14 Openly Gay Actors Who Played the Straight Romantic Lead Before 2010

The entertainment industry has a long history of actors separating their private lives from their on-screen personas. Many talented performers kept their sexuality private while playing convincing heterosexual heartthrobs to maintain their careers during less accepting times. Audiences fell in love with these leading men in iconic romances without knowing about their personal lives off camera. These versatile actors proved that acting ability transcends personal identity by delivering memorable performances in straight roles. The following list highlights fifteen openly gay men who portrayed straight romantic leads before the year 2010.

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson became the ultimate Hollywood heartthrob during the 1950s and 1960s through his romantic comedies with Doris Day. He charmed audiences in films like ‘Pillow Talk’ and ‘Lover Come Back’ as a womanizing songwriter or advertising executive. Studios worked tirelessly to manufacture a heteronormative image for him including a brief arranged marriage. His ability to play the masculine romantic ideal made him one of the biggest box office draws of his era. Hudson eventually became the first major celebrity to disclose an AIDS diagnosis which changed public perception of the disease forever.

Montgomery Clift

Montgomery Clift was known for his brooding intensity and sensitive performances in classics such as ‘A Place in the Sun’. He played the romantic interest opposite Elizabeth Taylor and displayed a palpable chemistry that captivated viewers. His portrayal of George Eastman involves a tragic love triangle that showcases his depth as a dramatic romantic lead. Clift remained private about his relationships with men throughout his career in the restrictive Hollywood studio system. He is often cited as one of the first method actors who paved the way for future generations.

Tab Hunter

Tab Hunter rose to fame as a clean-cut teen idol and romantic lead in films like ‘Battle Cry’ and ‘Damn Yankees’. Warner Bros marketed him aggressively as the boy next door and the ideal boyfriend for young female fans. He frequently topped the music charts and starred in movies that emphasized his physical appeal and charm. The studio system fabricated stories about romances with female co-stars to protect his bankability at the box office. Hunter later wrote a memoir detailing the exhaustion of maintaining a straight facade during the height of his fame.

Anthony Perkins

Anthony Perkins is best remembered for ‘Psycho’ but he began his career playing sensitive romantic leads. He starred opposite Audrey Hepburn in ‘Green Mansions’ and Jane Fonda in ‘Tall Story’ as a convincing love interest. His boyish good looks and charm made him a popular choice for young romantic roles in the late 1950s. Perkins had relationships with men including Tab Hunter while publicly projecting a heterosexual image to satisfy studio demands. His career shifted toward darker character roles after his iconic performance as Norman Bates defined his legacy.

Richard Chamberlain

Richard Chamberlain became the king of the television miniseries during the 1980s with sweeping romantic roles. He made hearts flutter as Father Ralph de Bricassart in ‘The Thorn Birds’ where he struggles between his faith and his love for a woman. His performance in ‘Shogun’ solidified his status as a leading man capable of carrying major international productions. Chamberlain kept his sexuality hidden for decades to protect his standing as a prime-time romantic hero. He officially came out in his 2003 memoir after years of speculation regarding his private life.

Robert Reed

Robert Reed is immortalized as Mike Brady in ‘The Brady Bunch’ where he played the quintessential American father and husband. He portrayed the straight family patriarch who dispensed wisdom and shared a loving marriage with Carol Brady. Reed took the role seriously and often clashed with producers over the quality of the scripts to ensure the show remained grounded. He struggled privately with his sexuality and the fear that revealing it would destroy his career as a TV dad. His co-stars knew of his orientation and supported him throughout the production of the beloved sitcom.

Dick Sargent

Dick Sargent stepped into the role of Darrin Stephens on ‘Bewitched’ and played the harried husband of a witch. He provided the straight romantic foil to Elizabeth Montgomery for several seasons of the hit supernatural comedy. His character was the grounding force who just wanted a normal suburban life with his magical wife. Sargent lived as a closeted gay man during the run of the show to maintain his employability in conservative television. He later became a vocal advocate for gay rights and came out publicly on National Coming Out Day in 1991.

Farley Granger

Farley Granger starred in suspenseful thrillers like ‘Strangers on a Train’ but often played the handsome object of affection. He was the romantic lead in ‘Senso’ where he played a dashing officer involved in a passionate and tragic affair. Granger worked with top directors like Alfred Hitchcock while navigating the social expectations of Golden Age Hollywood. He refused to enter a sham marriage to cover his tracks and lived a relatively open life within his private circles. His memoir later revealed his bisexuality and relationships with famous playwrights and composers.

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris revitalized his career by playing the womanizing Barney Stinson in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ starting in 2005. His character was famous for his elaborate schemes to seduce women and his commitment to bachelorhood. Harris played this hyper-heterosexual role so convincingly that he became a breakout star of the series. He publicly came out in 2006 while the show was still on the air and continued to play Barney for several more seasons. His success proved that an openly gay actor could still be accepted as a straight lothario by mainstream audiences.

David Hyde Pierce

David Hyde Pierce played the neurotic psychiatrist Niles Crane in the sitcom ‘Frasier’ beginning in the early 1990s. His character spent years pining after the housekeeper Daphne Moon in one of television’s most enduring slow-burn romances. Pierce brought physical comedy and emotional depth to Niles’s unrequited love which eventually blossomed into a marriage. He maintained a private life during the show’s run and did not officially come out until 2007. His portrayal remains one of the most celebrated comedic performances in television history.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller became an international sex symbol as Michael Scofield in the intense drama ‘Prison Break’. His character was driven by brotherly love but also engaged in a central romance with the prison doctor Sara Tancredi. Miller’s stoic intensity and chemistry with his female co-star made the relationship a focal point for fans. He denied rumors about his sexuality during the height of the show’s popularity to avoid typecasting. Miller eventually came out in 2013 to protest anti-LGBTQ laws in Russia.

Jonathan Bennett

Jonathan Bennett is best known for playing Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic ‘Mean Girls’. He served as the primary love interest for Lindsay Lohan’s character and the object of desire for the school’s queen bee. His character was the archetypal popular high school jock who was kind-hearted and desirable. Bennett remained in the closet during the release of the film and for many years afterward. He has since become a prominent advocate for the LGBTQ community and hosts various television programs.

Lee Pace

Lee Pace starred as the pie-maker Ned in the whimsical series ‘Pushing Daisies’ which premiered in 2007. His character engages in a touching romance with his childhood sweetheart Chuck whom he brings back from the dead. The role required him to play a longing and romantic straight lead who cannot touch the woman he loves. Pace was private about his personal life during the show and only discussed his queer identity much later in his career. His performance earned him critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase for his charming portrayal.

Ben Whishaw

Ben Whishaw played the romantic poet John Keats in the 2009 film ‘Bright Star’. The movie focuses on the intense and tragic love affair between Keats and Fanny Brawne. Whishaw delivered a delicate and passionate performance that anchored the emotional weight of the film. He has always been private but entered into a civil partnership with his husband in 2012. Whishaw continues to play a wide variety of roles across film and television while being openly gay.

Please share your favorite performance from these talented actors in the comments.