Sting.

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner

Sting — Actor

Born 2 Oct 1951 Wallsend, United Kingdom

Citizenship United Kingdom

Age 74 yr Today

16 min read

Reading time

3,122

Words

May 31, 2026

Published

248

Film credits

10

Books

12

Awards

TL;DR

Sting earns over $2,000 per day in royalties for Every Breath You Take, the most requested radio song of all time. The former frontman of The Police was born Gordon Matthew Sumner on October 2, 1951, in Wallsend, England. After the band ended in 1984, he started a solo career and acted in films such as Dune and Quadrophenia. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him in 2003.

Identity & family.

KIN · 7

Names, aliases, and relatives of Sting — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner

Aliases Phil Collins, The Police, Police

Parents: Audrey Cowell Ernest Matthew Sumner
Spouses: Trudie Styler Frances Tomelty
Children: Joe Sumner Mickey Sumner Eliot Sumner

At a glance.

STATS

Sting by the numbers — life, work, and family.

74 Age

248 Film credits

10 Books

12 Awards

2 Marriages

3 Children

Who is Sting?

BIOGRAPHY

Sting — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

The eldest of four children, Gordon Matthew Sumner came into the world on October 2, 1951 in Wallsend, England, to hairdresser Audrey Cowell and engineer-milkman Ernest Matthew Sumner. A trombonist gave him the nickname Sting after he wore a striped sweater resembling a bee. Growing up amid the decline of the shipbuilding industry, he developed an early passion for music after seeing Jimi Hendrix perform at Newcastle City Hall. He played bass guitar in jazz bands and worked as a teacher and tax officer before pursuing music full-time.

Career

Sting formed The Police in 1977 with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. The band scored early hits like Roxanne and Every Breath You Take, the latter written after waking from a dream. Their album Synchronicity knocked Michael Jackson’s Thriller from number one in 1983. When the band went on hiatus, Sting started a solo career in 1984 with The Dream of the Blue Turtles, which featured jazz musicians. He released more albums, including Nothing Like the Sun 1987 and Ten Summoner’s Tales 1993. He also acted in films like Dune 1984, Quadrophenia 1979, and Plenty 1985. The Police reunited for a 2007 world tour, their first in over 20 years.

Personal life

Sting married actress Frances Tomelty in 1976; they divorced in 1984 and had two children, Joe and Mickey Sumner. He began a relationship with film producer Trudie Styler in the early 1980s and married her in 1992. They have four children together, including Eliot Sumner and Giacomo Sumner. The family splits time among homes in London, Wiltshire, New York, Malibu, and a Renaissance villa in Tuscany, Italy. Sting and Trudie co-founded the Rainforest Foundation in 1989 to protect rainforests and indigenous rights.

Legacy

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Sting as a member of The Police in 2003, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2014. His song Every Breath You Take remains the most requested radio song of all time and won a Grammy for Song of the Year in 1984. He has won multiple Grammy Awards and a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. His humanitarian work through the Rainforest Foundation has protected millions of acres of rainforest. Sting is most remembered as the frontman of The Police and for his solo hit Every Breath You Take.

Filmography.

FILMS · 248

The complete filmography of Sting — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Simpsons

1989
TV

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014
TV

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015
TV

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009
TV

The Graham Norton Show

2007
TV

Saturday Night Live

1975
TV

Late Show with David Letterman

1993
TV

NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

2008
TV

The One Show

2006
TV

Only Murders in the Building

2021
TV

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003
TV

Behind the Music

1997
TV

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003
TV

Late Night with David Letterman

1982

Showing 14 of 248 View all 248 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 12

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Sting — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Primetime Emmy Award
MusiCares Person of the Year
David Angell Humanitarian Award
Polar Music Prize
Kennedy Center Honors
Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
German Radio Award
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
MOJO Awards
Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Song of the Year

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 10

Sting's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Broken Music

by Sting
Amazon

Jungle Stories

by Sting (Musician) et al.
Amazon

Lyrics

by Sting (Musician) et al.
Amazon

Rock Steady

by Sting
Amazon

Sting – Ten Summoner's Tales

by Sting
Amazon

Sting – Fields of Gold

by Sting
Amazon

Very Best of Sting and the Police

by Sting et al.
Amazon

Dream of the Blue Turtles

by Sting
Amazon

Sting Piano Solos

by Sting
Amazon

Sting – Brand New Day

by Sting

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 20

A wall of memorable lines from Sting — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

