Gay actors male

Our roundup of some of the most famous gay actors of all period who are proudly flying the flag for our amazing LGBTQ community.

Representation, whether plain as a bad eyebrow profession or as subtle as a carefully coordinated outfit, is slowly but surely growing for the LGBTQ+ community in Hollywood.

More and more actors are coming out and opening up about their gender, emboldened by the lesser potential for backlash aimed in their direction. While some prefer to maintain their privacy – not out of fear but out of “God, the paparazzi are getting on my nerves about this!” – others proudly state engagements, display breakups for all the world to observe, and post their vacation snaps featuring their beloved partners – and sometimes kids too!

We still aren't where we need to be when it comes to equal treatment and opportunity for a lot of folks in Exhibit Business but with the list of openly famous lgbtq+ stars growing each year and the support for them following suit, it's only a matter of time before the score evens out.

1. Sir Ian McKellen

We dare you to come across someone who doesn’t adore Ian McKellen. Go on… we’ll wait.

Even the fo

The world’s most renowned gay or pansexual actors under 30

Coming out as same-sex attracted or bisexual has probably never been easier for a TV or movie star. In recent years dozens of young actors contain spoken openly about their sexuality and their love lives.

Here are some of the world’s most famous gay or bisexual male actors from TV and Film.

Brandon Flynn

Born: 11th October 1993

Best Established For: 13 Reasons Why

Came Out: 2017. The actor, who is most notable for his character, Justin Foley in the knock Netflix series, 13 Reason Why just came out in an Instagram post aimed at those who are against lgbtq+ marriage in Australia. The Australian actor, who is 23, was spurred on to come out tracking the No vote campaign before gay marriage became legal in Australia.


Brenton Thwaites

Born: 10th August 1989, Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Best Known For: In the cast of Home And Away and playing the prince in Maleficient.

Came out (sort of) 2014 in MSN interview, Brenton Thwaites made quite a splash in the news in 2014, when in an interview with MSN he made hints that he could be fluid. A fan asked the question which ‘three things you look for

Top 20 Famous Gay Actors of Hollywood 2024 [LGBTQ+ Icons]

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen is an acclaimed player known for his versatile performances on stage and screen. Beyond his acting prowess, McKellen is also recognized for his movement, particularly in LGBTQIA+ rights. His career did not suffer post-coming out. Instead, it flourished, with McKellen taking on a range of more emotionally resonant roles that resonated with audiences worldwide. McKellen came out during a BBC radio broadcast in 1988 as an act of demonstrate against Section 28, a proposed law in the UK that sought to prohibit the "promotion of homosexuality." His spontaneous finding was a bold move during a time when gay rights faced significant legal and societal challenges. Reflecting on the impact of his coming out, McKellen noted that it changed his life "for the better," boosting his relationships, personal satisfaction, and even his approach to acting, allowing him to embody characters with greater authenticity​​​​.

Ian McKellen's contributions to LGBTQIA+ culture and history extend far beyond his personal coming out story. He co-founded Stonewall, a UK-based LGBTQIA+ rights organiz

It's been an ~interesting~ journey for queer people in the movie and television industry. Once upon a time, gay and homosexual woman actors, specifically, had to stay in the closet, and there were next-to-no gay parts on screen.

The idea that openly lgbtq+ actors can play het characters is a relatively new phenomenon. Previously, out gay actors could only really work when roles for them a) existed, and b) weren't creature given to heterosexual actors.

Now it seems much more acceptable for an openly gay actor play a straight character. In truth, here are 18 times an actor has played a straight character on screen, despite being openly gay or queer in real life...

4.Andrew Scott as The Priest in Fleabag

5.Amandla Stenberg as Ruby Daly in The Darkest Minds

6.Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton

7.B.D. Wong as Wally Lin in Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens

8.Portia de Rossi as Lindsay Bluth Funke in Arrested Development

9.Ben Platt as Evan Hansen in the Dear Evan Hansen movie

10.Justice Smith as Simon Aumar in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

11.Luke Evans as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast

12.Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks in