---
name: "Alan Cumming"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/alan-cumming"
fi1m_id: "alan-cumming"
imdb_id: "nm0001086"
tmdb_id: 10697
wikidata_id: "Q316629"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 January 1965"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 12
average_fi1m_score: 64
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-19T04:30:31.795334+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Alan Cumming

## Identity

Alan Cumming

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/alan-cumming
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** alan-cumming
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001086
- **TMDB ID:** 10697
- **Wikidata ID:** Q316629
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Cumming, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316629, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001086/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10697

Actor. Born 27 January 1965 in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 January 1965, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, UK
- **Active:** 1995–present
- **Also known as:** Alan Cummings
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 12: 11 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 64, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 72 (4), 2000s 60 (5), 2010s 58 (2), 2020s 66 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 64 to 59 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 7, Comedy 6, Drama 5, Family 4, Animation 3, Fantasy 3
- **Screen time:** 17 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,933m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Cumming, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316629, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001086/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10697

## Coming up

- *Avengers: Doomsday* (2026-12-16), as Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler — [page](https://film.one/film/avengers-doomsday.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Planet 51*](https://film.one/film/planet-51.md) (52), [*Son of the Mask*](https://film.one/film/son-of-the-mask.md) (20)
- **Paramount+:** [*The Good Wife*](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md) (84)
- **HBO Max:** [*Eyes Wide Shut*](https://film.one/film/eyes-wide-shut.md) (81)
- **Disney+:** [*X2*](https://film.one/film/x2.md) (80)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Alan Cumming

> Alan Cumming makes supporting parts conspicuous through physical expressiveness, mischief and a willingness to look excessive. We value the detail beneath the camp, though the mannerisms can become more interesting than the character.

Alan Cumming is worth watching even when the role is labelled Desk Clerk. In Stanley Kubrick’s *Eyes Wide Shut* (1999), his small appearance has the energy and detail of a character who might warrant a longer stay. We perked up when he appeared, because his expressive playing brought a welcome liveliness to a film whose extended conversations can test our patience. Kubrick’s slow, intimate thriller does not need that from every supporting actor. From Cumming, in a small dose, it works.

*GoldenEye* (1995), directed by Martin Campbell, gives him the computer hacker Boris Grishenko and a brisker film to inhabit. It belongs to his move into Hollywood supporting roles in the mid-1990s. His heightened playing suits a Bond film we like for its action and Pierce Brosnan’s persuasive lead performance. Cumming gives a supporting character definition quickly, which matters when there is other business to get on with. We would still choose it chiefly for Brosnan and Campbell, but his taste for mischief is welcome here.

His theatre work helps explain the confidence of those appearances. As the Emcee in *Cabaret* (1998), directed by Sam Mendes, he worked with physical expressiveness and a direct connection to the audience. The screen career also includes a different kind of involvement: on *The Anniversary Party* (2001), he was co-writer, co-director and co-star alongside Jennifer Jason Leigh. Moving between family films such as *Spy Kids* (2001) and the long television run of Eli Gold in *The Good Wife* (2010–2016), he has not settled into one kind of employment.

The later hosting work on *The Traitors* is another use for that ease with an audience. Our reservation is that exaggerated mannerisms can become the main event, leaving too little attention for the character. We enjoy his willingness to be theatrical, but not every part benefits from it. Start with *Eyes Wide Shut* if you want to see how little space he needs.

## Biography

Alan Cumming is a Scottish actor, filmmaker and presenter. He was born on 27 January 1965 in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, and trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, graduating in 1985.

Cumming is known for stage roles including the Emcee in the Broadway revival of *Cabaret* (1998), for which he won a Tony Award, and earlier work in the West End production of *Accidental Death of an Anarchist* (1991). His film credits include Boris Grishenko in *GoldenEye* (1995), Fegan Floop in the *Spy Kids* films (2001–2003) and Nightcrawler in *X2* (2003). On television he played Eli Gold in *The Good Wife* (2010–2016).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (12)