I’m Bored with Music Between 1955 and 1980. I’m Completely Bored. I Can’t Listen to a Rock and Roll Record. I Can’t Do It. I Would Rather Listen to Hogs Screwing.
It Was Quite Something. My Wife Saw It, Too. at First I Thought It Was Her with One of the Kids Until I Reached Over and I Realised That She Was Still in Bed with Me” on Seeing the Ghosts of a Woman and a Child in His Bedroom
I’m so Glad I Have This Way of Expressing, in a Veiled and Artistic Way, My Most Intimate Feelings. a Lot of People Have the Same Feelings, but in Others It Must Get Bottled Up. I’m Proud of My Being Able to Make It into Artifacts That Some People Find Beautiful or Engaging.
I Don’t Belong to a Church or Political Party or a Group of Any Kind. I Feel That Amnesty International Is the Most Civilized Organization in History. Its Currency Is the Written Word. Its Weapon Is the Letter; That’s Why I Am a Member. I Believe in Its Non Violence; I Believe in Its Effectiveness. Its Dignity and Its Sense of Commitment. Its Focus on Individuals and the Concentration and Tenacity with Which They Defend Those Imprisoned for Their Ideas Has Earned It the Cautious Respect of Repressive Governments Throughout the World.
If Anyone Described Me as a Genius I Would Laugh. I Have My Moments I Just Have to Join Them Together.
You Can’t Get Better Than Otis Redding.
You Can Scratch the Surface of My Songs Pretty Lightly and You’ll Find Someone Who Wanted to Be James Taylor at the Age of 14. He’s Also a Brilliant and Ridiculously Underrated Guitar Player and Blessed with a Voice That Could Melt Ice Caps.
One of My Favorite Songs That I Never Wrote Was Tempted and I Did Actually Cover It. It’s a Great Song, and Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook Are Great Songwriters. Squeeze Were Always a Great Band, and It Was Nice to Cover It.
I Loved the Band Traffic for Their Way of Creating a Musical Universe Without These Boundaries, Because Whether It’s Country, Pop, Gospel, Heavy Metal or Classical Music, It’s All a Single Language, a Code.
Everybody in the Business Knows in His Heart of Hearts What It Takes to Be Successful. Whether You’ve Got the Guts to Go Through with That or Not Is Another Matter.
I Am a Gambler and I Think I’ve Always Been Rewarded for My Risk Taking. My Ambition Is to Be Allowed to Do Anything That I Want to Do Again, and to Reach a Standard Where People Will at Least Say: ‘That Was OK.’ I Think the Whole Idea of Being ‘Successful’ in Music Is to Have a Unique Signature or Sonic Fingerprint, and No Matter What Context You Sing in People Recognize It as You. Whether They Like It Is Another Matter.
There’s This Whole Universe of Music That Is Simply Limitless. When You Think You Know Everything About Music, You Discover You Can’t Get to the End. I’m on This Lifelong Journey, and Orchestral Music Is Where It’s Now Taken Me.
I Want to Surprise an Audience: Surprise the Listener, Surprise Myself. to Me the Essence of Music Is Surprise. Every Eight Bars You Need a Surprise, Otherwise People Fall Asleep.
There Are No Clues in My Environment That You Leave That Environment and Fare Well and Be Successful. My Parents Didn’t Really Understand What My Dreams Were. They Just Thought I Was Crazy Because I Had Just Given up a Job with a Pension and the Security, in Their Eyes. My Dad Didn’t Understand Until the End of His Days What the Hell I Was Doing. He Thought I Should Have Had a Proper Job. Maybe He Was Right. I Wanted to Take a Risk and Be a Star.
I Don’t Think There’s Such a Thing as Composition in Pop Music. I Think What We Do in Pop Music Is Collate. It’s Like Folk Music. It Makes Copyright a Bit Interesting and Difficult. I’m a Good Collator.
I’m Essentially Agnostic. I Don’t Have a Problem with God. I Have a Problem with Religion.
I’ve Chosen to Live My Life Without the Certainties of Religious Faith. I Think They’re Dangerous.
Music Is Something That Gives My Life Value and Spiritual Solace.
I’ve Never Pandered to the Lowest Common Denominator. I Have a Good Audience and I’m Supposed to Challenge Them. I Always Expect the Audience to Make the Journey with Me.
The One Thing I Would Like to Say About the Police Is That Stewart, Andy, and I Loved Each Other… Too Much.

Did you know?

