24 Gay Actors Who Came Out Mid-Franchise and Kept the Role

Hollywood has changed a lot in recent decades when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance. In the past, coming out as LGBTQ+ could mean the end of an actor’s career or losing important roles. However, many courageous performers chose to be open about their identities even while working on popular TV shows and movies. They faced intense public attention while still managing their careers and staying in the projects that made them well-known. Their bravery has helped create a more welcoming industry where someone’s personal life doesn’t limit their professional opportunities.

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris was enjoying huge success on television as the charming Barney Stinson when he publicly came out as gay in 2006, while ‘How I Met Your Mother’ was still a popular show. He continued to play the womanizing character for several more years, and his success challenged expectations about the types of roles gay actors could take on. He skillfully kept his personal life separate from his on-screen persona.

Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons is widely known for his role as the quirky physicist Sheldon Cooper on the popular show ‘The Big Bang Theory’. In 2012, after appearing in the play ‘The Normal Heart’, he openly discussed his sexuality in an interview. ‘The Big Bang Theory’ continued to be a huge success, and Parsons consistently received accolades for his performance as Sheldon. He remained involved with the show until it ended, and also narrated its spin-off series.

Matt Bomer

I was such a fan of Matt Bomer in ‘White Collar’ – he was just so charismatic as Neal Caffrey! It was really great to see him come out in 2012, publicly thanking his husband and kids while accepting an award. It happened while the show was still super popular, during its six-season run, and everyone kept watching to see the amazing chemistry he had with Tim DeKay right up to the very end.

Zachary Quinto

Zachary Quinto first played Spock in the 2009 ‘Star Trek’ movie before sharing publicly that he is gay. He decided to come out in 2011, deeply affected by the suicide of a young gay man. Quinto continued to play the famously logical Spock in the two ‘Star Trek’ sequels that followed, living openly as his authentic self. Since then, his career has flourished in both movies and television.

Noah Schnapp

Noah Schnapp, known for his role as Will Byers in the hit series ‘Stranger Things’, publicly came out to his fans on TikTok in early 2023. This personal announcement resonated with many, as his character on the show also explores similar feelings. Schnapp was met with a lot of support and will be back for the final season of ‘Stranger Things’.

Kit Connor

Kit Connor, who plays Nick Nelson in the hit Netflix show ‘Heartstopper’, publicly came out as bisexual in 2022 after facing a lot of pressure online about his sexuality. He felt pushed to label himself, but has been overwhelmed by the support he’s received from his ‘Heartstopper’ co-stars and crew. He continues to star in the series as it moves forward with new seasons.

Ben Whishaw

I’ve always been a fan of Ben Whishaw, and I was so impressed when he stepped into the role of Q in ‘Skyfall’. It was great to see him really make the part his own. What a lot of people might not know is that he actually confirmed his civil partnership with his husband around the time ‘Skyfall’ came out, and continued to be openly himself throughout his involvement with ‘Spectre’ and ‘No Time to Die’. It’s really admirable, and I think it speaks volumes about him as a person. Plus, he’s just a fantastic actor who manages to balance work in smaller, independent films with these huge blockbuster roles – he never gets stuck playing the same type of character, which I really appreciate.

Colton Haynes

Colton Haynes, known for his role as Roy Harper in the TV show ‘Arrow’, stepped away from the series to focus on his mental well-being. After publicly coming out as gay in 2016, he openly discussed the anxiety he experienced keeping his sexuality private. He later rejoined the ‘Arrow’ universe for several appearances and ultimately became a regular cast member again in the final season. His willingness to share his experiences with anxiety and his sexuality had a strong impact on many of his younger fans.

Keiynan Lonsdale

Keiynan Lonsdale, known for playing Wally West in ‘The Flash’ and ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’, publicly came out as bisexual in 2017 while still working on those shows. The show’s creators were supportive, and he continued to appear in the series. Since then, Lonsdale has become a strong voice for better LGBTQ+ representation in television and film.

Luke Macfarlane

Luke Macfarlane is known for his role as Scotty Wandell on the show ‘Brothers & Sisters,’ where he appeared for multiple seasons. While the show was on television, he publicly came out as gay in 2008. His character was featured in a significant same-sex marriage storyline that became a key part of the series. Since then, Macfarlane has become a popular lead actor in many romantic comedies.

Reid Ewing

I always enjoyed Reid Ewing as Dylan on ‘Modern Family’ – he was such a lovable goofball! It was actually really cool how casually he came out as gay back in 2015, just dropping it into a tweet while talking about body dysmorphia. He kept playing Dylan throughout the show’s run, which was great, and things got even better when he ended up marrying his on-screen girlfriend in real life! Everyone really appreciated how low-key and natural his announcement was – no big deal, just him being himself.

