# Has a a celebrity's heterosexuality surprised you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206 "2010-09-18T18:41:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/41 "2010-09-19T11:52:43Z")
I was surprised when I learned commentator [Dick Morris](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Morris) had a wife. Thought for sure he was gay. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/42 "2010-09-19T14:10:15Z")
I keep forgetting that Tom Hollander isn’t gay. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/43 "2010-09-19T16:16:57Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > Wife: Hey, STAR has just admitted he was gay. > Me: Well, he is a movie star you know. Or as Tom Hardy said when asked if he had ever fooled around with guys, “Of course I have. I’m an actor for f\*\*\*'s sake. I’ve played with everything and everyone. I love the form and the physicality, but now that I’m in my thirties, it doesn’t do it for me.” > [@elfkin477](#): > > On this season of Design Star I was startled when [Courtland Bascon](http://www.hgtv.com/design-star/courtland-bascon/index.html) mentioned his financee, and then they showed her. Yeah this is the one I came in to post. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/44 "2010-09-19T16:29:09Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Tony Randall had some mannerisms that I associated with gay men, but apparently he was straight, and if I remember got married to a very young woman in the last few years of his life, and they had a kid together shortly before he died. Yeah, Tony Randall was always a surprise in this area. > [@WhyNot](#): > > I still have trouble accepting that legendary ice skater Scott Hamilton is hetero. But [apparently so](http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20172901,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines). I joke about him being gay with my wife. I use him as the example of the stereotypical gay figure skater, even though he’s straight. 🙂 Now Jonny Weir on the other hand…\*that \*would be a shocker. Is he out of the closet officially? I assume he is. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/45 "2010-09-19T17:15:06Z")
I was surprised to learn here that Hugh Laurie was straight. NOT because he has EVER set off any gaydar, but because I was told he was gay by something/someone apparantly reliable enough that I was astounded but accepted it. I can’t recall at ALL where that might have been, but now I imagine scene when Laurie might be asked if he’s gay: “Nope, just British”. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/46 "2010-09-19T17:31:45Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@WhyNot](#): > > > > I still have trouble accepting that legendary ice skater Scott Hamilton is hetero. But [apparently so](http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20172901,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines). > > I joke about him being gay with my wife. I use him as the example of the stereotypical gay figure skater, even though he’s straight. Heh. I was reading a spy novel from back when just the other day, and the gimmick is that the manly secret agent who sleeps with a succession of attractive women excels at making it up as he goes along: improvising weapons for the hand-to-hand kill just like he swiftly thinks up an alias during his latest seduction. The name he picks? “Scott Hamilton”. Cracked me the hell up. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/47 "2010-09-19T18:25:10Z")
David Gest when he married Liza Minnelli - then again, I think 99% of the viewing world, other than Liza, went, “Really?!” Of course, things changed… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/48 "2010-09-19T18:59:11Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > I was surprised to learn here that Hugh Laurie was straight. > > NOT because he has EVER set off any gaydar, but because I was told he was gay by something/someone apparantly reliable enough that I was astounded but accepted it. I can’t recall at ALL where that might have been, but now I imagine scene when Laurie might be asked if he’s gay: “Nope, just British”. :smack: Maybe somebody had him confused with Stephen Fry. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/49 "2010-09-19T21:56:40Z")
I think I have asked this before, but don’t remember getting an answer, but is Barry Manilow gay or not? I certainly always assumed he was, but then I read he has been married to a woman in the past, and maybe has kids (I might be thinking of someone else RE the kids). Has he ever discussed his orientation in interviews? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/50 "2010-09-19T22:04:16Z")
I’ve never been surprised by any celebrity’s sexuality. I guess I’m just not obsessive enough for that sort of feeling. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/51 "2010-09-19T22:34:32Z")
