13 Gay Actors Whose Families Outed Them to the Tabloids First

Being famous is hard enough without personal details being revealed to the public. In the past, many Hollywood actors felt they had to keep their sexual orientation private to protect themselves. Some chose to come out when they were ready, but others had that choice taken away from them. Sadly, people close to them – like spouses, partners, or family members – often shared private information with the press, forcing them into the spotlight. The following actors experienced this difficult situation, having their personal lives exposed by those they trusted.

Rock Hudson

Throughout the 1950s, a famous actor worked hard to appear publicly as a straight man. However, his private life started to become known when his ex-wife, Phyllis Gates, shared recordings of their conversations and later wrote a book about their marriage. Things became much more public when his former partner, Marc Christian, sued his estate after his death. The lawsuit brought their relationship into the open, with intimate details appearing in the tabloids. This legal fight ultimately destroyed the image the actor had carefully created over his entire career.

Liberace

Liberace, the famous pianist and actor, was known for living a lavish life and always avoided talking about his personal relationships. However, his private life became public when his longtime partner, Scott Thorson, sued him for financial support after their relationship ended. Thorson then shared intimate details about their life together with the media, which contradicted Liberace’s claims of being heterosexual. The tabloids quickly jumped on the story, confirming long-standing rumors. Although Liberace continued to deny any romantic involvement with men until he passed away, the lawsuit effectively revealed his true relationship to the world.

Michael Barrymore

This popular British comedian and TV host was a major celebrity until details of his private life became public. His divorce from Cheryl Barrymore was very public and led to him revealing he was gay. Tabloids aggressively covered the messy split and stories about his sexuality. The intense media attention caused by the divorce forced him to come out publicly, which dramatically changed his career and how people saw him in the UK.

Robert Reed

Reed, famous as the father on ‘The Brady Bunch’, kept his sexuality private to safeguard his career and the show’s family-friendly image. After his death, it was revealed he had HIV, leading his friends and co-stars – who felt like family – to publicly confirm he was gay. Florence Henderson spoke about how much pain he endured from hiding his true self, and the story quickly became tabloid news, exposing the secret life of America’s beloved TV dad.

Brad Davis

The actor best known for ‘Midnight Express’ hid both his HIV diagnosis and his bisexuality from the public and Hollywood for fear of losing work. After his death, his wife, Susan Bluestein, shared the truth in a memoir. She wanted to fight the shame surrounding AIDS and raise awareness, and her decision gave the media the confirmation they had sought during his lifetime. The book and related interviews detailed his private struggles and his identity as a bisexual man.

Anthony Perkins

Anthony Perkins, famous for his part in ‘Psycho’, was a very private person during his life. After his death from AIDS-related illness, his wife, Berry Berenson, publicly shared details about his life. In interviews, she talked about his previous relationships with men and how they eventually married. These personal stories confirmed rumors that had circulated for years in Hollywood. The media coverage after his death offered a new understanding of his career, shaped by what his widow revealed.

Charles Laughton

The celebrated British actor Charles Laughton was married to Elsa Lanchester for more than thirty years, even though he was gay. After his death, Lanchester wrote about their unique relationship and his sexuality in her autobiography. She described discovering his sexual orientation and how they navigated their unconventional life together. The book offered the press a personal look into Laughton’s difficulties and remains the main source of information about his private life.

Merv Griffin

The famous talk show host and media personality was very private about his personal life. However, rumors about his sexual orientation surfaced when a former employee and partner, Brent Plott, sued him for financial support after their relationship ended. Plott claimed they had lived as a couple and requested a substantial amount of money. This lawsuit brought details of their alleged relationship into the public eye. Even though the case was ultimately dropped, the media had plenty to say about Griffin’s personal life due to the court documents.

Raymond Burr

Raymond Burr, the actor best known as Perry Mason, created a false story about having a deceased wife and son to avoid questions about his personal life. After his death, it was revealed that he had a long-term relationship with Robert Benevides. Benevides and other friends confirmed they had been together for many years, and later biographies officially acknowledged this hidden part of Burr’s life. These revelations from those close to him finally explained the rumors the tabloids had been reporting for years.

David Bowie

David Bowie generally avoided putting a label on his sexuality, but his first wife, Angela Bowie, often kept the topic in the public eye. Throughout their marriage and after their divorce, she frequently talked about his relationships with men in interviews, providing quotes that helped create his image as a bisexual icon. She was often more open with the press about his personal life than he was, and these resulting stories became a significant part of his public persona during the 1970s.

Kerry Rhodes

A former NFL player and actor found himself in the public eye after a former assistant shared private photos and messages with the media. Russell Simpson claimed they had a romantic relationship, but the actor strongly denied rumors about his sexuality. Simpson then gave interviews that contradicted the actor’s statements, creating a media storm. This situation is a well-known example of someone being publicly outed by a former acquaintance in the digital age.

Vincente Minnelli

The famous director had a famously difficult marriage with Judy Garland, and the tabloids loved reporting on their problems. Later, biographies and family stories revealed claims that Garland had discovered him with other men. These stories spread through books and articles, often based on what family members said. When their marriage ended, these rumors really gained attention, and the idea that he was secretly gay became closely tied to the sadness and drama of their family history.

Cary Grant

A major Hollywood actor was constantly the subject of rumors about a close relationship with Randolph Scott. His former wives frequently fueled these rumors with vague statements and during their divorces. One ex-wife, Virginia Cherrill, claimed he was emotionally distant and abusive, which the tabloids interpreted as hinting at something more. Later, biographers often based their portrayal of him as bisexual on stories from his spouses. Essentially, the speculation continued because of the accounts shared by those who knew him personally and spoke to the media.

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2025-12-09 19:15