Kristian Nairn

Kristian Nairn became well-known worldwide for playing the kind-hearted Hodor in ‘Game of Thrones’. While the show was hugely popular in 2014, he openly talked about being gay in an interview with a fan website, explaining he’d been hoping someone would ask him so he could be honest. He remained a fan favorite throughout his time on the show, culminating in his character’s memorable and brave final moments.

Jake Borelli

Jake Borelli, who plays Dr. Levi Schmitt on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, publicly came out as gay in 2018 – coinciding with his character’s first on-screen kiss with another man. This allowed Borelli to share his true self while also mirroring his character’s coming-out journey. He continues to be an important part of the show and is helping to bring more LGBTQ+ representation to the medical drama genre.

Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett played the musician Jamal Lyon on the popular TV show ‘Empire’. He publicly came out as gay in 2015 during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, while the show’s first season was still being broadcast. Interestingly, his character on ‘Empire’ also navigated coming out in the world of hip-hop, mirroring Smollett’s own experience. He continued to play the role for several years, but his career was later affected by legal issues.

Jordan Gavaris

I was always captivated by Jordan Gavaris as Felix Dawkins in ‘Orphan Black’ – he brought such a unique blend of artistry and humor to the role. It meant a lot to me when he publicly came out in 2017, during the show’s final season. He explained he hadn’t been intentionally hiding anything, just choosing not to make it the focus of interviews, which I completely understood. He was such a beloved character and truly essential to the Clone Club, and I was so glad to see him shine right until the very end.

Joshua Bassett

Joshua Bassett, known for playing Ricky Bowen in ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,’ publicly shared that he identifies as LGBTQ+ in 2021. He continued to star in the Disney+ show and began releasing music that reflected his own life. His honesty has been particularly impactful for younger Disney fans.

Michael Urie

As a huge fan of ‘Ugly Betty’, I always loved Michael Urie as Marc St. James – he was just magnetic! It was really cool seeing his character embrace his identity as ‘queer’ even during the show’s original run, and then later talking more openly about it. He was consistently one of the best parts of the series for all four seasons, and it’s fantastic to see him continuing to thrive on stage and screen. He totally proved that playing a big, flamboyant character didn’t box him in at all – he’s a really versatile actor.

Adamo Ruggiero

Adamo Ruggiero is known for his role as Marco Del Rossi on the Canadian TV show ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’. He publicly came out as gay in 2008 while hosting a related show, after playing a gay character for several years. His performance as Marco is considered a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ representation in teen dramas. Ruggiero remains involved with the ‘Degrassi’ universe and continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

Scott Evans

Scott Evans is an actor known for playing police officer Oliver Fish on the soap opera ‘One Life to Live’. He publicly came out as gay in 2009, following an interview where his brother, Chris Evans, revealed the information. His character was featured in a popular love story that allowed him to stay on the show for a long time. More recently, Evans has appeared in films like the hit movie ‘Barbie’.

Jack Dylan Grazer

Jack Dylan Grazer, known for playing Freddy Freeman in the ‘Shazam!’ movies, publicly shared that he is bisexual in 2021. He received strong support from fans when he returned for the sequel, ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods.’ Grazer frequently uses his social media to encourage people to be true to themselves and express their identities.

Justice Smith

Justice Smith is known for playing the worried systems analyst Franklin Webb in the ‘Jurassic World’ movies. In 2020, he publicly came out as queer and spoke out in support of Black transgender people. He reprised his role in ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ in 2022. Smith has skillfully combined work in big-budget action films with critically praised independent projects.

Harvey Guillén

Harvey Guillén is well-known for his role as Guillermo de la Cruz, the vampire hunter, in ‘What We Do in the Shadows’. As the show became increasingly popular in 2022, he spoke about his experiences as a queer person. Since then, the show’s writers have gradually woven aspects of his identity into his character’s storyline. Guillén continues to be a standout performer on the series and an advocate for body positivity.

Lee Pace

I first saw Lee Pace as the villain Ronan in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ back in 2014, and I really enjoyed his performance. It meant a lot to me when he publicly shared that he’s part of the queer community in 2018. Then, he brought Ronan back for ‘Captain Marvel’ in 2019, which was awesome! It’s great to see him continuing to land fantastic roles in big sci-fi projects while being true to himself.

Larry Saperstein

As a big fan of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’, I was so happy for Larry Saperstein, who plays Big Red! He came out as bisexual on TikTok during Pride Month in 2021, right while the show was on. It was a really sweet and casual announcement – he was just dancing! – and the fans were incredibly supportive. Thankfully, he continued to be a part of the show as it went on, which was great to see.

Tell us which of these courageous actors inspired you the most in the comments.

2025-12-08 19:17