Gay celebrities in the closet

At a time when there was no such thing as an LGBTQ community or gay pride, being gay was considered both scandalous and career-ending. He resisted but in the end complied — the Psycho star even bought himself out of his contract to escape pressure.

Over the past couple years, more and more celebrities have come out of the closet as gay. Back in the glittering heyday of Hollywood' s Golden Age, stars lit up the silver screen with charm, elegance and seemingly picture-perfect personal lives, RadarOnline.

Early in Anthony Perkins ' career, Paramount pressured him to end his public relationship with Tab Hunter. And if that happens during the month of June, let's just say that it feels extra special to welcome celebs to the LGBTQ. He had friends in Hollywood, in the acting community, who were gay, and they couldn't come out.

He didn't come out publicly untildecades after those phony arrangements. Hunter was closeted during his s and '60s career, and his studio fostered fake romances e. Privately, he maintained a long romance with Anthony Perkins. But for those in the s, '40s, '50s and beyond, authenticity came at too high a price.

The best time to come out of the closet is when you feel ready to do so. He had deep emotional trauma, once declaring to the draft board that he was homosexual to avoid service — but later was urged into conversion therapy. I never asked him. Their stories deserve to be told, not just as cautionary tales, but as tributes to the courage it took to shine in silence.

TV wife Florence Henderson talked about Reed being in the closet during a interview with ABC News : "Here he was, the perfect father of this wonderful little family, a perfect husband.

Who are some other

Some performers openly declared their sexuality, but countless performers were forced to hide their true selves, often living in fear of exposure. While we now embrace diversity in the spotlight, it's bittersweet to look back and realize how many legends were denied the joy of living — and loving — out loud.

Some entered sham marriages, others maintained lifelong "roommate" relationships cloaked in secrecy, and a few endured heartbreaking separations to preserve their careers. But behind the dazzling smiles and carefully curated images, many actors and actresses lived a secret life — one they were forbidden to share.

Here are all of the celebrities who have bravely came out as LGBTQ + inproving that it's never too late to live your authentic life. He kept his sexuality a secret — and inmarried a woman named Marilyn Rosenberg, with whom he had a daughter.

60 Most Famous Gay

But plenty of other celebrities have been. Cooper's daughter, Maria Cooper Janis, says her father "respected everyone's life and right to make their own choices. Contact us by Email. He saw what an emotional toll it took on them.

They divorced in Robert Reed. Studio contracts, morality clauses and ruthless gossip columnists ensured that any hint of same-sex attraction could result in a swift fall from grace. Times continue to change in Hollywood and around the country.

Today, Hollywood celebrates a broad spectrum of identities and sexual orientations, with stars free to live openly and love who they choose. I never challenged him. Greg BradyI think had Bob not been forced to live this double life, I think it would have dissipated a lot of that anger and frustration.

Off camera, he was an unhappy person.