Actor James Cromwell pleads no contest in Wis. animal rights protest
Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell pleaded no contest in Madison, Wis., Monday to a charge of disrupting a University of Wisconsin Board of Regents meeting last month, The Associated Press reports.
Cromwell, 73, and fellow animal rights activist, 27-year-old Jeremy Beckham, were each charged with disorderly conduct after protesting cat experiments at the college.
Cromwell and Beckham were accused of holding large signs featuring a cat with metal planted in its head at the UW-Madison lab and shouting about the treatment of cats during the meeting.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Cromwell shouted, “This is not science, this is torture, and it is criminal! Shame on UW!” before he was led away from the meeting by police.
An attorney pleaded no contest on behalf of the men, who were ordered each to pay $263 in forfeitures and costs.
Cromwell was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the 1995 comedy "Babe." He also starred in such films as "The Artist," "The Green Mile," "L.A. Confidential," "Star Trek: First Contact" and "W."
The actor's television credits include “American Horror Story: Asylum” and “24.”
Cromwell also starred Minnesota-made historical war drama “Memorial Day,” which was shot in various parts of the state in 2011.
