Michael Cumpsty
{{short description|English actor|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| name = Michael Cumpsty
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Wakefield, England
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1989–present
| domestic_partner = John Dias
}}
Michael Cumpsty is an English actor. He is known for his work in Broadway plays such as Artist Descending a Staircase (1989), Racing Demon (1995), Copenhagen (2000), Democracy (2004), and Machinal (2014).
Cumpsty's film work includes State of Grace (1990), The Ice Storm (1997), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), and The Visitor (2007). He has also appeared in television series such as Nurse Jackie, L.A. Law, Boardwalk Empire, The Knick, Tommy, Severance, and Barry.
Cumpsty has also appeared in musicals such as 1776 (1997), 42nd Street (2001), Sunday in the Park with George (2008), and End of the Rainbow (2012). He received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play nomination for his role in the latter.
Early life
Cumpsty was born and raised in Wakefield, and moved to South Africa with his family at the age of nine. He later returned to England and attended Haileybury College in Hertford Heath, before relocating to the U.S. and receiving a BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982.{{Cite web|url=http://alumni.unc.edu/article.aspx?sid=9547|title = J. Michael Cumpsty '82 | UNC General Alumni Association}}Rickwald, Bethany.[http://www.theatermania.com/tmu/the-colleges-and-universities-attended-by-tony-awa_57418.html "The Colleges and Universities Attended by Tony Award Nominees"] Theatermania.com, 31 May 2012
Career
Cumpsty made his Broadway debut in Artist Descending a Staircase (1989). He has appeared in Broadway dramas such as La Bête (1991),{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Rich|authorlink=Frank Rich|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9D0CE5D61031F932A25751C0A967958260|title=Review/Theater; High Art Battles Low in Rhymed Couplets|newspaper=The New York Times|date=11 February 1991}} Timon of Athens (1993),[http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/93248/Michael-Cumpsty "Michael Cumpsty Broadway"] playbillvault.com, accessed 19 August 2015 The Heiress (1995),{{cite news|first=Vincent|last=Canby|authorlink=Vincent Canby|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=990CE0DC1F3CF933A25750C0A963958260|title=Theater Review: 'The Heiress'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=10 March 1995}} Copenhagen (2000),{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Brantley|authorlink=Ben Brantley|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9b02efdd153ef931a25757c0a9669c8b63|title=THEATER REVIEW; A Fiery Power In the Behavior Of Particles And Humans|newspaper=The New York Times|date=12 April 2000}} and The Constant Wife (2005).{{cite news|first=Charles|last=Isherwood|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/theater/reviews/17wife.html|title=Theater Review: 'The Constant Wife'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=17 June 2005}} 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.Blank, Matthew. [http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/165744-PLAYBILLCOMS-CUE-A-End-of-the-Rainbow-Tony-Nominee-Michael-Cumpsty "PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: End of the Rainbow Tony Nominee Michael Cumpsty"] Playbill.com, 2012 He appeared in the Los Angeles production of the play, which ran in March and April 2013 at the Ahmanson Theatre.{{cite magazine|first=Adam|last=Hetrick|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/michael-cumpsty-erik-heger-and-miles-anderson-to-join-tracie-bennett-for-l.-202854#|title=Michael Cumpsty, Erik Heger and Miles Anderson to Join Tracie Bennett for L.A. Run of End of the Rainbow|magazine=Playbill|date=25 February 2013}} He appeared in the Roundabout Theatre production of Machinal as the "husband" from December 2013 to 2 March 2014.{{cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Gioia|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/broadway-revival-of-machinal-inspired-by-murder-trial-of-ruth-snyder-opens--213776|title=Broadway Revival of Machinal, Inspired by Murder Trial of Ruth Snyder, Opens Jan. 16|magazine=Playbill|date=16 January 2014}}
