Gay Actors Who Married Women for Career Reasons and Later Divorced

For years, Hollywood prioritized appearances over authenticity, leading many gay actors to hide their true selves. To protect their careers and appease studio demands, they often entered into marriages with women – sometimes arranged by their agents, and driven by the strong pressure to seem straight. While a few of these relationships developed into platonic friendships, many ended in divorce or separation once the actors felt able to live openly. The following explores the stories of male actors who faced these challenges before ultimately embracing their true selves.

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was a classic Hollywood leading man, famous for romantic roles in movies like ‘Giant’ and ‘Pillow Talk’. Though many in the film industry knew he was gay, his agent orchestrated a marriage to his secretary, Phyllis Gates, in 1955 to silence gossip. The marriage was brief and difficult, as both struggled with the strain of keeping up appearances. They divorced in 1958, and Hudson remained private about his personal life until his diagnosis with AIDS brought his sexuality to light shortly before his death.

Elton John

Before becoming a worldwide advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, the famous singer and actor known for his role in ‘Tommy’ (1975) faced a difficult time with his public image. He unexpectedly married German recording engineer Renate Blauel in a grand Australian ceremony in 1984. The marriage lasted four years, during which he struggled with personal issues and his sexuality. After their divorce in 1988, he publicly came out as gay and ultimately found lasting happiness with his future husband, David Furnish.

Robert Reed

Robert Reed, famous for playing Mike Brady on ‘The Brady Bunch’ (1969–1974), was seen as the ideal American dad. However, behind the scenes, Reed was a gay man who found it difficult to balance his private life with the conservative image he presented to the public and his hopes for his career. He married Marilyn Rosenberger in 1954, and they had a daughter before divorcing five years later. Though he never publicly acknowledged his sexuality, those who worked with him knew he was gay.

Cary Grant

Cary Grant was the iconic leading man in beloved films like ‘North by Northwest’ (1959) and ‘The Philadelphia Story’ (1940). Although he had many female admirers, rumors about relationships with men followed him throughout his career. He went through five marriages and divorces, and some historians believe these unions were partly an effort to meet societal expectations. His long-term living situation with actor Randolph Scott led to decades of speculation about his personal life and romantic interests.

Randolph Scott

Randolph Scott, a popular Western actor famous for movies like ‘Ride the High Country’ (1962), lived with Cary Grant as roommates for more than ten years – their home becoming known as Bachelor Hall. To counter gossip and maintain a tough-guy image, Scott married heiress Marion duPont in 1936. However, the marriage was emotionally distant and they separated after just three years, divorcing in 1939. Scott later married again, but his first marriage is frequently mentioned when discussing so-called ‘lavender marriages’ in Hollywood – unions entered into to conceal same-sex relationships.

Little Richard

Little Richard, a pioneer of rock and roll who also appeared in films like ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ (1956), struggled throughout his life with the conflict between his religious beliefs and his identity. He briefly left rock and roll to pursue religion and married Ernestine Campbell in 1959, but the marriage was difficult due to his fame and his personal struggle with his attraction to men. They divorced in 1963, and for many years afterward, Little Richard publicly revealed and then concealed his sexuality.

Joel Grey

Joel Grey won an Academy Award for his role in the 1972 film ‘Cabaret’ and had a successful career in both theater and movies. He and actress Jo Wilder were married for twenty-four years and had two children, including actress Jennifer Grey. They divorced in 1982, but Grey didn’t publicly share he was gay until much later in life, at age 82. He remembered his marriage fondly but admitted it was challenging to keep that part of himself private.

Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming is a wonderfully versatile actor – you probably know him from shows like ‘The Good Wife’ or films like ‘X2’. But beyond his work on screen, he’s lived a really interesting life. He was married to Hilary Lyon back in 1985, and they were together for eight years. Looking back, he’s talked about how he felt pressured to fit into what he thought was expected of him at the time – the whole traditional life path. Eventually, he came to terms with and embraced his bisexuality, and ultimately identified as a gay man. It’s a really honest story about finding your true self.