### Performed in (11) — the average rests on these

- *Toy Story 5* (2026), Fi1m 66, as Evil Bullseye (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/toy-story-5.md)
- *Broad City* (2014), Fi1m 80, as Alan Cumming — [page](https://film.one/tv/broad-city.md)
- *The Smurfs* (2011), Fi1m 37, as Gutsy Smurf (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-smurfs.md)
- *Planet 51* (2009), Fi1m 52, as Alien Mailman (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/planet-51.md)
- *The Good Wife* (2009), Fi1m 84, as Eli Gold — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Son of the Mask* (2005), Fi1m 20, as Loki — [page](https://film.one/film/son-of-the-mask.md)
- *X2* (2003), Fi1m 80, as Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler — [page](https://film.one/film/x2.md)
- *Eyes Wide Shut* (1999), Fi1m 81, as Desk Clerk — [page](https://film.one/film/eyes-wide-shut.md)
- *Spice World* (1997), Fi1m 62, as Piers — [page](https://film.one/film/spice-world.md)
- *Circle of Friends* (1995), Fi1m 68, as Sean Walsh — [page](https://film.one/film/circle-of-friends.md)
- *GoldenEye* (1995), Fi1m 78, as Boris Grishenko — [page](https://film.one/film/goldeneye.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *It's Complicated* (2009), Fi1m 63, as TV Actor (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/its-complicated.md)

