Alan Cumming

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For South African hammer thrower, see Allan Cumming.

Alan Cumming
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
  • singer
Years active1980–present
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouses
  • Hilary Lyon
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1985; div. 1993)​
  • Grant Shaffer
    ​
    (m. 2007)​
AwardsFull list
Websitewww.alancumming.com Edit this at Wikidata

Alan Cumming

Macbeth
(2013).

Cumming is known for his film roles in Circle of Friends (1995), GoldenEye (1995), Emma (1996), Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997), Spice World (1997), Eyes Wide Shut (1999),

the Spy Kids trilogy (2001–2003), Nightcrawler in X2 (2003), and Loki in Son of the Mask
(2005).

On television, Cumming is best known for his role in the

Instinct (2018–2019),the Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon! (2021–2023) and presents the Peacock reality game show, The Traitors. Cumming has written a novel, Tommy's Tale (2002), and two memoirs in 2014 and 2019.[1][2]

Early life

Cumming was born on 27 January 1965 in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland.[3] His mother, Mary Darling, was an insurance company secretary and his father, Alex Cumming, was the head forester of Panmure Estate, which is located near Carnoustie, on the east coast of Scotland, and is where Cumming grew up.[4] He has described the environment as "feudal".[5] He has a brother, Tom, who is six years older,[5] and a niece and two nephews. His brother is a property manager in Southampton, UK.[5] Cumming attended Monikie Primary School and Carnoustie High School.[6]

In his autobiography Not My Father's Son, Cumming describes the emotional and physical violence his father inflicted on him in his childhood.[7][8][9] His mother found it impossible to obtain a divorce until she was financially independent.[5] Cumming said that, after his early 20s, he did not have any communication with his father until just before the filming of his episode of the series Who Do You Think You Are? He then found out his father had believed that Cumming was not his biological son.[5] Later, Cumming and his brother took DNA tests that proved they were indeed his biological children.[7]

Cumming said that his difficult childhood taught him how to act by "needing to suppress my own emotions and feelings around him [his father] when I was a little boy".[10]

Career

1984–1999

In 1984, Cumming made his television debut in

Ghosts
.

Cumming in the gallery art work "Sliphost"

His feature film debut came in 1992 when he starred alongside

Scottish BAFTA Best Actor nomination. American audiences first saw him portraying the smarmy Sean Walsh, an unwanted suitor of Minnie Driver's character, in Circle of Friends, an Irish film released in 1995. Also, in 1995, he played Boris Ivanovich Grishenko in the James Bond film GoldenEye.[12] He also played Mr. Elton in Emma
in 1996.

Cumming began his theatre career in his native Scotland, performing in seasons with the Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, Dundee Rep, The Tron Glasgow and tours with Borderline, Theatre Workshop and Glasgow Citizens' TAG. He played Slupianek in the Traverse Theatre's 1988 production of Conquest of the South Pole, which later transferred to the Royal Court in London and earned him an Olivier Award nomination as Most Promising Newcomer. He went on to perform plays with the

Ophelia
).

He gained prominence for his role as The Master of Ceremonies in

Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance.[16] Cumming had a minor role in Stanley Kubrick's final film, Eyes Wide Shut (1999), as a hotel clerk who humorously flirts with Tom Cruise's character; according to Cumming, he was required to go through six auditions for the role.[17] His first film in the United States was 1997's Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, playing Sandy Frink opposite Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino
.

2000–2011

Cumming co-wrote, co-directed, co-produced and co-starred in the ensemble film The Anniversary Party with friend and former Cabaret co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh in 2001.[18] Other US stage roles include Otto in the 2001 Broadway production of Design for Living by Noël Coward and Mack the Knife in the Bertolt Brecht-Kurt Weill musical The Threepenny Opera opposite Cyndi Lauper. Cumming performed alongside Dianne Wiest in Classic Stage Company's production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, directed by Viacheslav Dolgachev. In 2002, Cumming and then-boyfriend Nick Philippou formed the production company The Art Party. The company's first and only play was the first English production of Jean Genet's play Elle, which Cumming had adapted from a literal translation by Terri Gordon. The company closed in 2003. Cumming's novel, Tommy's Tale, was published in 2002.[19]

Cumming performing at benefit concert for the Ali Forney Center in 2010

He has also written articles for magazines, notably as a contributing editor for Marie Claire, writing on the haute couture shows in Paris, as well as what it was like for him dressing as a woman for a day. He also contributed articles to Newsweek, Modern Painters, Out, Black Book and The Wall Street Journal. He has written introductions and prefaces to various books, including the works of Nancy Mitford, Andy Warhol and Christopher Isherwood, and wrote a chapter of If You Had Five Minutes with the President, a collection of 55+ essays by members or supporters of The Creative Coalition.[20]

