30 Actors Who Came Out as Queer After Playing Womanizers for Years

Hollywood has a long history of casting actors in roles that directly contradict their real-life identities. Many celebrated leading men built their careers playing ladies’ men and heartthrobs while keeping their personal lives private. These performers often portrayed the ultimate womanizers or romantic leads who charmed female audiences worldwide. Their eventual coming out stories highlighted the distinction between their on-screen personas and their authentic selves. The following list explores thirty actors who famously played straight heartbreakers before sharing their truth with the world.

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris achieved massive success playing the suit-wearing womanizer Barney Stinson on ‘How I Met Your Mother’ for nine seasons. His character was famous for his elaborate schemes to seduce women and his fear of commitment. Harris publicly came out as gay in 2006 while the show was still in its early run. He continued to play the hyper-straight character convincingly until the series finale. His ability to separate his personal life from his role earned him critical acclaim and four Emmy nominations.

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was the quintessential Hollywood heartthrob of the 1950s and 1960s. He starred in numerous romantic comedies opposite Doris Day where he often played a charming bachelor eventually tamed by love. Studios actively manufactured a masculine and heterosexual public image for him to maintain his box office appeal. Hudson remained in the closet throughout his career until his AIDS diagnosis in 1985 revealed his sexuality. His death became a turning point for public awareness regarding the HIV epidemic and LGBTQ visibility.

Matt Bomer

Matt Bomer captivated audiences as the suave con artist Neal Caffrey in the hit series ‘White Collar’. His character was a sophisticated ladies’ man who used his charm to manipulate situations and woo various female love interests. Bomer quietly acknowledged his sexuality in 2012 when he thanked his husband and children during an acceptance speech. He has since taken on a variety of complex roles that explore different facets of the human experience. Bomer continues to be a leading man in both straight and queer narratives.

Tab Hunter

Tab Hunter rose to fame in the 1950s as a blond all-American boy next door who made teenage girls swoon. He starred in films like ‘Battle Cry’ and ‘Damn Yankees’ where he played the romantic lead pursuing female co-stars. The studio system worked tirelessly to cover up his relationships with men to protect his marketable image. Hunter came out publicly in his 2005 memoir where he discussed the pressure of living a double life in Old Hollywood. His story shed light on the strict morality clauses that once governed the lives of actors.

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin began his acting career as a heartthrob on the soap opera ‘General Hospital’ where he played a singer who romanced the female lead. He later became a global pop sensation with an image built around his sex appeal to women. Rumors about his sexuality persisted for years while he maintained a public facade of heterosexuality. Martin officially came out in 2010 via a heartfelt post on his website. He has since returned to acting and received an Emmy nomination for his role in ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’.

Luke Evans

Luke Evans is known for his roles as rugged action heroes and romantic leads in major blockbusters. He played the narcissistic villain Gaston in the live-action adaptation of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ who is obsessed with marrying the heroine. Evans also portrayed the romantic interest in ‘Dracula Untold’ and the widower Bard in ‘The Hobbit’. He was open about his sexuality early in his career in London theater but faced renewed scrutiny when he transitioned to Hollywood. Evans continues to play traditionally masculine roles while living openly as a gay man.

Richard Chamberlain

Richard Chamberlain became the supreme idol of the 1960s as the title character in the medical drama ‘Dr. Kildare’. He cemented his status as a romantic lead in the miniseries ‘The Thorn Birds’ where he played a priest torn between God and a woman. Chamberlain kept his sexuality a secret for decades to preserve his career as a leading man. He finally came out in his 2003 memoir at the age of 69. The actor later expressed regret for hiding his true self for so long out of fear.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller became an international sex symbol as Michael Scofield in the prison drama ‘Prison Break’. His character was the focus of a central romance with the show’s female lead while plotting a complex escape. Miller publicly came out in 2013 when he declined an invitation to a film festival in Russia to protest its anti-LGBTQ laws. He later revealed that the stress of hiding his sexuality contributed to his mental health struggles. Miller eventually stated he would no longer play straight characters because he wanted to tell authentic queer stories.

Kal Penn

Kal Penn is best known for his role as Kumar Patel in the ‘Harold & Kumar’ film franchise. Kumar was a stoner character constantly chasing women and obsessed with various romantic conquests. Penn worked in the White House under the Obama administration and kept his personal life very private during his acting career. He came out in 2021 through his memoir and announced his engagement to his partner of eleven years. The revelation surprised many fans who associated him closely with his womanizing comedic persona.

