11 Gay Actors Who Play Straight Characters Onscreen
Acting is all about adopting an imagined mindset and matching the external behaviors of the character portrayed. Even today, certain recesses of society have marked homosexuality as taboo, forcing gay actors to conform to public’s norm. However, nowadays, many gay actors are open about their sexuality and only pretend to be straight when the camera is rolling on a straight character.
- Neil Patrick Harris
The swagger, style and general coolness of Barney Stinson, character in CBS sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, lines up perfectly with actor Neil Patrick Harris’s overall public persona. But, while Barney is an unashamed pick-up artist and womanizer, Harris is in a committed relationship with actor David Burtka.
- Jodie Foster
Saying she’s fought for privacy since being a child star as a young prostitute in Taxi Driver, Foster finally acknowledged her former life partner, Sydney Bernard in her speech at the 2013 Golden Globes.
- Ian McKellen
While Gandalf transcends sexuality as a wise wizard, McKellen has been openly gay for years, and publicly mentioned it on the talk show Anderson.
- Cynthia Nixon
Cynthia Nixon portrayed Miranda Hobbes in famed Sex and the City, in which four female friends search New York City for sex, men, and happiness. In real life, Nixon’s search for love ended up including a member of the same sex, since coming out as bisexual. Nixon, now married to Christine Marinoni, explained, “I’ve been with men all my life, and I’d never fallen in love with a woman. But when I did, it didn’t seem so strange. I’m just a woman in love with another woman.”
- Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin played the wife and one half of the philosophical duo with Dustin Hoffman, among many other heterosexual appearances. She’s also currently playing Frankie, a hippie art teacher, alongside Jane Fonda in the Netflix series, Grace and Frankie, where their lives are turned upside down when both their husbands announce that they are in love with each other and are leaving their wives. In real life, Tomlin has been with Jane Wagner since 1971.
- Jim Parsons
Best known for playing Sheldon Cooper on CBS’s The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons also played a character dating Zach Braff’s character’s mom in Garden State. In reality, Parsons doesn’t date women at all. He came out in 2012, revealing he’s been in a relationship with a man for 10 years.
- Victor Garber
Though he’s played straight roles in Sleepless in Seattle, Legally Blonde, and Alias, Victor Garber has been open about his sexuality, coming out publicly in 2012.
- Matt Bomer
In 2009, Bomer landed his first leading role as heartthrob con-man, Neal Caffrey, who falls in love with beautiful women while internally struggling between choosing a clean life over a criminal one. In reality, Bomer is happily married to publicist Simon Halls.
- Sarah Paulson
While playing a heterosexual in American Horror Story and 12 Years a Slave, Sarah Paulson has been openly gay, dating actress Cherry Jones for a couple years before they split in 2009.
- Guillermo Diaz
Guillermo Diaz has played heterosexual characters on Half-Baked and Weedz, and currently does so on ABC’s new drama, Scandal. Apparently, Diaz’s unfortunate compulsion to hide his sexuality attributed to his acting skills. In 2011, he told Out magazine, “I learned to constantly try to cover up the fact I am gay. That facade of being somebody I’m really not just to protect myself definitely helped with acting.”
- Zachary Quinto
Famous for the role as villain, Sylar, in NBC drama Heroes, and the hero, Spock, in the recent film reboot of Star Trek, Quinto has been openly gay since 2011 and speaks often about achieving equality for the gay community.
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48 Comments
Dennis Macaulay
September 11, 06:29First to comment yay!
**ignoring the cold stare from PP**
Panther
September 11, 06:30Lol. Lemme just let u have this one.
Dennis Macaulay
September 11, 06:36Matt Bomer!
**off to babalawo with his pishures! That marriage will collapse and he will marry me**
GOld
September 11, 06:49DM u are a Hoe-liver Twist..
Dennis Macaulay
September 11, 06:57My dear, Korede Bello and Patoranking will wait fest
Max
September 11, 06:58Yeah we’ve known since like forever.
Matt Bomer is still my favorite gay actor.
Killer eyes & Smile.
I’ll kill off that husband of his pretty soon.
Panther
September 11, 06:59Yea Max. Kill him off. Do the dirty work that I’ve been wanting someone to do for me so Matt and I can zoom off into the sunset.
Max
September 11, 07:57I know how to handle you. I’ll cut your brakes.**( damn but you both will die) I have to come up with another plan. I’m usually filled with evil plans on demand, but this morning nothing is coming up.
**sha, still stay away from my man* you have Idris and others to keep you company.
Pink Panther
September 11, 08:01Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaaa!!! You delight me with your evilness, aswear!
Which reminds me, don’t you have a certain sequel to write and submit to me? #StoryWhoreModeActivated
Max
September 11, 10:50Oh yeah I do. But don’t worry I smell the sadness I need in the air. Its on its way to Lagos. That story will surely pop up this weekend.
#Chestnut
September 11, 06:58Wow,I had no idea some of these people are gay. For some reason,I always feel a sense of pride whenever I remember that Ian Mckellen is gay. I just love Sarah Paulson;one of my favorite TV actresses. That ogbanje guy from “Scandal” is gay? And Sydney’s Father from “Alias”?Wow!
Dennis Macaulay
September 11, 07:06Someone has been with one partner since 1971?
**gets on knees to pray**
Dear someborry in the highest, you know I am not a hoe, you know I just have a large appetite that you gave me yourself. Please help me find a young husband that I will marry forever.
Amen
panther
September 11, 07:09“kneeling right next to Dennis* All this I pray for myself too IJN! Amen!
