaredes, Kelli Williams, and Joe Morton in New York News (1995)

New York News

5.6

TV Series

Frank Elliot

1995

2 episodes

 

Peter Falk and D.B. Sweeney in Roommates (1995)

Roommates

6.4

Burt Shook

1995

 

Bill Cosby in The Cosby Mysteries (1994)

The Cosby Mysteries

4.5

TV Movie

1994

 

Will Smith, Stockard Channing, and Donald Sutherland in Six Degrees of Separation (1993)

Six Degrees of Separation

6.8

John

1993

 

Michael J. Fox and Gabrielle Anwar in For Love or Money (1993)

For Love or Money

6.2

Mr. Brinkerhoff

1993

 

As the World Turns (1956)

As the World Turns

6.3

TV Series

Emerson Gallagher

1992–1993

2 episodes

 

Brendan Fraser in School Ties (1992)

School Ties

6.9

Grayson Dillon

1992

 

Lifestories: Families in Crisis (1992)

Lifestories: Families in Crisis

7.2

TV Series

Mr. Carter

1992

1 episode

 

Swans Crossing (1992)

Swans Crossing

7.5

TV Series

Grant Booth #2

1992

 

Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society (1989)

Dead Poets Society

8.1

Mr. Anderson

1989

 

Guiding Light (1952)

Guiding Light

6.6

TV Series

CarreraWelles Carrera

1987–1989

2 episodes

 

Julia Roberts, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lili Taylor, Annabeth Gish, William R. Moses, and Adam Storke in Mystic Pizza (1988)

Mystic Pizza

6.4

Mr. Windsor

1988

 

Uma Thurman, Robert Downey Jr., and Anthony Michael Hall in Johnny Be Good (1988)

Johnny Be Good

4.6

Substitute (as John F. Cunningham)

1988

 

Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in Miami Vice (1984)

Miami Vice

7.6

TV Series

Miles Cowan

1988

1 episode

 

Shelley Long in Hello Again (1987)

Hello Again

5.3

Bruce Holt

1987

 

The Survivalist (1987)

The Survivalist

4.1

National Guard - H.Q. Staff

1987

 

Adam's Apple (1986)

Adam's Apple

TV Movie

George Markel

1986

 

Christian Slater in Twisted (1985)

Twisted

4.7

Jim Kempler

1985

 

Key Exchange (1985)

Key Exchange

4.9

Sloane

1985

 

Private Sessions (1985)

Private Sessions

5.1

TV Movie

Paul Rogers

1985

 

Rudy Fernandez in Ulo ng gapo (1985)

Ulo ng gapo

4.8

1985

 

Loving (1983)

Loving

7.0

TV Series

Garth Slater

1983

5 episodes

 

Nurse (1981)

Nurse

7.9

TV Series

Frank Martin

1981

1 episode

 

The Marvelous Land of Oz (1981)

The Marvelous Land of Oz

7.9

TV Movie

Women's Army of RevoltCitizen of Oz

1981

 

Gabe and Walker

TV Movie

Mr. Watkins

1981

 

Nick and the Dobermans

TV Movie

Roger Vincent

1980

 

Joe Don Baker in Eischied (1979)

Eischied

7.5

TV Series

1979

1 episode

 

George Segal and Glenda Jackson in Lost and Found (1979)

Lost and Found

4.9

Lenny

1979

 

Richard Dreyfuss in The Big Fix (1978)

The Big Fix

6.4

Hawthorne

1978

 

Husbands, Wives & Lovers (1978)

Husbands, Wives & Lovers

5.7

TV Series

Kincaid

1978

1 episode

 

Matilda (1978)

Matilda

3.7

Dave Holter

1978

 

Liza Goddard, Nerys Hughes, Joanna Lumley, Bill Maynard, Patrick Mower, Jon Pertwee, Magnus Pyke, Victor Spinetti, and Mollie Sugden in Whodunnit? (1972)

Whodunnit?

7.9

TV Series

Jean Claude Gillet

1978

1 episode

 

The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer (1977)

The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer

7.0

TV Movie

1977

 

Jane Krakowski, Matthew Ashford, Domini Blythe, Colleen Dion, Terri Eoff, David Forsyth, Lee Godart, Louan Gideon, Marcia McCabe, Jeffrey Meek, Jacqueline Schultz, and Mary Stuart in Search for Tomorrow (1951)

Search for Tomorrow

7.1

TV Series

Dr. Wade Collins

1971–1977

5 episodes

 

The American Parade (1974)

The American Parade

6.0

TV Mini Series

Fitz James O'Brian

1976

1 episode

 

Happy Endings

TV Movie

Dr. MacIntyre (segment "I'm With Ya Duke")

1975

 

Harold's Fairy Tale (1974)

Harold's Fairy Tale

6.8

Short

Narrator (voice, uncredited)

1974

 

Another World (1964)

Another World

7.1

TV Series

Dr. Dan Shearer

1970–1971

6 episodes

 

James Pritchett in The Doctors (1963)

The Doctors

7.1

TV Series

1963

1 episode

 

Marla Adams, Nicolas Coster, Christina Crawford, and Jada Rowland in The Secret Storm (1954)

The Secret Storm

5.5

TV Series

Chuck Bannister (1965)

1954–1974

 

Soundtrack

The Kraft Music Hall (1967)

The Kraft Music Hall

6.3

TV Series

performer: "I Am Free"

1969

1 episode

 

Self

Rosie O'Donnell in The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996)

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

4.2

TV Series

Self

1997

1 episode

 

LeVar Burton in Reading Rainbow (1983)

Reading Rainbow

8.4

TV Series

Self (voice)

1996

1 episode

 

Original Cast Album: Company (1970)

Original Cast Album: Company

8.0

Self - Peter

1970

 

Drummer Hoff (1969)

Drummer Hoff

7.0

Short

Self - Narrator (voice, uncredited)

1969

 

The Kraft Music Hall (1967)

The Kraft Music Hall

6.3

TV Series

Self

1969

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Six by Sondheim (2013)

Six by Sondheim

7.9

TV Movie

Self (archive footage)

2013