Former ‘M*A*S*H’ star says he is gay

Contents:

• ‘M*A*S*H’: ONE MAJOR CHARACTER WAS INIALLY WRTEN TO BE A GAY MAN
• FORMER ‘M*A*S*H’ STAR SAYS HE IS GAY
• 'M*A*S*H' STAR DAVID OGN STIERS REVEALS HE'S GAY
• M*A*S*H ACTOR DAVID OGN STIERS FALLY COM OUTTHE ACTOR WHO DID VOICE WORK FOR MANY ANIMATED DISNEY FILMS SETS THE RERD "GAY."{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;}TVBY MICHAEL JENSENMAY 4, 2009/9:03 {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:1450PX;WIDTH:2118PX;}DISNEY/CBSBY MICHAEL JENSENMAY 4, 2009 / 9:03 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"M*A*S*H ACTOR DAVID OGN STIERS FALLY COM OUT","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2009-05-05T01:03:18.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2009-05-05T01:03:18.000+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":"MICHAEL JENSEN","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{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;}DAVID OGN STIERS, THE EMMY-NOMATED ACTOR WHO FIRST FOUND WISPREAD FAME PLAYG MAJOR CHARL WCHTER ON THE TV SERI M*A*S*H AND WHO LATER VOICED MANY CHARACTERS ANIMATED DISNEY MILS, HAS E OUT AN TERVIEW WH THE GAY OKLAHOMA CY BLOG {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 AM [GAY],” OGN STIERS SAID. “VERY PROUD TO BE SO.”{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;}THE TERVIEW WAS PUBLISHED MARCH, BUT WAS MISSED BY MANY MEDIA OUTLETS, CLUDG THIS {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;}IRONILLY, OGN STIERS SAID WAS HIS LATER, VERY SUCCSFUL REER AS A VOICE ACTOR THAT ED HIS RELUCTANCE TO E OUT ANY {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 ENJOY WORKG AND EVEN THOUGH MANY HAVE THIS IALISTIC BELIEF THAT THE ENTERTAMENT DTRY AND STUDS LIKE WALT DISNEY ARE GAY IENDLY, [THEY WEREN’T ALWAYS],” OGN STIERS SAID. “FOR THE MOST PART THEY ARE, BUT THAT DON’T MEAN FOR THEM THAT BS DO NOT E FIRST. IT’S A MATTER OF ENOMICS…A LOT OF MY E HAS BEEN RIVED OM VOICG DISNEY AND FAY PROGRAMMG. WHAT THEY MIGHT ALLOW A MORE KNOWN ACTOR, THEY PREFER NOT HAVG TO AL WH MOR PLAYERS.”{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;}AMONG OGN STIERS MANY VOICE CREDS ARE ROL DOZENS OF ANIMATED DISNEY MOVI, CLUDG COGSWORTH BETY AND THE BEAST, BOTH RATCLIFFE AND WIGGS POHONTAS, AND THE ARCHAN THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. HE ALSO VOICED A CHARACTER THE ENGLISH VERSN OF SPIRED AWAY, DISTRIBUTED BY {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;}ODGEN STIERS SAID HE WAS REPEATEDLY UTNED TO STAY THE CLOSET IF HE WANTED TO NTUE GETTG WORK AS A VOICE ACTOR FOR THE FAY FILMS. “FROM THE LATE 1980’S UNTIL ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO, YOU WOULD FD CERTA DIVIDUALS G UP TO YOU, ME, AND ADVOTG THE POSN THAT SCE WE WERE DOG FAY FARE THAT WOULD BE BT WERE THE ACTORS TO MATA A CERTA PALATABILY TO PARENTS,” OGN STIERS SAID. “THE PARTI LIKELY HAD HEARD MORS OR HARBORED SPICNS ABOUT ME AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE NO EMBARRASSG CINTS WERE FORTHG.”{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;}THAT SAID, OGN STIERS ADMTED THAT, LATER YEARS, HE WASN’T SURE IF THE THREAT OF HOMOPHOBIC DISCRIMATN WAS STILL REAL. “I’VE BEEN WORKG TERNALLY ON WHETHER THEY WERE THE PROBLEMS, OR IF I JT NTUED G THEM AS AN EXCE LONG AFTER THE LL FOR NSERVATIVE PRIVATE LIV PASSED,” HE {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;}OGN STIERS, 66, WAS BORN AND RAISED ILLOIS, WHERE HE -EDED A NEWSPAPER WH CLASSMATE AND FUTURE FILM CRIC ROGER {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;}LATER, HE FOUND SUCCS ON THE STAGE ON BOTH ASTS, BUT WH HIS DISTGUISHED LOOK AND DISTCTIVE VOICE, WAS TELEVISN WHERE HE FOUND BREAK-OUT STARDOM. IN 1977, HE REPLACED LARRY LVILLE’S FRANK BURNS AS A FOIL FOR ALAN ALDA’S HAWKEYE ON THE TELEVISN H, M*A*S*H. ODGEN STIERS PLAYED THE ROLE OF ARROGANT, BUT SOMEHOW LIKABLE ARISTOCRAT CHARL EMERSON WCHTER III FOR SIX YEARS, LANDG TWO EMMY NOMATNS, UNTIL THE SHOW WAS NCELED 1983. HE DID NOT APPEAR THE SHOW’S SP-OFF, {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;}DURG HIS STT ON M*A*S*H AND AFTER, OGN STIERS APPEARED UNTLS TELEVISN AND MOVIE ROL, GENERALLY AS A SUPPORTG PLAYER. MOST RECENTLY, HE LAND REGULAR ROL ON THE SERI THE DEAD ZONE AND STARGATE: ATLANTIS. HE’S ALSO APPEARED A NUMBER OF WOODY ALLEN MOVI, CLUDG ONE, ANOTHER WOMAN, WHERE HE PLAYED AN EERILY ACCURATE-SEEMG YOUNGER VERSN OF HIS FORMER ACTG MENTOR, THE LATE JOHN {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 WAS HIS POST-M*A*S*H REER AS A VOICE ACTOR WHERE HE ONCE AGA FOUND MAJOR SUCCS. IRONILLY, WAS THE FLAMBOYANT NATURE OF SOME OF THOSE ROL THAT HE SAYS NTRIBUTED TO HIS STAYG {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;}“COGSWORTH, THE CHARACTER I DID ON BETY AND THE BEAST, ULD BE A B FLAMBOYANT ON SCREEN, BEE BASILLY HE IS A RTOON,” HE SAID. “BUT THEY DIDN’T WANT COGSWORTH TO BEE DISNEY’S GAY CHARACTER, BEE GOT AROUND A GAY MAN WAS PLAYG HIM.”{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;}REGARDG THIS SIGNATURE ROLE THE CLASSIC DISNEY FILM (WHICH ODGEN STIERS ALSO NARRAT), THE ACTOR REPORTEDLY AD-LIBBED THE LAST PART OF COGSWORTH’S FAMO ADVICE TO THE BEAST ON WHAT TO GIVE BELLE: “WELL, THERE'S THE UAL THGS: FLOWERS... CHOLAT... PROMIS YOU DON'T TEND TO KEEP...”{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 ON THE SUBJECT OF ANTI-GAY DISCRIMATN THE ANIMATED MOVIE DTRY, ODGEN STIERS IS QUICK TO ADD, “I HAVEN’T WNSED SUCH THGS OCCURRG A LONG, LONG TIME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

