More on the "secretly" gay actors thing

[wrathofkuus]

Why do they strain so hard to pretend to be straight? I can see why, perhaps, it was important for Rock Hudson or Montgomery Clift, but this is a different time, one where we kinda expect artsy theatre (ALWAYS spelt with an "re") dudes to be gay. And it's not like being openly gay is going to limit their roles to the gay friend in a romcom (I think NPH is living proof of that).

So, why bother? I'm not saying they all have to come out of the closet, but why not just pull a Matt Bomer and just kind of live life, and let people say what they will?

[scotty]

If you put it in people's heads that this actor lives his real life only with dudes, it will alienate the dumb backwoods public and it will alienate the people that will be sitting there thinking, 'But, this would never happen with him and her. He likes dudes.' Same with a woman.

[cleo29]

I wonder about this too. Look at NPH, he plays a womanizing jerk on HIMYM and is awesome at it. His being gay has no bearing on how well he plays the part.

With Tom Cruise, I think it was something to help feed his heart throb status, but if you notice he has played fewer and fewer romantic type roles and more action and comedy. In his case, his romantic chemistry with women always seems off and fake to me.

[walterismydog]

I was just thinking about this. The only thing I can come up with is that when they were first getting popular (70s/80s), it was still somewhat taboo to be gay and it would be nearly impossible to come out now after a lifetime of living a lie...but that's just my guess.

[Jalapeñomel]

Tom Cruise and John Travolta are Scientologist, and being gay is a big no-no

[Bernadine]

It's all about the benjamins, baby. lol.

Really, though- there are still A LOT of people that would be turned off hearing that Tom Cruise, or John Travolta, or George Clooney is gay.

[lemondrop]

NPH is exactly who I think of when talking about remaining closeted. I love HIMYM, and I think he's perfect in that part. I never think about the fact that he's gay when he's playing Barney, and I love to see pics of him with his fam and David.

I'm not sure why in 2012 they have to stay closeted. It's just weird to me.

I'm so sad Matt Bomer is gay, but at least I can still look at him.

[Deleted]

I still appreciate Matt Bomer with his shirt off knowing full well I'm not his type.

I agree with Kuus, I think if it's their desire to be more honest about their personal life, it should be seen as a positive and not a negative. You can't "pretend away" gay, and I think appeasing the backwoods public is just keeping some unicorn and rainbowns La-La-Land fantasy alive that doesn't exist. I live in Texas, and I'm pretty sure the people I know who would have a huge problem with it, aren't exactly production companies target audiences.

[zelda25]

May 31, 2012 16:21:34 GMT -5 scotty said:

If you put it in people's heads that this actor lives his real life only with dudes, it will alienate the dumb backwoods public and it will alienate the people that will be sitting there thinking, 'But, this would never happen with him and her. He likes dudes.' Same with a woman.

And alienate producers. I'm trying to think of big-money movies--action/adventure/romance--that are carried by openly gay actors and I'm struggling. I'm not sure if the public really wouldn't support those movies or if producers are just afraid the public won't support them, but I'm not coming up with any right now.

[bonquiqui]

I feel stupid that I had to google Matt Bomer. I still don't know who he is

[Deleted]

May 31, 2012 16:30:25 GMT -5 bonquiqui said:

I feel stupid that I had to google Matt Bomer. I still don't know who he is

ignorant. He's the most beautiful man on basic cable He stars in White Collar on USA Network

[Jalapeñomel]

Will Smith is also a Scientologist.

[bonquiqui]

I have also heard that Trey Songz and Drake are an item

[bonquiqui]

May 31, 2012 16:33:16 GMT -5 @bettyhomewrecker33 said:

May 31, 2012 16:30:25 GMT -5 bonquiqui said:

I feel stupid that I had to google Matt Bomer. I still don't know who he is

ignorant. He's the most beautiful man on basic cable He stars in White Collar on USA Network

I have never seen any of the shows he is in, but he is attractive. I give him that

[Deleted]

May 31, 2012 16:28:52 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

May 31, 2012 16:21:34 GMT -5 scotty said:

If you put it in people's heads that this actor lives his real life only with dudes, it will alienate the dumb backwoods public and it will alienate the people that will be sitting there thinking, 'But, this would never happen with him and her. He likes dudes.' Same with a woman.

And alienate producers. I'm trying to think of big-money movies--action/adventure/romance--that are carried by openly gay actors and I'm struggling. I'm not sure if the public really wouldn't support those movies or if producers are just afraid the public won't support them, but I'm not coming up with any right now.

Ian Mckellan is openly gay and he's been in a lot of blockbusters

[Deleted]

Ahh, true. This is kind of a bummer

[zelda25]

May 31, 2012 16:36:47 GMT -5 @bettyhomewrecker33 said:

May 31, 2012 16:28:52 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

And alienate producers. I'm trying to think of big-money movies--action/adventure/romance--that are carried by openly gay actors and I'm struggling. I'm not sure if the public really wouldn't support those movies or if producers are just afraid the public won't support them, but I'm not coming up with any right now.

Ian Mckellan is openly gay and he's been in a lot of blockbusters

Sure, in an unthreatening-old-man kind of way (I mean because he's an old man, not that his characters are frail) and pretty much always in a supporting role. I can think of lots of openly gay actors who are in a lot of movies--I'm talking about actors who carry huge movies.

[wrathofkuus]

May 31, 2012 16:35:08 GMT -5 bonquiqui said:

May 31, 2012 16:33:16 GMT -5 @bettyhomewrecker33 said:

ignorant. He's the most beautiful man on basic cable He stars in White Collar on USA Network

I have never seen any of the shows he is in, but he is attractive. I give him that

I highly recommend White Collar, and not just because he's handsome. It's an awesome show.

[wise_rita]

May 31, 2012 16:32:40 GMT -5 Que? said:

NPH also didn't come out until AFTER he'd proven that he could carry that role and make it his own.

Rupert Everett is used as a case study in this, is he not? Coming out of the closet put the kibosh on a promising romcom career for him.

I'm interested to see the kind of roles NPH gets after HIMYM.

[Deleted]

When a gay actor gets himself a promising action career, we can revisit this topic. Until then, yeah, it's a thing.