Stage and Screen Actor T. Scott Cunningham Dead at 47

Actor T. Scott Cunningham, a founding member of Drama Dept. and The Vineyard Community of Artists, died on June 20 at NYU Medical Center in New York City, according to the Vineyard’s spokesperson Sam Rudy. The cause of death was complications due to pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Cunningham was 47 years old.

An off-Broadway stalwart with an inimitable gift for dry, slightly dark comedy, Cunningham was perhaps best known for originating roles in the Nicky Silver playsPterodactyls (1993), Fit to Be Tied (1996) and The Eros Trilogy (1999). As a founding member of Drama Dept., he starred in two Douglas Carter Beane originals—his 1997 hit Hollywood satire As Bees in Honey Drown and 2001’s Music from a Sparkling Planet.

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

Cunningham’s most recent stage appearance was the Philadelphia Theatre Company in Edward Albee's "At Home at the Zoo" in April 2009. His Broadway credits were Love! Valour! Compassion! and revivals of Design for Living and Tartuffe. In addition to the off-Broadway credits listed above, he appeared in Wintertime and The Dear Boy at Second Stage and New England at Manhattan Theatre Club. He was recently in the national tour of Twelve Angry Men and also appeared in the Las Vegas production of Mamma Mia!, the West Coast tour of Take Me Out and the Kennedy Center production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with George Grizzard. His work in regional theater includes South Coast Rep, Seattle Rep, Old Globe, Long Wharf, McCarter, Alliance, Williamstown, NY Stage & Film, Portland Stage Co., Utah Shakespeare and many others. His film and television credits includeSerendipity, 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.

The actor is survived by his partner of 14 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.

At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Cunningham's memory to The Actors Fund.