John Cunningham, a dependable and deeply respected character actor whose career spanned nearly seven decades across Broadway, film, and television, has died at age 93.He passed Tuesday morning at his longtime Rye home, overlooking the Rye Golf Club. Known as a “working actor’s actor,” Cunningham’s career was defined by discipline, longevity, and dedication to his craft. In a 1997 interview, he said, “My pleasure is trying to get better… Be prepared to be alive.”
Cunningham appeared in 15 Broadway shows, including Company, Cabaret, Zorba, 1776, Titanic, The Sisters Rosensweig, and Six Degrees of Separation—where he originated the role of Flan Kittredge in 1990. His stage career began in 1960 when Moss Hart cast him as Zoltan in the national tour of My Fair Lady, before ending with his 2012 performance in Painting Churches at age 80.
His film roles included the reserved father in Mystic Pizza, the stern parent in Dead Poets Society, and appearances in Nixon, Shaft, and Starship Troopers. On television, he appeared multiple times on Law & Order and in series like 30 Rock and The Good Wife.
Born in 1932 in New Paltz, NY, Cunningham served in the Army and performed in an acting troupe in Europe. He earned a master’s from Yale Drama School and co-founded the Rye-based Playwrights and Players series. Survived by his wife Carolyn and family, Cunningham’s legacy lies in his quiet dedication and lifelong love of acting.