Actors Who Left Their Wives to Finally Live as Openly Gay Men

For decades many Hollywood performers felt the need to hide their true identities to protect their careers and public images. These men often entered marriages with women to conform to societal expectations while keeping their personal lives private. Over time shifting cultural attitudes allowed many of these actors to embrace their authentic selves and come out publicly. Their journeys from living in secret to living openly as gay men have inspired countless others in the entertainment industry. This list highlights prominent male actors who were once married to women before they decided to live their lives authentically.

Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming married actress Hilary Lyon in 1985 before the couple decided to divorce eight years later. He eventually became very open about his identity and later began living as an openly gay man. The actor has enjoyed a long career with prominent roles in projects like ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘Cabaret’. He now lives with his husband and continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights globally.

Alec Guinness

Alec Guinness married Merula Salaman in 1938 and remained in the marriage until his death. While he was never publicly out during the height of his career he struggled with his orientation in private. Friends and biographers later revealed that he had relationships with men and faced legal issues related to his personal life. The legendary star of ‘Star Wars’ and ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ kept his private life away from the Hollywood spotlight.

Anthony Perkins

Anthony Perkins is best known for his iconic role as Norman Bates in the film ‘Psycho’. He married photographer Berry Berenson in 1973 and they remained together until his passing in 1992. Despite his long marriage he reportedly had numerous relationships with men throughout his life and career. He struggled to balance his public family image with his private reality during a more restrictive era in Hollywood.

Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries was a celebrated comedian and actor famous for his character Dame Edna Everage. He was married four times to women and fathered four children during those unions. Later in his life he became more transparent about his complex personal life and his attraction to men. He remained a beloved figure in the entertainment world until his death while maintaining his unique brand of humor.

Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow married his high school sweetheart Susan Deixler in 1964 but the union lasted only a short time. He spent decades keeping his personal life out of the tabloids to protect his career as a romantic singer and performer. He officially came out to the public in 2017 after being in a long term relationship with his manager Garry Kief. The legendary musician and actor received immense support from fans who had followed him since his early days of stardom.

Cary Grant

Cary Grant was one of the most famous leading men in the history of cinema and was married to five different women. His long career in films like ‘North by Northwest’ and ‘Charade’ made him a symbol of sophisticated masculinity. Rumors about his personal life persisted for years and many biographers suggest he lived a double life with male partners. He never officially came out during his lifetime but his private relationships are a subject of much discussion today.

Charles Laughton

Charles Laughton was a powerhouse of the stage and screen who married actress Elsa Lanchester in 1929. Lanchester later revealed in her autobiography that Laughton confessed his orientation to her early in their marriage. They remained married for over thirty years but lived largely independent private lives. He is remembered for his incredible performances in ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ and ‘Witness for the Prosecution’.

Cole Porter

Cole Porter was a legendary composer and performer whose music defined an era of Broadway and film. He married Linda Lee Thomas in 1919 and they remained together until her death in 1954. Their relationship was described as a deeply supportive friendship that allowed him to pursue his attraction to men in private. His work in shows like ‘Anything Goes’ continues to be celebrated for its wit and sophistication.

Denholm Elliott

Denholm Elliott was a versatile British actor known for his roles in ‘A Room with a View’ and the ‘Indiana Jones’ franchise. He was married to actress Virginia Bazler and later to Susan Fleetwood before settling with Elizabeth Robinson. He was openly bisexual later in his life and spoke about the challenges of his private life. His career spanned several decades and he remained a respected figure in the British acting community.

Elton John

Elton John is a global superstar who married Renate Blauel in 1984 during a high profile ceremony. The marriage ended in 1988 and he eventually came out as a gay man shortly after. He has since become one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ activists in the world and lives with his husband David Furnish. His life and career were recently celebrated in the biographical film ‘Rocketman’.

Emlyn Williams

Emlyn Williams was a successful Welsh actor and dramatist who married Molly O’Shann in 1935. They remained married until her death and raised two sons together. Despite his family life he was open with his wife about his relationships with men throughout their marriage. He was a pioneer in bringing complex personal themes to the stage and screen during the mid twentieth century.

