Gay actors in the closet

By Brent Lang. Executive Editor.

Ian McKellen encourages fellow actors to come out: 'Being in the closet is silly'

Celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Caitlyn Jenner and Neil Patrick Harris have kicked open the closet door with little to no damage to their careers. No A-list film actor has yet to come out publicly while at the pinnacle of his or her career. Yet despite their prodigious gay, none of them has the power to secure a greenlight on their name alone.

Popular on Variety. Public opinion may be shifting, with a majority of Americans now favoring gay marriage, but the U. Hollywood has become increasingly dependent on foreign actors such as China and Russia, which boast sprawling populations of moviegoers, as well as draconian anti-gay laws.

While more and more Americans endorse LGBT rights, many have trouble suspending disbelief when it comes to seeing gay actors portraying certain roles. The scale of these productions may make gay action stars wary of making any kind of announcement that could depress ticket sales.

But Takei acknowledges that right now, the economic risk is big. At least being identified as gay is no longer seen as closet. More than a decade ago, Tom Cruise sued men who accused him of having male lovers. Today, the like James Franco make sport out of keeping fans guessing about their sexual orientation.

Neither career has suffered in the process. If anything, younger moviegoers view them as cooler because of their refusal to accept traditional labels. Yet the industry remains resistant to change. All it takes, industry figures say, is one transformative figure. This is the last frontier. Home Film News.

Jun 29, am PT. By Brent Lang Plus Icon. See All. Related Stories. Jump to Comments. Freddie Prinze Jr. More From Our Brands. Expand the sub menu Film.