This list contains facts about gay celebrities who never came out, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. Many prosperous 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 renowned gay celebrities remained in the closet throughout their entire lives.
Who is the most famous lgbtq+ 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 gay. He lived with star Randolph Scott on and off for over a decade and he was also rumored to have hired male prostitutes.
Despite his dramatic stage presence, Liberace never officially came out as same-sex attracted. He even went so far as to sue a publication for libel when they printed that he was gay. Liberace's comrade, Betty White, has stated that the musician was, in fact, homosexual. Other secretly closeted production stars include 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
It's been an ~interesting~ journey for lgbtq+ people in the movie and television industry. Once upon a time, lgbtq+ and lesbian actors, specifically, had to stay in the closet, and there were next-to-no same-sex attracted parts on screen.
The idea that openly gay actors can play het characters is a relatively new phenomenon. Previously, out gay actors could only really work when roles for them a) existed, and b) weren't being given to heterosexual actors.
Now it seems much more acceptable for an openly queer actor play a straight character. In fact, here are 18 times an actor has played a straight ethics on screen, despite being openly male lover or queer in real life...
4.Andrew Scott as The Priest in Fleabag
5.Amandla Stenberg as Ruby Daly in The Darkest Minds
6.Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton
7.B.D. Wong as Wally Lin in Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens
8.Portia de Rossi as Lindsay Bluth Funke in Arrested Development
9.Ben Platt as Evan Hansen in the Dear Evan Hansen movie
10.Justice Smith as Simon Aumar in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
11.Luke Evans as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast
12.Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks in
Our roundup of some of the most famous lgbtq+ actors of all moment who are proudly flying the flag for our awesome LGBTQ community.
Representation, whether plain as a worst eyebrow job or as subtle as a carefully coordinated outfit, is leisurely but surely growing for the LGBTQ+ community in Hollywood.
More and more actors are coming out and opening up about their gender, emboldened by the lesser potential for backlash aimed in their direction. While some opt for to maintain their privacy – not out of fear but out of “God, the paparazzi are getting on my nerves about this!” – others proudly announce engagements, demonstrate breakups for all the world to see, and post their vacation snaps featuring their beloved partners – and sometimes kids too!
We still aren't where we need to be when it comes to equal treatment and opportunity for a lot of folks in Show Business but with the list of openly famous same-sex attracted stars growing each year and the support for them following suit, it's only a matter of time before the score evens out.
1. Sir Ian McKellen
We dare you to find someone who doesn’t adore Ian McKellen. Go on… we’ll wait.
Even the fo
Top 20 Famous Gay Actors of Hollywood 2024 [LGBTQ+ Icons]
Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen is an acclaimed thespian known for his versatile performances on stage and screen. Beyond his acting prowess, McKellen is also recognized for his campaign, particularly in LGBTQIA+ rights. His career did not suffer 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 activism against Section 28, a proposed law in the UK that sought to prohibit the "promotion of homosexuality." His spontaneous finding was a bold move 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," boosting 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