Photo: 不明 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Rufus Wainwright is, to my ear, one of the most genuinely original voices in contemporary music. Born into a famous musical family and trained at McGill, he fuses operatic grandeur with pop intimacy in a way almost no one else attempts, let alone pulls off. He writes actual operas, sets Shakespeare to music, and still delivers aching, baroque pop songs that wreck me a little every time. I deeply respect how openly he has lived as a gay artist and how fiercely he protects his own aesthetic rather than chasing trends. He may never be a chart juggernaut, and that feels exactly right for an artist this uncompromising.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Rufus Wainwright
- Name (Japanese)
- ルーファス・ウェインライト
- Reading
- るーふぁす・うぇいんらいと
- Born
- July 22, 1973 (age 52)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Ox
- Origin
- Rhinebeck, New York, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- composer / singer-songwriter / pianist / singer / musician
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- McGill University
Awards & achievements
- 2008 GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak Award
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Milwaukee at Last!!! | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Rufus Wainwright born?
Born July 22, 1973 (age 52).
Where is Rufus Wainwright from?
Rufus Wainwright is from Rhinebeck, New York, United States.
What does Rufus Wainwright do?
Rufus Wainwright works as composer, singer-songwriter, pianist, singer, musician.
What is Rufus Wainwright known for?
Notable works include Milwaukee at Last!!!.
Composer — see all → · Singer-songwriter — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.