Actor T. Scott Cunningham, a founding member of Drama Dept. and The Vineyard Community of Artists, died at NYU Medical Center in New York City on Saturday, June 20 from complications due to pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, according to Sam Rudy, a spokesperson for The Vineyard Theatre. Mr. Cunningham was 47 years old.
T. Scott Cunningham last appeared this past April at the
Philadelphia Theatre Company in
Edward Albee's "At Home at the Zoo." On Broadway, he was in "Love! Valour! Compassion!" and revivals of "Design for Living" and "Tartuffe." His off-Broadway credits include "As Bees in Honey Drown" and "Music from a Sparkling Planet," both by
Douglas Carter Beane (
Drama Dept.); "Wintertime" and "The Dear Boy" (2nd Stage)'; and "New England" (
Manhattan Theatre Club). He originated roles in three plays by
Nicky Silver: "Pterodactyls" and "The Eros Trilogy" at The
Vineyard Theatre and "Fit to be Tied" at Playwright's Horizons.
Mr. Cunningham was recently in the National Tour of "Twelve Angry Men" and the Las Vegas production of "Mamma Mia!" and was also in the west coast tour of "Take Me Out." He was very proud to have been in the Kennedy Center's production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with
George Grizzard. His work in regional theatre includes South Coast Rep, Seattle Rep, Old Globe (
Richard Greenberg's "The Violet Hour"), Long Wharf, McCarter, Alliance, Williamstown, NY Stage & Film, Portland Stage Co., Utah Shakespeare (title role in "Hamlet"), and many others.
His film and television credits include Serendipity, The Out of Towners, Our Very Own, People I Know and The Boys of Sunset Ridge, "Law and Order," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," "Maximum Bob," "Cybill," and "Central Park West."
In a statement, playwright
Nicky Silver said: "
T. Scott Cunningham was a brilliant actor, an inspiration and a dear, dear friend. We were very close for the last 17 years. I will miss him every day."
Survived by his partner of fourteen years,
Harry Bouvy of New York City; parents Judy and Tim Cunningham, brother Kevin, sister-in-law Jena, niece Morgan, nephews Mason and Kade, all of Shelbyville, Tennessee; countless friends and colleagues in theatre, film and television.
Funeral services will be held at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel (2022 North Main Street) in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mr. Cunningham's memory to The Actors Fund. A memorial service will be held in New York City at a later date.
