Throughout the history of entertainment, many public figures have struggled to be true to themselves while living under intense public scrutiny. Often, these individuals began their lives and careers by entering into traditional marriages, a choice heavily influenced by the social norms and professional demands of the time. Examining these experiences offers a compelling look at how understandings of identity have changed and the bravery it took for these figures to ultimately live openly and honestly.
Elton John
Elton John and Renate Blauel, a German sound engineer, married in Australia in 1984. Their marriage lasted four years, ending in divorce in 1988 under heavy public attention. Soon after, Elton John publicly came out as gay in an interview with ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine. He later found lasting happiness with David Furnish, and together they were among the first couples in the UK to enter into a civil partnership.
Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming, a Scottish actor, was first married to Hilary Lyon in 1985, and they divorced eight years later in 1993. During those years, Cumming was building his career in acting, before achieving widespread recognition. He later publicly identified as bisexual and became a well-known supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. Cumming then married graphic artist Grant Shaffer, first in a civil ceremony in London and later with a legally recognized marriage in New York.
Portia de Rossi
Before becoming well-known for her roles in ‘Ally McBeal’ and ‘Arrested Development’, Portia de Rossi was married to documentary filmmaker Mel Metcalfe from 1996 to 1999. She later revealed she wasn’t openly a lesbian at the time and worried about how it would affect her career. In 2005, she publicly came out and began a relationship with comedian Ellen DeGeneres. The two married in 2008 after same-sex marriage became legal in California.
Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner has been a public figure for decades, first as an Olympic gold medalist and later as part of the well-known Kardashian-Jenner family. She had been married three times to women – Chrystie Crownover and Linda Thompson among them – before her twenty-year marriage to Kris Jenner. Their life together was famously chronicled on the reality show ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’. In 2015, Jenner publicly came out as a transgender woman in a significant interview with Diane Sawyer and began her transition.
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow was married to his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler, in 1964, but the marriage only lasted two years before they annulled it. For many years, Manilow kept his personal life private, even as his music career became hugely successful. In 2017, he publicly came out as gay and shared that he had been with his partner, Garry Kief, since 1978.
Niecy Nash-Betts
Niecy Nash is an actress and TV host who was married to minister Donielle Tucker for thirteen years, and they shared three children. After their divorce, she married Jay Tucker in 2011, but they separated in 2019. In 2020, Nash surprised fans by marrying singer Jessica Betts and publicly identifying as queer. She’s since talked about finding love with Betts, describing their connection as deeply spiritual and not defined by labels.
Clive Davis
Clive Davis, a hugely influential figure in the music business, was married twice – first to Janet Adelberg and then to Helen Strickland. He has four children from these marriages. Throughout his career leading major record labels like Columbia and Arista, Davis kept his personal life relatively private until the publication of his 2013 memoir, ‘The Soundtrack of My Life.’ In the book, he publicly came out as bisexual and shared details about his relationships, including a long-term relationship with a man that began after his second divorce.
Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz, the singer-songwriter known for hits like ‘I’m Yours,’ was married to Sheridan Edley for a short time in 2001, but they divorced in 2002. He generally keeps his personal life private. In 2018, he shared a poem for Pride month hinting at his sexuality, and later revealed in interviews that he identifies as bisexual or two-spirit. He has discussed having relationships with both men and women throughout his life.
Kelly McGillis
Kelly McGillis, known for her roles in popular movies like ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Witness,’ was married twice, first to Boyd Black and then to Fred Tillman, with whom she had two daughters. After thirteen years of marriage, she divorced Tillman in 2002. In 2009, McGillis publicly came out as a lesbian, stating she was finished with relationships with men. She later formed a civil union with Melanie Leis in 2010, but the two eventually separated.
Meredith Baxter
Meredith Baxter is best known for playing the mother on the popular TV show ‘Family Ties’. She was married to three men, including Robert Bush and actor David Birney, and together they had five children. In 2009, Baxter publicly came out as a lesbian, sharing that she had discovered her true self later in life. She then married her partner, Nancy Locke, in 2013, and has since become a voice for people who come out later in life.
Joel Grey
Joel Grey, famous for his role in ‘Cabaret,’ was married to actress Jo Wilder for 24 years, and they had two children together, including actress Jennifer Grey. Their marriage lasted from 1958 to 1982, and after their divorce, Grey kept his personal life private for many years. In 2015, at the age of 82, he publicly revealed he was gay in an interview with ‘People’ magazine, discussing the challenges of accepting himself during a different time in the entertainment industry.
Lauren Morelli
Lauren Morelli worked as a writer on the hit show ‘Orange Is the New Black’ and was married to Steve Basilone when the series started. While writing about lesbian characters on the show, she discovered her own identity as a lesbian. She divorced her husband in 2014 after two years of marriage to live authentically. Morelli later married her ‘Orange Is the New Black’ co-star, Samira Wiley, and they now have a daughter together.
