30 Actors Who Came Out as Queer After Playing Womanizers for Years

For decades, Hollywood has often cast actors to play characters very different from who they are in real life. Many popular male actors became famous as romantic leads and charming figures, all while keeping their personal lives private. They frequently played characters known for attracting women, creating a contrast with their own identities. When these actors later came out, it emphasized the difference between the roles they played and who they truly are. Here’s a look at thirty actors who famously portrayed straight romantic interests before publicly sharing their own stories.

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris became hugely popular for his nine-season role as Barney Stinson on ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ Barney was known for his complex plans to win over women and his reluctance to settle down. While the show was still new, Harris publicly shared that he was gay. Remarkably, he continued to portray the very straight-acting character flawlessly until the show ended. Critics praised his ability to keep his personal life separate from his work, and he received four Emmy nominations for his performance.

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was the ultimate movie star heartthrob during the 1950s and 60s. He was famous for starring in lighthearted romantic comedies with Doris Day, often playing a handsome, carefree man who eventually fell in love. To keep him popular with audiences, the movie studios carefully crafted a public image of him as a traditionally masculine, heterosexual man. Hudson kept his true sexuality private throughout his career, and it wasn’t revealed until he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985. His death brought much-needed attention to the HIV epidemic and helped increase visibility for the LGBTQ+ community.

Matt Bomer

I’ll always remember Matt Bomer as Neal Caffrey in ‘White Collar’ – seriously, that guy had charm for days! He played this incredibly smooth con artist who could win anyone over. It was cool to see him subtly share his personal life back in 2012, thanking his husband and kids in a speech. Since then, he’s really taken on some challenging roles, showing a lot of range. What I really appreciate is that he continues to be a leading man in all kinds of stories, both straight and LGBTQ+.

Tab Hunter

Tab Hunter became a popular movie star in the 1950s, known as the handsome, clean-cut boy next door that many teenage girls adored. He played the romantic lead in films like ‘Battle Cry’ and ‘Damn Yankees,’ always pursuing the female characters. However, the film studios worked hard to hide his relationships with men, fearing it would damage his public image. In his 2005 autobiography, Hunter finally revealed the strain of living a secret life under the pressures of Old Hollywood, highlighting the strict moral codes that controlled actors’ personal lives at the time.

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin started his acting career playing a singer on the soap opera ‘General Hospital’, quickly becoming a teen idol. He then rose to international pop stardom, known for his captivating appeal. For years, despite rumors about his personal life, he presented a heterosexual image publicly. In 2010, Martin openly shared that he is gay in a personal statement on his website. He’s since returned to acting and earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’.

Luke Evans

I’ve always been a fan of Luke Evans – he’s just so good at playing both tough action guys and really charming romantic leads in big movies! I especially remember his hilarious and over-the-top Gaston in the live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ – he was obsessed with Belle! He’s also played some really swoon-worthy roles, like the romantic lead in ‘Dracula Untold’ and the grieving Bard in ‘The Hobbit’. It’s awesome that he was so open about being gay early on in his career when he was doing theater in London, but it’s even more impressive how he continues to navigate Hollywood and take on traditionally masculine roles while still being true to himself. He’s a really inspiring actor!

Richard Chamberlain

Richard Chamberlain rose to fame in the 1960s as Dr. Kildare, becoming a major heartthrob. He further established himself as a romantic leading man in the popular miniseries ‘The Thorn Birds,’ playing a priest struggling with forbidden love. For many years, Chamberlain hid his sexuality, worried it would harm his career. He publicly came out in his 2003 autobiography at age 69, and later admitted he regretted keeping his true self hidden for so long due to fear.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller gained worldwide recognition and became a popular figure after playing Michael Scofield in the TV series ‘Prison Break’. His character was at the heart of a major love story while also being involved in a complicated plan to escape from prison. In 2013, Miller publicly shared that he was gay and chose not to attend a film festival in Russia as a protest against their laws that discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. He later explained that keeping his sexuality a secret had negatively affected his mental health. Because of this, Miller decided he would only take on roles that allowed him to portray genuine LGBTQ+ characters and stories.

Kal Penn

Kal Penn is famous for playing Kumar in the ‘Harold & Kumar’ movies, where his character was known for being a carefree guy always looking for romance. While acting, Penn kept his personal life private, and even worked at the White House during the Obama administration. In 2021, he publicly came out as gay in his memoir and shared that he was engaged to his partner of eleven years. This news surprised a lot of fans, as they strongly identified him with the flirty, comedic character he often played.

