Classic hollywood gay actors
Home / gay topics / Classic hollywood gay actors
Until then, the fight continues—but one thing is certain: queer voices will never be silenced again.
“Being gay should not be a barrier to success. Wilson ensured that his client’s relationships stayed out of the public eye, going to great lengths to maintain Hudson’s image. He was also deemed a male sex emblem, with Linda Williams noting that Brando was “the quintessential American male sex symbol of the late fifties and early sixties.” His allure and charisma influenced many, making him an early icon for the lesbian community.
Queer stories are now being told with authenticity, and more importantly, LGBTQIA+ actors are taking the lead in telling them. I didn't hear it from Jimmy, who was sort of awesome to me when we did Rebel. Homosexuality was considered a moral weakness, and actors who were suspected of being gay were often quietly removed from studio contracts under the guise of protecting Hollywood’s ‘wholesome’ image.
The studios did what they could to circumvent the censors.
While Tipton was not part of mainstream Hollywood, his story reflected the lengths trans individuals had to go to in order to live as their authentic selves in an era of extreme repression.
For too long, trans stories were told by cis actors, often in exploitative or tragic narratives. The 2018 documentary Making Montgomery Clift, co-ushered by his nephew Robert Clift and his wife Hillary Demmon, reveals that Clift’s mother was aware of his sexuality from a young age.
By Aljean Harmetz. When Confidential magazine threatened to expose Rock’s sexuality, Wilson sacrificed another client, Tab Hunter, by leaking information about Hunter’s arrest.
Oh, and another thing: I was – am – gay.” – Tab Hunter
The Silent Era Through the 1930s:
Glamour, Secrets, and Ramón Novarro
In the early days of Hollywood, queerness was both present and deeply concealed. The crisis ravaged the queer community, and Hollywood played a shameful role in spreading misinformation and fear.
This momentum carried into Hollywood, where films like The Boys in the Band (1970) gave an unfiltered look at gay life, and the rise of independent cinema allowed filmmakers to take risks that mainstream studios wouldn’t dare. Despite these challenges, Ruby made a name for herself on both radio and television, with her most notable role being on The Beulah Show.
After marrying Cyril Dandridge, she had two daughters, Vivian and Dorothy.
His story ties into next week’s discussion of The Barbarian (1933), a film that showcased him as the ultimate Latin lover—an image Hollywood crafted for him while erasing his real identity.
Another powerful player in early Hollywood was director George Cukor, a well-respected filmmaker whose queerness was an open secret in the industry.
Shows like Pose and Transparent have given trans characters the depth and humanity they have long been denied. In 1929, she moved to Los Angeles with her daughters and Geneva Williams, whom writers of the time referred to as her “lifelong companion.”
Ruby Dandridge’s personal life was marked by her bisexuality and her relationship with Geneva Williams.
While some, like Haines and Cukor, managed to build fulfilling lives outside of traditional Hollywood stardom, many others—like Novarro—were unable to escape the system’s cruelty.
“The only real freedom we have left is the home. She was candid about her private life at a time when such honesty was rare, and it likely limited her roles to supporting parts.
Marlon Brando
Marlon was known for his intense performances in films like A Streetcar Named Desire and The Godfather.
Published: May 23, 2012. With a towering height of 6’3’’ and a devilishly gorgeous smile, he was destined for leading man status.