Tab Hunter, Fifti Film Star and Gay In, Dead at 86 – Rollg Stone

Contents:

• TAB HUNTER: HOW HOLLYWOOD'S BOY NEXT DOOR BEME A GAY IN
• REMEMBERG TAB HUNTER, ACTOR AND GAY INTHE SEX SYMBOL AND DAMN YANKE STAR, WHO DIED ON SUNDAY AT THE AGE OF 86, WAS ONE OF THE RARE STARS OF HIS ERA TO SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT HIS HOMOSEXUALY.BY YOHANA DTAJULY 9, 2018FROM ARCHIVE PHOTOS/GETTY IMAG.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVETAB HUNTER, AN IN OF OLD HOLLYWOOD WHO ROSE TO FAME FILMS LIKE 1958’S DAMN YANKE, HAS DIED. HE WAS 86 YEARS OLD. ACRDG TO CNN, HUNTER’S PARTNER OF 35 YEARS, ALLAN GLASER, SAID THE ACTOR DIED SUNDAY AT COTTAGE HOSPAL SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, AFTER A BLOOD CLOT ED HIM TO GO TO RDIAC ARRT.“WE WERE WALKG HOME AND HE LLAPSED MY ARMS OUR ONT YARD,” GLASER SAID, PER CNN. “HE SAID HE ULDN’T BREATHE, SO I LLED 911, AND WE WENT TO THE HOSPAL . . . THIS WAS SUDN AND UNEXPECTED. HE WAS ATHLETIC, MORE LIKE A 60-YEAR-OLD NOT AN 86-YEAR-OLD.”IN HIS HEYDAY, HUNTER WAS A GOLN BOY EVERY SENSE. THE HANDSOME BLOND LAND A NTRACT AT WARNER BROS. THE 50S AND QUICKLY BEME ONE OF THE STUD’S TOP PLAYERS, STARRG ABOUT 50 FILMS OVER THE URSE OF HIS REER. BUT HUNTER’S LEGACY GO FAR BEYOND HIS WORK ON THE SCREEN. OVER THE YEARS, HE’S BEEN REGARD AS A GAY IN, ONE OF THE RARE STARS OF THAT PARTICULAR GENERATN TO SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT HIS HOMOSEXUALY. IN THE BTSELLG 2005 TOBGRAPHY TAB HUNTER CONFINTIAL, THE ACTOR NFIRMED ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT HE WAS GAY, SPILLG THE TAILS ABOUT HIS PAST RELATNSHIPS WH ACTOR ANTHONY PERKS AND FIGURE-SKATG STAR RONNIE ROBERTSON.THE TLE OF THE BOOK WAS SPIRED BY A TERRIFYG CHAPTER HUNTER’S LIFE. IN THE MID-1950S, JT AS HIS STAR WAS RISG, THE TABLOID CONFINTIAL PUBLISHED A STORY ABOUT HUNTER’S ARRT AFTER ATTENDG A “PAJAMA PARTY,” AN EVENT EQUENTED BY GAY MEN. THANKS TO HIS POPULARY, THE STORY FELL TO THE WAYSI, AND HUNTER NTUED BUILDG A REER AS ONE OF THE DTRY’S LEADG MEN.“JACK WARNER [THE HEAD OF WARNER BROS.] AND I NEVER DISCSED MY SEXUALY WHATSOEVER,” HUNTER SAID THE 2015 DOCUMENTARY BASED ON HIS TOBGRAPHY. “I WAS MAKG A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEM. AS LONG AS I DIDN’T STROY THAT IMAGE THEY WERE CREATG, THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM.”HUNTER DUTIFULLY PLAYED THE ROLE OF HETERO HEARTTHROB FOR WARNER BROS., KEEPG UP APPEARANC ORR TO MATA HIS NTRACT WH THE STUD. BUT THAT DIDN’T HALT HIS DATG LIFE BEHD THE SCEN. HIS FIRST SER RELATNSHIP WAS WH ROBERTSON, AN OLYMPIC SKATER. HE LATER DATED FUTURE PSYCHO STAR PERKS FOR A HANDFUL OF YEARS. THE PAIR FIRST MET AT THE POOL AT THE CHATE MARMONT, ACRDG TO THE DOCUMENTARY. “I HAD A WONRFUL RELATNSHIP WH HIM,” HUNTER SAID. IN A 2003 TERVIEW WH THE NEW YORK TIM, HE ELABORATED ON HIS TIME WH PERKS, RELLG HOW REFUL THE UPLE HAD TO BE TO KEEP THEIR RELATNSHIP A SECRET.“I DIDN’T FLNT THGS,” HUNTER SAID. “I KNOW WHEN TONY AND I WENT TO THE MOVI, HE WOULD SAY, ‘LET’S GO DISGUISE.’ WE ALWAYS WORE BASEBALL PS. OR HE’D SAY: ‘YOU GO AT A CERTA TIME. I’LL GO LATER.’ I KNEW PEOPLE WERE TALKG. I DIDN’T LIKE THAT.”THE RELATNSHIP EVENTUALLY FIZZLED OUT, WH PERKS AT ONE POT MENTNG THAT HIS STUD, PARAMOUNT, DIDN’T WANT HIM SEEG HUNTER ANYMORE. “WE JT SORT OF GREW APART,” HUNTER SAID THE DOCUMENTARY.HUNTER WOULD BOLSTER HIS REPUTATN AS A GAY IN, EVEN BEFORE HE PUBLICLY ME OUT, BY STARRG THE JOHN WATERS FILM POLYTER, PLAYG OPPOSE DIVE. IN A 2015 TERVIEW WH THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, THE ACTOR WARMLY REFLECTED ON THAT PHASE HIS REER, LLG ONE OF THE BT EXPERIENC HE’S EVER HAD.HE EVENTUALLY SETTLED DOWN WH GLASER, WHO WOULD BE HIS PARTNER FOR THE RT OF HIS LIFE. GLASER WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF THE ACTOR TELLG HIS LIFE STORY CONFINTIAL, ENURAGG HIM TO WRE AFTER HE HEARD THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS PLANNG A BOOK ABOUT HUNTER.