In a similar thread a while back someone mentioned that Cesar Milan was straight. I was floored. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/52 "2010-09-20T02:52:03Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I think I have asked this before, but don’t remember getting an answer, but is Barry Manilow gay or not? > > I certainly always assumed he was, but then I read he has been married to a woman in the past, and maybe has kids (I might be thinking of someone else RE the kids). > > Has he ever discussed his orientation in interviews? If he’s gay it wouldn’t surprise me but he’s not officially out. A ditto on Cesar Milan. Etiquette requires that you accept somebody’s sexual orientation is what they say it is unless 1) you know for absolute certain that it isn’t and 2) it makes any difference at all (i.e. if they’re involved with your friend or they preach homophobia), and neither is relevant with Milan, but I still say “I don’t believe it”. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/53 "2010-09-20T02:53:55Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > [@Taomist](#): > > > > I was surprised to learn here that Hugh Laurie was straight. > > > > NOT because he has EVER set off any gaydar, but because I was told he was gay by something/someone apparantly reliable enough that I was astounded but accepted it. I can’t recall at ALL where that might have been, but now I imagine scene when Laurie might be asked if he’s gay: “Nope, just British”. :smack: > > Maybe somebody had him confused with Stephen Fry. Yeah, that’s kind of what I’m thinking, too. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/54 "2010-09-20T03:03:09Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > I’ve never been surprised by any celebrity’s sexuality. I guess I’m just not obsessive enough for that sort of feeling. You certainly would never bother reading a thread on the subject, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/55 "2010-09-20T03:05:45Z")
I remember during the 80s I assumed Whoopi Goldberg was gay. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/56 "2010-09-20T06:23:01Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > > > I’ve never been surprised by any celebrity’s sexuality. I guess I’m just not obsessive enough for that sort of feeling. > > You certainly would never bother reading a thread on the subject, I’m sure. Quiet! We’re trying to obsess over here. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/57 "2010-09-20T06:32:23Z")
Liberace. I was stunned when the High Court, \*Queen’s \*Bench Division found that he had been defamed by being implied to be gay. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/58 "2010-09-20T06:39:47Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Liberace. I was stunned when the High Court, \*Queen’s \*Bench Division found that he had been defamed by being implied to be gay. > > 😉 After he died the reps of the magazine that he had successfully sued for libel (I think the magazine itself was defunct but there were assigns who had some rights to its affairs) actually sued his estate for the verdict money plus 30 years of interest back. It was tossed out of court. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/59 "2010-09-20T06:59:36Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > > [@AK84](#): > > > > Liberace. I was stunned when the High Court, \*Queen’s \*Bench Division found that he had been defamed by being implied to be gay. > > > > 😉 > > After he died the reps of the magazine that he had successfully sued for libel (I think the magazine itself was defunct but there were assigns who had some rights to its affairs) actually sued his estate for the verdict money plus 30 years of interest back. It was tossed out of court. On a side note: The Liberace Museum has just closed this month in Las Vegas. Seems few people alive today even remember who the hell Liberace was and attendance dwindled to about zip. There are also rumors of financial mis-management. On the upside, they might be touring his artifacts around the country for those who never got a chance to visit his museum here in Las Vegas. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206/60 "2010-09-20T11:30:56Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > > [@Sampiro](#): > > > > After he died the reps of the magazine that he had successfully sued for libel (I think the magazine itself was defunct but there were assigns who had some rights to its affairs) actually sued his estate for the verdict money plus 30 years of interest back. It was tossed out of court. > > On a side note: > The Liberace Museum has just closed this month in Las Vegas. > Seems few people alive today even remember who the hell Liberace was and attendance dwindled to about zip. There are also rumors of financial mis-management. > On the upside, they might be touring his artifacts around the country for those who never got a chance to visit his museum here in Las Vegas. I’ve recommended it before and I’ll recommend it again: _[Liberace: An American Boy](http://www.amazon.com/Liberace-American-Darden-Asbury-Pyron/dp/0226686698/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284981883&sr=1-1)_, really good bio/meditation on the significance of. Also, Steven Soderbergh is making a [bioflick](http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1623338/20091007/liberace_1.jhtml), with Michael Douglas in the title role and Matt Damon as his longtime BF Scott Thorson. I, for one, am really looking forward to it. [/hijack] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-a-celebritys-heterosexuality-surprised-you/554206.md?page=4)