Alan Cumming facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alan Cumming FRSE
Cumming in 2013
Born	(1965-01-27) 27 January 1965 (age 60) Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland
Citizenship	United Kingdom United States (2008–present)
Education	Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Occupation	Actor writer presenter
Years active	1980–present
Notable work	Full list
Political party	Scottish National Party
Spouse(s)	Hilary Lyon ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 1993)​ Grant Shaffer ​ (m. 2007)​
Awards	Full list

Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a Scottish actor, writer, and presenter. He is famous for his many roles on stage and in movies. He has won several important awards, including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and an Olivier Award.

Cumming won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for his role in Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1991) in London's West End. He was also nominated for Olivier Awards for his work in The Conquest of the South Pole (1988), La Bête (1992), and Cabaret (1994). He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing the Emcee in Cabaret (1998) on Broadway. Other Broadway shows he appeared in include Design for Living (2001) and Macbeth (2013).

In films, Cumming is known for Circle of Friends (1995), GoldenEye (1995), Emma (1996), and Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997). He also appeared in Spice World (1997), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), and Nicholas Nickleby (2002). Kids might know him best as Fegan Floop in the Spy Kids movies (2001–2003), Nightcrawler in X2 (2003), and Loki in Son of the Mask (2005).

On TV, Cumming is well-known for his role in the CBS series The Good Wife (2010–2016). For this role, he was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards. He also starred in Instinct (2018–2019) and Schmigadoon! (2021–2023) on Apple TV+. Currently, he hosts the reality game show The Traitors on Peacock. Cumming has also written a novel, Tommy's Tale (2002), and two memoirs.

Early Life and Education

Alan Cumming was born on 27 January 1965 in Aberfeldy, Scotland. He grew up near Carnoustie on the east coast of Scotland. His mother, Mary Darling, worked as an insurance company secretary. His father, Alex Cumming, was a head forester. Alan has an older brother named Tom.

Cumming went to Monikie Primary School and Carnoustie High School. He has shared that his childhood was challenging, which he believes helped him learn to act by managing his emotions. Later, he discovered interesting facts about his family history while filming the TV series Who Do You Think You Are?

Alan Cumming's Acting Career

Early Roles in Television and Film (1984–1999)

Alan Cumming started his TV career in 1984 in Travelling Man. He also appeared in Scottish TV shows like Take the High Road and Taggart. His first movie role was in the short film Passing Glory in 1986.

A big TV role for him was Bernard Bottle in the 1991 BBC comedy Bernard and the Genie. In 1995, he starred in the BBC2 sitcom The High Life, which he also helped write.

His first feature film was Prague in 1992, which won him an award for Best Actor at the Atlantic Film Festival. American audiences first saw him in Circle of Friends in 1995. That same year, he played Boris Ivanovich Grishenko in the James Bond film GoldenEye. He also played Mr. Elton in Emma in 1996.

Stage Performances and Broadway Success

Cumming began his theatre career in Scotland. He earned an Olivier Award nomination early on for his role in Conquest of the South Pole in 1988. He also performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In 1991, he won an Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for Accidental Death of an Anarchist. He also played the main role in Hamlet in 1993, earning him a TMA Best Actor award.

He became very well-known for playing The Master of Ceremonies in the musical Cabaret in London in 1993. He brought this role to Broadway in 1998 and won a Tony Award for it. He also had a small role in Stanley Kubrick's last film, Eyes Wide Shut (1999).

Creative Projects and Writing (2000–2011)

In 2001, Cumming co-wrote, co-directed, and co-starred in the movie The Anniversary Party. He also continued to act on stage, including roles in Design for Living and The Threepenny Opera on Broadway.

His novel, Tommy's Tale, was published in 2002. He has also written articles for magazines like Marie Claire and Newsweek.

In 2006, he returned to London's West End in the play Bent. In 2007, he played the lead role in The Bacchae for the National Theatre of Scotland. From 2008, he hosted Masterpiece Mystery! for PBS. He became a regular on the CBS show The Good Wife in 2010, playing Eli Gold.

In 2009, Cumming released his first music album, I Bought a Blue Car Today. He also made documentaries, including one for Who Do You Think You Are? in 2010, where he learned about his grandfather's life.

Recent Work and Activism (2012–Present)

In 2012, Cumming performed a one-man show of Macbeth, playing all the characters. This show was very popular and came to Broadway in 2013. He also narrated the audiobook Macbeth: A Novel.

In 2012, he started his photography career with an exhibition called "Alan Cumming Snaps." He also hosted Urban Secrets on Sky Atlantic, exploring hidden parts of cities. In 2014, he published his autobiography, Not My Father's Son, which shares stories about his childhood and family discoveries. That same year, he returned to Broadway in Cabaret.

In 2015, Cumming co-hosted the 69th Tony Awards. He released his second album, Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs, in 2016 and toured with a live show. In 2018, he starred in the CBS series Instinct. He also played King James in Doctor Who. In 2017, he opened a bar in New York City called Club Cumming.

More recently, Cumming has performed in the Edinburgh International Festival and appeared in the play Endgame in 2020. Since 2022, he has starred in the TV series Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland, exploring Scotland with actress Miriam Margolyes. He also appeared in the documentary My Old School (2022). In 2021, he was the artistic director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. He also played Mayor Aloysius Menlove in the Apple TV+ series Schmigadoon!. Since 2023, he hosts The Traitors U.S..

Advocacy and Charity Work

Cumming with Dick Leitsch

Alan Cumming is a strong supporter of LGBT rights. He has hosted and attended fundraisers for groups like the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). He also supported the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Scotland.

Cumming supports several AIDS charities, including the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFAR). In 2005, he launched a fragrance called "Cumming," and in 2011, a second one called "Second (Alan) Cumming," with all profits going to charity.

In 2014, he supported the 'Yes' campaign for Scottish independence. In October 2023, he supported calls for peace in international conflicts.

Personal Life

Alan Cumming was married to actress Hilary Lyon. He later married illustrator Grant Shaffer in London in 2007, and they legally married again in New York in 2012.

In 2008, Cumming became a citizen of the United States, holding dual citizenship with the United Kingdom. Since 2012, he has followed a vegan lifestyle. PETA gave him a Humanitarian Award in 2017.

He supports the Scottish National Party and Scottish Independence. In 2023, he decided to return an honor he received, explaining his reasons. Cumming is an atheist.

Acting Credits

Theatre

Selected Film and TV Roles:

Awards and Recognition

In 2005, Alan Cumming received the Vito Russo Award and the HRC's Humanitarian Award for his work supporting equal rights.

He has also received honorary degrees from the University of Abertay Dundee (2006) and the Open University (2015). He supports the Scottish Youth Theatre, which is a national theatre for young people in Scotland.

Cumming was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009 for his contributions to film, theatre, arts, and activism for equal rights. In 2023, he announced he had decided to return this honor.

He has also been recognized for his activism by organizations like the Trevor Project and the Matthew Shepard Foundation. In 2022, he won a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop.

Images for kids

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  Cumming in the gallery art work "Sliphost"

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

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  Cumming at the Highline Ballroom in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Alan Cumming para niños