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Gay Celebrity Lives, Then and NowThough he was not gay, actor Heath Ledger (1979-2008) enjoyed a big gay following thanks to his Oscar-worthy performance as “Ennis Del Mar” in Ang Lee’s gay classic Brokeback Mountain (2005).
Heath Ledger: Hollywood’s Dark Star by Brian J. Robb (Plexus; 160 pages; $19.95) is a “quickie” biography, hastily put together following Ledger’s tragic death from an accidental drug overdose. Even so, it is a delightful read for those of us who admired Ledger and his admittedly spotty acting career. “Heath Ledger was a movie star who burned brightly for the brief period he was famous,” writes Robb. “It’s all the more tragic, then, that those elements of his personality that gave the world great performances . . . were the same things that resulted in his suffering great anxiety and uncertainty about his own abilities and talents.” While the text leaves something to be desired, we forgive it all of its faults because of its wonderful photos, including over a hundred great color and black-and-white shots of the immortal Mr. Ledger in all of his various film roles. Included as well are photos from both his public and private life. The photos alone make Heath Ledger: Hollywood’s Dark Star worth buying. Jesse Monteagudo, a Florida-based freelance writer, is now celebrating his 30th year as a writer for the print and online GLBT press. Write him at jessemonteagudo@aol.com.
Submitted by on Mon, 2008-09-29 22:40. |
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I've always said if you want to know all about Raymond Burr --
get out your A Star is Born DVD (it comes with your copy of the "Gay Agenda" and the Anyone Can Whistle original cast album in the Gay Starter Kit) and go directly to the kinescope of the film's premiere at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. There amidst the bevvy of stars (assembled as never before or since) you'll find Raymond Burr, his beard for the evening, and the most drop-dead gorgeous sailor you've ever laid eyes on. As this Tom of Finland wet dream stares into the camera like Bambi on Tina, Burr dryly remarks "I'm just showing this fine young man some of the glamour of Hollywood."
Aren't we all, dear, aren't we all!
I just wish people were more accepting...
What lenghts Raymond Burr must have had to go to, to keep his sexuality private..
When it is really no ones business but his own. I can't wait for the day when
a celebrity coming out won't be front page material. Dream a little dream...some day hoepfully this will be the case.
Eric
It went far beyond ordinary lengths
Rock Hudson had one fake marriage. Burr had one too -- then invented more AND a son who never existed. Truly odd. There's a very good episode of A&E "Biography" on Burr in which his lover appears and talks sbout their life together.
But what's all this about the sexuality of stars not being anyon's business but their own? Sexual attractiveness on one level or another is what stardom is all about.
Ordinary Lengths?
Rock Hudson (and the studios) sacrificed George Nader so that Hudson could remain a star. Rock Hudson, when rumors started circulating about he and Jim Nabors, cut him off and wouldn't be seen near him. These people all went beyond ordinary lengths--Tony Perkins went through torturous psychotherapy, many of them married, many of them sacrificed friendships. People like William Haines were the exception, not the rule.
But, they also lived at a time when being gay was illegal. People could be imprisoned and /or sent to psychiatric hospitals where lobotomies and castration were common. We can't compare what current celebrities go through to what they went through then. It was such a different time from now. I know we all like to look back and cluck at the foolishness they went through--I think we should all just be happy we live in times where we can live our lives with far less interference and hope for the day we can live without any trouble.
That Nader "sacrifice" story is an urban myth
Nader and Hudson were close friends their whole lives. Nader's career never took off at Universal the way Hudsons' did. Consequently the "Confidential" stpry was of little consequence. The studio eventually sold his contract and his last films were made in England. Nowhere to Go in which he co-stars with Maggie Smith is quite good.
Thenn he retured to Palm Springs and wrote a sci-fi novel called "Chrome" about gay "replicant"-type robots in love. With the right script director and cast a move version could be TONS better than Brokeback Mountain.
That May well be
He was wary of those outside his set
George Nader remained a friend for life, even though Nader eventually came to live a very "out" life.
Don Bachardy tells me that Hudson was very wary of him and Isherwood. Chris and Don were IN Hollywood but not OF it.