Raymond Burr

Raymond Burr achieved widespread fame as Perry Mason in the popular television series that aired from 1957 to 1966. To maintain his image as a strong, leading man on TV, he created a false story about a past filled with personal tragedy – a deceased wife and son. In truth, he was briefly married to actress Isabella Ward in 1948, but the marriage was quickly annulled and followed by a divorce. For most of his life, Burr was in a relationship with Robert Benevides, but he kept it private from the public.

Rip Taylor

Rip Taylor, nicknamed the Prince of Pandemonium, was a lively comedian and actor famous for his appearances on ‘The Gong Show’ (1976–1989) and in several films. He had a short-lived marriage to showgirl Rusty Rowe in Las Vegas, which he later cancelled. Despite his over-the-top stage presence, Taylor largely kept his personal life private and only publicly came to terms with his sexuality later in life.

David Bowie

David Bowie was a famously adaptable musician and actor, appearing in films like ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’ and ‘Labyrinth’. He married Angela Barnett in 1970, and together they became symbols of the glam rock movement while raising their son, Duncan Jones. Their marriage was unconventional and ended in divorce in 1980, a time when Bowie was also changing as an artist and a person. He later married Iman, and after publicly identifying as gay and bisexual earlier in his career, he enjoyed a long-term, traditional marriage.

Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow is a celebrated musician who’s also been in several TV specials and the movie ‘Copacabana’ (1985). He first married his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler, in 1964, but left after only a year to focus on his music career in New York. They officially divorced in 1966, and Manilow kept his personal life private for many years. In 2017, he publicly shared that he had been in a relationship with his husband, Garry Kief, for almost forty years.

Denholm Elliott

I’ve always admired Denholm Elliott – a truly gifted character actor. Most people probably remember him from films like ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ‘A Room with a View,’ and he was fantastic in both. His personal life was a bit complex; he married Virginia McKenna back in 1954, but sadly, the marriage didn’t last very long because he was coming to terms with his sexuality. They divorced quickly, and eventually, he openly embraced being bisexual, with a preference for men. Despite everything, he kept working consistently and built an incredible career right up until he passed away in 1992. It’s a shame we lost him, but his work continues to bring joy to so many.

Michael Barrymore

Michael Barrymore was a hugely popular television host in the UK, best known for the show ‘Strike It Lucky’ which ran from 1986 to 1994. He married Cheryl Cocklin in 1976, and she played a key role in supporting his successful career. In 1995, Barrymore publicly came out, which unfortunately led to a difficult and very public divorce. This event significantly changed both his career and personal life.

Kenny Everett

Kenny Everett was a hugely influential British comedian and radio DJ, famous for shows like ‘The Kenny Everett Video Show’ (1978–1981). He was married to singer Lee Middleton for over ten years, even though he was privately grappling with his identity. He eventually came out to her, and while they divorced in 1984, they remained good friends. Later in his life, Everett became a prominent advocate and voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS before sadly passing away.

Christopher Biggins

Christopher Biggins is a popular British actor and performer, especially famous for playing the traditional ‘dame’ role in pantomime and for his part in the classic 1970s sitcom ‘Porridge’. He was married to actress Beatrice Norbury from 1971 to 1974, but later admitted the marriage was a mistake, influenced by expectations to conform to societal norms. Following their divorce, he openly embraced his true self and became a well-known and celebrated gay entertainer in the UK.

Nils Asther

Nils Asther was a Swedish actor who became famous in Hollywood during the silent film era, appearing in movies like ‘The Bitter Tea of General Yen’ (1933). To deal with gossip about his personal life and ensure he could continue working in the US, he married Vivian Duncan in a relationship that was generally understood to be a formality. They had a child together, but their marriage was difficult and ended in divorce in 1932. Eventually, Asther’s career declined because his accent was considered a problem with the arrival of talking films, and rumors about his private life continued to circulate.

