As a gamer with a deep appreciation for the evolution of television and its impact on society, I find Doug Savant‘s journey incredibly captivating. Playing Matt Fielding, one of the first openly gay characters on primetime TV during a time when representation was scarce, was not just a role for him; it was a responsibility that he carried with immense dignity.
Doug Savant, the actor who depicted Matt Fielding, a gay character on “Melrose Place”, has revealed why he shied away from discussing his personal sexuality during the show’s run. He believed that maintaining authenticity to the character he was portraying was essential.
On the “Still The Place” podcast, Savant conversed with ex-castmates Laura Leighton, Courtney Thorne-Smith, and Daphne Zuniga about the difficulties they faced portraying gay characters as heterosexual actors when television offered scant representation at that time.
While filming various scenes and promos for the series, I discussed with Sam, our public relations representative, ‘Would you be willing to discuss our approach moving forward, given the inclusion of a gay character in the show?’
I knew it was exceptional, and I thought people would be interested. But she goes, ‘Well, no, it’s not a big deal. You’re an actor, you’re just playing a character.’ And I said, ‘Oh, clearly she doesn’t get it.’
Doug Savant portrayed Matt Fielding, a character who was gay, for six out of the seven seasons on the TV series ‘Melrose Place’. At the start of his tenure on the show, he recognized that this theme could be touchy. Instead of openly discussing his sexuality in public, Savant opted to keep it private. However, as time went by, he found himself summoned for a discussion with the show’s creator, Darren Star, and the PR department. It was expressed that Aaron Spelling, Fox, and Darren Star were displeased with his decision to remain silent about this matter.
It’s unclear why there’s such a fuss about it, but one might simply say, ‘It doesn’t change who I am, but I’m heterosexual.’ I declined the offer, and I had no intention of portraying a gay character to make a living. However, I wouldn’t want to be connected with that role while simultaneously distancing myself from it, saying ‘This isn’t me.’ Instead, I maintain my stance that it doesn’t align with who I am.
Doug Savant mentioned that his television role was among the earliest portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters on screen, following only a handful of such characters during the ’80s. He disclosed that there was pressure for him to openly declare himself as heterosexual in public.
… I felt it would be more acceptable to American viewers if they knew I was heterosexual. However, I found it immoral to exploit my private life for the sake of our show, just because some people thought it was more politically correct.
At that moment, I strongly felt it was my duty to refrain from doing so. With Will Smith preparing for the role in John Guare’s “Six Degrees of Separation” [film], his character being gay, and him planning to reveal this aspect, he expressed reservations: ‘I wouldn’t kiss a man on-screen, I wouldn’t do that.’ This sentiment was shared by many actors who had previously taken on similar roles. Given my moral compass, I couldn’t bring myself to participate.
Each week, I’ll show up for work and embody this character, but it’s important to remember that we should keep our professional and personal lives separate. When referring to Matt, I meant to convey that he is like any other son, brother, friend, or neighbor you might have. He’s an ordinary man who just so happens to be gay.
It quickly became clear that no single character could embody the full spectrum of a whole community’s diversity. It was unrealistic to expect Matt Fielding, being the only gay character, to carry the burden of representing the entire community. Now, we’re fortunate to have a wider variety of gay characters, and aren’t we all grateful for this change?
Doug Savant commended Spelling, Star, and Fox for standing by Matt’s character amidst pressure from organizations such as the Christian Coalition and the Moral Majority, who advocated for advertisers to withdraw their support from the series due to its content.
Despite Matt Fielding not being heavily involved in romantic storylines, he played a crucial role in several of the show’s poignant scenes. These included standing up against workplace discrimination and pursuing justice following a hate crime.
Similar to characters in popular prime-time teen series, Matt’s narrative concluded sadly, with a car accident off-screen towards the end of the show. Following his role on Melrose Place, Savant spent nine years portraying Tom Scavo on Desperate Housewives. Since 1998, he has been married to his co-star and podcast host, Laura Leighton.
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2024-12-01 11:44