Gay movie actors
119 Out LGBTQ Performers Modifying the Face of Hollywood in the 21st Century
Editor’s note: This list was originally published in June 2018, and has been updated multiple times since to reflect new comings outs and groundbreaking LGBTQ castings. It could never and will never be complete, but we dream it reflects the modifying face of Hollywood as we bid hello to Pride 2024.
With LGBTQ stories in filmand on TV more popular than ever before, it’s important to celebrate out-and-proud acting talents — particularly those without the non-binary awards’ categories they deserve.
In 2024, the mention of Hollywood is unsure to say the least. But even as existential questions about the business of making entertainment persist, audiences and artists are grappling with equally critical questions of representation on screen. Among those questions: should queer roles be played exclusively by gay actors?
It’s an evolving conversation, getting at the very core of what makes the art of acting, well, acting. Last year, the industry’s resident nice guy Tom Hanks gave an answer in regards to his Oscar-recognized role in 1993’s “Philadelphia.”
“Let’s talk to
FIVE GAY ACTORS IN MID-CENTURY HOLLYWOOD
by David Ehrenstein
Now that gay actors like Nathan Lane, Jim Parsons, Victor Garber, Jonathan Groff, and Neil Patrick Harris are “out of the closet” and on the rise, it’s tough to imagine just how different things were in the relatively recent past. Not only was the notion of being openly gay and having a viable career unimaginable, but gayness itself was also a concept polite population couldn’t countenance. “Homosexuals” subsisted on society’s margins, mentioned only in whispered gossip, fearsome psychiatric studies, and Conservative diatribes decrying perversion.
Hiding In Plain Sight
Still, in spite of it all, gay men managed to make their way to very top of the acting profession in the gilded closets of Hollywood. In this covert context, bigtime careers and personal lives proceeded with a calculated risk that can fascinate us today. Here are five of the most noteworthy examples of gay actors in mid-Century Hollywood.
LIBERACE
Liberace was an utterly unique entertainer. A pianist whose act consisted of an abbreviated arrangement of select “classic
Top 20 Famous Gay Actors of Hollywood 2024 [LGBTQ+ Icons]
Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen is an acclaimed actor recognizable for his versatile performances on stage and screen. Beyond his acting prowess, McKellen is also established for his activism, particularly in LGBTQIA+ rights. His career did not endure post-coming out. Instead, it flourished, with McKellen taking on a range of more emotionally resonant roles that resonated with audiences worldwide. McKellen came out during a BBC radio broadcast in 1988 as an act of disagree against Section 28, a proposed law in the UK that sought to prohibit the "promotion of homosexuality." His spontaneous discovery was a bold travel during a time when gay rights faced significant legal and societal challenges. Reflecting on the impact of his coming out, McKellen noted that it changed his life "for the better," enhancing his relationships, personal satisfaction, and even his approach to acting, allowing him to embody characters with greater authenticity.
Ian McKellen's contributions to LGBTQIA+ culture and history extend far beyond his personal coming out story. He co-founded Stonewall, a UK-based LGBTQIA+ rights organiz
This list contains information about gay celebrities who never came out, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. Many successful Hollywood actors are gay. These days, it's common for celebrities to publicly come out as gay in the media, but that wasn't always the case. Several famous gay celebrities remained in the closet throughout their entire lives.
Who is the most famous same-sex attracted celebrity who never came out of the closet? Cary Grant tops this list. Though he was married five times to five different women, many people believed that Cary Grant was actually male lover. He lived with star Randolph Scott on and off for over a decade and he was also rumored to contain hired male prostitutes.
Despite his flamboyant stage presence, Liberace never officially came out as gay. He even went so far as to sue a publication for libel when they printed that he was gay. Liberace's friend, Betty White, has stated that the musician was, in fact, homosexual. Other secretly closeted movie stars incorporate Rock Hudson, Anthony Perkins, and Robert Reed.
Are you surprised that any of these LGBT celebrities never publicly announced their homosexuality or bisexuality? Share your thoughts in the comments section ab.