In Broadway stage musicals, he played John Dickinson in the revival of 1776 (1997),{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Brantley|authorlink=Ben Brantley|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?id=1077011428979&html_title=&tols_title=&byline=&fid=NONE&scp=7&sq=brent%20spiner&st=cse|title=Singing the Course Of Human Events|newspaper=The New York Times|date=15 August 1997}} and Julian Marsh in the revival of 42nd Street (2001).{{cite web|first=John|last=Kenrick|url=http://www.musicals101.com/42nd01.htm|title='42nd Street', Ford Center, NYC - April 2001|website=musicals101.com|accessdate=1 April 2011}} He played the role of Jules in the revival of Sunday in the Park With George in 2008.{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Brantley|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/theater/reviews/22geor.html?pagewanted=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1301602464-F98S9FG5dC1VUdUiu2bybw|title=Theater Review:'Sunday in the Park With George'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=28 February 2008}} In off-Broadway work, he co-directed a Classic Stage Company production of Richard III in 2007, as well as played the title role.{{cite news|first=Joe|last=Dziemianowicz|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2007/11/09/2007-11-09_taking_a_new_stab_at_richard_iii.html|title=Taking a new stab at 'Richard III'|newspaper=The New York Daily News|date=9 November 2007}} 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.[http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&keyword=name&first=Michael&last=Cumpsty&middle= "Michael Cumpsty Listing, Internet Off-Broadway Database"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012025938/http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&keyword=name&first=Michael&last=Cumpsty&middle= |date=12 October 2012 }} Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed 31 March 2011 He played the title role in the Classic Stage Company production of Hamlet in 2005, winning the Obie Award.
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,{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Carter|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/30/arts/for-la-law-a-new-skipper-and-a-new-course.html?pagewanted=|title=For 'L.A. Law,' a New Skipper and a New Course|newspaper=The New York Times|date=30 July 1991}} Severance as Security Chief Doug Graner, and Star Trek: Voyager as the holographic Lord Burleigh, and guest appearances on Matlock,[http://www.tv.com/shows/matlock/the-scam-16827/ " Matlock Episode. The Scam"] tv.com, accessed 19 August 2015 The OA, and Law & Order. Cumpsty's feature films include State of Grace (1990),[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/state_of_grace/ State of Grace] rottentomatoes.com, accessed 1 April 2011 Fatal Instinct (1993),[http://www.allmovie.com/work/fatal-instinct-133375/cast "Cast, Fatal Instinct"] allmovie.com, accessed 1 April 2011 The Ice Storm (1997),[http://www.allmovie.com/work/the-ice-storm-154999/cast "Cast, The Ice Storm"] allmovie.com, accessed 1 April 2011 Starting Out in the Evening (2007),[https://web.archive.org/web/20160307041230/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/382520/Starting-Out-in-the-Evening/details "Starting Out in the Evening Cast"], The New York Times, accessed 19 August 2015 The Visitor (2007)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857191/ 'The Visitor'] Internet Movie Database, accessed 1 April 2011 and Eat Pray Love (2010)[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eat_pray_love/ "Cast, Eat Pray Love"] rottentomatoes.com, accessed 1 April 2011
Cumpsty appeared at the Two River Theater in Much Ado About Nothing in October 2011,{{cite web |last=Filichia |first=Peter |date=9 September 2011 |title='Much Ado About Nothing' preview: Michael Cumpsty to play Benedick |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/2011/09/much_ado_about_nothing_preview.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113406/http://blog.nj.com/entertainment_impact_arts/print.html?entry=%2F2011%2F09%2Fmuch_ado_about_nothing_preview.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |website=nj.com}} in Present Laughter in 2013, and directed the Wendy Wasserstein play Third in 2014.{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Chesak|url=http://www.tworivertheater.org/documents/press/Red__Hot_Magazine3.pdf|title=The Third Man|website=tworivertheater.org|accessdate=19 August 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tworivertheater.org/plays_events/current_season.php?categoryID=153|title=Present Laughter Listing|website=tworivertheater.org|accessdate=19 August 2015}} He appeared in Absurd Person Singular as "Ronald" in January and on 1 February 2015.{{cite web|first=Gretchen|last=Van Benthusen|url=http://theatercues.com/2015/01/30/actor-michael-cumpsty-shows-slap-sticky-side-at-two-river-theater/|title=Actor Michael Cumpsty Shows 'Slap-Sticky' Side At Two River Theater|website=theatercues.com|date=30 January 2015}} 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..." He further said that he likes "language oriented work" and mentioned as examples Copenhagen and the plays of Tom Stoppard.
