Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming is a Scottish-American actor, writer, and activist born on January 27, 1965, in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland. He grew up in the small town of Carnoustie, Angus, and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Cumming’s early career was rooted in British theater and television, where he quickly established himself as a versatile performer with a fearless approach to challenging roles.

Cumming achieved international recognition with his Tony Award-winning performance as the Emcee in the 1998 Broadway revival of “Cabaret,” a role he would reprise to equal acclaim in the 2014 revival, earning another Tony nomination. His Broadway work has been a cornerstone of his career, establishing him as one of the most celebrated stage actors of his generation. In film, he is known for roles in “GoldenEye” (1995) as the Bond villain Boris Grishenko, “Eyes Wide Shut” (1999), “X2: X-Men United” (2003) as Nightcrawler, and “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” (1997).

On television, Cumming starred as political strategist Eli Gold in “The Good Wife” (2010-2016) on CBS, a role that earned him three Emmy Award nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, and a SAG Award nomination. He later hosted the PBS series “Masterpiece Mystery!” (2023-present), bringing his signature charm and wit to the venerable program. He has also been a prolific voice actor, narrating audiobooks and voicing characters in animated series and films.

With a net worth of approximately $5 million, Cumming has built a multifaceted career spanning stage, screen, and the written word. He has authored several books, including the memoir “Not My Father’s Son” (2014) and the novel “Tommy’s Tale.” An outspoken LGBTQ+ rights activist, he became a U.S. citizen in 2008 and has been recognized with an OBE for his contributions to the arts. He lives in New York City with his husband, illustrator Grant Shaffer, whom he married in 2012.