Who Was John Cunningham? Actor Known for Dead Poets Society Dies at 93
John Cunningham had a career spanning nearly 70 years with 15 Broadway credits and roles in iconic films including Dead Poets Society and Mystic Pizza.
- On January 6, 2026, John Cunningham, veteran Broadway and film actor, died at age 93 at his home beside the Rye Golf Club 11th hole, his family announced.
- Cunningham's career spanned nearly 70 years, including 15 Broadway credits such as Cabaret, 1776, Company, and supporting roles in Mystic Pizza and Dead Poets Society.
- He earned a master's from Yale Drama School and studied alongside his lifelong friend Dick Cavett, then at 27 broke through in My Fair Lady and later made his Broadway debut in Hot Spot.
- Survivors include his wife of nearly 70 years, Carolyn Cotton Cunningham, their three children Christopher, Catherine and Laura, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and the family requested donations to the Entertainment Community Fund.
- Beginning in 1989, he and Frances Sternhagen created the Playwrights and Players series at the Rye High School Performing Arts Center, bringing playwrights Wendy Wasserstein and John Guare, and he recorded two memorable '90s voiceover roles.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Who was John Cunningham? Actor known for Dead Poets Society dies at 93
John Cunningham, a Broadway, film, and television veteran, passed away at 93 in Rye, New York. His distinguished career spanned nearly seven decades, featuring roles in My Fair Lady, Dead Poets Society, and various television series.
John Cunningham, actor who played Ethan Hawke and Matt Damon's onscreen dad, dies at 93
The "Dead Poets Society" and "School Ties" star also appeared in several acclaimed Broadway shows like "Company," "Cabaret," and "Six Degrees of Separation."ABC Photo Archives/Getty John Cunningham on 'Loving'John Cunningham, the veteran Broadway actor who appeared in films like Dead Poets Society and Mystic Pizza, has died. He was 93.A death notice announced that the actor died at his home in Rye, N.Y., on Tuesday. A cause of death was not imme…
John Cunningham Dies: Prolific Broadway Actor, ‘Dead Poets Society’ Dad Was 93
John Cunningham, a prolific Broadway actor who appeared in such acclaimed productions as the original stagings of Cabaret, 1776, Company, Six Degrees of Separation and The Sisters Rosensweig, and whose many screen credits included roles in Mystic Pizza, Dead Poets Society and School Ties, died Tuesday, January 6, in his Rye, New York, home. He […]
John Cunningham Has Died
John Cunningham, a Broadway actor who appeared in films beloved by generations of moviegoers, has died. Cunningham, who appeared in 1980s classics like Mystic Pizza and Dead Poets Society, passed on Jan. 6 in his Rye, New York, home. His death was confirmed by his family, who shared that the 93-year-old passed away “in his beloved Victorian home aside the 11th hole at Rye Golf Club.” 1- John Cunningham, a prolific Broadway actor who appeared in …
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