‘M*A*S*H’: ONE MAJOR CHARACTER WAS INIALLY WRTEN TO BE A GAY MAN

The director then tells me to play Klger ‘gay. “I am (gay), ” the 66-year-old actor said an terview wh the blog “Very proud to be so. “I enjoy workg and even though many have this ialistic belief that the entertament dtry and studs like Walt Disney are gay iendly.

Cogsworth, the character I did on ‘Bety and the Beast’ uld be a b flamboyant on screen, bee basilly he is a rtoon, but they didn’t want Cogsworth to bee Disney’s gay character, bee got around a gay man was playg him. M*A*S*HCast & crewUser reviewsTriviaEpiso aired Feb 16, 197413+25mA rated GI nfis to Hawkeye that he was beaten by his own un for beg gay but Frank Burns is outraged when he fds out om another source and tri to have the soldier dishonorab... Read allA rated GI nfis to Hawkeye that he was beaten by his own un for beg gay but Frank Burns is outraged when he fds out om another source and tri to have the soldier dishonorably discharged.

A rated GI nfis to Hawkeye that he was beaten by his own un for beg gay but Frank Burns is outraged when he fds out om another source and tri to have the soldier dishonorably productn, box office & pany Review A B GroundbreakgA wound soldier is brought to the OR wh juri non-related to battle. He nfis Hawkeye that he is gay. May 6, 2009 — -- In the twilight of his reer, "M*A*S*H" actor David Ogn Stiers has fally e out, sayg he's no longer aaid to be a recent terview, the Emmy-nomated actor, 66, told the Oklahoma Cy blog, "I am [gay].

