Tab Hunter Opens Up About Life As a Closeted Gay Star Durg Hollywood’s Goln Age – The Hollywood Reporter

tad hunter gay

The actor, who died on Sunday at the age of 86, kept his sexualy a secret at a time when the dtry wasn’t ready for an openly gay heartthrob

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TAB HUNTER: HOW HOLLYWOOD'S BOY NEXT DOOR BEME A GAY IN

* tad hunter gay *

A blon, square-jawed and wholome symbol of mid-century Amerin masculy, Hunter, born 1931 as Arthur Gelien, was gay but kept his sexualy a secret for the bulk of his reer, until g out his 2005 tobgraphy Tab Hunter Confintial: The Makg of a Movie Star. ”A product of an era that was famoly hospable to gay entertaers, Hunter kept up secret romanc wh film star Anthony Perks and figure skater Ronnie Robertson as movie studs trotted him out alongsi screen sirens Natalie Wood and Debbie Reynolds, wh whom he’d go on pretend dat. But not before an article Confintial, the bimonthly gossip rag om which Hunter’s memoir borrows s name, reported on the then 24-year-old’s volvement an arrt at a “limp-wristed pajama party” where other gay mal were attendance.

The article, Hunter felt, suated he’d been party to a “gay y”, a mor that might have torpedoed his reer given the ntemporaneo moral panic around homosexualy and the “lavenr sre” that led to mass firgs.

SXSW: TAB HUNTER OPENS UP ABOUT LIFE AS A CLOSETED GAY STAR DURG HOLLYWOOD’S GOLN AGE

Check out how five gay actors mid-Century Hollywood beme stars of the silver screen the gild closets of Movie Bs. * tad hunter gay *

But what would revalize his reer earnt was a phone ll om John Waters, the transgrsive gay film-maker whose mpy sensibily hadn’t yet been fully embraced beyond midnight moviegoers.

MATEE IDOL TAB HUNTER OPENS UP ABOUT JAM DEAN'S {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY CAREY O'DONNELLMARCH 19, 2015/12:43 PMBY CAREY O'DONNELLMARCH 19, 2015 / 12:43 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MATEE IDOL TAB HUNTER OPENS UP ABOUT JAM DEAN'S SEXUALY","DATEPUBLISHED":"2015-03-19T16:43:36.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2015-03-19T16:43:36.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CAREY O'DONNELL","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INIC ACTOR JAM DEAN WAS THE SUBJECT OF GAY MORS EVEN BEFORE HIS UNTIMELY ATH 1955. VAR SOURC HAVE CLAIMED THE BROODG YOUNG STAR OF GIANT AND REBEL WHOUT A CSE WAS A HTLER, OR THAT HE SLEPT WH VAR HOLLYWOOD PRODUCERS TO FURTHER HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RELATED: JOHN TRAVOLTA BLACKMAILED INTO STAYG CLOSETED BY SCIENTOLOGY, NEW DOC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}REBEL DIRECTOR NICHOLAS RAY SUATED DEAN WAS A HOMOSEXUAL—AND POSSIBLY VOLVED WH -STAR SAL MEO, WHO WAS GAY—WHILE BGRAPHER JOHN HOWLETT MATAED JD WAS "MOST CERTALY BISEXUAL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}E! ONLE UGHT UP WH '50S SCREEN IDOL TAB HUNTER AT SXSW, WHERE HE WAS PROMOTG THE NEW DOC TAB HUNTER CONFINTIAL, AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE KNEW ABOUT DEAN'S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HUNTER, HIMSELF CLOSETED FOR MOST OF HIS REER, WAS IENDS WH THE LATE STAR—THEY SHARED AN AGENT AND HUNTER EVEN WENT ON ARRANGED DAT WH DEAN'S REBEL STAR NATALIE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HUNTER, NOW 81, ACKNOWLEDGED THE NSTANT MORS THAT SWIRLED AROUND HIS IEND. "PEOPLE ALWAYS SAID THAT [DEAN WAS BISEXUAL]," HUNTER TOLD E!'S MARK MALK. "PEOPLE WANT TO HANG LABELS ON PEOPLE: 'OH, HE'S LIKE THIS OR HE'S LIKE THAT.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT, HUNTER SAID, "I DON'T BUY TO THAT—AS FAR AS I KNOW JIMMY [WASN'T BI]."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MAYBE HE NEVER HEARD THE STORY ABOUT LIZ TAYLOR AND ROCK HUDSON WAGERG WHO ULD SCE DEAN FIRST ON THE SET OF GIANT? ACRDG TO LEGEND, ROCK WON THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELOW, WATCH THE TRAILER FOR TAB HUNTER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

