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Cunningham, busy actor, dies at 47

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
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T. Scott Cunningham
T. Scott Cunningham, 47, a Shelbyville Central High School graduate who had a busy career as an actor in stage, television and film, died Saturday at New York University Medical Center in New York City from complications due to pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, according to Sam Rudy, a spokesperson for The Vineyard Theatre.

Cunningham was a founding member of Drama Dept. and The Vineyard. Playbill magazine called him "a simultaneous[ly] zany and empathetic performer .... equipped with a soft, malleable face and large brown eyes which, depending on the role or the scene, could express a soulful sorrowfulness, a pained yearning or a verging sense of panic."

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.

"T. Scott Cunningham was a brilliant actor, an inspiration, and a dear, dear friend," said Silver in a written statement. "We were very close for the last 17 years. I will miss him every day."

Cunningham last appeared in April at the Philadelphia Theatre Company in Edward Albee's "At Home at the Zoo," giving what the Philadelphia Inquirer called "a perfectly measured performance," according to Playbill.

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; "Wintertime"; "The Dear Boy"; and "New England." He 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 appeared 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, Long Wharf, McCarter, Alliance, Williamstown, NY Stage & Film, Portland Stage Co., Utah Shakespeare and many others.

Cunningham's big screen credits include "Our Very Own," the independent movie filmed and set in Shelbyville; "Serendipity"; "The Out-Of-Towners"; "People I Know" and "The Boys of Sunset Ridge." His TV credits include multiple appearances on "Law & Order," as well as "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Cybill," "Central Park West," "Queens Supreme" and "Maximum Bob."

Playbill called Drama Dept., of which Cunningham was a co-founder, "a vivacious theatre troupe that thrived Off-Broadway in the late 1990s and early 2000s" and quoted Cunningham as saying it was satisfying to start a theatrical company.

"That's got to be the reason you hear about people starting companies all the time," he said of Drama Dept. "It's about having a place to go. I sometimes just like having a place to go."

Cunningham is survived by his partner of 14 years, Harry Bouvy of New York City, and by his parents, Judy and Tim Cunningham, of Shelbyville; and by a brother, Kevin Cunningham of Shelbyville.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bedford County Arts Council, P.O. Box 762, Shelbyville, TN 37162.


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What a shock! I grew up with Tim or Scott, as we called him back then. We were close friends in grade school, but then attended different schools and drifted apart. In high school we were reunited at the same school, but had different interests, so we didn't hang out much together, but we always waved or spoke to each other in passing, occasionally stopping to catch up on what each of us had been doing lately.

In high school he was already an excellent actor and I remember enjoying watching him in several school plays. Over the years I have seen him appear on TV shows that I watched and it made me proud to know that my friend was doing something that he loved and at he was also doing it big time.

He was a good friend, a great actor and someone that I am glad that I had the opportunity to know. I offer my sincere condolences to his Mom, Dad and younger brother. May he rest in peace.

William

-- Posted by HorseGentler on Tue, Jun 23, 2009, at 10:04 AM

I am so sorry to read about this. He was a very talented man.

I am sorry for your loss.

-- Posted by imonewhocares on Tue, Jun 23, 2009, at 1:33 PM

hhhmmm... there's a time and a place dude... act like ya got an ounce of class.

-- Posted by superx1250 on Tue, Jun 23, 2009, at 5:01 PM

I went to high school with Scott. We didn't have any classes together (he was a year below me) but I enjoyed watching the plays he participated in. I also remember seeing him in the hallways and around school. He was always smiling and I never heard him say a bad word about anybody. I'm so glad he got the chance to come back home and work with Cam and some of his other drama classmates on "Our Very Own."

My sympathy and prayers for his family.

-- Posted by wahoo on Tue, Jun 23, 2009, at 7:50 PM

The world has lost a great talent and a very nice guy. He will be missed......

-- Posted by Black Swan on Wed, Jun 24, 2009, at 1:43 AM

We grew up together on lafayette st. I will miss him greatly. I have missed him all these yrs he has been away. I am praying for his parents and for Kevin and his family and for Harry also. Scott was a great friend and thats about the best thing a person can be.

Tammie

-- Posted by halfpint on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 6:47 PM

We grew up together on lafayette st. I will miss him greatly. I have missed him all these yrs he has been away. I am praying for his parents and for Kevin and his family and for Harry also. Scott was a great friend and thats about the best thing a person can be.

Tammie

-- Posted by halfpint on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 6:50 PM

My prayers to the family for their lost.

-- Posted by Momof3&3step&1gran on Fri, Jun 26, 2009, at 2:25 PM


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