Gay Actors Who Portrayed Iconic Superheroes

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Over the past twenty years, we’ve seen a welcome increase in LGBTQ+ actors playing roles in superhero movies and TV shows. Traditionally, many actors kept their personal lives private, but now more and more stars are openly sharing who they are while taking on famous roles – from super-powered mutants to crime-fighting heroes. This is a positive change, bringing more diverse representation to popular entertainment.

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen is well-known for playing Magneto, the strong-willed mutant, in multiple ‘X-Men’ movies. He revealed he was gay in 1988 and has been a dedicated supporter of LGBTQ+ rights ever since. Many consider his portrayal of the character – a complex villain who sometimes helps the heroes – to be a defining part of today’s superhero films. McKellen infused the role with a sense of importance and depth, drawing on Magneto’s backstory as someone who survived the Holocaust.

Elliot Page

Elliot Page is known for playing Kitty Pryde in ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ and ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’, a mutant who can walk through walls. He also stars in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ as Viktor Hargreeves, a character with powerful sound-based abilities. In 2020, Page publicly came out as transgender, and the show reflected this by having his character undergo a similar transition in its third season. Critics have praised Page for his performances, particularly his ability to portray characters dealing with complicated family relationships and unique powers.

Ezra Miller

Ezra Miller played Barry Allen, also known as the Flash, in DC movies. They first appeared as the superhero in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’, then in ‘Justice League’ and their own movie, ‘The Flash’. Miller, who uses they/them pronouns, brought a fun and unique energy to the character. The role required exploring different universes and grappling with a difficult past.

Matt Bomer

Matt Bomer voices and physically performs the character of Larry Trainor, also known as Negative Man, in ‘Doom Patrol’. Larry was once an Air Force pilot who gained radioactive powers after a strange accident. Bomer, who publicly came out in 2012, shows the character grappling with both his sexuality and his dramatic physical changes in flashback scenes. The role allows exploration of feelings like loneliness, remorse, and the possibility of finding forgiveness, all within the story of a group of unusual heroes.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller played the character Leonard Snart, also known as Captain Cold, in the TV series ‘The Flash’ and ‘Legends of Tomorrow’. Initially a villain, Captain Cold developed into a hero and became part of the Legends team. In 2013, Miller publicly came out as gay to show support for LGBTQ+ people facing discrimination from the Russian government. He was known for his unique way of speaking as Captain Cold and for playing a character with a complicated sense of right and wrong.

Victor Garber

Victor Garber famously played Dr. Martin Stein, one half of the superhero Firestorm, in multiple shows within the Arrowverse. His character combined scientific knowledge with another person to become a strong, nuclear-powered hero. Garber, a well-established actor in both theater and film, has publicly shared that he is gay and has been in a long-term relationship with his husband. Before leaving the show ‘Legends of Tomorrow,’ his character often acted as a guide and mentor to younger heroes.

Colton Haynes

Colton Haynes is known for playing Roy Harper, also called Arsenal, in the TV show ‘Arrow’. The character begins as a resourceful kid and later becomes Oliver Queen’s student. Haynes publicly came out as gay in 2016 and has discussed the challenges of being a young actor in Hollywood. Throughout the series, his character learns to fight and struggles with the side effects of a special serum that gives him enhanced strength.

Russell Tovey

Russell Tovey portrayed the superhero The Ray, who can control light and fly, in the ‘Crisis on Earth-X’ storyline within the Arrowverse. The character comes from a different reality where he battles for freedom. Tovey, a British actor who is openly gay, also provided the voice for The Ray in the animated series ‘Freedom Fighters: The Ray’. This version of the character was notable for including a romantic relationship with another male superhero.

Share your favorite performances from these actors in the comments.

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2026-02-12 06:49