Is Murray Bartlett Gay, Bisexual, or Straight in Real Life? (& Is He Married)

Episode 3 of The Last of Us had a standout character in the form of Frank, who didn’t get the same kind of spotlight in the game as he did in the live-action series. The highlight of that episode in relation to Frank was his relationship with Bill as the two were in love. Played by Murray Bartlett, Frank represented the gay community well in that episode due to his pure relationship with Bill. But is Murray Bartlett gay, bisexual, or straight in real life?

Murray Bartlett came out as gay early in his career as an actor because he felt it was best for him to be himself. In that regard, Bartlett’s role as Frank is true to his nature as a gay man, as he could play his true self in The Last of Us without trying to fit himself into a different role.

The way that Murray Bartlett portrayed Frank allowed the character to have life, as we know for a fact that Frank was never given any kind of true personality in the video game due to his early death. In that regard, Bartlett allowed Frank to have his own story and personality while also allowing fans to have a character that they could relate with. Now, let’s talk more about Murray Bartlett’s sexuality.

What Is Murray Bartlett’s Sexuality?

It was in episode 3 that we saw a quick detour in the story of The Last of Us when the focus of the story shifted from the duo of Joel and Ellie to the duo of Bill and Frank. In that regard, there were a lot of things to take from the relationship of these characters, but the fact is that both Bill and Frank were gay. They even got married near the end of the series, as this was a symbolic gesture of their love for one another. 

The fact that the sexuality and relationship of Bill and Frank were explored in the storyline was a good development in The Last of Us because this was never explored in the video game version of the story. In fact, in the game, Frank died quite early and ended up hating Bill. 

But the fact that his live-action version was able to get a better story and ending is one of the best changes that HBO introduced in this storyline, especially when you consider that it was Frank that allowed Bill to understand his sexuality. As played by Murray Bartlett, Frank was a great character that shined bright enough in the one episode he had. But what is Murray Bartlett’s sexuality in real life?

Similar to his character in The Last of Us, Murray Bartlett is also gay in real life. In fact, his sexuality was never something that he kept a secret when he entered showbusiness as an actor. He came out quite early in his life because he thought that he didn’t want to be someone he wasn’t. Bartlett also thought that being himself was the best way for him to enjoy his career and life as an actor, especially in a world where people tend to get boxed into certain roles that don’t fit their personalities and sexuality.

Luckily for him, Bartlett was able to enjoy life as an actor after coming out as gay. In fact, he went on to have a great career that required him to play the role of gay men. On top of the fact that he had a standout performance in The Last of Us, he also had a notable role in The White Lotus.

When Did Murray Bartlett Come Out As Gay?

Even though he has found a lot of roles as a gay man in the world of showbusiness, Murray Bartlett’s early life as an actor was kind of subpar because he didn’t feel like he enjoyed acting the role of straight men.

As early as the age of 14, his mother asked him if he was gay, and that was when he came out as gay in a decade when it was difficult for any person to immediately come out. Despite that, he received overwhelming support from his immediate family, which was one of the reasons he was so confident in himself.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that he was openly gay as an actor, he was boxed into straight roles during the 2000s. He had a pretty good stint with Sex and the City but wasn’t entirely happy with the fact that most of the actors that appeared in that series went on to have good careers. On the other hand, Bartlett felt that he didn’t enjoy acting as much as he thought he would.

However, when he started living his life true to his identity more, he earned roles in different shows. The difference between then and now was that he was now getting more roles as a gay man, as that was when he started flourishing despite the fact that he is now an “older” actor compared to the other younger men in the industry.

“Suddenly, I have a lot of work and a lot of choices,” Bartlett said in a Los Angeles Times interview. “To be in a position where I can ask questions and think more deeply about what I want to put out in the world and then be able to make choices based on that. It’s just such a beautiful thing.”

Despite the initial doubt in his life, it was when Bartlett became true to his identity as a gay man that he started getting more roles and enjoying life more. As such, his success came a bit late compared to other actors, but he still flourished in his roles, especially when he played Frank in The Last of Us.

Is Murray Bartlett Married?

As mentioned, Murray Bartlett’s Frank married Bill in a symbolic ceremony near the end of episode 3 of The Last of Us. Take note that this marriage occurred during a time when conventional society had already collapsed, and that same-sex marriage was something that was never legalized in the world of The Last of Us. But is Murray Bartlett also married in real life?

Murray Bartlett isn’t married, but he does live with his partner. During his acceptance speech after winning an Emmy for his role in The White Lotus, he was quite open about his relationship with his partner, saying, “To my partner, Matt, thank you for being my sanctuary.”