Colton Haynes

Colton Haynes played the popular lacrosse captain Jackson Whittemore on the supernatural series ‘Teen Wolf’. His character was the archetypal high school jock who dated the most popular girl in school. Haynes later starred in ‘Arrow’ as Roy Harper where he played another straight romantic lead. He officially came out in 2016 after years of speculation and anxiety regarding his public image. Haynes has since been an advocate for mental health and LGBTQ visibility in the entertainment industry.

Jonathan Bennett

Jonathan Bennett became a millennial heartthrob playing Aaron Samuels in the cult classic ‘Mean Girls’. His character was the object of affection for both Cady Heron and Regina George. Bennett remained in the closet during the height of the film’s popularity to avoid typecasting. He came out publicly years later and is now a prominent host and actor in LGBTQ-inclusive holiday movies. Bennett frequently discusses the pressure he felt to maintain a straight image during the early 2000s.

Victor Garber

Victor Garber has played numerous straight authority figures and fathers throughout his prolific career. He is memorable as the ship architect Thomas Andrews in ‘Titanic’ and the womanizing Professor Callahan in ‘Legally Blonde’. Garber lived quietly with his partner for many years before publicly acknowledging his sexuality in 2012. He noted that he never really hid his life but simply chose not to discuss it in the press. The actor continues to work steadily in both television and film.

Robert Reed

Robert Reed is forever immortalized as Mike Brady, the patriarch of the blended family in ‘The Brady Bunch’. He played the ultimate straight dad and husband who offered wholesome advice to his six children. Reed was gay in real life and often clashed with the show’s producers over the quality of the scripts. He kept his sexuality hidden from the public to protect the show’s family-friendly brand. His co-stars were aware of his orientation and remained protective of him until his death in 1992.

T. R. Knight

T.R. Knight played the lovable intern George O’Malley on the medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. His character had several high-profile relationships with female characters including Meredith Grey and Izzie Stevens. Knight came out in 2006 following a publicized on-set incident involving a co-star. The event sparked a larger conversation about homophobia in the workplace and media. Knight left the show a few years later and has returned to a successful career in theater and television.

Cesar Romero

Cesar Romero was known as the “Latin from Manhattan” and played varied romantic leads during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He is perhaps best remembered by modern audiences for playing The Joker in the 1960s ‘Batman’ series. Romero never married and was a confirmed bachelor who attended events with female escorts to deflect rumors. He was a closeted gay man who lived his life privately within the industry’s protective circles. Romero maintained his career and image until his death without ever officially coming out to the press.

Anthony Perkins

Anthony Perkins was a rising star who played romantic leads in films like ‘Friendly Persuasion’ before his career-defining role in ‘Psycho’. Studios marketed him as a teen idol and arranged dates with actresses to cover his tracks. He had relationships with men like Tab Hunter while maintaining a heterosexual public persona. Perkins eventually married a woman and had children but had a complex personal life. His widow later confirmed his struggles with his sexuality and the era’s repressive atmosphere.

Raymond Burr

Raymond Burr became a television icon playing the defense attorney ‘Perry Mason’ and the detective ‘Ironside’. He was a large and commanding presence who often played serious and straight professional men. Burr created an elaborate backstory involving a deceased wife to explain his bachelor status to the press. He lived with his partner Robert Benevides for decades until his death. The truth about his long-term relationship and sexuality became widely known only after he passed away.

Matt Dallas

Matt Dallas starred as the mysterious title character in the science fiction series ‘Kyle XY’. His character was the center of a major romantic storyline with the girl next door. Dallas kept his personal life out of the tabloids during the show’s successful run on television. He came out in 2013 by casually announcing his engagement to his boyfriend on Twitter. Dallas has since shifted his focus to family life and creating content on social media with his husband.

Cheyenne Jackson

Cheyenne Jackson played the role of Danny Baker on the sitcom ’30 Rock’ as a straight casting director. He also appeared as a rival vocal coach in ‘Glee’ and had various romantic arcs with women in other projects. Jackson was openly gay in his theater career but reached a broader audience through these television roles. He has managed to transition seamlessly between playing straight and gay characters on screen. Jackson is now a regular fixture in the Ryan Murphy television universe.

