Rufus Wainwright Biography: Husband, Kids, Age, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Songs, Albums
Rufus Wainwright born Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and composer who built an international reputation through his distinctive voice, theatrical songwriting, and richly arranged pop and classical music.
He gained widespread recognition with his self-titled debut album in 1998, which established him as an important figure in the alternative music scene.
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He later expanded his work into opera, film soundtracks, and theatrical projects, earning further acclaim through albums such as Poses, Want One, Release the Stars, and Unfollow the Rules. His career has also included collaborations with major artists and performances in prestigious concert halls and opera houses across North America and Europe.
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright |
| Stage Name: | Rufus Wainwright |
| Born: | July 22, 1973 (age 53 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Rhinebeck, New York, United States |
| Nationality: | Canadian, American |
| Ethnicity: | White American-Canadian |
| Height: | 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Loudon Wainwright III, Kate McGarrigle |
| Siblings: | Martha Wainwright, Lucy Wainwright Roche |
| Spouse: | Jörn Weisbrodt |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Children: | Viva Katherine Wainwright Cohen |
| Occupation: | Singer, Songwriter, Composer |
| Net Worth: | $10 million |
Early Life and Education
Rufus Wainwright is 53 years old and was born on July 22, 1973, in Rhinebeck, New York. He was born into a prominent musical family as the son of American folk singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle.
He grew up alongside his sister Martha Wainwright and half-sister Lucy Wainwright Roche, becoming part of a family whose musical traditions would strongly influence his own career. When he was three years old, his parents separated, and his mother moved with the children to Montreal, Quebec.
Wainwright began studying classical piano at the age of six and developed an interest in opera during his teenage years. By the age of thirteen, he was already performing with his family’s musical ensemble. He attended Feller College in Côte-Saint-Luc before later studying at Millbrook School in New York. He subsequently enrolled at McGill University in Montreal, where he studied classical and modern piano, but eventually left university to concentrate on his professional music career.
Personal Life
Rufus Wainwright has been married to German arts administrator and festival director Jörn Weisbrodt since August 23, 2012. The couple began their relationship in the mid-2000s and became engaged in 2010 before marrying in Montauk, New York. Their wedding was attended by numerous figures from the worlds of music, film, and the arts.
Wainwright and Weisbrodt have one daughter, Viva Katherine Wainwright Cohen, who was born on February 2, 2011. Viva was born through a parenting partnership between Wainwright, Weisbrodt, and Lorca Cohen, the daughter of legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. The arrangement has remained an important part of Wainwright’s family life, with the singer describing his daughter and her relationship with both parents in interviews.
Before his marriage, Wainwright was publicly linked to musician Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters. He has also spoken openly about difficult periods in his life, including a traumatic sexual assault he experienced as a teenager and a serious struggle with crystal methamphetamine addiction during the early 2000s. He later achieved sobriety and continued building his career as a musician and composer.
Career
Rufus Wainwright began performing and recording music at a young age, with one of his early professional compositions, I’m a-Runnin, appearing in the 1988 Canadian film Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller. His major recording breakthrough came in 1998 with the release of his self-titled debut album. The record received strong critical attention and established him as a distinctive voice in alternative and baroque pop.
He followed his debut with Poses in 2001 and later released the ambitious albums Want One in 2003 and Want Two in 2004. His seventh studio album, Release the Stars, arrived in 2007 and became one of his strongest commercial releases. He continued exploring different musical forms with All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu, Out of the Game, Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets, Unfollow the Rules, and Folkocracy.
Wainwright also developed a major career as a classical composer. His first opera, Prima Donna, premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2009. He later composed Hadrian, an opera based on the Roman emperor, which premiered at the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto in 2018. His classical work expanded further with Dream Requiem, a large-scale composition that premiered in Paris in 2024.
Beyond his albums and operatic work, Wainwright has contributed to film and television projects. His music has appeared in films including Moulin Rouge!, I Am Sam, The Aviator, Brokeback Mountain, and Meet the Robinsons. He has also performed and recorded music connected to major theatrical and cinematic productions, maintaining a career that bridges popular music, classical composition, and the performing arts.
Awards
- Juno Award for Best Alternative Album – Winner, 1999, for Rufus Wainwright
- Rolling Stone Award for Best New Artist – Winner, 1999
- Juno Award for Best Alternative Album – Winner, 2002, for Poses
- Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – Nominated, 2009, for Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall
- Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – Nominated, 2022, for Unfollow the Rules
Net Worth
Rufus Wainwright has an estimated net worth of $10 million. His wealth has been built through decades of album sales, international concert tours, songwriting royalties, music licensing, film soundtrack work, and commissions for classical and theatrical compositions.
Social Media
- Instagram: @rufuswainwright
- X: @rufuswainwright
- YouTube: @rufuswainwright
Filmography
- Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller (1988)
- The Myth of Fingerprints (1997)
- Big Daddy (1999)
- Moulin Rouge! (2001)
- I Am Sam (2001)
- The Aviator (2004)
- Heights (2005)
- Brokeback Mountain (2005)
- Meet the Robinsons (2007)
- L’Âge des ténèbres (2007)
- Cartel Land (2015)
- Opening Night (2024)
Discography
- Rufus Wainwright (1998)
- Poses (2001)
- Want One (2003)
- Want Two (2004)
- Release the Stars (2007)
- All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu (2010)
- Out of the Game (2012)
- Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets (2016)
- Unfollow the Rules (2020)
- Folkocracy (2023)
- Dream Requiem (2024)
What People Ask
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