David Bowie
I was such a huge David Bowie fan, and I always found his life fascinating. He married Angela Barnett way back in 1970, and they even had a son together, but sadly they divorced in 1980. I remember reading about how he famously told ‘Melody Maker’ he was gay, and then later explained he was bisexual – it was so groundbreaking for the time! He really challenged how people thought about gender and sexuality, which was amazing. Thankfully, he found lasting love with Iman, marrying her in 1992. He truly was an icon, and his impact on pop culture is still felt today.
Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson was a hugely popular movie star in the 1950s and 60s, known for films like ‘Pillow Talk’. To protect his image as a romantic lead, his agent arranged a marriage to Phyllis Gates in 1955. The couple divorced in 1958, and Hudson continued to keep his true sexuality private. He didn’t publicly reveal he had AIDS until shortly before his death in 1985, making him one of the first famous people to do so.
Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins is most famous for his unforgettable and unsettling role as Norman Bates in the movie ‘Psycho’. He was married to photographer Berry Berenson from 1973 until his death in 1992. However, throughout his life and career, Perkins also had numerous documented relationships with men. He found it difficult to reconcile his personal life with the pressures and expectations of Hollywood, especially during a time when societal norms were more restrictive.
Cole Porter
Cole Porter, the famous composer, was married to Linda Lee Thomas for thirty-five years, until she passed away in 1954. While they cared deeply for each other, their marriage was an open secret among their friends, allowing Porter to have relationships with men. His clever songs often hinted at his personal life and the complicated nature of love. The movie ‘De-Lovely’ tells the story of their unusual and loving relationship.
Alice Walker
I’ve always been so inspired by Alice Walker, not just for her incredible writing, but for the life she’s lived. Back in 1967, she and her husband, Melvyn Leventhal, were actually the first interracial couple to legally marry in Mississippi – that took real courage! They had a daughter together, but eventually divorced in 1976. Later in life, she shared a significant relationship with Tracy Chapman, and has openly talked about being attracted to people of all genders. It makes so much sense when you read her work, especially ‘The Color Purple’, because she often writes about gender and sexuality in a really powerful way.
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead was a striking actress known for her dramatic flair and distinctive deep voice, especially in films like ‘Lifeboat’. Though she married actor John Emery in 1937, the marriage lasted only four years, after which she famously declared she wasn’t suited for marriage. Bankhead openly discussed her attraction to people of all genders, making her a trailblazer for acceptance of sexual fluidity in Hollywood. Her bold and unconventional life cemented her status as a legendary performer and a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community.
Little Richard
Little Richard, a groundbreaking figure in rock and roll, was married to Ernestine Campbell from 1959 to 1964, a time when he briefly paused his secular music career. Throughout his life, he often moved between his religious beliefs and his identity as a flamboyant performer. While he sometimes spoke about his sexuality in confusing ways, he later described himself as omnisexual. His gender-defying performances and daring style greatly impacted musicians for years to come.
Richard Pryor
Throughout his successful but often chaotic career, comedian Richard Pryor was married seven times to five different women, including Jennifer Lee and Flynn Belaine. He often joked about his personal life in his stand-up comedy. After his death, his widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor, revealed that he had once had a sexual relationship with actor Marlon Brando. Pryor also discussed his own experiences with sexual attraction to both men and women in his autobiography, ‘Pryor Convictions and Other Life Sentences’.
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde, the famous Irish playwright, married Constance Lloyd in 1884 and they had two sons. At the peak of his success, Wilde faced a public scandal when his relationships with men became known in court. He was convicted of indecent behavior and sentenced to two years of hard labor, which ruined his career and took a toll on his health. Now, Wilde is remembered as a brilliant writer and a symbol of the struggles for LGBTQ+ rights.
Peter Allen
Peter Allen, a popular Australian entertainer, was married to Liza Minnelli from 1967 to 1974. Their marriage ended as Allen became more open about his sexuality and his career took off with songs like ‘I Go to Rio’. He then had a long-lasting relationship with Gregory Connell until his death in 1992. Allen is celebrated for his energetic performances and his life story was famously told in the stage musical ‘The Boy from Oz’.
Carol Leifer
Carol Leifer, a comedian and writer, was married to fellow comedian Ritch Shydner throughout much of the 1980s. She became well-known in the stand-up comedy scene and later worked as a writer and producer on the popular TV show ‘Seinfeld’. While in her thirties, Leifer discovered she was attracted to women, a journey she detailed in a book. She has been happily married to Lori Wolf for many years after a long-term committed relationship.
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes, a well-known comedian who first gained recognition writing for and appearing on ‘The Chris Rock Show,’ was married to Dave Hall from 1991 to 1998, before publicly sharing her identity. In 2008, she publicly came out as gay while speaking against Proposition 8 in California, and revealed she was married to Alex Niedbalski. Since then, Sykes has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and representation in the entertainment world.
Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Swoopes, a WNBA superstar, was first married to her high school love, Eric Jackson, and they had a son together. They divorced in 1999. In 2005, Swoopes publicly came out as a lesbian and shared her relationship with Alisa Scott, an assistant coach. This was a landmark moment in professional sports, as she was a very well-known athlete to come out publicly. Later, in 2011, Swoopes announced she was engaged to a man, and has since described her sexuality as simply being about loving the person, regardless of gender.
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2026-03-21 20:48