John Glover may be best known these days for the scene stealing role of Lionel Luther on the WB's (soon to be CW) Smallville, but he's enjoyed a rich career playing a variety of plum parts. He's done everything from stage to big screen, even winning a Tony Award for his turn in Love! Valour! Compassion! He later reprised the role for the movie version. So what's his favorite role? A violent kidnapper who gets to do naughty, naughty things to Ann Margaret.

Back before anyone knew his name, Glover costarred in An Early Frost, a groundbreaking made-for-TV movie about AIDS. An Early Frost is being released by Wolfe Video for the first time on DVD on July 18.

AfterElton.com recently had the opportunity to speak to Glover on his way to the airport to start filming season six of Smallville. I'm from his hometown, Salisbury, Maryland, so after a little small talk, we got down to business.

AfterElton.com: What was it like working on An Early Frost in 1985? Did you feel you were a part of something important?
John Glover: Absolutely. We all did, because of the silence that was happening in the face of the disease. Nobody was talking about it. The press wasn't talking about it. It wasn't on the television or in the papers. It was hidden on the back pages, and it was something that only happened to horrible, sinful people. That was the perception of most people then. Everybody who was in or concerned with it knew how important it was to humanize these people that the disease was happening to. It was important to get this message out there to people.

It was right about that time that the news broke about Rock Hudson, which only helped bring more attention to the movie, and brought even more viewers.

AE: Were you out then?
JG: I'm not sure. It was only an issue for famous actors.

AE: Victor is one of the most emotional and flamboyant roles in the film. Were you scared at all to take the part?
JG: No, not at all. First because of the importance of the project, but on top of that, it was just a great part. When I met with John Erman, there were two roles available, Victor and Peter, the boyfriend. I said I wanted one of them and told me it was doubtful I could get Peter, so I read for Victor. I think I knew I had it by the time I got home that night or the next day. Of course, D.W. Moffet got the part of Peter and did such a wonderful job with it.

AE: Do you think taking the role of Michael affected Aidan Quinn's career?
JG: Only positively, that's all I could guess. It was such a brilliant performance, and such a great role. It showed what a great actor he is.

AE: What are your thoughts about the movie now, looking back?
JG: It still holds up so well. I saw it two years ago at a screening at OutFest. I haven't seen the DVD yet, but I want to. It's just such a powerful film.

A lot of people now have criticized the lack of physical intimacy between Michael and Peter, but it never bothered me because I understood the reason. Even then, there were complaints that the movie didn't show them hugging or kissing more, but we were more concerned with getting the message to Middle America without offending them. We didn't want them to turn off their televisions.

AE: Right, it was 1985 and there were almost no gay people on TV at that time.
JG: None.

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