Richard Cromwell

Richard Cromwell was a popular and attractive actor in the 1930s, known for his role in the 1935 film ‘The Lives of a Bengal Lancer.’ He married Angela Lansbury in 1945, but the marriage quickly ended after less than a year. Cromwell left a note saying he couldn’t continue, and Lansbury later discovered he was gay. Despite the pain, they remained friends until his death, and Lansbury often spoke warmly of him.

Jeremy Brett

Jeremy Brett is famous for being the most authentic Sherlock Holmes, largely due to his role in the 1984-1994 television series ‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’. He was married to actress Anna Massey from 1958 to 1962. Throughout his life, Brett dealt with challenges related to his sexual identity and bipolar disorder, ultimately finding lasting companionship with Gary Bond. His passionate commitment to acting often reflected the difficulties he faced personally.

Raúl Esparza

Raúl Esparza is a well-known actor who has appeared on stage and television, most notably as ADA Rafael Barba in the long-running series ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’. He was married to Michele Marie Perez, his high school sweetheart, for over ten years, but they divorced in 2008. This coincided with Esparza coming to terms with and publicly acknowledging his bisexuality and attraction to men, and he has since openly discussed his personal journey and identity.

Tom Tryon

Tom Tryon gained recognition in the 1963 film ‘The Cardinal’ and was seen as a rising star by Disney. He married Ann L. Noyes in 1955, hoping to create a more stable public image. However, the marriage proved unsuccessful and ended in divorce in 1958. Tryon then transitioned from acting to a thriving career as a novelist. He lived openly as a gay man later in life, and a difficult romantic relationship ultimately led to a falling out with Walt Disney.

Guy Madison

Guy Madison was a well-known actor in Western films and television, famously playing Wild Bill Hickok in the series ‘The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok’ (1951–1958). His agent, Henry Willson, was known for arranging marriages for his gay clients to protect their careers. Madison himself was married twice, first to actress Gail Russell and later to Sheila Connolly, but both marriages ended in divorce. These marriages helped to counter gossip about his personal life during the socially conservative 1950s.

Rory Calhoun

As a classic cinema fan, I always found Rory Calhoun fascinating. He was one of Henry Willson’s clients – Willson was the agent to know back then – and he became really well-known for his role in ‘The Texan’ in the late 50s and early 60s. He and Lita Baron were married for over twenty years, which seemed like a lifetime in Hollywood, but they eventually divorced. There was a lot of gossip about his personal life, and it was pretty well known, even back then, that he wasn’t entirely straightforward. The agency definitely worked hard to control the narrative, and even during the divorce, there were accusations of affairs that suggested he was leading a double life.

Johnnie Ray

Johnnie Ray rose to fame in the 1950s with his heartfelt singing and a role in the film ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ (1954). He married Marilyn Morrison in 1952, a marriage rumored to be a cover-up for his arrest on a solicitation charge. The couple divorced in 1954, around the time Ray’s career began to falter. While openly gay among friends, the potential scandal surrounding his sexuality harmed his public image.

Tyrone Power

Tyrone Power was a popular and dashing actor best known for films like ‘The Mark of Zorro’ (1940) and ‘Witness for the Prosecution’ (1957). He was married three times, including to French actress Annabella, but the marriage ended in divorce. Throughout his life, Power had many secret relationships with men, which were concealed by the studio to protect his public image. His marriages were considered important for maintaining his reputation as a romantic leading man with a huge female fanbase.

Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor was a major star at MGM, known for films like ‘Camille’ (1936). He married actress Barbara Stanwyck in 1939 in a relationship many believe was a studio-arranged cover for both their rumored same-sex attractions. This allowed them to safeguard their careers in a less accepting time. Although they divorced in 1951, they continued to work together and remained friends.

Merv Griffin

Merv Griffin began his career as a singer and actor, but he later became a successful media executive best known for creating the popular game shows ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune.’ He was married to Julann Wright for 18 years, from 1958 to 1976, before they divorced. Throughout his life, Griffin faced speculation about his personal life, and in the 1990s, he was involved in a palimony lawsuit brought by a former male employee. While he never publicly discussed his sexuality, it was widely known within the entertainment industry.

Tell us which of these stories surprised you the most in the comments.

2025-12-11 06:20