Michael Cumpsty
Born
Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
OccupationActor
Years active1989–present
PartnerJohn Dias

Michael Cumpsty is a British actor. He made his Broadway debut in the Tom Stoppard play Artist Descending a Staircase (1989). He has acted in plays such as David Hare's Racing Demon (1995), Michael Frayn's Copenhagen (2000), and Democracy (2004), and Sophie Treadwell's Machinal (2014) as well in musicals such as 1776 (1997), 42nd Street (2001), and Sunday in the Park with George (2008). He received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical nomination for his role in End of the Rainbow (2012).

He has also appeared in films such as State of Grace (1990), The Ice Storm (1997), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), and The Visitor (2007). Cumpsty has also acted in various shows shows such as Showtime's medical comedy Nurse Jackie, HBO's period drama Boardwalk Empire, Cinemax's medical drama The Knick, CBS's police series Tommy, Apple TV+'s drama Severance, HBO's dark comedy Barry.

Early life and education

Cumpsty was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire,[1] and moved to South Africa with his family when he was 9.[2] Cumpsty attended Haileybury College in Hertfordshire and received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982.[3][4]

Career

On the Broadway stage he appeared in dramas, including La Bête (1991),[5] Timon of Athens (1993),[6] The Heiress (1995),[7] Copenhagen (2000),[8] and The Constant Wife (2005).[9] He appeared on Broadway in the play End of the Rainbow in 2012 and received a Tony Award nomination for Featured Actor for his performance.[6][1] He appeared in the Los Angeles production of the play, which ran in March and April 2013 at the Ahmanson Theatre.[10] He appeared in the Roundabout Theatre production of Machinal as the "husband" from December 2013 to 2 March 2014.[11]

In Broadway stage musicals, he played John Dickinson in the revival of 1776 (1997),[12] and Julian Marsh in the revival of 42nd Street (2001).[13][6] He played the role of Jules in the revival of Sunday in the Park With George in 2008.[14] In off-Broadway work, he co-directed a Classic Stage Company production of Richard III in 2007, as well as played the title role.[15] Other Shakespeare roles include the title role in Timon of Athens in 1996, Parolles in All's Well That Ends Well in 1993, Laertes in Hamlet in 1990, Time/Lord in The Winter's Tale in 1989, and Escalus in Romeo and Juliet in 1988, all at the Public Theater.[16] He played the title role in the Classic Stage Company production of Hamlet in 2005, winning the Obie Award.[16]

Cumpsty's television credits include daytime soap operas such as One Life to Live and All My Children, recurring roles on the primetime dramas L.A. Law in 1991 as "killer litigator" Frank Kittridge,[17] Severance as Security Chief Doug Graner, and Star Trek: Voyager as the holographic Lord Burleigh, and guest appearances on Matlock,[18] The OA, and Law & Order. Cumpsty's feature films include State of Grace (1990),[19] Fatal Instinct (1993),[20] The Ice Storm (1997),[21] Starting Out in the Evening (2007),[22] The Visitor (2007)[23] and Eat Pray Love (2010)[24]

Cumpsty appeared at the Two River Theater in Much Ado About Nothing in October 2011,[25] in Present Laughter in 2013, and directed the Wendy Wasserstein play Third in 2014.[26][27] He appeared in Absurd Person Singular as "Ronald" in January and on 1 February 2015.[2] He said of the Two River Theater: "It’s similar to off-Broadway, but at a much nicer theater. And it’s different from Broadway because it’s not commercial so there’s less pressure. It’s exhilarating, too. The run is short (three or four weeks) then it’s gone. It’s kind of special..."[2] He further said that he likes "language oriented work" and mentioned as examples Copenhagen and the plays of Tom Stoppard.[2]

In 2023 he acted in the HBO drama series Barry playing the Movie Gene Cousineau in the episode "wow" alongside Jim Cummings as Movie Barry Berkman; Henry Winkler and Bill Hader originated the roles respectively.