But, s Insi Baseball approach to revealg the ner workgs of Hollywood before, durg and after the stud era, is a remarkably sightful, nfint acunt of and by one of Hollywood’s first gay movie stars, a label by which the famoly self-effacg Hunter would surely be ath, though, Tab Hunter’s legend won’t fa.

The 2015 documentary adapted om his memoir, which n be seen on Netflix, helped her a wave of disurse about the ills of the stud era – homophobia, misogyny and abe among them – a topic that was revised last year Fd, the fict televisn reuntg of the rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. But there is a kd of poetic jtice that a man who spent much of his life the shadows lived long enough to see his forbidn romance veloped as a movie, one produced, as ought to be, by two openly gay men.

ONE YEAR LATER, TAB HUNTER’S HBAND RELLS ACTOR’S UNEXPECTED DEATH"HE WASN’T SICK; HE WASN’T ILL," REMEMBERS ALLAN GLASER, HUNTER'S WIDOWER. "WE HAD LUNCH 20 MUT BEFORE HE LLAPSED MY ARMS."{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY CHRISTOPHER RUDOLPHJULY 9, 2019/3:48 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:4060PX;WIDTH:3226PX;}HERBERT DORFMAN/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGTAB HUNTER (PHOTO BY HERBERT DORFMAN/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAG)BY CHRISTOPHER RUDOLPHJULY 9, 2019 / 3:48 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ONE YEAR LATER, TAB HUNTER’S HBAND RELLS ACTOR’S UNEXPECTED DEATH","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-07-09T19:48:13.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-07-09T19:48:13.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CHRISTOPHER RUDOLPH","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON JULY 9, 2018, HOLLYWOOD LEGEND TAB HUNTER UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 86, JT TWO DAYS SHY OF HIS BIRTHDAY ON JULY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I HAD HIS BIRTHDAY RD ON MY SK. HE HAD A BLOOD CLOT HIS LEG THAT NOBODY KNEW ABOUT, AND DISLODGED AND WENT TO HIS LUNG, AND HE HAD A HEART ATTACK. AND THAT WAS ,” HUNTER’S PARTNER OF 35 YEARS, ALLAN GLASER, RELLS TO NEWNOWNEXT.TAYLOR HILL/GETTY IMAGNEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: ALLAN GLASER AND PARTNER OF 30 YEARS TAB HUNTER VIS THE SIRIXM STUD ON OCTOBER 17, 2012 NEW YORK CY. (PHOTO BY TAYLOR HILL/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THERE WAS NOTHG WRONG WH HIM," GLASER NTU. "HE WASN’T SICK; HE WASN’T ILL. HE HAD JT RIDN HIS HORSE THE DAY BEFORE. WE HAD LUNCH 20 MUT BEFORE HE LLAPSED MY ARMS. I MEAN, A WEIRD WAY, I THK HIS TIME WAS UP.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HUNTER WAS A BLOND HOLLYWOOD HEARTTHROB WHO L UP THE SCREEN A STRG OF POPULAR MOVI THE 1950S AND ’60S, CLUDG DAMN YANKE, BATTLE CRY, AND RI THE WILD SURF. IN THE ’80S, HE HAD A REER RURGENCE THANKS TO THE "POPE OF TRASH" JOHN WATERS, WHO ST HIM POLYTER, OPPOSE DIVE. HUNTER ALSO APPEARED THE 1982 CULT CLASSIC GREASE 2 AND 1985’S LT THE DT. IT WAS DURG THE CREATN OF LT THAT HE MET HIS FUTURE HBAND, GLASER, A FOX PRODUCER TO WHOM HUNTER PCHED THE IA FOR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HUNTER STEPPED OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT AGA UNTIL 2005, WHEN HE PUBLICLY ME OUT AS GAY HIS TELL ALL-MEMOIR TAB HUNTER CONFINTIAL, -WRTEN WH EDDIE MULLER, NOTED FILM NOIR EXPERT AND HOST OF NOIR ALLEY ON TURNER CLASSIC MOVI (TCM).