“HE SAID TO ME, ‘I HEAR THERE’S GOG TO BE BOOK DONE ON YOU. I THK YOU SHOULD WRE A BOOK,’” HUNTER RELLED A 2015 TERVIEW. “AND I SAID, ‘WHO WOULD WANT TO READ A BOOK ABOUT ME?’ HE SAID, ‘YOU’D BE SURPRISED.’ SO I THOUGHT I BETTER GET OM THE HORSE’S MOUTH, NOT OM SOME HORSE’S ASS AFTER I’M AD AND GONE, BEE PEOPLE WHO NEVER KNEW YOU WILL PUT A SP ON YOUR LIFE AND MAKE UP WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANT. AND THAT’S NOT FAIR. YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOTHG TO HI.”MOST POPULARRILEY KEOUGH ON GROWG UP PRLEY, LOSG LISA MARIE, AND INHERG GRACELANDBY BRT HENNEMUTHJAMIE LEE CURTIS DIGS HERSELF OUT OF COMMENTS ABOUT SAG-AFTRA STRIKEBY EVE BATEYVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHMEET ATRALIAN ACTRS ELIZA SNLEN, SHARP OBJECTS’S UP-AND-COMG STAR1 / 3CHEVRONCHEVRONPHOTOGRAPH BY WILLIAMS & HIRAKAWA.YOHANA DTA
• 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
• SXSW: TAB HUNTER OPENS UP ABOUT LIFE AS A CLOSETED GAY STAR DURG HOLLYWOOD’S GOLN AGE
• TAB HUNTER’S TRIALS AND TRIBULATNS: 7 THGS WE LEARNED FROM THE LATE GAY HEARTTHROB’S NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
• TAB HUNTER, FIFTI FILM STAR AND GAY IN, DEAD AT 86
• HOLLYWOOD REMEMBERS TAB HUNTER: ‘GAY IN AND TE GENTLEMAN’
• TAB HUNTER’S LGBT LEGACY: HOLLYWOOD, IT’S TIME TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSETTRUTH1950S HEARTTHROB TAB HUNTER DIED SUNDAY. FOR MUCH OF HIS REER HE LIVED THE LIFE OF A CLOSETED HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STAR. HIS LEGACY SHOULD BE TO ENURAGE OTHER STARS TO E OUT.TIM TEEMANSENR EDOR AND WRERUPDATED JUL. 10, 2018 4:08AM EDT / PUBLISHED JUL. 10, 2018 12:52AM EDT OPNHERBERT DORFMAN/GETTYIN JEFEY SCHWARZ’S EXCELLENT 2015 DOCUMENTARY, TAB HUNTER CONFINTIAL (STREAMG ON NETFLIX), THE ACTOR TAB HUNTER REUNTED HIS EXPERIENCE ATTENDG A PRIVATE GAY AND LBIAN HOLLYWOOD PARTY 1950.HE RELLED A ROOM FULL OF SAME-SEX UPL DANCG AND HOW SUCH PARTI WERE ILLEGAL BACK THEN. THE PS BURST , AND ARRTED “THE BUNCH OF QUEERS” THERE.“THEY TOOK TO THE POLICE STATN,” HUNTER SAID. “I THOUGHT, ‘OH MY GOD THIS IS TERRIBLE.’ WHAT WOULD MY MOTHER THK OF MY BEG ARRTED?’”WOULD AFFECT HIS REER GETTG STARTED MOTN PICTUR, THE THEN-YOUNG ACTOR WONRED. HIS ATTORNEY TOLD HIM TO BE “SHARPER” IF HE WANTED TO BE AN ACTOR HOLLYWOOD. “SHARPER” WAS, OF URSE, A PHEMISM FOR REFUL WHICH WAS A PHEMISM FOR BEG CLOSETED; AND THAT WAS THE WAY HUNTER STAYED UNTIL HE FALLY ME OUT 2005 HIS TOBGRAPHY, UPON WHICH THE DOCUMENTARY WAS BASED.HUNTER’S ATH, AT 86, WAS ANNOUNCED MONDAY BY HIS PARTNER ALLAN GLASER. GLASER SAID HUNTER HAD DIED ON SUNDAY AS A RULT OF A BLOOD CLOT THAT ED RDIAC ARRT.“WE WERE WALKG HOME AND HE LLAPSED MY ARMS OUR ONT YARD,” GLASER SAID. “HE SAID HE ULDN’T BREATHE, SO I LLED 911, AND WE WENT TO THE HOSPAL.”“THIS WAS SUDN AND UNEXPECTED,” GLASER ADD. “HE WAS ATHLETIC, MORE LIKE A 60-YEAR-OLD NOT AN 86-YEAR-OLD.”GLASER IS THIRTY YEARS HUNTER’S JUNR, AND THE DOCUMENTARY SWEETLY DOCUMENTS THEIR URTSHIP WHICH BEGAN WHEN GLASER LEFT A LUCRATIVE STUD JOB TO PRODUCE LT THE DT (1985), ONE OF HUNTER’S FILMS HE DID OPPOSE DIVE (FOUR YEARS AFTER JOHN WATERS’ POLYTER).WATCHG THE DOCUMENTARY IS AN OBJECT LSON HOW THE HOLLYWOOD CLOSET OPERAT, WHICH HUNTER EMBRACED AND WAS SUFFOTED BY.THIS CLOSET, AS ACTORS LIKE NOAH WYLE AND PORTIA ROSSI MAKE CLEAR OTHER TERVIEWS THE DOCUMENTARY, IS STILL EXISTENCE. IT’S NOT 1950 ANY MORE, BUT MAY AS WELL BE; ’S JT THAT THE HIGH-PROFILE OUTGS OF STARS LIKE ELLEN DEGENER AND ZACHARY QUTO (SOON TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT HUNTER’S CLOSETED LOVE AFFAIR WH ANTHONY PERKS) FOOL WH A VENEER OF AN ENTERTAMENT DTRY THAT IS MORE OPEN AND ACCEPTG. GAB ARCHIVE FUNDAMENTALLY THOUGH, THE