His song "Dinner At Eight" is about an argument he and his father Loudon Wainwright III had once.

Is friends with actor Alan Cumming.

His song "Matinee Idol" is about River Phoenix.

Considers Judy Garland his top gay icon, according to an interview with "The Observer" (21 December 2006).

The music video for a song from his debut album was filmed in Gwen Stefani's home.

His song 'Gay Messiah' originally started out as a political song to sing at parties.

His father is an American of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His mother is of French-Canadian decent.

Brother of Martha Wainwright.

His song "Memphis Sky Line" (from his album Want Two) is dedicated to Jeff Buckley.

Heard an amazing recording of Verdi's Requiem when he was 14, and for ten years, he listened to opera and only opera.

A fan of the film Grey Gardens (1975), he wrote a song with the same name for his second album, Poses. The song features an audio clip of 'Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale', taken from the film.

His song "Beauty Mark" is about his mother, Kate McGarrigle.

Is writing an opera, which will be called "Prima Donna".

Performed the song "Complainte de la Butte" for the film Moulin Rouge! (2001), the only song in French featured in the Paris-set movie.

His character Jeremy in Heights (2005) was based on himself.

Nephew of Anna McGarrigle.

Longtime companion has been Jörg Weisbrodt, a German concert manager for the Berlin State Opera since 2005.

Studied classical and modern piano at McGill University.

Wainwright is a big fan of opera and counts the Metropolitan Opera House as one of his favorite places in New York.

Named "Best New Artist" by "Rolling Stone" magazine in 1999.

Once lived in New York's famous Chelsea Hotel.

Performed songs featured in the soundtracks for The Myth of Fingerprints (1997) and Big Daddy (1999/I).

His favorite songs are "Mystery Train" by Elvis Presley, "Talk To Me Of Mendocino" by Kate & Anna McGarrigle, "Trains And Boats And Planes" by Dionne Warwick, "I Want You" by Bob Dylan, "69 Anne Erotic" by Serge Gainsbourg, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by Roberta Flack, "Heart Of Glass" by Blondie, "Accentuate The Positive" by Harold Arlen, "Venus As A Boy" by Bjork and "In My Room" by The Beach Boys. (Source: BBC Radio 2 "Tracks of My Years").

Kate Winslet is a fan of his song 'Poses' -- mentioned in one of her ads for AmEx.

His debut album ('Rufus Wainwright') is about a straight man who he fell for named Danny. This can be reflected in the song 'Danny Boy.'.

Won a Juno Award for "Best Alternative Album" in 1999 and 2002.

The song 'The One You Love' (from his album 'Want Two') features a line from the song 'See What Percy's Picked Up in the Park.' The line is modified, so instead of "Singing, oh Jerusalem, oh Jerusalem, see what Percy's picked up in the park" it is "I'm singing oh Jerusalem, oh Jerusalem, see what he's picked up in the park. The song is about coming to terms with ones sexual escapades.

His parents considered naming him Oscar.

I Eat Dinner (When the Hunger's Gone), the song he sings in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), was written by his mother, Kate McGarrigle.

Grew up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Son of singer/actor Loudon Wainwright III and singer Kate McGarrigle.

His song "Natasha" is written about Natasha Lyonne.