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“TAB WAS NOT REALLY FORTABLE TALKG ABOUT HIS SEXUALY," MULLER TELLS NEWNOWNEXT, RELLG THE EARLY DAYS OF HIS LLABORATIVE PROCS WH THE PROLIFIC ONSCREEN HEARTTHROB. "HE WAS JT VERY, VERY PRIVATE THAT REGARD. HONTLY, I THK HE FELT MORE FORTABLE HAVG A STRAIGHT GUY BE HIS LLABORATOR THAN A GAY GUY BEE HE DIDN’T WANT THAT [HIS SEXUALY] TO BE THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL OF THE BOOK.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MULLER EXPLAED TO HUNTER THAT THE BOOK WAS BEG PUBLISHED THE FIRST PLACE BEE HE WAS “THE BIGGT LIVG GAY MOVIE STAR. BUT I PROMISE YOU THAT BY THE TIME WE FISH THE BOOK, THAT’S NOT GOG TO BE ALL THAT PEOPLE TAKE AWAY OM ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HUNTER AND MULLER'S BOOK WAS EVENTUALLY MA TO AN EPONYMO DOCUMENTARY, WHICH WILL MAKE S TCM BUT ON HUNTER’S BIRTHDAY, JULY 11—KICKG OFF A MARATHON OF HIS MOVI, CLUDG GUNMAN’S WALK, THAT KD OF WOMAN, AND BATTLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“TAB HAD A WONRFUL RELATNSHIP WH TCM BEE THEY WERE ALWAYS SO GOOD TO HIM OVER THE YEARS. THEY WOULD OCSNALLY DO A BIRTHDAY SALUTE, OR VE HIM TO E TO SOMETHG THEY WERE DOG,” GLASER SAYS. “AND TAB WAS VERY IENDLY WH [TCM HOST] ROBERT OSBORNE. HE WAS A LOVELY MAN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THANKS TO THE BLE WORK, HUNTER AND OSBORNE EVENTUALLY BEME IENDS, TCHG UP AT TCM EVENTS. “THEY BOTH LOVED CLASSIC FILMS," GLASER ADDS. "ROBERT WAS A WALKG ENCYCLOPEDIA; HE KNEW EVERYTHG ABOUT EVERYTHG. AND HE WAS A GENTLEMAN, AND SO WAS TAB. THEY BOTH NEVER DISCSED SEXUALY, ANYTHG LIKE THAT. THEY WERE JT TWO OLD-FASHNED GENTLEMEN WHO ENJOYED EACH OTHER’S PANY.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OSBORNE NEVER SPOKE PUBLICLY ABOUT HIS SEXUALY, BUT AFTER HIS ATH 2017, WAS REVEALED HE HAD BEEN A RELATNSHIP WH THEATER PRODUCER DAVID STALLER FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.ROMMEL DEMANO/GETTY IMAGNEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 12: (L-R) ROBERT OSBORNE AND TAB HUNTER ATTEND "TAB HUNTER CONFINTIAL" SPECIAL SCREENG AT FILM FOM ON OCTOBER 12, 2015 NEW YORK CY. (PHOTO BY ROMMEL DEMANO/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GLASER AND MULLER WILL BE -HOSTG THE TCM PREMIERE OF TAB HUNTER CONFINTIAL, WH THE PAIR STG DOWN BEFORE AND AFTER THE FILM TO DISCS HUNTER’S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"IT’S SOMETHG TAB WOULD HAVE LOVED," GLASER SAYS. "WHEN I TOLD TAB ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT I WANTED TO [SCREEN CONFINTIAL ON TCM]—BEE THE RIGHTS WERE EXPIRG—I SAID, 'WOULD YOU GO TALK WH ONE OF THE HOSTS?' AND HE AGREED. I’M ACTUALLY TAKG TAB’S PLACE AS ONE OF THE -HOSTS BEE WAS ONE OF THE LAST THGS HE AGREED TO DO TO PROMOTE THE DOCUMENTARY. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TAB AND EDDIE DISCSG .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN ASKED HOW HE PLANS TO CELEBRATE HUNTER'S BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR, GLASER EXPLAS THAT HE PLANS ON "HAVG SOME OF HIS CLOST IENDS OVER TO THE HOE TO WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE ON TCM." HE ALSO NOT THAT HE VISS HUNTER'S GRAVE EVERY WEEK TO LAY H FLOWERS, SO HE WILL BE DOG THAT AS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I WANTED TO CREATE A LEGACY FOR TAB THAT WENT BEYOND HIS HOLLYWOOD 1950S IMAGE. THAT’S WHY I WANTED TO DO THE DOCUMENTARY," GLASER SAYS. "TAB WAS VERY HANT EVEN TO DO THE DOCUMENTARY, BUT I TALKED HIM TO . AND I’M REALLY GLAD I DID, BEE LEFT A LEGACY BEHD FOR HIM, SO PEOPLE N ACTUALLY SEE WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HIS NTRIBUTNS WERE."SILVER SCREEN COLLECTN/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGAMERIN ACTOR TAB HUNTER, CIR 1960. (PHOTO BY SILVER SCREEN COLLECTN/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE END, GLASER SAYS HUNTER WAS GLAD HE'D AGREED TO MAKE THE DOCUMENTARY, TOO. IN FACT, WHAT HE LOVED MOST ABOUT THE FAL PRODUCT "WASN'T ANY OF THE MOVI WE TALKED ABOUT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"IT WAS ABOUT HIS MOTHER, AND HIS BROTHER, AND HIS LOVE FOR HORS, AND EVERYTHG THAT WENT OUTSI OF THE WORLD OF SHOW BS," GLASER NOT. "THAT’S WHAT HE APPRECIATED BEE THAT’S WHO HE WAS AS A PERSON. SOCIETY—AND WARNER BROS.—BUILT A WALL AROUND TAB THAT HE HAD TO NSTCT ONE BRICK AT A TIME, AND I THK THE FIRST BRICK THAT NSTCTN WAS WRG HIS TOBGRAPHY. I DO THK THE LAST BRICK, HAVG THAT WALL E DOWN, WAS DOG THE DOCUMENTARY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TAB HUNTER CONFINTIAL PREMIER JULY 11 ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Bee is the first om the perspective of a major movie star who lived through as a closeted gay man but is now open about his sexualy. Hunter rells first realizg that he was “different” his early teens, but says he’d “have gone crazy” if someone had asked him if he was homosexual (the word “gay” wasn’t really around then). Willson, a big-time agent and “gay svengali” who also disvered and/or reprented Guy Madison, Rory Calhoun and Rock Hudson, changed Gelien’s name to Tab Hunter after tryg to “tab” him somethg new and rellg that he was fond of huntg and jumpg on hors.

Hunter’s reer was jeopardized jt as was takg off when Confintial, the rare publitn that didn’t operate wh the studs, published a story about how Hunter had been arrted at a “pajama party” — a party attend by many gay people — shortly after arrivg Hollywood. Wh much greater utn, Hunter still managed to engage hh-hh relatnships wh other gay men the ensug years.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* TAD HUNTER GAY

FIVE GAY ACTORS IN MID-CENTURY HOLLYWOOD - WalterFilm.

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