CLOSET THAT HOED TAB HUNTER STILL HO MAJOR MOVIE STARS TODAY. AND THIS CLOSET, IRONILLY, IS PRID OVER BY LGBT AND STRAIGHT HOLLYWOOD PRODUCERS AND PUBLICISTS 2018 WHO WOULD LIKELY SCRIBE THEMSELV AS LIBERAL, PRO-LGBT. THEIR DAY JOBS MAKE A WEIRD MOCKERY OF THIS. THEY WOULD PROFS THEMSELV TO BE HORRIFIED BY HOMOPHOBIA. BUT THEY ALL NSPIRE TO KEEP THEIR DREAM FACTORY PUMPG OUT IMAG OF IALIZED HETEROSEXUALY, ONTED BY CELEBRI THAT THEY REPRENT AND DIRECT AND PRODUCE LIVG PUBLIC LIV OF THE SAME.HUNTER’S STORY MAY LOOK VTAGE; REMAS PRSGLY CURRENT. IN ONE TERVIEW AFTER HE ME OUT, HUNTER MED THAT “THE BOY NEXT DOOR LABEL” HOLLYWOOD GAVE HIM, AS BUILT HIS IMAGE AS A CLASSIC FIFTI PRETTYBOY HEARTTHROB, WAS MERELY A SELLG LABEL: “THEY GRD OUT LIKE A SSAGE FACTORY.”HUNTER KNEW HE WAS A PRODUCT, JT AS THE ACTORS KNOW THEY ARE PRODUCTS. BEG OPENLY GAY TODAY MAY NOT GET YOU THROWN OFF THE PRODUCTN LE AS DID THE 1950S, BUT MAY NOT GET YOU THE BT WDOW DISPLAY.HUNTER WAS SO ANGUISHED ABOUT HIS LIFE OF ENFORCED SILENCE, AND BY BEG A NATURALLY PRIVATE PERSON—AND WHERE THOSE TWO THGS TERSECT IS A FASCATG HERLAND—THAT ’S PRETTY AMAZG HE DID E OUT. BUT, AS HE SAID, “HECK, I’M AN OLD MAN. THIS IS MY LIFE.”HE WAS RAISED, HE RELLED, A NOT-HAPPY HOME. HIS FATHER ABED HIS MOTHER. HIS MOTHER PREFERRED HIS BROTHER. HE WAS RAISED CATHOLIC. MOVI WERE HUNTER’S PISM, OR ART GELIEN’S PISM AS HE WAS THEN KNOWN. HE HEARD THE WORDS “FAIRY” AND “QUEER” AS SULTS. HE PHED WHAT HE WAS OM HIS MD; HE DIDN’T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT. HIS STORY ULD BE A STORY OF TODAY, THE STORY OF YOUNG GAY KID ETERNAL. HIS LOOKS ED SUCH A STIR AT SCHOOL WH GIRLS HE SOUGHT OUT EMPTY CLASSROOMS TO HI . HE REVEALED ALL AT NFSN, WAS TOLD HOW BAD BEG GAY WAS, AND FLED OM THE CHURCH.AN EARLY, PRE-HOLLYWOOD LOVE WAS HORS; THE SAME LOVE WOULD STA HUNTER LONG AFTER HOLLYWOOD’S LIGHTS HAD DIMMED. THERE, AT A STABL WHERE A YOUNG HUNTER WORKED, AN ACTOR NAMED DICK CLAYTON ME ONE DAY. HE NEVER MA A MOVE ON HUNTER, BUT HE LED HIM TO HOLLYWOOD. “ON TV SHOWS HUNTER WAS HAILED ‘HOLLYWOOD’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR.’ HUNTER, AS HE SAID YEARS LATER, WAS AN DTRY ‘WHERE YOU ARE REWARD FOR BEG SOMEONE YOU ARE NOT.’” ENTER HENRY WILLSON, THE AGENT WHO HAD ALL THE HUNKS ON HIS BOOKS AT THE TIME, CLUDG ROCK HUDSON. HE PUT HUNTER TO MOVI WHERE HIS CLOTH WERE EHER SWIMMG TNKS OR ARY DUDS. HE WAS A CLEAN-CUT HERO.OFF-SCREEN HUNTER FELL LOVE WH ICE SKATER RONNIE ROBERTSON; THE ICE-SKATG CHIEFS OF THE TIME WARNED ROBERTSON TO KEEP HUNTER AWAY OM WATCHG HIM PETE. ROBERTSON FIED THEM. BUT THEIR RELATNSHIP WAS NDUCTED SECRET. THIS WAS A TIME WHEN HOMOSEXUALY WAS NSIRED A MENTAL ILLNS, AND WHEN EXPOSURE FOR THEM WOULD HAVE MEANT PROFSNAL .ON TV SHOWS HUNTER WAS HAILED “HOLLYWOOD’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR.” HUNTER, AS HE SAID YEARS LATER, WAS AN DTRY “WHERE YOU ARE REWARD FOR BEG SOMEONE YOU ARE NOT.”EARLY ON, HUNTER SURVIVED A GAY SNDAL; WHEN HUNTER CHOSE TO BE REPRENTED BY CLAYTON, HE THOUGHT WILLSON HAD PASSED THE STORY OF HIS ARRT AT THE 1950 GAY PARTY TO GOSSIP RAG CONFINTIAL—BOTH AS REVENGE, AND AS A SACRIFICIAL LAMB (CONFINTIAL HAD BEEN PLANNG AN EXPOSé OF HUDSON). THE MAGAZE LLED THE 1950 GATHERG A “LIMP-WRISTED PAJAMA PARTY” (WHICH SOUNDS GREAT FUN TO ME), AND HUNTER WAS SURE HIS REER WAS OVER.IT WASN’T. HIS STUD BOSS JACK WARNER TOLD HIM “TODAY’S HEADL ARE TOMORROW’S TOILET PAPER.”HUNTER DID WHAT WAS REQUIRED. HE WENT ON DAT WH NATALIE WOOD AND OTHER ACTRS, DAT THAT WERE PHOTOGRAPHED. AS SOON AS THE MERAS STOPPED CLICKG, SHE WENT OFF TO SEE HER REAL DATE DENNIS HOPPER, AND HUNTER WENT OFF TO SEE ANTHONY PERKS WHO HE WAS DATG BACK THEN. ONE OF HIS GIRLIENDS, ETCHIKA CHOURE, RELLED THAT THEY REALLY LIKED EACH OTHER BUT THAT SHE DIDN’T WANT A SHOW MARRIAGE, AND NEHER DID HE. SILVER SCREEN COLLECTN/GETTY HUNTER SAID AT