Not My Father's Son

Description:

**Acclaimed actor Alan Cumming shares the raw and emotional story of his turbulent relationship with his father and the long-buried family secrets that shaped his life and career.** A beloved star of stage, television, and film, Alan Cumming is celebrated for his unparalleled diversity and fearlessness as an artist. However, his success conceals a painful childhood marked by the heavy hand of an emotionally and physically abusive father—a torment that followed him well into adulthood. In 2010, when UK television producers invited Alan to appear on a popular celebrity genealogy show, he eagerly accepted. He hoped the program would unravel the mystery surrounding his maternal grandfather, a celebrated WWII hero who vanished in the Far East. But as the show unearthed the truth about his family's past, Alan discovered far more than he anticipated—about his ancestors, his own past, and the father who had haunted him for so long. With a blend of ribald humor, sharp wit, and profound insight, Alan effortlessly weaves together tales from his Scottish childhood and his current experiences as a star. Suspenseful, deeply moving, and wickedly funny, ***Not My Father's Son*** will make readers laugh even as it breaks their hearts.

subjects: Actors, biography,  Scotland, biography,  nyt:combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction=2014-11-02,  New York Times bestseller,  Singers, biography,  Fathers,  Genealogy,  memoir,  childhood,  childhood trauma,  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),  PTSD,  CPTSD,  Trauma,  Abuse,  Adult Survivors of Child Abuse,  Child Abuse,  Overcoming Fears,  Overcoming Obstacles,  Family relationships,  family history,  Broadway,  Cabaret,  LGBTQ biography and memoir,  LGBTQ art & artists,  gender expression,  bisexual,  bisexuality,  chosen family,  mental health,  World War II,  Famous Persons -- Autobiography,  Famous Persons,  Nonfiction,  LGBTQ icon,  Bisexual Icon

People: Alan Cumming (1965-),  Tommy Darling,  Mary Darling,  Tom Cumming,  Grant Shaffer

Places: London (England),  New York City,  Scotland,  Singapore,  United Kingdom,  Broadway (New York, N.Y.)

Times: 2010