Personal life

His boyfriend, John Dias, is the artistic director of the Two River Theater Company in Red Bank, New Jersey, and they moved to New Jersey in 2010.[25]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1990 State of Grace Frankie's Man
1993 Fatal Instinct Laura's Husband
1997 The Ice Storm Philip Edwards
1999 The 24 Hour Woman Suzanne Pincus' Publicist
2006 The Ex Jack Connor
Flags of Our Fathers Secretary Forrestal
2007 The Visitor Charles
Starting Out in the Evening Victor
2010 Eat Pray Love Swami Dhavalachandra
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Churchill Schwartz Partner
2011 Downtown Express Vadim
2013 Burning Blue Admiral Stephensen
2014 Seduction Theory The Father (Short)
2016 Collateral Beauty Chairman of the Board

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1989 One Life to Live Sebastian 1 Episode
1990 The Kennedys of Massachusetts Billy Hartington 3 Episodes
Great Performances Laertes Episode: "Hamlet"
1991-1992 L.A. Law Frank Kittredge 17 episodes
1992-1993 Bob Mr. Terhorst Voice; 7 episodes
1993 Crossroads Bailey Episode: "The Harvest"
1995 Star Trek: Voyager Lord Burleigh 2 episodes: "Cathexis" and "Persistence of Vision"
Matlock Cameron Ivers Episode: "The Scam"
Pointman Det. Gordon Hagarty Episode: "Models"
1996 Mistrial Terry Lynch Television movie
1997 Night Sins Dr. Garrett Wright Television movie
1999 Law & Order Tom Willis Episode: "Hate"
The Lady in Question Klaus Gruber Television movie
2001 The Lullaby of Broadway:
Opening Night on 42nd Street 		Julian Marsh Television movie
2004 All My Children Alan Singer 5 episodes
2007-2011 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Mark Schaeffer
Bing Cullman aka Arnold Binder 		"Rocket Man" (2007)
"Trophy Wine" (2011)
2007-2010 American Experience James Callender
Prosecutor Roger Robb
John Randolph 		"Alexander Hamilton" (2007)
"The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer" (2009)
"Dolley Madison" (2010)
2009 Mercy Father Gus Episode: "Hope You're Good, Smiley Face "
2011 Nurse Jackie Lou Babiak 2 episodes: "Mitten" and "Rat Falls"
2011-2012 Boardwalk Empire Father Ed Brennan / Father Brennan 6 episodes
2012 Made in Jersey Barry Gilchrist Episode: "The Farm"
2014 The Good Wife Eric Napier Episode: "Shiny Objects"
2015 The Knick Judge Parkinson Bothamly 2 episodes
Madam Secretary Max Quinn Episode: "Spartan Figures"
Elementary Arlen Schrader Episode: "When Your Number's Up"
2016 The OA Dr. Leon Citro Episode: "Forking Paths"
Red Oaks Priest Episode: "Old Flames"
2017 The Blacklist: Redemption Robert Wilmont Episode: "Kevin Jensen"
2019 The Enemy Within Dennis Gordon Episode: "The Ambassador's Wife"
2020 Tommy Lovell 3 episodes
2022 Severance Mr. Graner 7 episodes
2023 Barry Movie Gene Cousineau Episode: "Wow"

Theatre

Year Title Role Playwright Venue
1989 Artist Descending a Staircase Young Beauchamp Tom Stoppard Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway debut
1991 La Bête Elomire David Hirson Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway
1993 Timon of Athens Alcibiades William Shakespeare Lyceum Theatre, Broadway
1995 The Heiress Morris Townsend Ruth and Augustus Goetz Cort Theatre, Broadway
1995 Translations Lt. Yolland Brian Friel Plymouth Theatre, Broadway
1995 Racing Demon Rev. Tony Ferris David Hare Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway
1997 1776 John Dickinson Sherman Edwards / Peter Stone Criterion Theatre, Broadway
1998 Electra Orestes Frank McGuinness Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway
2000 Copenhagen Werner Heisenberg Michael Frayn Royale Theatre, Broadway
2001 42nd Street Julian Marsh Harry Warren / Al Dubin Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Broadway
2003 Enchanted April Mellersh Wilton Matthew Barber Belasco Theatre, Broadway
2004 Democracy Arno Kretschmann Michael Frayn Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway
2005 The Constant Wife John Middleton W. Somerset Maugham American Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2008 Sunday in the Park with George Bob Greenberg Stephen Sondheim Studio 54, Broadway
2012 End of the Rainbow Anthony Peter Quilter Belasco Theatre, Broadway
2013 The Winslow Boy Desmond Curry Terrence Rattigan American Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2014 Machinal Husband Sophie Treadwell