THE TIME, THAT HE FELT IF YOU WERE WH A MAN YOU’D BE SNG, IF YOU WERE WH A WOMAN YOU’D BE LYG.IT SOUNDS A GILD GE, AN ENFORCED HELL, AND AN EMBRACED AND ACMODATED HELL. HE WANTED FAME. THIS WAS THE PRICE. BUT EVEN IF YOU WEREN’T FAMO, THOSE DAYS, A SIAR SET OF CHOIC WERE ON OFFER.AS TURNED OUT, HUNTER OVERPLAYED HIS HAND, STOOD UP TO JACK WARNER, THEN REALIZED, TOO LATE, WAS “REER SUICI.” CHEY FILMS—TERRIBLE FILMS—FOLLOWED. HE BEME A JOKE, AND THEN HE PLAYED OFF THAT IMAGE POLYTER AND LT IN THE DT. HE FELL LOVE WH GLASER.STILL, HUNTER WOULDN’T E OUT, EVEN AS ELLEN, GEE MICHAEL AND OTHERS DID. IN THE DOCUMENTARY, PORTIA ROSSI SAYS HOW HARD TODAY IS FOR OUT ACTORS TO BE OUT, HOW NERVO SHE WAS TO DO . NOAH WYLE SAYS HE KNOWS SEVERAL STARS WHO WON’T E OUT. GLASER OFFERED HUNTER THE OPPORTUNY TO MEET THE PERSON HE WANTED TO SPEND THE RT OF HIS LIFE WH. GLASER NOTED THAT HUNTER WAS HAPPIT MUCKG OUT AND RIDG HIS BELOVED HORS. WHEN HIS OLD MOVI ME ON TV, SAID GLASER OF HIS PARTNER, HUNTER FLICKED THE CHANNEL AS IF SURFG PAST A DOG-FOOD MERCIAL.HUNTER RELLED SEEG ANTHONY PERKS YEARS LATER, MARRIED AND WH A FAY, BEFORE HE DIED OF AIDS. “HIS CHOICE WAS RIGHT FOR HIM,” SAYS HUNTER. “IT WAS WHO HE WAS, OR MAYBE WHO HE WANTED TO BE.”AND THAT TORTURED AND PERCEPTIVE NSTCTN, HUNTER H ON ALL THE WARPED MECHANICS OF HOW THE CLOSET WORKS AND OUT OF HOLLYWOOD.BUT WHAT IS HOLLYWOOD SRED OF? WHAT WON’T TT? WHAT SR AS MUCH 2018 AS DID 1950? IT’S SRED THAT THE FILM-GOG DIENCE WON’T BUY THEIR LEADG WOMAN OR MAN KISSG AN OPPOSE-SEX LOVE TERT IF THEY KNOW THAT LEADG ACTOR IS GAY OR LBIAN, OR TRANS.THAT LACK OF URAGE MEANS THAT DIENC REMA UNCHALLENGED. IT ALSO UNRTIMAT THEIR POWERS OF SPEND DISBELIEF, WHICH A CENT ACTOR IS SUPPOSED TO DRAW ON.IT ALSO MEANS THAT LS LGBT FILMS ARE MA BY MASTREAM HOLLYWOOD. EVEN MORE WARDICE, IGNORANCE AND A LACK OF URAGE. AND SURE, ACTORS WILL E OUT DRIBS AND DRABS, AND Y, LGBT MOVI WILL E OUT DRIBS AND DRABS, AND OTHER OPN PIEC WILL QUTN WHETHER A TURNG POT HAS BEEN REACHED, WHETHER WE ARE PROGRSG. WE AREN’T. HOLLYWOOD ISN’T, AND THE LGBT PEOPLE WORKG THERE AT CELEBRY AND NON-CELEBRY LEVELS ARE PLIC PERPETUATG THIS SHAMEFUL LACK OF PROGRS.THEY SHOULD ALL WATCH THE TAB HUNTER DOCUMENTARY, AND THEY SHOULD READ HIS WORDS. HE NEVER SOUGHT SYMPATHY FOR LIVG THE CLOSET, OR WHY HE LIVED THE CLOSET, OR WHAT S EFFECTS WERE. HE SEEMS A PRACTIL PERSON. DEBBIE REYNOLDS LLS HIM “GROUND,” AND HE DO SEEM PLA-SPEAKG, AND PLA-THKG.IN AN TERVIEW LAST YEAR, HUNTER SAID, “IF I HAD E OUT DURG MY ACTG REER THE 1950S, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A REER. NOT MUCH HOLLYWOOD HAS CHANGED 60 YEARS. I REALLY DIDN’T TALK ABOUT MY SEXUALY UNTIL I WROTE MY TOBGRAPHY. “THERE STILL ISN’T A ROMANTIC LEAD FILMS WHO IS ACTIVELY WORKG WHO HAS E OUT AS GAY. FILM ACTORS TODAY STILL FEAR THAT G OUT WOULD DAMAGE THEIR REER.” “MY FILM REER HAD LONG SCE BEEN OVER BY THEN. I BELIEVE ONE’S SEXUALY IS ONE’S OWN BS. I REALLY DON’T GO AROUND DISCSG . CALL ME ‘OLD SCHOOL’ ON THAT TOPIC.”TAB HUNTER MA HIS CISNS, HE LIVED WH THE RULTS OF THEM, AND ULTIMATELY HE FOUND LOVE AND STENANCE WH ANOTHER MAN. AND HE ME OUT, JT AS SO MANY LGBT PEOPLE DO; JT AS HARVEY MILK RIGHTLY REMEND AS THE KEY ACT OF LGBT LIBERATN AND CLARATN. AND HUNTER WENT FURTHER: HE TOLD THE TTH NOT JT ABOUT HIMSELF, BUT ALSO ABOUT HOLLYWOOD.“THERE STILL ISN’T A ROMANTIC LEAD FILMS WHO IS ACTIVELY WORKG WHO HAS E OUT AS GAY,” HUNTER SAID THAT SAME 2017 TERVIEW. “PERHAPS THERE HAS BEEN ON TV, STAGE AND DIFFERENT ARENAS THE ENTERTAMENT BS, BUT NOT A MAJOR MOVIE STAR. FILM ACTORS TODAY STILL FEAR THAT G OUT WOULD DAMAGE THEIR REER.”Y, HUNTER IS RIGHT: THEY STILL FEAR THAT. WOULDN’T BE GRAND IF PART OF TAB HUNTER’S LEGACY WAS THE SHATTERG OF THE HOLLYWOOD CLOSET? HE DID AND FOUND OUT, THE BT WAY, THAT WAS BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. TIM TEEMAN

