15 Iconic Gay Hollywood Couples

Hollywood has long been shaped by LGBTQ+ artists whose lives and loves helped push the industry toward greater visibility and acceptance. From trailblazing long-term partnerships to newer marriages that bridge film, TV, music, and reality storytelling, these couples have influenced culture both on and off the screen. Here are 15 iconic gay Hollywood couples, mixing historic pairs who changed the conversation with contemporary partnerships that continue to move it forward.

Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi

Ellen DeGeneres, a stand-up comic turned daytime host, and Portia de Rossi, known for ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Ally McBeal’, wed in California after the state briefly allowed same-sex marriage in 2008. Their union became one of the most high-profile same-sex marriages in American entertainment. DeGeneres’s coming-out episode of ‘Ellen’ marked a major TV milestone years before their wedding. Together, they’ve supported animal welfare and LGBTQ+ charities through philanthropy and public advocacy.

Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka

Actor Neil Patrick Harris, celebrated for ‘How I Met Your Mother’, met chef and actor David Burtka in the early 2000s. They became engaged after New York legalized same-sex marriage and wed in Italy in 2014. The couple are parents to twins born via surrogate. Their public partnership has included co-hosting events, Broadway involvement, and cookbook and hospitality ventures tied to Burtka’s culinary career.

Jim Parsons & Todd Spiewak

Emmy-winning actor Jim Parsons, best known for ‘The Big Bang Theory’, has been with art director Todd Spiewak since the early 2000s. The pair married in 2017 in New York. Parsons has credited Spiewak with steady support through major career transitions, including moving from network sitcom work to stage and streaming projects. Spiewak has also collaborated professionally with Parsons through their production company.

Lily Tomlin & Jane Wagner

Lily Tomlin and writer-director Jane Wagner began their creative partnership in the early 1970s, leading to classic comedy albums, specials, and films. They married in 2013 after decades together. Wagner wrote material for Tomlin across mediums, including the stage show that inspired the documentary ‘Lily Tomlin: The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe’. Their longevity and ongoing collaborations, including on ‘Grace and Frankie’, are widely cited as a model of creative and personal partnership.

Jodie Foster & Alexandra Hedison

Two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster married photographer and director Alexandra Hedison in 2014. Hedison’s work spans fine art photography and directing, and she is the daughter of actor David Hedison. Foster publicly thanked her “beautiful wife” at major awards ceremonies as her career moved into high-profile directing and prestige television roles. The couple keeps a relatively private home life while maintaining active creative careers.

Sarah Paulson & Holland Taylor

Sarah Paulson, known for ‘American Horror Story’ and ‘Ratched’, and Holland Taylor, acclaimed for stage and TV including ‘Two and a Half Men’, began their relationship in the mid-2010s. Their partnership has sparked industry conversations about age and representation in LGBTQ+ relationships. Both continue to appear in film, theater, and television, often championing women-led projects. They have been open about mutual support for each other’s work and causes.

Matt Bomer & Simon Halls

Actor Matt Bomer, recognized for ‘White Collar’ and later film and stage roles, married publicist Simon Halls in a private ceremony in 2011. They are parents to three children. Bomer has credited Halls’s guidance as he moved from cable hits to film, theater, and streaming projects. The couple’s family story has been featured in interviews discussing parenthood and visibility for gay dads in entertainment.

Cynthia Nixon & Christine Marinoni

‘Sex and the City’ star Cynthia Nixon and education activist Christine Marinoni began dating in the mid-2000s and married in 2012. Nixon later entered politics, bringing her entertainment platform to advocacy for public education, LGBTQ+ rights, and progressive causes. Marinoni has a long record of community organizing and has worked in New York City government. Together they have emphasized policy, parenting, and public service in interviews and appearances.

RuPaul & Georges LeBar

RuPaul, the Emmy-winning host and executive producer of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’, married painter and rancher Georges LeBar after decades together. LeBar maintains his art career and manages ranch property outside the entertainment spotlight. RuPaul has noted the relationship’s longevity predates his mainstream TV success. The couple occasionally appears together at major industry events while largely keeping their life private.

George Takei & Brad Altman

‘Star Trek’ icon George Takei and Brad Altman have been partners since the 1980s and married in 2008. Takei’s social media presence and advocacy amplified their visibility as equal-rights supporters. Altman has co-produced projects and frequently appears with Takei at convention panels and charity functions. Their wedding, officiated by colleagues from Takei’s franchise family, drew broad media attention to marriage equality.

Ben Platt & Noah Galvin

Actor-singers Ben Platt and Noah Galvin, both associated with ‘Dear Evan Hansen’, announced their engagement in 2022 and married in 2024. Each has moved between Broadway and screen work, with Platt appearing in projects like ‘Pitch Perfect’ and Galvin in TV comedies and stage productions. The pair have collaborated musically and supported each other’s tours and releases. Their wedding brought together theater and screen communities in a widely covered celebration.

Colton Underwood & Jordan C. Brown

Reality TV figure Colton Underwood, known from ‘The Bachelor’, married political strategist Jordan C. Brown in 2023. Underwood publicly came out in 2021, later documenting the experience in a Netflix series. Brown, a veteran of national campaigns, co-founded an agency focused on social impact and advocacy. Their union bridged entertainment and politics, with both discussing mental health and LGBTQ+ representation.

Barry Manilow & Garry Kief

Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow married longtime manager Garry Kief in a private ceremony in 2014. The couple had been together for decades before the marriage became public knowledge. Kief has overseen Manilow’s touring and business operations, including Las Vegas residencies and philanthropic initiatives. Their story drew attention for highlighting long-term same-sex partnerships in the music and entertainment business.

Ricky Martin & Jwan Yosef

Global recording artist and actor Ricky Martin married visual artist Jwan Yosef in 2017, and they announced their separation in 2023. The couple share children and have emphasized co-parenting since their split. Martin’s acting work and touring continued alongside Yosef’s gallery exhibitions and design collaborations. Their relationship and subsequent separation were widely covered as part of evolving conversations about LGBTQ+ family life in the public eye.

Tab Hunter & Anthony Perkins

Classic-era heartthrobs Tab Hunter and Anthony Perkins had a discreet relationship in the 1950s, later discussed in Hunter’s memoir ‘Tab Hunter Confidential’ and a subsequent documentary. Studio-era pressures and publicity concerns kept the romance largely private at the time. Both actors continued major careers, with Perkins associated with the thriller ‘Psycho’ and Hunter transitioning from leading-man roles to stage and television. The relationship is now recognized as a significant chapter in Hollywood’s closeted history.

Share your favorites and any couples we should add in the comments!