Colton Haynes

Colton Haynes is known for playing Jackson Whittemore, the lacrosse team captain, on the show ‘Teen Wolf’. He often played the role of the typical high school athlete, even dating the popular girl. Later, he starred as Roy Harper in ‘Arrow’, continuing to play mostly straight characters. Haynes publicly came out in 2016, after years of worrying about how it would affect his career. Since then, he’s become a strong voice for mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ representation in Hollywood.

Jonathan Bennett

Jonathan Bennett became a teen idol after playing Aaron Samuels in the beloved movie ‘Mean Girls’. Both Cady Heron and Regina George had crushes on his character. At the time, Bennett chose not to publicly share his sexual orientation, fearing it would limit the roles he was offered. Years later, he came out and is now well-known as a host and actor, particularly in holiday films that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Bennett often talks about the pressure he felt to appear straight during the early 2000s.

Victor Garber

You know, I’ve always been a big fan of Victor Garber. He’s so good at playing those dependable, authoritative types – often fathers, which makes sense, right? I’ll never forget him as the shipbuilder in ‘Titanic,’ such a dignified role, and then totally switching gears to be the charmingly awful professor in ‘Legally Blonde’! It was great. What I admire about him too is that he lived his truth privately for years with his partner, and then came out publicly in 2012. He said he wasn’t hiding anything, just keeping it separate from his work, which I totally get. And the best part? He’s still working steadily, popping up in all sorts of TV shows and movies. A true pro!

Robert Reed

Robert Reed, best known as Mike Brady from ‘The Brady Bunch,’ became the iconic image of a traditional father and husband, offering guidance to his six children. Though he played a very straight role, Reed was actually gay in private and frequently disagreed with the show’s writers about the scripts. He kept his personal life hidden to maintain the show’s wholesome image. His co-stars knew he was gay and supported him throughout his life, until he passed away in 1992.

T. R. Knight

T.R. Knight is known for his role as the endearing Dr. George O’Malley on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. Throughout the series, his character was involved in notable relationships with Meredith Grey and Izzie Stevens. Knight publicly came out as gay in 2006 after a highly publicized disagreement with a co-worker on set. This incident brought attention to the issue of homophobia in professional environments and the media. After leaving ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ after several seasons, Knight has continued to thrive in theater and television.

Cesar Romero

Cesar Romero, nicknamed the “Latin from Manhattan,” was a popular romantic leading man during Hollywood’s Golden Age. While many remember him today for playing The Joker in the 1960s ‘Batman’ television series, Romero lived a private life. He never married, often appearing with female companions to discourage speculation about his personal life. A gay man, he remained closeted throughout his career, carefully protecting his image and privacy within the film industry and never publicly coming out. He successfully maintained this until his death.

Anthony Perkins

Anthony Perkins initially gained fame as a charming leading man in films like ‘Friendly Persuasion’ before becoming widely known for his iconic role in ‘Psycho’. Hollywood attempted to create a wholesome public image for him, even orchestrating fake dates with actresses. While presenting himself as heterosexual, Perkins had relationships with men, including Tab Hunter. He later married a woman and had a family, but his personal life was complicated. After his death, his wife revealed his internal struggles with his sexuality and the pressures of the time.

Raymond Burr

Raymond Burr is remembered as a television star for his roles as the lawyer Perry Mason and the detective Ironside. Known for his imposing stature, he often portrayed serious, professional characters. He crafted a story about being a widower to deflect personal questions from the media. Burr shared his life with his partner, Robert Benevides, for many years, but the details of their relationship and his sexuality weren’t widely known until after his death.

Matt Dallas

Matt Dallas became known for playing the lead role in the sci-fi series ‘Kyle XY,’ where his character was at the heart of a popular romantic plot. Throughout the show’s run, Dallas managed to keep his private life private. In 2013, he publicly revealed his engagement to his boyfriend on Twitter. Since then, Dallas has prioritized his family and now creates content online with his husband.

Cheyenne Jackson

Cheyenne Jackson became well-known through television roles like Danny Baker on ’30 Rock’ and a vocal coach on ‘Glee,’ often playing straight characters. While he was openly gay in his theater work, these TV appearances brought him to a wider audience. He’s successfully moved between playing both straight and gay roles. Today, Jackson frequently appears in shows created by Ryan Murphy.

Jonathan Groff

Jonathan Groff is known for playing Jesse St. James, a popular character on ‘Glee’ who had a romantic relationship with Rachel Berry. He also showed his range as an FBI agent in the serious crime series ‘Mindhunter’. Groff publicly came out as gay in 2009 during a march for equality, a bold move early in his career. Since then, he’s become a major Broadway star and a successful voice actor, notably in ‘Frozen’.

