Alan Cumming is one of the most successful actors of the 21st century on stage and screen. He had a rough childhood, but he was able to overcome abuse with the power of the arts, he began his professional theatre career right out of high school, and still managed to attend a university. Alan was working on television before most people have their first real job. He worked his way to earn nominations for Emmys, and to win a Tony. Alan has had an incredibly successful career on television and on stage for his entire life.
Alan Cumming was born in Scotland to parents Mary Darling, an insurance agent, and Alex Cumming, the head of an estate, on January 27th 1965. He grew up on large estate with his older brother, Tom (“Alan Cumming”). As…show more content… He first appeared on screen at age 19 and hasn’t stopped since. Alan’s British television debut was on an episode of Travelling Man, a UK tv series, in 1984 (“Alan Cumming”). He played small roles in a few other UK shows in the late 80’s, then in 1991 he starred in the TV film Bernard and the Genie, and won the British Comedy Award for top tv newcomer (“Alan Cumming Biography”). Alan continued to take small roles in TV series and the occasional TV film, until 1995 he starred in and co-wrote the show The High Life. In 1996 he made his American television debut on an episode of 3rd Rock From the Sun, and went on to play in the America TV film Annie 1999 (“Alan Cumming”). His show God, the Devil, and Bob aired in 2000, but was cancelled in the US after only four episodes. However, other countries, such as the UK, Latin American countries, and Ireland, aired the full series and the show was well-received (“God, the Devil, and Bob”). Also in 2000, Alan Cumming hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live, along with Jennifer Lopez. From 2001-2009 Alan had featured roles in many shows, such as Sex and the City, Shoebox Zoo, The L Word, Robot Chicken, Rick & Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, and Tin Man. In 2010 he began acting in The Good Wife, for which his performance was critically acclaimed, and he was nominated for the Emmy award for outstanding supporting…show more content… He started his theatre career with some local theaters including the Royal Lyceum Edinburgh, Dundee Rep, The Tron Glasgow, and then toured with Borderline, Theatre Workshop, and Glasgow’s Citizens’ TAG (“Alan Cumming”). He worked professionally while he was still in college (“Alan Cumming Biography”). Alan’s breakout role was in the 1988 Traverse Theatre production of Conquest of the South Pole, originally performed in Edinburgh, but was moved to the Royal Court in London where Alan was nominated for the Olivier Award for most promising newcomer (“Alan Cumming”). Alan continued to do theatre with Bristol Old Vic, and the Royal Shakespeare Company until 1991, at Lyric Hammersmith in London, Alan starred as Valere in La Bete, for which he was nominated for the Olivier Award for best comedy performance of the year (“Alan Cumming Biography”). Also in 1991, Alan was in the Royal National Theatre version of Accidental Death of an Anarchist, where he was awarded the Olivier Award for best comedy performance. Playing opposite his then-wife Hilary Lyon, Alan in Hamlet with the English Touring Theatre, and his performance won him the TMA award for best actor. Alan’s first musical was Cabaret, in the West End in 1993, where he played the Emcee, and where he was nominated for the Olivier award for best actor in a musical (“Alan Cumming”). The West End production ended in 1994, but in 1998 Alan