Alan Cumming Honored in Chicago with the OUTrageous Award on October 18th, 2010

In a career dating back to 1987, Alan Cumming has appeared on stage, television and film and worked as a writer, director, producer, author, television host, voice-over artist and actor. His roles have included the Emcee in "Cabaret," for which he won the Tony in 1998; Boris Grishenko in "GoldenEye;" Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler in "X2: X-Men United;" and Fegan Floop in the "Spy Kids" trilogy. American audiences may be most familiar with Cumming's recent story arc on "The Good Wife" playing Eli Gold, a part that is to become a regular feature of the series in 2010-2011.

On Monday, October 18th, the Chicago Film Festival presented Cumming the OUTrageous Award, an award for those who are actively LGBT (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender). Cumming is bi-sexual and outed himself in 1998. He was married to Hilary Lyon from 1985 until 1993 but is now partnered with graphic artist Grant Shaffer, via a UK civil partnership that took place on January 7, 2007. Cumming also became a U.S. citizen in November of 2008, while retaining his British citizenship.

Cumming has appeared in independent films such as "The Anniversary Party," with Jennifer Jason-Leigh, which featured 8 high-powered actors who shot the film in only 19 days. Among the cast were Kevin Kline, Phoebe Cates, Parker Poesy, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. Reilly and Jennifer Beals. He co-wrote and co-directed and co-starred in the production. He won an Independent Spirit award as producer of Ali Selim's "Sweet Land." His London stage appearances include "Hamlet," Madman in Dario Fo's "Accidental Death of an Anarchist," for which he received an Olivier award; the lead in Martin Sherman's "Bent;" Dionysus in the National Theatre of Scotland's "The Bacchae;" Mac the Knife in "the Threepenny Opera" on Broadway, "Design for Living," and as the PBS host of "Masterpiece Mystery."

Cumming also wrote a novel, "Tommy's Tale," had a cable talk show ("Eavesdropping with Alan Cumming") and produced a line of perfumed products labeled "Cumming" exclusively for Sephora stores in 2005, (a line which was not renewed.) He was scheduled to play the Green Goblin in the "Spiderman" franchise, but was replaced by Patrick Page. He contributes opinion pieces to many publications, including Marie Claire magazine and performed a cabaret show entitled "I Bought A Blue Car Today."

He worked actively for LBGT causes and AIDS causes during the 2008 presidential election and, among the quotes attributed to him, was one that was circulated saying he would like to see Obama naked and another, following on the heels of his civil union in 2007, saying, "I don't believe that monogamy is feasible."

Born in Aberfeldy in Perthshire, Scotland, he now lives in New York City.

(46th Chicago International Film Festival OUTrageous Award Honoree hand-out; www.wikipedia.com)