Comprehensive information and links about Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming (born January 27, 1965 in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland), is an actor of stage and screen, possibly best known for his performance in the film

Biography

A descendant of Utah governor Alfred Cumming, after graduating from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 1985, Cumming appeared in a six part series on British television called , which he wrote (along with the theme tune) with co-star Forbes Masson.

Cumming has often been utilised as a character actor — he was the hedonistic Lord Rochester in and its sequels, directed by Robert Rodriguez. He was one half of Victor and Barry with Forbes Masson, a comedy act revolving around two members of a Glasgow amateur theatre group.

Perhaps one of Cumming's most acclaimed performances was as the charismatic Emcee in the 1998 Broadway revival of the popular stage musical , for which he won a Tony as well as other awards that year. Cumming had previously played the role to great acclaim in a production at London's famed Donmar Warehouse theatre, for which he had been nominated for an Olivier Award. Both the Broadway and Donmar Warehouse productions were directed by Sam Mendes.

His other stage roles have included Otto in the 2001 Broadway production of by Noel Coward, the title role in the 1993 English Touring Theatre production of William Shakespeare's by Dario Fo.

In 2002, Cumming played the Pope in the first English-language production of Jean Genet's play , which he had adapted himself from a literal translation, at the Zipper Theater in New York City.

In 2001 Cumming co-wrote and co-directed the ensemble film co-star, Jennifer Jason Leigh. The two starred in the movie as a Hollywood couple.

His first novel Tommy's Tale (ISBN 0141003766) was published in 2002.

He lives in New York City and London with his dog, .

Cumming has dated both men and women, and described himself as "a frolicky pansexual sex symbol for the new millennium." In 1985, he married Hilary Lyon, and remained with her for eight years until a mental breakdown shortly after performing in the play Hamlet led to their divorce in 1993. He then dated around for a bit, having a relationship with Saffron Burrows, herself bisexual, for several years. He currently has a boyfriend named Grant he has been with for over a year.

He is also an activist for gay rights organizations and AIDS charities including Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and Broadway CaresEquity Fights AIDS. He was given the 2005 Humanitarian Award at the San Francisco Human Rights Campaign Awards.

He is currently promoting his new line of cologne, "Cumming".