Pat Cronin, no stranger to TV and film, first came to ETSU as holder of the Basler Chair of Excellence in 1998 and he later returned as a faculty member.
JOHNSON CITY – An episode of the Lifetime network show "Army Wives" that aired earlier this month featured a guest appearance by East Tennessee State University's Pat Cronin.
It is one of three television and film projects Cronin has on the slate for this year. In addition to "Army Wives," he will appear in two upcoming films – Renaissance and also This World – that are currently in production.
"My job – and my true passion – is to train students to become professional actors, and these recent projects allow me to take my experiences in front of the camera back to the classroom and share with students what they can expect in the current industry," said Cronin, an ETSU professor of Theatre and Dance.
Cronin is no stranger to the screen. Throughout his career, he has appeared on numerous television shows, including "Home Improvement," "Seinfeld," "Family Matters," "Knots Landing," "LA Law," "Hill Street Blues," "Mad About You," "Cheers," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," "The Wonder Years" and "The Magnificent Seven." He has also appeared in the films Breast Men, Rocky V, My Blue Heaven and Splash.
Cronin first came to ETSU as holder of the Basler Chair of Excellence in 1998 and he later returned as a faculty member. In addition to teaching and directing, he oversees the Fine and Performing Arts Scholars program.
"It's amazing how so many aspects of the industry have not changed," said Cronin in describing his experience on the "Army Wives" set. "They flew me to Charleston and picked me up at the airport and immediately drove me to the costume shop where they selected the shirt, shorts and socks I would wear. The next day a limousine was sent to drive me to the set and it was like being transported back in time to the set of Splash or Rocky V. The process remains the same and my students will benefit from this knowledge."
During the "Army Wives" segment, which aired Sunday, July 8, Cronin appeared as Ken Upton, a Vietnam veteran in a wheelchair who receives assistance from Claudia Holden, played by Kim Delaney.
In addition his "Army Wives" appearance, Cronin says he is excited about his work on the film This World which is written and directed by two ETSU graduates, John Hardy, former associate artistic director at Barter Theatre, and Rick McVey, who has been a resident actor at Barter since his graduation from ETSU in 2005.