Lee Pace

Lee Pace first became well-known for his role as Ned, a pie-maker with a unique problem – he couldn’t touch the woman he loved – in the TV show ‘Pushing Daisies’. He later starred in major films like ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. Although he had shared his sexuality with those close to him, Pace kept this part of his life private from the public for a long time. In 2018, he publicly came out as queer. Since then, he’s taken on roles playing openly queer characters in productions like ‘Angels in America’ and ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’.

Tuc Watkins

Tuc Watkins is well-known for his role as David Vickers on ‘One Life to Live’, where he played a charming but scheming character who tried to marry rich women. He also appeared as a more conventional neighbor on ‘Desperate Housewives’. In 2013, Watkins publicly came out as gay during an interview with Marie Osmond. He continues to act on television and recently starred in a Broadway revival of ‘The Boys in the Band’.

Gordon Thomson

Gordon Thomson is famous for his role as the scheming Adam Carrington on the television drama ‘Dynasty’. His character was known for being a heartless and unfaithful businessman who caused trouble for everyone around him. Throughout the 1980s, Thomson kept his sexuality private, fearing it would harm his career on the popular show. He publicly came out as gay in 2017, at the age of 72, and shared that he felt a great sense of relief being able to finally live openly and honestly about who he is.

George Takei

George Takei, best known for playing Hikaru Sulu in the original ‘Star Trek,’ saw his character initially written as heterosexual. Though a scene hinting at Sulu having a family was once removed from the films, it was later included in unofficial ‘Star Trek’ stories. For many years, Takei kept his own sexuality private, fearing it would harm his career. He publicly came out as gay in 2005 to oppose California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Since then, he’s become a well-known activist and a popular figure on social media.

Joel Grey

As a movie lover, I always remember Joel Grey for his incredible, Oscar-winning performance as the Master of Ceremonies in ‘Cabaret’. It’s interesting to me that while the character was so open and fluid, Joel himself lived a very different life publicly for a long time. He was married to a woman for twenty-four years and had a family, and mostly played straight characters throughout his career. It wasn’t until 2015, when he was 82, that he publicly came out. He explained that growing up with so much homophobia meant he felt he had to hide who he really was for most of his life, and that’s just heartbreaking to hear.

Montgomery Clift

Montgomery Clift was a highly acclaimed actor, nominated for an Academy Award four times. He was famous for playing thoughtful, often romantic characters, and starred in classics like ‘A Place in the Sun’ with Elizabeth Taylor. Considered one of Hollywood’s most handsome leading men, Clift was bisexual, but this aspect of his life was hidden from the public. Many believe the pressures of concealing his sexuality contributed to his personal difficulties and struggles with substance abuse. Today, he’s remembered as a symbol of vulnerability and sensitivity in film.

Dirk Bogarde

Dirk Bogarde was a major film star in Britain during the 1950s, initially known as a romantic leading man thanks to his role in the ‘Doctor in the House’ films. He maintained a private personal life, living with his partner Anthony Forwood for almost forty years without ever publicly discussing his sexuality. Later in his career, Bogarde took on more challenging roles, like in the film ‘Victim,’ which dealt with the difficult issue of blackmail targeting gay men. He was very protective of his privacy and destroyed many personal letters and papers to keep his private life hidden.

Brian J. Smith

Brian J. Smith, known for his role as police officer Will Gorski in the sci-fi show ‘Sense8’, played a character involved in a main romantic storyline with another member of his group. In 2019, Smith publicly came out as gay in an interview, discussing the challenges he faced growing up in rural Texas and the feelings of fear and loneliness he experienced. He has shared that being open about his identity has allowed him to feel more genuine and liberated in his work.

François Arnaud

I recently revisited ‘The Borgias,’ and Francois Arnaud truly captivated me as Cesare Borgia – a complex character who was both a ruthless warrior and a passionate lover, with a string of affairs throughout the series. It was interesting to learn that Arnaud himself came out as bisexual in 2020, sharing on Instagram that he’d previously avoided clarifying his sexuality to avoid constant explanation. It speaks to a larger issue of bi-erasure, and I admire him for addressing it. He’s a really versatile actor, and I’m excited to see what diverse roles he takes on next in both TV and film.

Kevin Conroy

As a longtime Batman fan, I have to say Kevin Conroy was Batman. For so many of us, his voice defined the character, starting with the incredible ‘Batman: The Animated Series.’ He brilliantly portrayed Bruce Wayne as this charming, wealthy playboy – a perfect disguise for his nighttime activities. What many didn’t know, and what made his performance even more poignant, was that Kevin himself was a gay man navigating the AIDS crisis, losing friends along the way. He finally shared his story in a 2022 DC Pride comic, explaining how he used his own personal struggles and the feeling of having to ‘mask’ his true self to truly become Batman. It was a powerful revelation and added a whole new layer of depth to an already iconic performance.

2025-12-09 15:52