Ann Heche has played both straight and gay on film.
And in real life…
IIRC, it was pretty well known in Hollywood that Farley Granger, perhaps best known for his roles in Hitchcock’s Rope and Strangers On a Train, was gay, although he consented to being set up on dates with “beards” by MGM – according to Arthur Laurent’s autobiography (and Laurents had a long-term relationship with Granger).
IMDB aptly quotes Maltin’s film encyclopedia in its bio page on Granger.
Dick Sargent didn’t come out until '93 or so, when he learned he was dying of cancer. He was my great-uncle, and he was out with the family, but went to great lengths not to let the press find out.
- jackelope, who mentions being related to Dick Sargent at every possible opportunity
Yeah, that’s all very P.C. and all, but I have to say it does bother me – in the sense of sometimes lessening my enjoyment of a movie, whether it’s any of my business or not. :rolleyes:
However, I doubt it damages careers to any great extent.
Someone said all the male actors on Frazier were gay except Kelsey Grammar. What about the tubby guy that plays the station manager?
Farley Granger – no surprise, although I had never read it. He just has “the look”.
So which one bothers you? If they like chicken or fish?
I enjoyed watching your uncle work, jackelope.
Sorry for your/our loss.
Stone Cold Steve Austin? ‘Austin 3:16 says: You’re a faggot!’* It’s OK, I got it… Thwacks himself with a rubber chicken
Of course the gay bashing wouldn’t really be the problem for The People’s Champ…it’d be losing a good portion of the Testosterone Market by coming out.
*Note - word ‘faggot’ used only to accurately portray a gay-basher’s language choice.
TWOTfan
Does that just apply to gays and lesbians lessening your enjoyment of a film when they play heterosexual roles?
If it applies to actors and actresses portraying something they are not, then you couldn’t possibly be a John Wayne fan right?
I think (and you’ll probably agree) it all depends on the casting of a role. Don’t you think that Rock Hudson did a better job as Jordan Benedict in Giant than if Liberace got that role? Also, I couldn’t pictue kd laing portraying Marilyn Monroe in a movie.
I’m very sorry for your loss, btw. However, that rocks that you were related to him! He always struck me as a very cool individual, my preference for York’s Darrin not withstanding.
Antonio Fargas aka Huggy Bear from Starsky and Hutch. He was the like the godfather of pimps and yet is gay IRL.
I am suprised no one has mentioned Rock Hudson. Hollywoods ultimate macho ladies man but gay IRL.
Um, Rock Hudson WAS mentioned, but since he wasn’t openly gay, he doesn’t quite make the cut.
John Gielgud was regarded as one of the greatest British actors and performed very many straight roles.
Since the thread specifically mentions openly gay actors, I’ll have to (once again) call foul on mentions of either David Hyde Pierce or John Mahoney, as neither actor is open about their sexual orientation in any public way. Same with Kevin Spacey. The world of innuendo, supposition and “I saw him at a party with another dude” is huge and wide, but it doesn’t add up to “openly” gay for them, for Jodie Foster, Tom Cruise (much as I’m loathe to defend him for any reason) or anybody else who is either not gay but grist for the rumor mill or simply not yet able and willing to say “Yes, I am gay” in a fashion compatible with their personal level of public exposure.
So in other words, until they’re on the cover of “Out” or it’s the headline story on “Entertainment Tonight” (and it would be, in any of the above cases) it isn’t confirmed and they aren’t openly anything, where their sexuality is concerned.
Has Ellen Degeneres ever played a straight gal?
OK, this’ll make you weep.
Just this past night I was talking to two young men, both in graduate school, liberal arts. One is 27, the other 30.
Neither one of them knew who Rock Hudson was.
Never. Heard. Of him.
<shudder>
I’m old.
Peace.
Let me say that I’m a fan of those old Rock Hudson - Doris Day movies and Rock Hudson had a fine career that I admire. But, still, it takes something away. Same with Amanda Bearse (sp?) in “Married, with Children”.
As to why, I’ll leave that up to others to answer but it seems to me that, for example, John Wayne COULD have performed reasonably well in the roles he selected (in real life). When I see an actor playing (again for example) a scientist, when I know he is anti-science or dumb as a post, that also lessens my viewing enjoyment.
As for straight actors playing gays. Well, does that ever happen? Also, I’m a bit suspicious of ALL actors so I would never be sure any given actor was really straight! 
I think, really, any aspiring young actor/actress should keep their politics, sexual orientation, and personal life in general, private if they want the best chance of being selected for as wide a range of roles as possible.
Just off the top of my head: Billy Crystal, Michelle Clunie, Thea Gill, Eric McCormack, Hal Sparks, Gale Harold (although I’m suspicious on that one), Scott Lowell, Alyson Hannigan, Amber Benson, Dan Futterman …
Although Danny Pintauro was never out during the run of “Who’s the Boss?” he couldn’t hide his mannerisms once he became a teenager. Being gay myself, it was almost painful to see him shrieking about some girl in school he was “in love” with. I remember reading about a lawsuit that he had filed against an older male fan who was obsessed with him. I think the guy was in his thirties or forties and was sending him very detailed letters describing exactly what he would like to do with him. I believe the fan ended up commiting suicide than being pulled into court to face the charges. Here’s Danny’s official story on coming out:
http://www.danny-pintauro.com/Official/DannyPintauro/interviews/970715enquirer/