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
Cumpsty has lived in New Jersey with his boyfriend John Dias, artistic director of the Two River Theater Company in Red Bank, since 2010.
Filmography
=Films=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 1990
|Frankie's Man | |
| 1993
|Laura's Husband | |
| 1997
|Philip Edwards | |
| 1999
|Suzanne Pincus' Publicist | |
| rowspan="2"|2006
|Jack Connor | |
| Flags of Our Fathers (film)|Flags of Our Fathers
|Secretary Forrestal | |
| rowspan="2"|2007
|Charles | |
| Starting Out in the Evening
|Victor | |
| rowspan="2"|2010
|Swami Dhavalachandra | |
| Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
|Churchill Schwartz Partner | |
| 2011
|Downtown Express |Vadim | |
| 2013
|Admiral Stephensen | |
| 2014
|Seduction Theory |The Father |(Short) |
| 2016
|Chairman of the Board | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 1989
|Sebastian | 1 Episode |
| rowspan="2"|1990
|The Kennedys of Massachusetts |Billy Hartington | 3 Episodes |
| Great Performances
| Episode: "Hamlet" |
| 1991-1992
|Frank Kittredge | 17 episodes |
| 1992-1993
|Bob |Mr. Terhorst | Voice; 7 episodes |
| 1993
|Bailey | Episode: "The Harvest" |
| rowspan="3"|1995
|Lord Burleigh | 2 episodes: "Cathexis" and "Persistence of Vision" |
| Matlock
|Cameron Ivers | Episode: "The Scam" |
| Pointman
|Det. Gordon Hagarty | Episode: "Models" |
| 1996
|Terry Lynch | Television movie |
| 1997
|Night Sins |Dr. Garrett Wright | Television movie |
| rowspan="2"|1999
|Tom Willis | Episode: "Hate" |
| The Lady in Question
|Klaus Gruber | Television movie |
| 2001
|The Lullaby of Broadway: |Julian Marsh | Television movie |
| 2004
|Alan Singer | 5 episodes |
| 2007-2011
|Mark Schaeffer | "Rocket Man" (2007) |
| 2007-2010
|James Callender | "Alexander Hamilton" (2007) |
| 2009
|Father Gus | Episode: "Hope You're Good, Smiley Face " |
| 2011
|Lou Babiak | 2 episodes: "Mitten" and "Rat Falls" |
| 2011-2012
|Father Brennan |6 episodes |
| 2012
|Barry Gilchrist |Episode: "The Farm" |
| 2014
|Eric Napier |Episode: "Shiny Objects" |
| rowspan="3"|2015
|Judge Parkinson Bothamly |2 episodes |
| Madam Secretary
|Max Quinn |Episode: "Spartan Figures" |
| Elementary
|Arlen Schrader |Episode: "When Your Number's Up" |
| rowspan="2"|2016
|Dr. Leon Citro |Episode: "Forking Paths" |
| Red Oaks
|Priest |Episode: "Old Flames" |
| 2017
|Robert Wilmont |Episode: "Kevin Jensen" |
| 2019
|Dennis Gordon |Episode: "The Ambassador's Wife" |
| 2020
|Lovell |3 episodes |
| 2022
|Mr. Graner |7 episodes |
| 2023
|Movie Gene Cousineau |Episode: "wow" |
= Theatre =
Accolades
| class="wikitable unsortable"
! Year ! Association ! Category ! Project ! Result | ||||
| 2001 | rowspan=2|Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | 42nd Street | {{nom}} |
| 2003 | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Enchanted April | {{nom}} | |
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Play | End of the Rainbow | {{nom}} |
| 2023 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Severance | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{IMDb name|192054}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cumpsty, Michael}}
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:LGBTQ people from Yorkshire
Category:Male actors from Wakefield
Category:People educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College