Helmut Berger

Helmut Berger was an Austrian actor who rose to fame in the films of director Luchino Visconti. He married Francesca Guidato in 1994 but the relationship was often described as a formality. He was a prominent figure in the European film scene and lived openly as a gay man later in his life. His work in films like ‘The Damned’ and ‘Ludwig’ established him as a significant international star.

Jean Marais

Jean Marais was a major star of French cinema and a frequent collaborator with director Jean Cocteau. He was briefly married to actress Mila Parély during World War II but the union was short lived. He was the longtime partner of Cocteau and they were one of the most famous creative couples in France. He is best remembered for his roles in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and other classic French films.

Jeremy Brett

Jeremy Brett is widely considered one of the best actors to ever portray the character in ‘Sherlock Holmes’. He was married to actress Anna Massey in 1958 and they had one son before their divorce. He later struggled with his mental health and his private identity while maintaining a very successful acting career. His work on television and the stage remains a benchmark for dramatic performance today.

Jim J. Bullock

Jim J. Bullock became a household name for his role on the sitcom ‘Too Close for Comfort’. He was married to a woman in his youth before he decided to live authentically as a gay man. He was one of the first actors in the 1980s to be open about his HIV status and his orientation. He has continued to work in television and theater while being a vocal advocate for his community.

Joel Grey

Joel Grey won an Academy Award for his unforgettable performance in the film ‘Cabaret’. He was married to actress Jo Wilder for twenty four years and they had two children together. He officially came out to the public in 2015 at the age of eighty two. He spoke about the challenges of living in a different era and the joy of finally being able to be himself.

Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier is often cited as one of the greatest actors of the twentieth century. He was married to three women including the famous actress Vivien Leigh. While he maintained a traditional public image biographers have documented his intense relationships with men throughout his life. He was a master of the stage and screen with legendary performances in ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Rebecca’.

Michael Crawford

Michael Crawford gained international fame for originating the title role in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. He was married to Gabrielle Lewis for several years and they had two daughters together. He eventually stepped away from his marriage and lived a more private life. He later acknowledged his orientation and has remained a respected figure in the musical theater world.

Michael Redgrave

Michael Redgrave was a prominent member of a famous British acting dynasty and married actress Rachel Kempson. They remained married for fifty years despite his well documented relationships with men. His children Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave also became famous actors in their own right. He was knighted for his services to drama and left a lasting legacy on the British stage.

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde was a brilliant playwright and actor who married Constance Lloyd in 1884. They had two children before his private life became the subject of a scandalous public trial. He was eventually imprisoned for his orientation and lived the remainder of his life in exile. His plays like ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ remain among the most performed works in the English language.

Peter Allen

Peter Allen was a flamboyant singer and actor who married Liza Minnelli in 1967. Their marriage lasted seven years before they divorced and he began living openly as a gay man. He was a prolific songwriter and performer who won an Oscar for his music. His life story was later turned into the hit Broadway musical ‘The Boy from Oz’.

Peter Finch

Peter Finch was an Academy Award winning actor known for his powerful performance in the film ‘Network’. He was married three times to women and fathered several children. He was known to have had relationships with men throughout his career but kept his private life largely away from the public eye. He remains the first actor to win a posthumous Oscar for a leading role.

Raymond Burr

Raymond Burr was the star of long running television hits like ‘Perry Mason’ and ‘Ironside’. He was briefly married to Isabella Ward but the union ended quickly. He spent the rest of his life with his partner Robert Benevides while maintaining a very private persona. He was a beloved television icon who kept his true self hidden from his fans for many years.

Robert Reed

Robert Reed played the iconic father figure Mike Brady on the beloved series ‘The Brady Bunch’. He was married to Karen Steele for several years and they had one daughter together. He kept his orientation a secret during his life to protect his career as a wholesome television star. His private life was only revealed to the public after his passing in 1992.

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was a massive movie star and the ultimate Hollywood heartthrob during the 1950s and 1960s. He married Phyllis Gates in 1955 but the couple divorced after only three years of marriage. He lived a double life for decades to maintain his leading man image in films like ‘Giant’ and ‘Pillow Talk’. He became a global symbol for the AIDS crisis when he publicly disclosed his diagnosis shortly before his death.

Please share your thoughts on these brave individuals and their journeys in the comments.