In 2006, he returned to the West End playing the lead role in

Masterpiece Mystery! for PBS, beginning in 2008. He played Eli Gold on the CBS television show The Good Wife. He appeared as a guest star in the latter third of the first season, becoming a series regular in the show's 2010–2011 season.[21]

On 1 September 2009, Cumming released his first solo album based around his one-man show, I Bought a Blue Car Today.[22] Cumming returned to British television screens in 2011 to star as Desrae, a crossdresser, on the Sky series The Runaway. He has also made several documentaries: My Brilliant Britain, about Scottish humour, The Real Cabaret in which he investigated the Weimar cabaret artistes, and the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? in 2010 in which he discovered his maternal grandfather was a war hero who had died playing Russian roulette.[5]

2012–present

He collaborated again with Tiffany and the National Theatre of Scotland in 2012, playing all the roles in Macbeth. He brought this critically acclaimed[23][24] production of Macbeth to New York's Lincoln Center in 2012 and to a 73-show Broadway engagement at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 2013. Macbeth concluded its run on Broadway on 14 July 2013.[25]

In 2012, he narrated the audiobook Macbeth: A Novel, written by A.J. Hartley and David Hewson. The novel greatly expands upon the themes established in the play.

Roundabout Theater Company's revival production of Cabaret, directed again by Sam Mendes.[30] Starring opposite Michelle Williams, Cabaret opened 24 April 2014 and closed 29 March 2015. The run was extended originally from its 24-week engagement. The role of Sally changed during the production, when Williams left, to include Emma Stone and Sienna Miller
.

Cumming at the Highline Ballroom in 2009

On 7 June 2015, Cumming co-hosted the

the eleventh series of Doctor Who.[35] In September 2017, Cumming and promoter Daniel Nardicio opened a bar in Manhattan's East Village called Club Cumming.[36]

In recent years, Cumming has been a regular contributor to the

The Joyce Theater, in which he played Scots poet Robert Burns[39] In 2020, he played in Endgame at the Old Vic, co-starring with Daniel Radcliffe.[40] Starting in 2022, Cumming partnered with British-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes in a television series entitled Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland. The series follows the pair as they travel in a motorhome and explore Scotland. That same year, Cumming appeared in My Old School, a documentary about the case of Brandon Lee, a 32-year-old man exposed in 1995 as having attended a Scottish secondary school in the guise of a 17-year-old. Cumming appeared as an avatar for Lee, who did not want to appear on camera for the film, lip syncing to audio of his interviews. Cumming had previously planned to play Lee in a theatrical production in the late 90s which failed to materialize.[41]

In June 2021, Cumming was artistic director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, as announced in June 2020.[42] Later that year, he played Mayor Aloysius Menlove, the closeted small-town mayor of Schmigadoon, in the Apple TV+ comedy musical series Schmigadoon![43] Since 2023, Cumming hosts the U.S. version of the reality TV series The Traitors U.S..[44]

Activism and charity

Cumming with Dick Leitsch

Cumming has promoted

registered charity concerned with foreskin health and matters related to circumcision; he has condemned the practice of routine infant circumcision, particularly in the United States, where it is common.[46][47] Cumming recorded a duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Liza Minnelli
to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and 11 September Fund.

In 2005, he released an award-winning fragrance called "Cumming" and a related line of scented bath lotion and body wash. A second fragrance was launched in 2011, named "Second (Alan) Cumming", with all proceeds going to charity.[48] In 2014, Cumming was a supporter and activist for the Scottish 'Yes' campaign in the run-up to Scotland's referendum on independence in September 2014.[5] In October 2014, Cumming and the Broadway cast of Cabaret collected donations for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS during the "Gypsy of the Year" fundraising season.[49]

In October 2023, Cumming signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter to Joe Biden, President of the United States, calling for a ceasefire of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.[50]

Personal life

Cumming is

bisexual.[51] His relationships include an eight-year marriage to actress Hilary Lyon, a two-year relationship with actress Saffron Burrows and a six-year relationship with theatre director Nick Philippou.[8] In 2006, Cumming stated that he "would dearly like to adopt a child", but that his life was "too hectic" for the rearing of children.[52]

Cumming and his partner, illustrator Grant Shaffer, dated for two years before becoming civil partners at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, on 7 January 2007.[53] Cumming and Shaffer legally married in New York on 7 January 2012, the fifth anniversary of their London union.[54]

On 7 November 2008, Cumming became a dual-national and was sworn in as a citizen of the United States at a ceremony in Manhattan.[55][56]

Cumming has stated that since 2012 he has maintained a

vegan lifestyle.[57] PETA awarded him its Humanitarian Award in 2017.[58]

He is a supporter of the

Scottish Independence.[59] Cumming endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 US presidential election.[60]

Cumming is an

atheist.[61]

Filmography

Main article:
Alan Cumming filmography

Selected credits:

Awards and recognition

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Alan Cumming

In March 2005, Cumming received the

University of Abertay Dundee, and in 2015 he received a honorary degree from the Open University.[63] He also is a patron of the Scottish Youth Theatre
, Scotland's National Theatre "for and by" young people.

