Neil Patrick Harris Lets it all Hang Out

Harris’s announcement, like T.R. Knight’s two weeks before it, was revolutionary: a gay male actor known for playing heterosexuals was choosing to publicly come out in the very prime of his career.

In the immediate aftermath, Harris did a delicate public relations dance, steering clear of gay press and avoiding talking about his being gay in the mainstream media for a time, though he eventually discussed it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and elsewhere.

Now, however, the floodgates seem to have opened.

While publicizing the recent Kumar sequel Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, he’s been game for any question and any gimmick — even allowing Ellen Degeneres to “decapitate” him onstage. And he played a necrophiliac in a recent episode of the web comedy series Powerloafing:

Kumar creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg are reportedly considering another movie for Harris, this one centering on the horny, drugged-up “Neil Patrick Harris” character in their films. Harris’ response? More of his now-trademark frankness: “Part of me thinks that would be really hilarious ... then part of me thinks that it is just truly jumping the shark.”

What’s behind Harris’s sudden candor?

Gay humorist Bruce Vilanch, who’s been known to tell a few blue jokes himself, doesn’t dare hazard a guess. “All I have to say is that I'm pissed off at both Neil and David for being monogamous, as I've just had my romper room refurbished,” he says.

The truth is Harris, who declined to be interviewed for this article, may simply be resorting to form. The actor drew attention, and buzz of a future as a talk show host, during his time as a replacement host for Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kelly when Philbin was absent for six weeks in 2007 undergoing bypass surgery. Harris impressed many with his quick wit and easy on-air charm.

"You can notice a growing confidence when he's on talk shows these days or doing something like subbing for Regis,” says longtime entertainment reporter Greg Hernandez of Out in Hollywood. “Being out and speaking his truth has only made him more appealing, it's only made him a bigger star. And he's done all of this in the mainstream which is not an easy thing."

But Harris’ recent forthrightness also appears to be somewhat contextual, which makes it seem more intentional on the part of the actor. He rarely, if ever, mentions his partner on Live with Regis and Kelly, which has a decidedly Middle American audience. In describing how he and his co-host spent Valentine’s Day earlier this year, Kelly spoke specifically about her husband while Harris talked in odd, gender-neutral terms.

Kelly Ripa-induced demureness aside, Harris may be well on his way to becoming the U.S.’s answer to the U.K.’s John Barrowman, the enormously popular, openly gay Torchwood star who has a penchant for speaking his mind and saying often ribald things.

Other GLBT American celebrities have developed reputations for speaking plainly. In addition to Vilanch, there’s Alan Cumming and Alexis Arquette. But Harris may be the first gay celebrity of his stature to do so.

Next page! Neil wins over homophobes!