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

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.

REMEMBERG TAB HUNTER, ACTOR AND GAY INTHE SEX SYMBOL AND DAMN YANKE STAR, WHO DIED ON SUNDAY AT THE AGE OF 86, WAS ONE OF THE RARE STARS OF HIS ERA TO SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT HIS HOMOSEXUALY.BY YOHANA DTAJULY 9, 2018FROM ARCHIVE PHOTOS/GETTY IMAG.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVETAB HUNTER, AN IN OF OLD HOLLYWOOD WHO ROSE TO FAME FILMS LIKE 1958’S DAMN YANKE, HAS DIED. HE WAS 86 YEARS OLD. ACRDG TO CNN, HUNTER’S PARTNER OF 35 YEARS, ALLAN GLASER, SAID THE ACTOR DIED SUNDAY AT COTTAGE HOSPAL SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, AFTER A BLOOD CLOT ED HIM TO GO TO RDIAC ARRT.“WE WERE WALKG HOME AND HE LLAPSED MY ARMS OUR ONT YARD,” GLASER SAID, PER CNN. “HE SAID HE ULDN’T BREATHE, SO I LLED 911, AND WE WENT TO THE HOSPAL . . . THIS WAS SUDN AND UNEXPECTED. HE WAS ATHLETIC, MORE LIKE A 60-YEAR-OLD NOT AN 86-YEAR-OLD.”IN HIS HEYDAY, HUNTER WAS A GOLN BOY EVERY SENSE. THE HANDSOME BLOND LAND A NTRACT AT WARNER BROS. THE 50S AND QUICKLY BEME ONE OF THE STUD’S TOP PLAYERS, STARRG ABOUT 50 FILMS OVER THE URSE OF HIS REER. BUT HUNTER’S LEGACY GO FAR BEYOND HIS WORK ON THE SCREEN. OVER THE YEARS, HE’S BEEN REGARD AS A GAY IN, ONE OF THE RARE STARS OF THAT PARTICULAR GENERATN TO SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT HIS HOMOSEXUALY. IN THE BTSELLG 2005 TOBGRAPHY TAB HUNTER CONFINTIAL, THE ACTOR NFIRMED ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT HE WAS GAY, SPILLG THE TAILS ABOUT HIS PAST RELATNSHIPS WH ACTOR ANTHONY PERKS AND FIGURE-SKATG STAR RONNIE ROBERTSON.THE TLE OF THE BOOK WAS SPIRED BY A TERRIFYG CHAPTER HUNTER’S LIFE. IN THE MID-1950S, JT AS HIS STAR WAS RISG, THE TABLOID CONFINTIAL PUBLISHED A STORY ABOUT HUNTER’S ARRT AFTER ATTENDG A “PAJAMA PARTY,” AN EVENT EQUENTED BY GAY MEN. THANKS TO HIS POPULARY, THE STORY FELL TO THE WAYSI, AND HUNTER NTUED BUILDG A REER AS ONE OF THE DTRY’S LEADG MEN.“JACK WARNER [THE HEAD OF WARNER BROS.] AND I NEVER DISCSED MY SEXUALY WHATSOEVER,” HUNTER SAID THE 2015 DOCUMENTARY BASED ON HIS TOBGRAPHY. “I WAS MAKG A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEM. AS LONG AS I DIDN’T STROY THAT IMAGE THEY WERE CREATG, THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM.”HUNTER DUTIFULLY PLAYED THE ROLE OF HETERO HEARTTHROB FOR WARNER BROS., KEEPG UP APPEARANC ORR TO MATA HIS NTRACT WH THE STUD. BUT THAT DIDN’T HALT HIS DATG LIFE BEHD THE SCEN. HIS FIRST SER RELATNSHIP WAS WH ROBERTSON, AN OLYMPIC SKATER. HE LATER DATED FUTURE PSYCHO STAR PERKS FOR A HANDFUL OF YEARS. THE PAIR FIRST MET AT THE POOL AT THE CHATE MARMONT, ACRDG TO THE DOCUMENTARY. “I HAD A WONRFUL RELATNSHIP WH HIM,” HUNTER SAID. IN A 2003 TERVIEW WH THE NEW YORK TIM, HE ELABORATED ON HIS TIME WH PERKS, RELLG HOW REFUL THE UPLE HAD TO BE TO KEEP THEIR RELATNSHIP A SECRET.“I DIDN’T FLNT THGS,” HUNTER SAID. “I KNOW WHEN TONY AND I WENT TO THE MOVI, HE WOULD SAY, ‘LET’S GO DISGUISE.’ WE ALWAYS WORE BASEBALL PS. OR HE’D SAY: ‘YOU GO AT A CERTA TIME. I’LL GO LATER.’ I KNEW PEOPLE WERE TALKG. I DIDN’T LIKE THAT.”THE RELATNSHIP EVENTUALLY FIZZLED OUT, WH PERKS AT ONE POT MENTNG THAT HIS STUD, PARAMOUNT, DIDN’T WANT HIM SEEG HUNTER ANYMORE. “WE JT SORT OF GREW APART,” HUNTER SAID THE DOCUMENTARY.HUNTER WOULD BOLSTER HIS REPUTATN AS A GAY IN, EVEN BEFORE HE PUBLICLY ME OUT, BY STARRG THE JOHN WATERS FILM POLYTER, PLAYG OPPOSE DIVE. IN A 2015 TERVIEW WH THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, THE ACTOR WARMLY REFLECTED ON THAT PHASE HIS REER, LLG ONE OF THE BT EXPERIENC HE’S EVER HAD.HE EVENTUALLY SETTLED DOWN WH GLASER, WHO WOULD BE HIS PARTNER FOR THE RT OF HIS LIFE. GLASER WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF THE ACTOR TELLG HIS LIFE STORY CONFINTIAL, ENURAGG HIM TO WRE AFTER HE HEARD THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS PLANNG A BOOK ABOUT HUNTER.“HE SAID TO ME, ‘I HEAR THERE’S GOG TO BE BOOK DONE ON YOU. I THK YOU SHOULD WRE A BOOK,’” HUNTER RELLED A 2015 TERVIEW. “AND I SAID, ‘WHO WOULD WANT TO READ A BOOK ABOUT ME?’ HE SAID, ‘YOU’D BE SURPRISED.’ SO I THOUGHT I BETTER GET OM THE HORSE’S MOUTH, NOT OM SOME HORSE’S ASS AFTER I’M AD AND GONE, BEE PEOPLE WHO NEVER KNEW YOU WILL PUT A SP ON YOUR LIFE AND MAKE UP WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANT. AND THAT’S NOT FAIR. YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOTHG TO HI.”MOST POPULARRILEY KEOUGH ON GROWG UP PRLEY, LOSG LISA MARIE, AND INHERG GRACELANDBY BRT HENNEMUTHJAMIE LEE CURTIS DIGS HERSELF OUT OF COMMENTS ABOUT SAG-AFTRA STRIKEBY EVE BATEYVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHMEET ATRALIAN ACTRS ELIZA SNLEN, SHARP OBJECTS’S UP-AND-COMG STAR1 / 3CHEVRONCHEVRONPHOTOGRAPH BY WILLIAMS & HIRAKAWA.YOHANA DTA

”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.

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.

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.

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 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. Over the years, he’s been regard as a gay in, one of the rare stars of that particular generatn to speak openly about his homosexualy. In the btsellg 2005 tobgraphy Tab Hunter Confintial, the actor nfirmed once and for all that he was gay, spillg the tails about his past relatnships wh actor Anthony Perks and figure-skatg star Ronnie tle of the book was spired by a terrifyg chapter Hunter’s life.

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

In the mid-1950s, jt as his star was risg, the tabloid Confintial published a story about Hunter’s arrt after attendg a “pajama party, ” an event equented by gay men. “We jt sort of grew apart, ” Hunter said the would bolster his reputatn as a gay in, even before he publicly me out, by starrg the John Waters film Polyter, playg oppose Dive. Hunter's homosexualy was one of Hollywood's worst-kept secrets: His 1950 arrt for "disorrly nduct" when Los Angel police raid a hoe party he'd been attendg was ma public five years later, when Hollywood sndal sheet Confintial plastered on the ont ver and referred to the get-together qutn, wh characteristic rtrat, as a "limp-wristed pajama party.