Wikinews has related news:

Cumming was appointed

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours for services to film, theatre and the arts and to activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community in the United States.[64][65][66] On 27 January 2023, his 58th birthday, Cumming announced via his Instagram page that he had decided to return his OBE due to "misgivings I have being associated with the toxicity of empire".[63]

Cumming has also been honoured for his activism and humanitarian work by organisations such as the

Trevor Project and the Matthew Shepard Foundation.[34] In 2022, he received a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer of the musical A Strange Loop.[67]

Bibliography

  • Tommy's Tale: A Novel. New York: ReganBooks, 2002.
    ISBN 978-0-060-39444-8
    .
  • May the foreskin be with you : why circumcision doesn't make sense and what you can do about it.. Magnus Books, 2012.
    ISBN 978-1-936-83339-9
  • Not My Father's Son: A Memoir. New York: Dey Street, an imprint of William Morrow Publishers, 2014.
    ISBN 978-0-062-22506-1
    .
  • You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams: My Life in Stories and Pictures. New York: Rizzoli New York. 2016.
    OCLC 939994490
    .
  • The Adventures of Honey & Leon By: Alan Cumming, Illustrated by: Grant Shaffer
    ISBN 978-0-399-55797-2[68]
  • Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life, a topical memoir, 2019. Scrollable preview. Iron Press.[2]