## Complete filmography (156)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Avengers: Doomsday* (2026), as Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/avengers-doomsday.md)
- *Treasure Trekkers* (2026), as (voice)
- *Borges and Me* (2026), as Alastair Reid
- *Death Do Us Part* (2026), as Lord Ingannamorte
- *Les Parfait(s) : Arnaques en Famille* (2026), as Sean Mac Callaghan
- *Toy Story 5* (2026), as Evil Bullseye (voice) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/toy-story-5.md)
- *Tip Toe* (2026), series, as Leo Struthers · Executive Producer
- *Glenrothan* (2026), as Donal
- *Kiloran Bay* (2026), as Torquil
- *The Mighty Nein* (2025), series, as Gustav (voice)
- *Asog* (2025), Executive Producer
- *Sleazy Tiger* (2025), as Alan Cumming
- *We Are Pat* (2025), Executive Producer
- *V13* (2025), as Sigmund Freud
- *RoboGobo* (2025), series, as Dame Luxley (voice)
- *Drive Back Home* (2024), as Perley
- *Doctor Who* (2024), series, as Mr Ring-a-Ding (voice)
- *Boarders* (2024), series, as Alan
- *Genie* (2023), as Flaxman
- *Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story* (2023), as Narrator (voice)
- *Rare Objects* (2023), as Peter Kessler
- *Marlowe* (2023), as Lou Hendricks
- *My Father's Dragon* (2022), as Cornelius the Crocodile (voice)
- *Abominable and the Invisible City* (2022), series, as Burnish (voice)
- *Dead End: Paranormal Park* (2022), series, as Harmony - Demonic Feaster on Fear (voice)
- *Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men* (2022), as Therapist
- *My Old School* (2022), as Brandon Lee
- *The Nutcracker and the Mouse King* (2021), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Prince* (2021), series, as Owen
- *Schmigadoon!* (2021), series, as Mayor Aloysius Menlove, Dooley Blight
- *Sharon Needles Presents: Mask It or Casket* (2020), Executive Producer
- *The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America* (2020), as Alan Cumming
- *Endgame & Rough for Theatre II* (2020), as B / Hamm
- *Briarpatch* (2020), series, as Clyde Brattle
- *Helpsters* (2019), series, as Dancer Dave
- *Prodigal Son* (2019), series, as Simon Hoxley
- *They'll Love Me When I'm Dead* (2018), as Narrator (voice)
- *Show Dogs* (2018), as Dante (voice)
- *Instinct* (2018), series, as Dylan Reinhart · Executive Producer
- *Michael Jackson's Halloween* (2017), as Meriwether (voice)
- *Battle of the Sexes* (2017), as Ted Tinling
- *Queers.* (2017), series, as Steve
- *After Louie* (2017), as Sam Cooper
- *The Good Fight* (2017), series, as Eli Gold
- *Hurricane Bianca* (2016), as Lawrence Taylor
- *Strange Magic* (2015), as Bog King (voice)
- *Chu and Blossom* (2014), as Uncle
- *Broad City* (2014), series, as Alan Cumming — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/broad-city.md)
- *The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow* (2013), as Gutsy Smurf (voice)
- *The Smurfs 2* (2013), as Gutsy Smurf (voice)
- *Almost in Love* (2013), as Hayden
- *Any Day Now* (2012), as Rudy Donatello
- *Urban Secrets* (2012), series, as Creator
- *Maladies* (2012), as Alan
- *Sir Billi* (2012), as Gordon the Goat (voice)
- *The Outs* (2012), series, as Alan Cumming
- *The Outback* (2012), as Bog (voice)
- *The Smurfs* (2011), as Gutsy Smurf (voice) — Fi1m 37, [page](https://film.one/film/the-smurfs.md)
- *Web Therapy* (2011), series, as Austen Clarke
- *The Runaway* (2011), series, as Desrae
- *Bubble Guppies* (2011), series, as The Glitch (voice)
- *The Money Pet* (2011), as The Narrator (voice)
- *Burlesque* (2010), as Alexis
- *Jackboots on Whitehall* (2010), as Hitler / Braveheart (voice)
- *The Tempest* (2010), as Sebastian
- *Riverworld* (2010), as Judas Caretaker
- *Boogie Woogie* (2010), as Dewey Dalamanatousis
- *It's Complicated* (2009), as TV Actor (uncredited) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/its-complicated.md)
- *Victoria Wood: Seen on TV* (2009), Actor
- *Planet 51* (2009), as Alien Mailman (voice) — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/planet-51.md)
- *Dare* (2009), as Grant Matson
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Eli Gold — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *The Mystery of Claywoman* (2009), as Jon Lauting Phd.
- *Ptown Diaries* (2009), as Narrator
- *Web Therapy* (2008), series, as Austen Clarke
- *Tin Man* (2007), series, as Glitch
- *Ripley Under Ground* (2007), as Jeff Constant
- *Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World* (2007), series, as Chuck Masters (voice), Zeke (voice), Chuck (voice), Rupert (voice)
- *Suffering Man's Charity* (2007), as John Vandermark · Director, Executive Producer
- *Gray Matters* (2007), as Gordy
- *Me, Eloise* (2006), series, as (voice)
- *The Return of Bond: The Start of Production Press Event* (2006), Actor
- *Full Grown Men* (2006), as The Hitchhiker
- *Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical* (2006), as Lecturer / Goat-Man / FDR
- *Sweet Land* (2005), as Frandsen · Producer
- *Bam Bam and Celeste* (2005), as Eugene
- *Neverwas* (2005), as Jake
- *Bad Blood* (2005), as Davie Mitchell
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as King James — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Son of the Mask* (2005), as Loki — Fi1m 20, [page](https://film.one/film/son-of-the-mask.md)
- *Eighteen* (2005), as Father Chris
- *Shoebox Zoo* (2004), series, as Bruno the Bear (voice)
- *Garfield* (2004), as Persnikitty (voice)
- *The L Word* (2004), series, as Billie Blaikie
- *The Goodbye Girl* (2004), as Mark Bodine
- *Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over* (2003), as Fegan Floop
- *X2* (2003), as Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/x2.md)
- *Nicholas Nickleby* (2002), as Mr. Folair
- *Becoming Men* (2002), Actor
- *Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams* (2002), as Fegan Floop
- *Intimate Affairs* (2002), as Sevy
- *The Anniversary Party* (2001), as Joe Therrian · Director, Writer, Producer
- *Josie and the Pussycats* (2001), as Wyatt Frame
- *Spy Kids* (2001), as Fegan Floop
- *For My Baby* (2000), as Daniel Orgelbrand
- *Get Carter* (2000), as Jeremy Kinnear
- *Loser* (2000), as Alan Cumming / Emcee (uncredited)
- *The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas* (2000), as The Great Gazoo / Mick Jagged
- *Company Man* (2000), as General Batista
- *God, the Devil and Bob* (2000), series, as The Devil (voice)
- *Urbania* (2000), as Brett
- *Titus* (1999), as Saturninus
- *Annie* (1999), as Daniel Francis "Rooster" Hannigan
- *Eyes Wide Shut* (1999), as Desk Clerk — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/eyes-wide-shut.md)
- *Plunkett & Macleane* (1999), as Lord Rochester
- *Sex and the City* (1998), series, as Oscar
- *Spice World* (1997), as Piers — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/spice-world.md)
- *Buddy* (1997), as Dick Croner
- *Romy and Michele's High School Reunion* (1997), as Sandy Frink
- *Bathtime* (1997), as Wrigley
- *Burn Your Phone* (1996), as Andy · Director
- *Emma* (1996), as Mr. Elton
- *3rd Rock from the Sun* (1996), series, as Angus 'The Hole' McDuff
- *GoldenEye* (1995), as Boris Grishenko — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/goldeneye.md)
- *Circle of Friends* (1995), as Sean Walsh — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/circle-of-friends.md)
- *Ghosts* (1995), series, as Philip
- *Gargoyles* (1994), series, as John Castaway (voice)
- *Second Best* (1994), as Bernard
- *Black Beauty* (1994), as Black Beauty (voice)
- *The High Life* (1994), series, as Sebastian Flight · Writer, Creator
- *That Sunday* (1994), Actor
- *Butter* (1994), as Ronnie · Director, Writer
- *Cabaret* (1993), as Emcee
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Ahmrit — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Rik Mayall Presents: Micky Love* (1993), as Greg Deane
- *Rik Mayall Presents* (1993), series, as Greg Deane
- *The Airzone Solution* (1993), as MacNamara
- *Dread Poets' Society* (1992), as Shelley
- *Prague* (1992), as Alexander Novak
- *The Last Romantics* (1992), as Tulloch
- *Bernard and the Genie* (1991), as Bernard Bottle
- *She-Play* (1990), series, as Nick
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Loki (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Conquest of the South Pole* (1989), Actor
- *Shadow of the Stone* (1987), series, as Tom Henderson
- *Passing Glory* (1986), as Rab
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Percy Bysshe Shelley
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Tulloch, Andy, Alexander Novak · Director
- *Travelling Man* (1984), series, as Jamie
- *Taggart* (1983), series, as Jamie McCormack
- *Take the High Road* (1980), series, as Jim Hunter
- *The Diary*, Actor
- *Run*, as Steve
- *Lunch Hour*, Actor
- *Romy and Michele 2*, as Sandy Frink
- *Rhona Who Lives by the River*, series, as Hamish

