Alan Cumming’s Film, TV and Theater Roles That Make Audiences Love Him

8/11/2022

Performances and Artists

Most people recognize the face of stage-and-screen star Alan Cumming – and it’s no wonder why.

While the Scottish performer got his start starring in productions at illustrious European theaters, his career rocketed after he crossed the Atlantic to America. Over the past three decades, Cumming has earned acclaim for his starring roles in theater, television and film – earning him two Tony Awards and making him a favorite among audiences of all ages.

Cumming also remains beloved for his charismatic, live performances, including headlining at the Sydney Opera House, the London Palladium, the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall. He also filmed a live concert at Myron’s in The Smith Center as a PBS special in 2016, which broadcasted nationwide.

Cumming now returns to The Smith Center by popular demand on November 11, to sing delightful melodies and share charming stories of his glittering career.

In anticipation of this thrilling show, check out the list below of favorite roles that have given Cumming his tremendous star power.

Film Roles

  1. Boris Grishenko in “GoldenEye” – Any actor can play the steely-eyed James Bond, but it takes charisma and a knack for accents to make a Bond villain come alive. In one of his first roles in America, Cumming transformed into a Russian baddie who audiences loved to hate.

  2. Philip Elton in “Emma” – America loves its Jane Austen adaptations, and Cumming brought a lively charm to his role as a persistent bachelor opposite Gwyneth Paltrow. In fact, the revelation of his true feelings marked a defining point in this Oscar-winning film.

  3. Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler in “X-2: X-Men United” – Audiences might not have recognized Cumming in patterned, blue, full-body makeup – which required four hours to apply each day – but Cumming elevated this superheroes flick as a German mutant with a heart-wrenching past. Cumming took the role seriously, even studying the German language to make his speech authentic.

Television Roles

  1. Dr. Dylan Reinhart in “Instinct” – Cumming made history in this show, by playing the first gay lead character in a U.S. network drama. With his character a retired CIA agent on the hunt for a serial killer, Cumming delivered a magnetic performance that earned rave reviews.

  2. Eli Gold in “The Good Wife” – Not only did Cumming costar in this hit show as a campaign-strategist-turned-crisis-manager for a whopping seven seasons – he also gets to revive the character in the spin-off show, “The Good Fight.”

  3. Mayor Aloysius Menlove in “Schmigadoon” – This parody musical show gives Cumming the rare chance to show off his many abilities, including his spot-on comedic timing and his dazzling vocals.

Theater Roles

  1. The Master of Ceremonies in “Cabaret” – When many people think of Broadway smash “Cabaret,” they think of Cumming, as he truly made this iconic role his own. His saucy yet intense approach earned him a well-deserved Tony, and he performed this role in a total of over 800 performances.

  2. Everybody in “Macbeth” – Cumming might be the only actor alive who has played all the major characters in this Shakespearean epic. How? In a highly acclaimed, solo version of the production on Broadway, Cumming portrayed a man in a psychiatric ward reliving the entire play.

  3. Macheath in “The Threepenny Opera” – Cumming built on his Broadway success in this political satire about a notorious criminal facing off with his father-in-law. Cumming costarred with Cyndi Lauper, and the two impressed critics with their beguiling tango duet.

SEE THE SHOW

“Alan Cumming Is Not Acting His Age” runs November 11 at The Smith Center – CLICK HERE for tickets.