Accolades

Year Association Category Project Result
2001 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical 42nd Street Nominated
2003 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Enchanted April Nominated
2012 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical End of the Rainbow Nominated
2023 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Severance Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b Blank, Matthew. "PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: End of the Rainbow Tony Nominee Michael Cumpsty" Playbill.com, 2012
  2. ^ a b c d Van Benthusen, Gretchen (30 January 2015). "Actor Michael Cumpsty Shows 'Slap-Sticky' Side At Two River Theater". theatercues.com.
  3. ^ "J. Michael Cumpsty '82 | UNC General Alumni Association".
  4. ^ Rickwald, Bethany."The Colleges and Universities Attended by Tony Award Nominees" Theatermania.com, 31 May 2012
  5. ^ Rich, Frank (11 February 1991). "Review/Theater; High Art Battles Low in Rhymed Couplets". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b c "Michael Cumpsty Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed 19 August 2015
  7. ^ Canby, Vincent (10 March 1995). "Theater Review: 'The Heiress'". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Brantley, Ben (12 April 2000). "THEATER REVIEW; A Fiery Power In the Behavior Of Particles And Humans". The New York Times.
  9. ^ Isherwood, Charles (17 June 2005). "Theater Review: 'The Constant Wife'". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Hetrick, Adam (25 February 2013). "Michael Cumpsty, Erik Heger and Miles Anderson to Join Tracie Bennett for L.A. Run of End of the Rainbow". Playbill.
  11. ^ Gioia, Michael (16 January 2014). "Broadway Revival of Machinal, Inspired by Murder Trial of Ruth Snyder, Opens Jan. 16". Playbill.
  12. ^ Brantley, Ben (15 August 1997). "Singing the Course Of Human Events". The New York Times.
  13. ^ Kenrick, John. "'42nd Street', Ford Center, NYC - April 2001". musicals101.com. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  14. ^ Brantley, Ben (28 February 2008). "Theater Review:'Sunday in the Park With George'". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Dziemianowicz, Joe (9 November 2007). "Taking a new stab at 'Richard III'". The New York Daily News.
  16. ^ a b "Michael Cumpsty Listing, Internet Off-Broadway Database" Archived 12 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed 31 March 2011
  17. ^ Carter, Bill (30 July 1991). "For 'L.A. Law,' a New Skipper and a New Course". The New York Times.
  18. ^ " Matlock Episode. The Scam" tv.com, accessed 19 August 2015
  19. ^ State of Grace rottentomatoes.com, accessed 1 April 2011
  20. ^ "Cast, Fatal Instinct" allmovie.com, accessed 1 April 2011
  21. ^ "Cast, The Ice Storm" allmovie.com, accessed 1 April 2011
  22. ^ "Starting Out in the Evening Cast", The New York Times, accessed 19 August 2015
  23. ^ 'The Visitor' Internet Movie Database, accessed 1 April 2011
  24. ^ "Cast, Eat Pray Love" rottentomatoes.com, accessed 1 April 2011
  25. ^ a b Filichia, Peter (9 September 2011). "Much Ado About Nothing preview: Michael Cumpsty to play Benedick". nj.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  26. ^ Chesak, Tom. "The Third Man" (PDF). tworivertheater.org. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  27. ^ "Present Laughter Listing". tworivertheater.org. Retrieved 19 August 2015.

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