## Gallery

- ![Alan Cumming](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-9793ca67628f.jpg) Alan Cumming — Scottish Government, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/FM_and_Alan_Cumming_in_NY-4_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Alan Cumming during the 2011 New York Fashion Week](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-72a2dab927f7.jpg) Alan Cumming during the 2011 New York Fashion Week — Christopher Macsurak, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Alan_Cumming.jpg/1280px-Alan_Cumming.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star of X-Men X2, Spiceworld, Goldeneye, and The Good Wife. Montclair, NJ. Oct '16. (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-364631b942a3.jpg) Star of X-Men X2, Spiceworld, Goldeneye, and The Good Wife. Montclair, NJ. Oct '16. (2016) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Alan_Cumming_%2829960090994%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Alan_Cumming_%2829960090994%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Alan Cumming performing at the benefit concert for the Ali Forney Center at the Hiro in New York.](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-0461ff82ec18.jpg) Alan Cumming performing at the benefit concert for the Ali Forney Center at the Hiro in New York. — Gryffindor, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Alan_Cumming_1384.JPG/1280px-Alan_Cumming_1384.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Alan Cumming](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-371bc2e5339d.jpg) Alan Cumming — Image via TMDB
- ![Alan Cumming](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-d8ef8cb381cf.jpg) Alan Cumming — Image via TMDB
- ![Alan Cumming](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-52f3164ddf2f.jpg) Alan Cumming — Image via TMDB
- ![Alan Cumming performing at the benefit concert for the Ali Forney Center at the Hiro in New York.](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-95b5d3fa9239.jpg) Alan Cumming performing at the benefit concert for the Ali Forney Center at the Hiro in New York. — Gryffindor, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Alan_Cumming_1384_%28cropped%29.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Alan Cumming during the 2011 New York Fashion Week](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-a8c1eae62e13.jpg) Alan Cumming during the 2011 New York Fashion Week — Christopher Macsurak, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Alan_Cumming_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Alan Cumming](https://film.one/media/person/86414/gallery-f3d82dbe9bee.jpg) Alan Cumming — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 4 won

- honorary doctorate 2015: honorary doctorate (won)
- Great Immigrants Award 2009: Great Immigrants Award (won)
- Theatre World Award 1998: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1998: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/alan-cumming