Rufus Wainwright

Birth Name:

Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright

Birth Place:

Rhinebeck, New York, United States

Profession

Soundtrack, Actor, Producer, Music department

Named Best New Artist in 1999 by Rolling Stone magazine
Studied piano performance at McGill University in Canada
Son of folk singers, Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright
Temporarily lost his vision in the early 2000s after becoming addicted to methamphetamines
Began playing the piano at six-years-old and started performing with his family band at 13-years-old
Interested in opera since childhood, he began writing them himself in the early 2000s
Relocated from Canada to New York City and later Los Angeles to work on his debut, self-titled album that was later released in 1998
Signed his first deal with DreamWorks after his father passed along some of his demo tapes to friends in the business
After hearing Verdi's Requiem at 14-years-old, he would listen to only opera for the next decade of his life

1989Genie - Best Original Song:Nominated
2007OFTA Film Award - Best Music, Adapted Song:Nominated
2008Annie - Best Music in an Animated Feature Production:Nominated
2021HMMA Award - Best Original Song - Documentary:Winner
2022SCL Award - Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production:Nominated

Fast Facts