References

  1. ^ Cumming Alan (2019). Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life. / Description & scrollable preview. Iron Press.
  2. ^ a b VanDenburgh, Barbara (23 October 2021). "5 books not to miss: 'Going There' with Katie Couric, unpacking Alan Cumming's 'Baggage'". USA TODAY. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  3. ISBN 9781573448826
    . Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  4. ^ Black, Claire (8 November 2014). "Alan Cumming on dealing with his past". The Scotsman. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g King, Larry (27 October 2014). "Alan Cumming" (Video interview). Larry King Now. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  6. ^ Watt, Richard (8 January 2013). "High school reunion for film star Alan Cumming". The Courier (Dundee). Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  7. ^ a b Aitkenhead, Decca (14 November 2014). "Alan Cumming: 'I never felt I'd achieved enough because I was always told I was nothing'". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  8. ^ a b Higginbotham, Adam (16 February 2003). "Cumming out on top". The Observer. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Alan Cumming Biography (1965–)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  10. ^ Simon, Scott (11 October 2014). "Actor Alan Cumming Is Not His 'Father's Son'". NPR, Weekend Edition Saturday. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  11. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Comic Relief Sketch, youtube". YouTube.
  12. ^ Lenker, Maureen Lee (31 May 2018). "Alan Cumming recalls the time he got burned by liquid nitrogen on the set of GoldenEye". EW.com. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Olivier Winners 1991". Olivier Awards. Society of London Theatre. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  14. ^ "Alan Cumming wins Olivier Award 1991". Vimeo. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Alan Cumming – Won". alancumming.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Alan Cumming – Details". culture.com. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  17. ^ "Alan Cumming on "Standing Up" to Stanley Kubrick". Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2018 – via www.youtube.com.
  18. ^ "Interview: Alan Cumming". Barnes & Noble. 18 January 2002. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012.
  19. ISBN 978-0060394448
    .
  20. ^ Cumming, Alan (2004). "Five Minutes With the President". AlanCumming.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  21. ^ Ausiello, Michael (23 March 2010). "Exclusive: 'Good Wife' promotes Alan Cumming to series regular". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  22. ^ "Alan Cumming: I Bought a Blue Car Today". speckulationentertainment.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  23. ^ Isherwood, Charles (21 April 2013). "One Mad Power Grab, Many Dramatic Roles". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  24. ^ Dziemianowicz, Joe (22 April 2013). "'Macbeth' with Alan Cumming: Theater review". New York Daily News. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  25. ^ Hetrick, Adam (14 July 2013). "Macbeth, Starring Tony Award Winner Alan Cumming, Ends Broadway Run July 14". Playbill. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Macbeth: a Novel". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
  27. ^ "Alan Cumming: Someone Like The Edge Of Firework". starpulse.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016.
  28. ^ "Alan Cumming Photography | Fine Art Photography". alancummingphotography.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  29. ^ Grow, Kory (29 October 2013). "Thirty Seconds to Mars Recruit Kanye West, Lindsay Lohan for 'Angels'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  30. ^ Snetiker, Mark (24 April 2013). "Roundabout Plans New Revival of Cabaret in 2014; Alan Cumming Tapped to Reprise his Tony-Award Winning Role". Broadway.com. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  31. ^ "Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs: Live At The Cafe Carlyle". allmusic.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  32. ^ "ALAN CUMMING SINGS SAPPY SONGS | 'Somewhere Only We Know' Performance | PBS". YouTube. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  33. ^ "Alan Cumming finally wins an Emmy – for wandering around Scotland". The Herald. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  34. ^ a b Bentley, Rick (11 March 2018). "Alan Cumming hopeful that groundbreaking CBS series Instinct will find an audience". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  35. ^ Fullerton, Huw (8 March 2018). "Alan Cumming set to play King James I in Doctor Who". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  36. ^ Kilgannon, Corey (20 September 2018). "Life Is a Cabaret (and Alan Cumming Is Tending Bar)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  37. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  38. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  39. ISSN 0029-7712
    . Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  40. ^ Franklin, Marc J. (13 February 2020). "A Look at the Old Vic's Endgame With Daniel Radcliffe and Alan Cumming". Playbill. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  41. ^ Boyd, Laura (4 March 2022). "Alan Cumming hopes Glasgow schoolboy imposter Brandon Lee 'is happy'". STV News.
  42. ^ Frangos, Daniela (22 June 2020). "Acclaimed Actor Alan Cumming Announced as Artistic Director of Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2021". Broadsheet. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  43. ^ Cleal, Sam (20 July 2021). "The Cast Of "Schmigadoon!" Is Positively Stacked – Here's Where You Know Them From". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  44. ^ White, Peter (29 April 2023). "'The Traitors' Team Shaking Things Up For Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  45. Pink News. 24 June 2013. Archived from the original
    on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  46. NORM-UK. Archived from the original
    on 19 December 2013.
  47. ^ "X-Man Nixes Circs". circumstitions.com. 11 June 2007.
  48. ^ "2nd (Alan) Cumming". Archived from the original on 29 June 2020.
  49. ^ Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (24 October 2014). "Alan Cumming Backstage at Cabaret". Archived from the original on 10 July 2015 – via YouTube.
  50. ^ "Artists4Ceasefire". Artists4Ceasefire. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  51. ^ Sandel, Adam (30 March 2015). "Alan Cumming Is Bisexual—And You Might Be Too". Advocate.
  52. ^ Fear, Helen (16 November 2021). "Alan Cumming reveals trauma of abusive childhood in C4 documentary Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  53. ^ Finn, Natalie (8 January 2007). "Alan Cumming Groomed for Marriage". E!. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  54. ^ Kinser, Jeremy (9 January 2012). "Alan Cumming Remarries Husband in New York". The Advocate. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  55. ^ Cumming, Alan (7 November 2008). "I bought a blue car today!". alancumming.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  56. ^ Ross, Peter (1 November 2008). "Alan Cumming interview: seen the future, got the t-shirt". The Scotsman. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  57. ^ Pashman, Heidi (13 January 2013). "25 Sexiest Vegan and Vegetarian Celebrities". Shape. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  58. ^ "Photo Flash: Alan Cumming Receives PETA's Humanitarian Award at Valentine's Day Bash". BroadwayWorld. 13 February 2017.
  59. ^ Brooks, Libby (13 December 2016). "Nicola Sturgeon quips she could field SNP candidates in England". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  60. ^ Kurtz, Judy (25 March 2016). "Alan Cumming backs Sanders". The Hill.
  61. ISBN 9780557837526
    . Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  62. ^ Gans, Andrew (25 March 2005). "GLAAD Media Awards to Honor Billy Crystal and Alan Cumming". Playbill. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  63. ^ a b "Alan Cumming: Actor and US Traitors host hands back OBE". BBC News. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  64. ^ "No. 59090". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 2009. p. 24.
  65. guardian.co.uk
    . London. 13 June 2009. Actor, Producer and Presenter. For serv film, theatre and the arts and to activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community
  66. ^ "Bi OBE". Bi Media. 25 November 2009. He was honoured for services to film, theatre and the arts – and for his work as a bisexual, lesbian and gay rights campaigner. 'I have a voice because of my work. I'm loud and I speak my mind,' he said.
  67. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  68. ^ The Adventures of Honey & Leon Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 6 October 2017.

External links

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