FORMER ‘M*A*S*H’ STAR SAYS HE IS GAY

"The actor said he kept his homosexualy unr wraps for years bee he feared g out would hurt his reer. But beg that he has not experienced any anti-gay discrimatn the movie dtry recently, Ogn Stiers is rensirg what exactly ma him stay the closet for so long.

"I haven't wnsed such thgs occurrg a long, long time, " he said about anti-gay discrimatn, addg that his personal ncerns may have cloud his views.

"I enjoy workg, and even though many have this ialistic belief that the entertament dtry and studs like Walt Disney are gay iendly, " they weren't always, he said. "But they didn't want Cogsworth to bee Disney's gay character, bee got around a gay man was playg him.

'M*A*S*H' STAR DAVID OGN STIERS REVEALS HE'S GAY

"I uld claim noble reasons as g out orr to move gay rights forward, but I mt adm is for far more selfish reasons. "Frasier" star David Hy Pierce, 50, was prodd out of the closet 2007 after an Associated Prs article mentned his partner, Brian Hargrove, and the blog followed up wh Pierce to nfirm that he was fact gay. "Lord of the Rgs" and "X-Men" star Sir Ian McKellen, 69, revealed he was gay on Brish rad 1988 and later said he wished he had e out sooner.

"I am happy to dispel any mors or misnceptns and am que proud to say that I am a very ntent gay man livg my life to the fullt and feel most fortunate to be workg wh wonrful people the bs I love, " he told People magaze 2006. David Ogn Stiers, the Emmy-nomated actor who first found wispread fame playg Major Charl Wchter on the TV seri M*A*S*H and who later voiced many characters animated Disney mils, has e out an terview wh the gay Oklahoma Cy blog “I am [gay], ” Ogn Stiers said.