Hunter returned to his Catholic fah — on his terms, as a gay man — around this time, and that, along wh his lifelong love of hors and show jumpg, seem to have engenred him a sense of ntentment. 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 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. 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).

TAB HUNTER’S TRIALS AND TRIBULATNS: 7 THGS WE LEARNED FROM THE LATE GAY HEARTTHROB’S NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY

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. For me, ” the actor not, addg how much he enjoyed workg wh his stars, the assistant director Stanley Donen and the choreographer Bob Fosse, if not the homophobic director Gee Abbott, on the 1958 picture. When I brg up how much Hollywood and much of Ameri have changed, terms of their views about gay people, he says gratifi him — but don’t change his own preference to keep his private life mostly to himself.

As for the fact that gay marriage is now legal the majory of U. Now that gay actors like Nathan Lane, Jim Parsons, Victor Garber, Jonathan Groff, and Neil Patrick Harris are “out of the closet” and on the rise, ’s hard to image jt how different thgs were the relatively recent past.

TAB HUNTER, FIFTI FILM STAR AND GAY IN, DEAD AT 86

Not only was the notn of beg openly gay and havg a viable reer unimagable, but gayns self was also a ncept pole society uldn’t untenance.

“Homosexuals” subsisted on society’s margs, mentned only whispered gossip, fearsome psychiatric studi, and Conservative diatrib cryg perversn.

Still, spe of all, gay men managed to make their way to very top of the actg profsn the gild closets of Hollywood. Here are five of the most noteworthy exampl of gay actors mid-Century Hollywood. Part of s all-star st, Liberace giv a marveloly wty performance as luxury ff salman who’s subtly yet obvly gay.

HOLLYWOOD REMEMBERS TAB HUNTER: ‘GAY IN AND TE GENTLEMAN’

” What’s most tertg about the se is that on the stand, Liberace nied that he dulged homosexual practic. The ser cril receptn given to two of the postmortem Liberace bpic for televisn Liberace: Behd the Mic (1988) wh gay Victor Garber and a screenplay by the gay Gav Lambert, and Behd the Canlabra (2011) wh the straight Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, directed by the equally straight Steven Sorbergh reflects his populary.

Their producer, Ross Hunter (who was also gay) nnily st the young actor alongsi veteran star Jane Wyman both films, th wng the heart of olr female moviegoers enamored of good-lookg young men.