Dennis Macaulay
September 11, 07:23**reaches across and squeezes your nyash and continues praying fervently**
Pink Panther
September 11, 07:32*slicing off a finger from the criminal hand and returns to asking God for a longtime lover*
Griffin
September 11, 07:29Hahahahahahahaahahahaha, which Lord gave you a large appetite. Stop accussing the Lord falsely…….your cakes and cock gluttony is entirely your doing. But I pray for you too tho.
Mandy
September 11, 07:08Huck is gay?! That chunky piece of intense latino goodness is gay?! Wow! My desire for him just dialed up several notches. That guy’s intenseness on Scandal never fails to get me all hot and bothered.
Griffin
September 11, 07:24Down boy, easy ther …….desire from afar biko. He’s mine.
Mandy
September 11, 07:41Look at this one that pledged his love AFTER I pledged mine. Better back off, beesh! Before I go all Huck on you! #NotKidding #ICanKillForLove
Griffin
September 11, 07:37Oh my my my, Huck is so hot, and looks like he’s down for whatever in bed.. …my chunky, cuddly, fudgy Bear… ….Yeah, I’m into Bears sue me.
A-non
September 11, 07:42Matt Bomer! Matt Bomer!! Matt Bomer!!!
Do let me know when you are divorced, I’ll be here waiting for thee!!!
Dennis Macaulay
September 11, 07:49Don’t die at my hands, it’s a cruel way to go!
Keep moving, eyes off the Bomer
Diablo
September 11, 08:27I can’t believe you forgot to add Luke Evans who isn’t only the hottest Caucasian homosexual alive but has starred in some big budget movies. (The Hobbit anyone ?) have I mentioned that he’s a hottie? I almost died of glee when I found out he was gay!
Pink Panther
September 11, 08:29Oh SHOOT! Luke Evans. Ayayayai! The brutha is sizzling. Made me want him to bite me ten ways to Sunday in that Dracula movie.
JArch
September 11, 08:50Thank goodness none of you are heading towards my Victor Garber. I’ve had a crush on that man since like forever. My crush went into overdrive when starred in “You again” gosh the man is always so dapper in a suit.
Guillermo Diaz, hmmm this one took my heart away on twitter and also when I found out he likes to “let it all hang”. I’d marry him in a heartbeat…
***staring at Mandy and Griffin*** you people should park yourselves faaaarrrr away from Diaz, you hear me so. Cos he’s gearing up to put a ring on it.
Pink Panther
September 11, 08:53Victor Garber.
Older man crush.
JArch.
I’m so not surprised at all. 🙂
JArch
September 11, 09:02But of course darling… Vintage wine and vintage men have one thing in common – They taste better with age
**sips white wine from 1945 while staring lovingly at Victor Garber**
JArch
September 11, 09:05Meanwhile am slowly finishing off my next installment. This one is going to be vintage to the max. Have your inbox ready for delivery soon
Pink Panther
September 11, 09:19*rubbing hands together with glee*
Vhar Diaz.
September 11, 09:22Vhar G. Diaz.
Nice ring to it.
Mandy, Griffin… You were saying?!
Pink Panther
September 11, 09:48Hahahahahahahahahaa!!! This fight for Huck be heating up sha
JArch
September 11, 10:02Am sorry, but Vhar who? Darling please keep stepping… To the left please.
Thank you very much
Signed
Jarch Diaz (J.D)
Vhar Diaz.
September 11, 10:27Erm JArch, me thinks it should be
JArch C. Diaz.
You know, the tall, lean and witty blonde lady whose snoring I hear from Bev-hoe-Hillies?
JArch
September 11, 11:28Errrmmm… You know am gay right?
So the C. Diaz doesn’t even come in there at all.
Stop being a husband snatcher biko…. Go and find your own
Vhar Diaz.
September 11, 11:38Panther, kindly drag this man called JArch into a safe corner now now… If you know you love him.
You think Max is evil abi?
Okay.
Ruby
September 11, 10:24Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
sinnex
September 11, 10:57Good for them…
Why is there no black brotha amongst them?
Pinky!!!!
La-Coozee
September 11, 11:53I have a crush on President Muhammadu Buhari. Will I go to hell? ;-(
Dennis Macaulay
September 11, 12:12The hottest part.
Just stay away from Yusuf
Thankyou
JArch
September 11, 12:21Yusuf Buhari:
**In my Ray-J voice** I hit that first…
What you’d be getting is leftovers. You should have moved to Abuja after inauguration if you had your eyes on him.
Pink Panther
September 11, 13:28*eyeingJArch with renewed interest* Are yu saying what Ayam tink you’re saying?
JArch
September 11, 14:36***slowly tears off a piece of suya specially made from a certain farm up north***
La-Coozee
September 11, 12:17Oh well. I might just go for Patoranking. His “Happy Day” video just set my soul on fire. Gosh, the lips…
Khaleesi
September 11, 13:47@PP, did you miss the memo? Neil Patrick Harris married Matt Burtka in Italy in 2014, it was a quiet but beautiful ceremony…. never knew Guillermo Diaz was gay, he played the straight man so well in scandal …
Max
September 11, 16:52@Khaleesi, he actually said that being gay helped him play that part well, because he has first hand experience of what it means to be different and misunderstood.
Queen Mother
September 13, 04:15BTW, I just got engaged last night, and my man is really serious about my moving in with him. I am so so happy right now.
Pink Panther
September 13, 16:00Congrats, Queen.
jephtah
September 13, 08:48How come no one is talking about quinto? Well he has a major turn on for me #thosethickeyebrows… phewww!!!!!