FACTS · 49

Little-known facts about Sting — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Sting takes in an average of $2,000 per day in royalties for his song Every Breath You Take, which is the most requested radio song of all time.
He wrote Every Breath You Take after waking up from a dream in the middle of the night.
The Police album Synchronicity knocked Michael Jackson’s Thriller out of the number one spot in 1983.
His favorite music genre is actually jazz.
He once worked as a bus conductor and tax officer before his music career.
He was nicknamed Sting by Gordon Solomon, a trombonist, because of his black and gold rugby shirt resembling a hornet.
He was a certified primary school teacher and taught English at St Paul’s First School in Cramlington.
He was a member of Band Aid in 1984, raising money for Ethiopian famine relief.
He reunited with The Police at the 2007 Grammy Awards and announced a world tour the next day.
He wrote Every Breath You Take at the home of Ian Fleming in Jamaica.
The Police were voted the 70th Greatest Rock n Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.
He is a fan and friend of fellow singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel, with whom he toured in 2016.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Police on March 10, 2003.
His song Roxanne is one of the top 50 bar/jukebox songs of all time according to VH-1.
His 1987 album Nothing Like the Sun is dedicated to his mother, Audrey.
He is a big fan of the Copy Guy character on Saturday Night Live and once wrote a letter signed with playful pseudonyms.
He planned a festival tour called Desert Roses and Arabian Rhythms in 2001 but canceled it after the September 11 attacks.
The comic book character John Constantine was designed to look like Sting and first appeared in the Swamp Thing series.
His son Joe Sumner is a singer in a band and bears a striking resemblance to his father.
He has six children and, as of 2019, seven grandchildren.
He performed for the BBC’s annual Children in Need charity event on November 21, 2003.
Two of his songs with The Police share titles with films starring Sandra Bullock: Demolition Man and Murder by Numbers.
He owns a Malibu house formerly owned by actor Larry Hagman.
The Police never officially announced a breakup; their last performance was at their 2003 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
He and The Police originally bleached their hair blond to appear more punk for a bubblegum commercial.
His father Ernie was a milkman, and Sting helped him on his rounds.
He and his wife Trudie Styler founded the Rainforest Foundation in 1988.
The 2009 Sunday Times List estimated his net worth at $295 million.
He reunited with The Police for a worldwide tour in February 2007.
He introduced Madonna to her second husband, Guy Ritchie.
He likes American country music and mentioned Hank Williams and Jim Reeves as favorites.
Seeing Jimi Hendrix at Newcastle City Hall inspired him to become a rock star.
One of his children has dyspraxia, a developmental coordination disorder.
He was awarded CBE in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to music.
He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard.
He won multiple Brit Awards, including with The Police and as a solo artist.
With The Police, he had five number-one hits including Walking on the Moon, Don’t Stand so Close to Me, and Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.
In 1987, he planned to star in a film based on While My Guitar Gently Weeps but the project didn’t materialize.
The 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo is named after his son.
He lived with Trudie Styler for about ten years before marrying her.
He filmed the birth of his son Jake and included it in the documentary Bring on the Night 1985.
He appeared in Threepenny Opera in Washington, D.C., in the 1980s.
He attended the University of Warwick but did not graduate.
He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.
He toured with Paul Simon between 2014 and 2015.
He left Newcastle in 1976 and within three years The Police had a major hit with Roxanne.
He turned down roles in Jazz Singer, For Your Eyes Only, and Excalibur due to prior commitments.
His song Roxanne was covered by George Michael on the album Songs from the Last Century.
He attended Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 34

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Sting.

When was Sting born?

Sting was born on October 2, 1951. He was born in Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, as Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner. He is currently 74 years old.
Where was Sting born?

Sting was born in Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK. He was raised there as the eldest of four children.
How old is Sting?

Sting is 74 years old as of 2025. He was born on October 2, 1951, in Wallsend, England.
What is Sting's real name?

Sting’s real name is Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner. He adopted the stage name Sting after a trombonist nicknamed him because of a striped sweater he wore.
What does Sting do for a living?

Sting is a recording artist, actor, and composer. He is best known as the lead singer and bassist of The Police and for his successful solo career.
What nationality is Sting?

Sting is British. He was born in Wallsend, England, and holds citizenship in the United Kingdom.
What language does Sting speak?

Sting speaks English as his native language. He has performed songs in other languages but primarily records and sings in English.
Who are Sting's parents?

Sting’s parents are Audrey Cowell and Ernest Matthew Sumner. His mother was a hairdresser, and his father was an engineer and milkman.
Who is Sting married to?

Sting is married to film producer Trudie Styler. They have been married since 1992. He was previously married to actress Frances Tomelty from 1976 to 1984.
Does Sting have children?