TAB HUNTER’S LGBT LEGACY: HOLLYWOOD, IT’S TIME TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSETTRUTH1950S HEARTTHROB TAB HUNTER DIED SUNDAY. FOR MUCH OF HIS REER HE LIVED THE LIFE OF A CLOSETED HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STAR. HIS LEGACY SHOULD BE TO ENURAGE OTHER STARS TO E OUT.TIM TEEMANSENR EDOR AND WRERUPDATED JUL. 10, 2018 4:08AM EDT / PUBLISHED JUL. 10, 2018 12:52AM EDT OPNHERBERT DORFMAN/GETTYIN JEFEY SCHWARZ’S EXCELLENT 2015 DOCUMENTARY, TAB HUNTER CONFINTIAL (STREAMG ON NETFLIX), THE ACTOR TAB HUNTER REUNTED HIS EXPERIENCE ATTENDG A PRIVATE GAY AND LBIAN HOLLYWOOD PARTY 1950.HE RELLED A ROOM FULL OF SAME-SEX UPL DANCG AND HOW SUCH PARTI WERE ILLEGAL BACK THEN. THE PS BURST , AND ARRTED “THE BUNCH OF QUEERS” THERE.“THEY TOOK TO THE POLICE STATN,” HUNTER SAID. “I THOUGHT, ‘OH MY GOD THIS IS TERRIBLE.’ WHAT WOULD MY MOTHER THK OF MY BEG ARRTED?’”WOULD AFFECT HIS REER GETTG STARTED MOTN PICTUR, THE THEN-YOUNG ACTOR WONRED. HIS ATTORNEY TOLD HIM TO BE “SHARPER” IF HE WANTED TO BE AN ACTOR HOLLYWOOD. “SHARPER” WAS, OF URSE, A PHEMISM FOR REFUL WHICH WAS A PHEMISM FOR BEG CLOSETED; AND THAT WAS THE WAY HUNTER STAYED UNTIL HE FALLY ME OUT 2005 HIS TOBGRAPHY, UPON WHICH THE DOCUMENTARY WAS BASED.HUNTER’S ATH, AT 86, WAS ANNOUNCED MONDAY BY HIS PARTNER ALLAN GLASER. GLASER SAID HUNTER HAD DIED ON SUNDAY AS A RULT OF A BLOOD CLOT THAT ED RDIAC ARRT.“WE WERE WALKG HOME AND HE LLAPSED MY ARMS OUR ONT YARD,” GLASER SAID. “HE SAID HE ULDN’T BREATHE, SO I LLED 911, AND WE WENT TO THE HOSPAL.”“THIS WAS SUDN AND UNEXPECTED,” GLASER ADD. “HE WAS ATHLETIC, MORE LIKE A 60-YEAR-OLD NOT AN 86-YEAR-OLD.”GLASER IS THIRTY YEARS HUNTER’S JUNR, AND THE DOCUMENTARY SWEETLY DOCUMENTS THEIR URTSHIP WHICH BEGAN WHEN GLASER LEFT A LUCRATIVE STUD JOB TO PRODUCE LT THE DT (1985), ONE OF HUNTER’S FILMS HE DID OPPOSE DIVE (FOUR YEARS AFTER JOHN WATERS’ POLYTER).WATCHG THE DOCUMENTARY IS AN OBJECT LSON HOW THE HOLLYWOOD CLOSET OPERAT, WHICH HUNTER EMBRACED AND WAS SUFFOTED BY.THIS CLOSET, AS ACTORS LIKE NOAH WYLE AND PORTIA ROSSI MAKE CLEAR OTHER TERVIEWS THE DOCUMENTARY, IS STILL EXISTENCE. IT’S NOT 1950 ANY MORE, BUT MAY AS WELL BE; ’S JT THAT THE HIGH-PROFILE OUTGS OF STARS LIKE ELLEN DEGENER AND ZACHARY QUTO (SOON TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT HUNTER’S CLOSETED LOVE AFFAIR WH ANTHONY PERKS) FOOL WH A VENEER OF AN ENTERTAMENT DTRY THAT IS MORE OPEN AND ACCEPTG. GAB ARCHIVE FUNDAMENTALLY THOUGH, THE CLOSET THAT HOED TAB HUNTER STILL HO MAJOR MOVIE STARS TODAY. AND THIS CLOSET, IRONILLY, IS PRID OVER BY LGBT AND STRAIGHT HOLLYWOOD PRODUCERS AND PUBLICISTS 2018 WHO WOULD LIKELY SCRIBE THEMSELV AS LIBERAL, PRO-LGBT. THEIR DAY JOBS MAKE A WEIRD MOCKERY OF THIS. THEY WOULD PROFS THEMSELV TO BE HORRIFIED BY HOMOPHOBIA. BUT THEY ALL NSPIRE TO KEEP THEIR DREAM FACTORY PUMPG OUT IMAG OF IALIZED HETEROSEXUALY, ONTED BY CELEBRI THAT THEY REPRENT AND DIRECT AND PRODUCE LIVG PUBLIC LIV OF THE SAME.HUNTER’S STORY MAY LOOK VTAGE; REMAS PRSGLY CURRENT. IN ONE TERVIEW AFTER HE ME OUT, HUNTER MED THAT “THE BOY NEXT DOOR LABEL” HOLLYWOOD GAVE HIM, AS BUILT HIS IMAGE AS A CLASSIC FIFTI PRETTYBOY HEARTTHROB, WAS MERELY A SELLG LABEL: “THEY GRD OUT LIKE A SSAGE FACTORY.”HUNTER KNEW HE WAS A PRODUCT, JT AS THE ACTORS KNOW THEY ARE PRODUCTS. BEG OPENLY GAY TODAY MAY NOT GET YOU THROWN OFF THE PRODUCTN LE AS DID THE 1950S, BUT MAY NOT GET YOU THE BT WDOW DISPLAY.HUNTER WAS SO ANGUISHED ABOUT HIS LIFE OF ENFORCED SILENCE, AND BY BEG A NATURALLY PRIVATE PERSON—AND WHERE THOSE TWO THGS TERSECT IS A FASCATG HERLAND—THAT ’S PRETTY AMAZG HE DID E OUT. BUT, AS HE SAID, “HECK, I’M AN OLD MAN. THIS IS MY LIFE.”HE WAS RAISED, HE RELLED, A NOT-HAPPY HOME. HIS FATHER ABED HIS MOTHER. HIS MOTHER PREFERRED HIS BROTHER. HE WAS RAISED CATHOLIC. MOVI WERE HUNTER’S PISM, OR ART GELIEN’S PISM AS HE WAS THEN KNOWN. HE HEARD THE WORDS “FAIRY” AND “QUEER” AS SULTS. HE PHED WHAT HE WAS OM HIS MD; HE DIDN’T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT. HIS STORY ULD BE A STORY OF TODAY, THE STORY OF YOUNG GAY KID ETERNAL. HIS LOOKS ED SUCH A STIR AT SCHOOL WH GIRLS HE SOUGHT OUT EMPTY CLASSROOMS TO HI . HE REVEALED ALL AT NFSN, WAS TOLD HOW BAD BEG GAY WAS, AND FLED OM THE CHURCH.AN EARLY, PRE-HOLLYWOOD LOVE WAS HORS; THE SAME LOVE WOULD STA HUNTER LONG AFTER HOLLYWOOD’S LIGHTS HAD DIMMED. THERE, AT A STABL WHERE A YOUNG HUNTER WORKED, AN ACTOR NAMED DICK CLAYTON ME ONE DAY. HE NEVER MA A MOVE ON HUNTER, BUT HE LED HIM TO HOLLYWOOD. “ON TV SHOWS HUNTER WAS HAILED ‘HOLLYWOOD’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR.’ HUNTER, AS HE SAID YEARS LATER, WAS AN DTRY ‘WHERE YOU ARE REWARD FOR BEG SOMEONE YOU ARE NOT.’” ENTER HENRY WILLSON, THE AGENT WHO HAD ALL THE HUNKS ON HIS BOOKS AT THE TIME, CLUDG ROCK HUDSON. HE PUT HUNTER TO MOVI WHERE HIS CLOTH WERE EHER SWIMMG TNKS OR ARY DUDS. HE WAS A CLEAN-CUT HERO.OFF-SCREEN HUNTER FELL LOVE WH ICE SKATER RONNIE ROBERTSON; THE ICE-SKATG CHIEFS OF THE TIME WARNED ROBERTSON TO KEEP HUNTER AWAY OM WATCHG HIM PETE. ROBERTSON FIED THEM. BUT THEIR RELATNSHIP WAS NDUCTED SECRET. THIS WAS A TIME WHEN HOMOSEXUALY WAS NSIRED A MENTAL ILLNS, AND WHEN EXPOSURE FOR THEM WOULD HAVE MEANT PROFSNAL .ON TV SHOWS HUNTER WAS HAILED “HOLLYWOOD’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR.” HUNTER, AS HE SAID YEARS LATER, WAS AN DTRY “WHERE YOU ARE REWARD FOR BEG SOMEONE YOU ARE NOT.”EARLY ON, HUNTER SURVIVED A GAY SNDAL; WHEN HUNTER CHOSE TO BE REPRENTED BY CLAYTON, HE THOUGHT WILLSON HAD PASSED THE STORY OF HIS ARRT AT THE 1950 GAY PARTY TO GOSSIP RAG CONFINTIAL—BOTH AS REVENGE, AND AS A SACRIFICIAL LAMB (CONFINTIAL HAD BEEN PLANNG AN EXPOSé OF HUDSON). THE MAGAZE LLED THE 1950 GATHERG A “LIMP-WRISTED PAJAMA PARTY” (WHICH SOUNDS GREAT FUN TO ME), AND HUNTER WAS SURE HIS REER WAS OVER.IT WASN’T. HIS STUD BOSS JACK WARNER TOLD HIM “TODAY’S HEADL ARE TOMORROW’S TOILET PAPER.”HUNTER DID WHAT WAS REQUIRED. HE WENT ON DAT WH NATALIE WOOD AND OTHER ACTRS, DAT THAT WERE PHOTOGRAPHED. AS SOON AS THE MERAS STOPPED CLICKG, SHE WENT OFF TO SEE HER REAL DATE DENNIS HOPPER, AND HUNTER WENT OFF TO SEE ANTHONY PERKS WHO HE WAS DATG BACK THEN. ONE OF HIS GIRLIENDS, ETCHIKA CHOURE, RELLED THAT THEY REALLY LIKED EACH OTHER BUT THAT SHE DIDN’T WANT A SHOW MARRIAGE, AND NEHER DID HE. SILVER SCREEN COLLECTN/GETTY HUNTER SAID AT THE TIME, THAT HE FELT IF YOU WERE WH A MAN YOU’D BE SNG, IF YOU WERE WH A WOMAN YOU’D BE LYG.IT SOUNDS A GILD GE, AN ENFORCED HELL, AND AN EMBRACED AND ACMODATED HELL. HE WANTED FAME. THIS WAS THE PRICE. BUT EVEN IF YOU WEREN’T FAMO, THOSE DAYS, A SIAR SET OF CHOIC WERE ON OFFER.AS TURNED OUT, HUNTER OVERPLAYED HIS HAND, STOOD UP TO JACK WARNER, THEN REALIZED, TOO LATE, WAS “REER SUICI.” CHEY FILMS—TERRIBLE FILMS—FOLLOWED. HE BEME A JOKE, AND THEN HE PLAYED OFF THAT IMAGE POLYTER AND LT IN THE DT. HE FELL LOVE WH GLASER.STILL, HUNTER WOULDN’T E OUT, EVEN AS ELLEN, GEE MICHAEL AND OTHERS DID. IN THE DOCUMENTARY, PORTIA ROSSI SAYS HOW HARD TODAY IS FOR OUT ACTORS TO BE OUT, HOW NERVO SHE WAS TO DO . NOAH WYLE SAYS HE KNOWS SEVERAL STARS WHO WON’T E OUT. GLASER OFFERED HUNTER THE OPPORTUNY TO MEET THE PERSON HE WANTED TO SPEND THE RT OF HIS LIFE WH. GLASER NOTED THAT HUNTER WAS HAPPIT MUCKG OUT AND RIDG HIS BELOVED HORS. WHEN HIS OLD MOVI ME ON TV, SAID GLASER OF HIS PARTNER, HUNTER FLICKED THE CHANNEL AS IF SURFG PAST A DOG-FOOD MERCIAL.HUNTER RELLED SEEG ANTHONY PERKS YEARS LATER, MARRIED AND WH A FAY, BEFORE HE DIED OF AIDS. “HIS CHOICE WAS RIGHT FOR HIM,” SAYS HUNTER. “IT WAS WHO HE WAS, OR MAYBE WHO HE WANTED TO BE.”AND THAT TORTURED AND PERCEPTIVE NSTCTN, HUNTER H ON ALL THE WARPED MECHANICS OF HOW THE CLOSET WORKS AND OUT OF HOLLYWOOD.BUT WHAT IS HOLLYWOOD SRED OF? WHAT WON’T TT? WHAT SR AS MUCH 2018 AS DID 1950? IT’S SRED THAT THE FILM-GOG DIENCE WON’T BUY THEIR LEADG WOMAN OR MAN KISSG AN OPPOSE-SEX LOVE TERT IF THEY KNOW THAT LEADG ACTOR IS GAY OR LBIAN, OR TRANS.THAT LACK OF URAGE MEANS THAT DIENC REMA UNCHALLENGED. IT ALSO UNRTIMAT THEIR POWERS OF SPEND DISBELIEF, WHICH A CENT ACTOR IS SUPPOSED TO DRAW ON.IT ALSO MEANS THAT LS LGBT FILMS ARE MA BY MASTREAM HOLLYWOOD. EVEN MORE WARDICE, IGNORANCE AND A LACK OF URAGE. AND SURE, ACTORS WILL E OUT DRIBS AND DRABS, AND Y, LGBT MOVI WILL E OUT DRIBS AND DRABS, AND OTHER OPN PIEC WILL QUTN WHETHER A TURNG POT HAS BEEN REACHED, WHETHER WE ARE PROGRSG. WE AREN’T. HOLLYWOOD ISN’T, AND THE LGBT PEOPLE WORKG THERE AT CELEBRY AND NON-CELEBRY LEVELS ARE PLIC PERPETUATG THIS SHAMEFUL LACK OF PROGRS.THEY SHOULD ALL WATCH THE TAB HUNTER DOCUMENTARY, AND THEY SHOULD READ HIS WORDS. HE NEVER SOUGHT SYMPATHY FOR LIVG THE CLOSET, OR WHY HE LIVED THE CLOSET, OR WHAT S EFFECTS WERE. HE SEEMS A PRACTIL PERSON. DEBBIE REYNOLDS LLS HIM “GROUND,” AND HE DO SEEM PLA-SPEAKG, AND PLA-THKG.IN AN TERVIEW LAST YEAR, HUNTER SAID, “IF I HAD E OUT DURG MY ACTG REER THE 1950S, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A REER. NOT MUCH HOLLYWOOD HAS CHANGED 60 YEARS. I REALLY DIDN’T TALK ABOUT MY SEXUALY UNTIL I WROTE MY TOBGRAPHY. “THERE STILL ISN’T A ROMANTIC LEAD FILMS WHO IS ACTIVELY WORKG WHO HAS E OUT AS GAY. FILM ACTORS TODAY STILL FEAR THAT G OUT WOULD DAMAGE THEIR REER.” “MY FILM REER HAD LONG SCE BEEN OVER BY THEN. I BELIEVE ONE’S SEXUALY IS ONE’S OWN BS. I REALLY DON’T GO AROUND DISCSG . CALL ME ‘OLD SCHOOL’ ON THAT TOPIC.”TAB HUNTER MA HIS CISNS, HE LIVED WH THE RULTS OF THEM, AND ULTIMATELY HE FOUND LOVE AND STENANCE WH ANOTHER MAN. AND HE ME OUT, JT AS SO MANY LGBT PEOPLE DO; JT AS HARVEY MILK RIGHTLY REMEND AS THE KEY ACT OF LGBT LIBERATN AND CLARATN. AND HUNTER WENT FURTHER: HE TOLD THE TTH NOT JT ABOUT HIMSELF, BUT ALSO ABOUT HOLLYWOOD.“THERE STILL ISN’T A ROMANTIC LEAD FILMS WHO IS ACTIVELY WORKG WHO HAS E OUT AS GAY,” HUNTER SAID THAT SAME 2017 TERVIEW. “PERHAPS THERE HAS BEEN ON TV, STAGE AND DIFFERENT ARENAS THE ENTERTAMENT BS, BUT NOT A MAJOR MOVIE STAR. FILM ACTORS TODAY STILL FEAR THAT G OUT WOULD DAMAGE THEIR REER.”Y, HUNTER IS RIGHT: THEY STILL FEAR THAT. WOULDN’T BE GRAND IF PART OF TAB HUNTER’S LEGACY WAS THE SHATTERG OF THE HOLLYWOOD CLOSET? HE DID AND FOUND OUT, THE BT WAY, THAT WAS BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. TIM TEEMAN

He wed Phyllis Gat, the secretary of his gay manager Henry Willson, 1956. It lasted only two years, but served s purpose., Still didn’t fortall a joke mor that he had married his iend, sger-actor Jim Nabors (who was also gay but not closeted) om makg the rounds.

In 1950, he was arrted along wh a group of other gay men for Disorrly Conduct when the police raid a private party, which was not an unmon circumstance.