Grant Shaffer and Alan Cumming: What Most People Get Wrong About Their 20-Year Marriage

You see them on red carpets or caught in a grainy paparazzi snap in the East Village—one, a Scottish whirlwind of camp and charisma, the other, a quiet, sharp-eyed artist with a penchant for checked shirts. They look like they’ve always just been there. But the thing about Grant Shaffer and Alan Cumming is that their relationship isn't just another Hollywood "it" couple scenario. It’s actually one of the most stable, low-drama, and high-impact partnerships in Manhattan.

Honestly, it’s kinda weird how little people actually know about Grant himself. Everyone knows Alan—the Master of Ceremonies, the silver-tongued host of The Traitors, the man who made Nightcrawler iconic. But Grant Shaffer isn't just "the husband." He’s a heavyweight in the New York art scene who has literally storyboarded your favorite childhood movies and Beyonce’s most famous music videos.

Who is Grant Shaffer anyway?

Let’s get one thing straight: Grant Shaffer didn't need a famous spouse to make his mark. Born in San Francisco in 1965, he’s been a fixture in Manhattan for over thirty years. If you’ve ever flipped through The New Yorker, The New York Times, or Interview Magazine, you’ve likely seen his illustrations. They have this specific, clean-yet-expressive line work that feels very "Old New York" but totally modern at the same time.

He’s basically a ghostwriter but for visuals. You know that "Single Ladies" video? The one everyone tried to mimic in their living rooms in 2008? Grant Shaffer was the storyboard artist for that. Same for Madonna’s "Rain" and Michael Jackson’s "Who Is It."

In the film world, his fingerprints are everywhere. He worked on:

• Zoolander (the quirkiness makes sense now, right?)
• Closer
• Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
• The recent Wicked movie adaptation

He’s also a teacher. He spends time at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and the Hetrick-Martin Institute, showing the next generation how to actually make a living as a working artist in an increasingly digital world. It’s a grounded, 9-to-5-ish existence that serves as a perfect foil to Alan’s more nomadic, theatrical life.

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The Two Weddings of Grant Shaffer and Alan Cumming

They met in 2005. At that point, Alan had already been through the wringer—a difficult first marriage to Hilary Lyon and some high-profile relationships that didn't stick. He once told Closer that Grant was the first person who didn't try to "change" him. That’s a big deal when you’re as big a personality as Alan Cumming.

They didn't just get married once. They did it twice, but not for the reasons most celebrities do (which is usually for a bigger magazine payout).

Their first ceremony was in January 2007 at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. It was a winter fairytale. Ian McKellen was there. Geri Halliwell (yes, Ginger Spice) was there. Alan wore an oatmeal-colored kilt suit, and Grant was in a sharp black-striped suit. They even skated on a private ice rink afterward to Queen’s "You’re My Best Friend."

But there was a catch. At the time, they couldn't legally marry in the United States.

"As residents of America we would have loved to marry there, but we hope that soon the civil rights that we have been afforded in the U.K. will be available to all gay Americans." — Alan Cumming, 2007.

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Fast forward five years to January 7, 2012. Marriage equality was finally a reality in New York. To celebrate their fifth anniversary, they headed to the Soho Grand Hotel and made it "American legal." Alan famously live-tweeted the event with the hashtag #eatmericksantorum. It was a middle finger to prejudice and a celebration of a love that had already proven its staying power.

Life at "Camp Cumming" and the East Village

The couple is deeply rooted in the East Village. For years, they lived in a quirky, four-bedroom co-op overlooking Tompkins Square Park. It was the kind of place filled with Scottish plaid blankets, neon pops of color, and built-in bookshelves—very much an artist’s sanctuary. They eventually sold it to renovate a 19th-century townhouse nearby, but their hearts seem to be moving further north.

If you want to know the "real" Grant Shaffer and Alan Cumming, you have to look at their property in the Catskills, which Alan calls "Camp Cumming."

It’s a massive compound of cabins and woods that Alan bought right after 9/11. During the pandemic, they spent six solid months there. It’s where Grant deals with his "anxious" side (Alan’s words) and Alan plays "nature boy." They even have a treehouse on stilts because the actual trees weren't strong enough to hold a building.

They also collaborated on a series of children's books titled The Adventures of Honey & Leon, inspired by their real-life dogs. It’s a sweet look into their domestic life—two dogs traveling the world to protect their "dads" who have no idea they’re being followed.

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The No-Kids Decision

People often ask if they have children. They don’t. Alan has been pretty open about this. He once thought he’d be a father, but as the relationship with Grant matured, they realized they were just... content. They have a lot of kids in their lives—nieces, nephews, friends’ children—but they decided that their duo (plus dogs) was a complete family unit. It’s a refreshingly honest take in a culture that often pressures long-term couples to "take the next step."

What We Can Learn From Them

Basically, the Shaffer-Cumming marriage works because it’s a partnership of equals who aren't trying to outshine each other. Grant has his gallery shows and his storyboard deadlines; Alan has his stage roles and his bars (like Club Cumming). They’ve created a life that balances the high-octane energy of showbiz with the quiet, disciplined world of a visual artist.

If you’re looking to follow in their footsteps—not necessarily by marrying a Tony winner, but by building a long-term creative partnership—here are the real takeaways:

• Respect the "Unchangeable": Find someone who likes the version of you that already exists, not the one they hope you'll become.
• Create Your Own Sanctuary: Whether it's a cabin in the woods or a specific corner of a city apartment, having a shared "escape" space is vital for longevity.
• Collaborate Outside Your Comfort Zone: Writing a book together or working on a creative project (like their children's books) can strengthen a bond by forcing you to see how the other person's brain works.
• Privacy is a Choice: They share enough to be accessible but keep the core of their home life off the front pages. You don't have to post everything to be valid.

Grant and Alan have been together for over twenty years now. In celebrity years, that’s practically a century. They’ve navigated the move from civil partnership to legal marriage, the transition from young stars to elder statesmen of the community, and they've done it with a lot of style and zero scandals.

To keep up with Grant’s latest work, you can check out his solo exhibitions at galleries like Half Gallery or La MaMa in New York. For Alan, he’s usually wherever the lights are brightest—but you can bet Grant is somewhere nearby, probably with a sketchbook in hand, just watching.

Actionable Insight: If you're an aspiring artist or illustrator, study Grant Shaffer's storyboard career as a blueprint for "hidden" success in Hollywood. You can find his portfolio on his official website or through the School of Visual Arts faculty page to see how he translates complex scripts into visual frames. For those interested in their collaborative work, The Adventures of Honey & Leon serves as a great example of how couples can merge different creative talents into a single, cohesive project.