M*A*S*H ACTOR DAVID OGN STIERS FALLY COM OUTTHE ACTOR WHO DID VOICE WORK FOR MANY ANIMATED DISNEY FILMS SETS THE RERD "GAY."{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;}TVBY MICHAEL JENSENMAY 4, 2009/9:03 {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:1450PX;WIDTH:2118PX;}DISNEY/CBSBY MICHAEL JENSENMAY 4, 2009 / 9:03 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"M*A*S*H ACTOR DAVID OGN STIERS FALLY COM OUT","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2009-05-05T01:03:18.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2009-05-05T01:03:18.000+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":"MICHAEL JENSEN","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{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;}DAVID OGN STIERS, THE EMMY-NOMATED ACTOR WHO FIRST FOUND WISPREAD FAME PLAYG MAJOR CHARL WCHTER ON THE TV SERI M*A*S*H AND WHO LATER VOICED MANY CHARACTERS ANIMATED DISNEY MILS, HAS E OUT AN TERVIEW WH THE GAY OKLAHOMA CY BLOG {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 AM [GAY],” OGN STIERS SAID. “VERY PROUD TO BE SO.”{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;}THE TERVIEW WAS PUBLISHED MARCH, BUT WAS MISSED BY MANY MEDIA OUTLETS, CLUDG THIS {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;}IRONILLY, OGN STIERS SAID WAS HIS LATER, VERY SUCCSFUL REER AS A VOICE ACTOR THAT ED HIS RELUCTANCE TO E OUT ANY {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 ENJOY WORKG AND EVEN THOUGH MANY HAVE THIS IALISTIC BELIEF THAT THE ENTERTAMENT DTRY AND STUDS LIKE WALT DISNEY ARE GAY IENDLY, [THEY WEREN’T ALWAYS],” OGN STIERS SAID. “FOR THE MOST PART THEY ARE, BUT THAT DON’T MEAN FOR THEM THAT BS DO NOT E FIRST. IT’S A MATTER OF ENOMICS…A LOT OF MY E HAS BEEN RIVED OM VOICG DISNEY AND FAY PROGRAMMG. WHAT THEY MIGHT ALLOW A MORE KNOWN ACTOR, THEY PREFER NOT HAVG TO AL WH MOR PLAYERS.”{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;}AMONG OGN STIERS MANY VOICE CREDS ARE ROL DOZENS OF ANIMATED DISNEY MOVI, CLUDG COGSWORTH BETY AND THE BEAST, BOTH RATCLIFFE AND WIGGS POHONTAS, AND THE ARCHAN THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. HE ALSO VOICED A CHARACTER THE ENGLISH VERSN OF SPIRED AWAY, DISTRIBUTED BY {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;}ODGEN STIERS SAID HE WAS REPEATEDLY UTNED TO STAY THE CLOSET IF HE WANTED TO NTUE GETTG WORK AS A VOICE ACTOR FOR THE FAY FILMS. “FROM THE LATE 1980’S UNTIL ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO, YOU WOULD FD CERTA DIVIDUALS G UP TO YOU, ME, AND ADVOTG THE POSN THAT SCE WE WERE DOG FAY FARE THAT WOULD BE BT WERE THE ACTORS TO MATA A CERTA PALATABILY TO PARENTS,” OGN STIERS SAID. “THE PARTI LIKELY HAD HEARD MORS OR HARBORED SPICNS ABOUT ME AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE NO EMBARRASSG CINTS WERE FORTHG.”{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;}THAT SAID, OGN STIERS ADMTED THAT, LATER YEARS, HE WASN’T SURE IF THE THREAT OF HOMOPHOBIC DISCRIMATN WAS STILL REAL. “I’VE BEEN WORKG TERNALLY ON WHETHER THEY WERE THE PROBLEMS, OR IF I JT NTUED G THEM AS AN EXCE LONG AFTER THE LL FOR NSERVATIVE PRIVATE LIV PASSED,” HE {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;}OGN STIERS, 66, WAS BORN AND RAISED ILLOIS, WHERE HE -EDED A NEWSPAPER WH CLASSMATE AND FUTURE FILM CRIC ROGER {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;}LATER, HE FOUND SUCCS ON THE STAGE ON BOTH ASTS, BUT WH HIS DISTGUISHED LOOK AND DISTCTIVE VOICE, WAS TELEVISN WHERE HE FOUND BREAK-OUT STARDOM. IN 1977, HE REPLACED LARRY LVILLE’S FRANK BURNS AS A FOIL FOR ALAN ALDA’S HAWKEYE ON THE TELEVISN H, M*A*S*H. ODGEN STIERS PLAYED THE ROLE OF ARROGANT, BUT SOMEHOW LIKABLE ARISTOCRAT CHARL EMERSON WCHTER III FOR SIX YEARS, LANDG TWO EMMY NOMATNS, UNTIL THE SHOW WAS NCELED 1983. HE DID NOT APPEAR THE SHOW’S SP-OFF, {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;}DURG HIS STT ON M*A*S*H AND AFTER, OGN STIERS APPEARED UNTLS TELEVISN AND MOVIE ROL, GENERALLY AS A SUPPORTG PLAYER. MOST RECENTLY, HE LAND REGULAR ROL ON THE SERI THE DEAD ZONE AND STARGATE: ATLANTIS. HE’S ALSO APPEARED A NUMBER OF WOODY ALLEN MOVI, CLUDG ONE, ANOTHER WOMAN, WHERE HE PLAYED AN EERILY ACCURATE-SEEMG YOUNGER VERSN OF HIS FORMER ACTG MENTOR, THE LATE JOHN {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 WAS HIS POST-M*A*S*H REER AS A VOICE ACTOR WHERE HE ONCE AGA FOUND MAJOR SUCCS. IRONILLY, WAS THE FLAMBOYANT NATURE OF SOME OF THOSE ROL THAT HE SAYS NTRIBUTED TO HIS STAYG {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;}“COGSWORTH, THE CHARACTER I DID ON BETY AND THE BEAST, ULD BE A B FLAMBOYANT ON SCREEN, BEE BASILLY HE IS A RTOON,” HE SAID. “BUT THEY DIDN’T WANT COGSWORTH TO BEE DISNEY’S GAY CHARACTER, BEE GOT AROUND A GAY MAN WAS PLAYG HIM.”{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;}REGARDG THIS SIGNATURE ROLE THE CLASSIC DISNEY FILM (WHICH ODGEN STIERS ALSO NARRAT), THE ACTOR REPORTEDLY AD-LIBBED THE LAST PART OF COGSWORTH’S FAMO ADVICE TO THE BEAST ON WHAT TO GIVE BELLE: “WELL, THERE'S THE UAL THGS: FLOWERS... CHOLAT... PROMIS YOU DON'T TEND TO KEEP...”{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 ON THE SUBJECT OF ANTI-GAY DISCRIMATN THE ANIMATED MOVIE DTRY, ODGEN STIERS IS QUICK TO ADD, “I HAVEN’T WNSED SUCH THGS OCCURRG A LONG, LONG TIME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

“I enjoy workg and even though many have this ialistic belief that the entertament dtry and studs like Walt Disney are gay iendly, [they weren’t always], ” Ogn Stiers said. ”That said, Ogn Stiers admted that, later years, he wasn’t sure if the threat of homophobic discrimatn was still real. “But they didn’t want Cogsworth to bee Disney’s gay character, bee got around a gay man was playg him.

”But on the subject of anti-gay discrimatn the animated movie dtry, Odgen Stiers is quick to add, “I haven’t wnsed such thgs occurrg a long, long time.