Jonathan Groff

Jonathan Groff played the antagonist Jesse St. James in ‘Glee’ who romanced the main character Rachel Berry. He also starred as a straight FBI agent in the darker crime drama ‘Mindhunter’. Groff came out publicly in 2009 during the National Equality March in Washington. His decision to come out early in his career was considered risky at the time. He has since achieved massive success on Broadway and in voice acting for ‘Frozen’.

Lee Pace

Lee Pace gained a cult following as the pie-maker Ned in ‘Pushing Daisies’ who cannot touch his childhood sweetheart. He also played leading roles in ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. Pace was out to his friends and family but did not discuss his sexuality with the media for many years. He officially opened up about being queer in an interview in 2018. Pace has since played openly queer characters in projects like ‘Angels in America’ and ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’.

Tuc Watkins

Tuc Watkins played the role of the roguish womanizer David Vickers on the soap opera ‘One Life to Live’ for years. His character was a comedic gold digger who constantly schemed to marry wealthy women. Watkins also played a straight neighbor on ‘Desperate Housewives’. He came out publicly in 2013 during an interview with Marie Osmond. The actor continues to work in television and starred in the Broadway revival of ‘The Boys in the Band’.

Gordon Thomson

Gordon Thomson is best known for playing the villainous Adam Carrington on the prime-time soap ‘Dynasty’. His character was a ruthless businessman and womanizer who tormented the other characters. Thomson remained closeted throughout the 1980s to protect his standing on the hit show. He came out as gay in 2017 at the age of 72. Thomson expressed relief at finally being able to be honest about his identity after so many years.

George Takei

George Takei played Hikaru Sulu in the original ‘Star Trek’ series where his character was portrayed as straight. A planned scene revealing Sulu’s family life was cut from the movies but reinstated in later non-canon works. Takei lived as a closeted man for decades to maintain his acting career. He publicly came out in 2005 to protest the veto of same-sex marriage legislation in California. Takei has since become a prominent activist and social media personality.

Joel Grey

Joel Grey is famous for his Oscar-winning role as the Master of Ceremonies in ‘Cabaret’. While the character was ambiguous, Grey was married to a woman for twenty-four years and raised a family. He played various character roles throughout his career that were typically straight. Grey came out publicly at the age of 82 in a 2015 interview. He discussed how the homophobia of his youth forced him to hide his true self for the majority of his life.

Montgomery Clift

Montgomery Clift was a four-time Oscar nominee known for his brooding intensity and romantic roles. He starred alongside Elizabeth Taylor in ‘A Place in the Sun’ and was considered one of Hollywood’s most beautiful men. Clift was bisexual but his relationships with men were kept strictly out of the press. His personal struggles and substance abuse were often attributed to the stress of living in the closet. He remains an icon of sensitive masculinity in cinema history.

Dirk Bogarde

Dirk Bogarde was the leading matinee idol of British cinema in the 1950s. He was marketed as a heartthrob in the ‘Doctor in the House’ film series. Bogarde lived with his partner Anthony Forwood for nearly four decades but never publicly confirmed his sexuality. He later took on riskier roles that challenged his heartthrob image such as in ‘Victim’ which addressed the blackmail of gay men. Bogarde destroyed much of his personal correspondence to ensure his privacy remained intact.

Brian J. Smith

Brian J. Smith played police officer Will Gorski in the sci-fi series ‘Sense8’. His character was involved in a central straight romance with another member of his cluster. Smith came out in 2019 in an interview with a British magazine. He spoke about the fear and isolation he felt growing up in rural Texas. Smith has stated that he feels much more free and authentic in his work since sharing his story.

François Arnaud

Francois Arnaud starred as Cesare Borgia in the historical drama series ‘The Borgias’. His character was a warrior and a lover who had numerous affairs with women throughout the show. Arnaud came out as bisexual in 2020 via an Instagram story to combat bi-erasure. He explained that he had previously let people assume he was straight to avoid over-explaining his identity. The actor continues to take on diverse roles in both television and film.

Kevin Conroy

Kevin Conroy was the definitive voice of Batman for a generation of fans starting with ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. He voiced Bruce Wayne as a playboy billionaire who dated models to cover his vigilante activities. Conroy was a gay man who lived through the AIDS crisis and lost many friends to the disease. He officially wrote about his experiences as a gay actor finding the voice of Batman in a 2022 DC Pride comic. His story revealed how he channeled his own trauma and mask-wearing into the character.

Which of these actors’ performances surprised you the most given their real-life stories? Let us know in the comments.