Yes, Sting has six children. He has two children with his first wife Frances Tomelty: Joe and Mickey Sumner. With Trudie Styler, he has four children: Fuschia, Jake, Eliot, and Giacomo Sumner.
Where did Sting go to school?

Sting attended St. Cuthbert’s High School in Newcastle upon Tyne. He also studied at the University of Warwick and Northumbria University, though he did not graduate from Warwick.
What awards has Sting won?

Sting has won numerous awards, including a Grammy for Song of the Year, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Polar Music Prize, Kennedy Center Honors, and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
How many awards has Sting won?

Sting has won at least 12 major awards including Grammys, Emmys, and humanitarian honors. His tally includes multiple Brit Awards and a Grammy for Song of the Year for Every Breath You Take.
What is Sting best known for?

Sting is primarily recognized as the lead singer and bassist of The Police and for his solo music career. He is also known for his hit song Every Breath You Take and his acting roles in films like Dune and Quadrophenia.
What is Sting's Instagram?

Sting’s Instagram handle is @theofficialsting. He posts updates about his music, tours, and personal life. He also maintains a presence on Twitter and Facebook under OfficialSting.
How tall is Sting?

Sting is 5 feet 11 inches tall, which is about 1.79 meters. His height is often noted in his public appearances and on his official biography.
Why is Sting called Sting?

Sting earned his nickname from a trombonist named Gordon Solomon, who thought he looked like a hornet because of his black and gold rugby shirt. The name stuck, and he used it professionally.
What is Sting's net worth?

According to the 2009 Sunday Times List, Sting’s net worth was estimated at $295 million. His wealth comes from album sales, touring, and royalties, notably from Every Breath You Take which earns him about $2,000 per day.
What instruments does Sting play?

Sting plays multiple instruments, including bass guitar, guitar, mandolin, piano, harmonica, saxophone, and pan-flute. He named his bass guitar Brian.
How many children does Sting have?

Sting has six children: two with his first wife Frances Tomelty Joe and Mickey Sumner and four with his current wife Trudie Styler Fuschia, Jake, Eliot, and Giacomo Sumner. He also has seven grandchildren as of 2019.
What is Sting's most famous song?

Sting’s most famous song is Every Breath You Take, which he wrote for The Police. It won a Grammy for Song of the Year and is the most requested radio song of all time.
Was Sting a teacher?

Yes, Sting was a certified primary school teacher. He taught English at St Paul’s First School in Cramlington before his music career took off.
What bands has Sting been in?

Sting is best known for being the lead singer and bassist of The Police, which he formed in 1977. He also played in earlier bands like Last Exit and a Dixieland jazz group before forming The Police.
Has Sting won an Oscar?

Sting has not won an Oscar, but he has won several Grammys, an Emmy, and other major awards. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Until… from the film Kate & Leopold 2001.
What is the Rainforest Foundation?

The Rainforest Foundation is a charity co-founded by Sting and his wife Trudie Styler in 1989. It works to protect rainforests and support the rights of indigenous peoples. The foundation has helped preserve millions of acres of rainforest.
When did The Police reunite?

The Police reunited in 2007 for a performance at the Grammy Awards. They announced a worldwide tour that year, their first since 1986. The tour lasted through 2008.
What is Sting's educational background?

Sting attended St. Cuthbert’s High School, then studied at the University of Warwick but did not graduate. He later received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Northumbria University in 1992.
Did Sting serve in the military?

No, Sting did not serve in the military. His early jobs included working as a bus conductor, tax officer, and teacher before pursuing music.
What is Sting's connection to the comic book character John Constantine?

The comic book character John Constantine was designed to look like Sting. He first appeared in the Swamp Thing series, and in one issue there is a boat named the USS Gordon Sumner.
Does Sting have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

Yes, Sting received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
What is Sting's favorite music?

Sting’s favorite music is actually jazz. Despite his success in rock and pop, he has often returned to his jazz roots in his solo work, such as on the album The Dream of the Blue Turtles.
How many number-one hits did The Police have?

The Police had five number-one hits in the UK and Ireland, including Walking on the Moon 1979, Don’t Stand so Close to Me 1980, and Every Little Thing She Does is Magic 1981.
Did Sting attend Princess Diana's funeral?

Yes, Sting attended Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997. He has mentioned his admiration for her and performed at tribute events.
What is the name of Sting's bass guitar?

Sting named his bass guitar Brian. He often plays it during performances and recordings.

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Audited & updated by

Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on May 31, 2026

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