'Stay in the closet'

[ZombieHorde]

Actor Richard Chamberlain, who kept his homosexuality a secret for decades while he worked as a romantic leading man on TV, is advising other men in his spot to stay in the closet.

"There's still a tremendous amount of homophobia in our culture," says the actor who came to fame in the early 1960s as the impossibly handsome Dr. Kildare.

"For an actor to be working is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't," Chamberlain told The Advocate, the monthly magazine.

"So it's just silly for a working actor to say, "Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay" -- especially if you're a leading man.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/stay_in_the_closet_hHEiu5C3v7S2K3feArNcSN#ixzz19Ljx9Puk

On one hand, his advice will protect some actors; on the other hand, actors coming out of the closet could help ease homophobia. I don't judge anyone for choosing either path. The US is filled with stupid people.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Harvey Fierstein was a fine leading man in "Torch Song Trilogy"

and wish he had more roles.

[NBachers]

2. Nice collage of the impossibly handsome Richard Chamberlain singing the theme to Dr. Kildare

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJPtSA5M7k0

He's everything they said he was . . .

[WingDinger]

3. The jobs that have racial, or stereotypeable requirements, are strictly subjective.

And that kind of crap is no place for self respecting gays to look, for inspiration. People in entertainment, should worship idols, or something, to extend their fifeteen minute overstay. And he acknowledges that.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. He's not wrong. But it's a somewhat immature stance.

I doubt if most well-known ( or promising) out actors just blurt out, in a "silly" way: "Oh , I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay."

Rather..... it's more likely the end of a long and hard internal process. My guess is many of them are looking at a much bigger picture. And taking a lot into consideration.

Lot's to weigh: professional disadvantages vs. the pressure of living undercover.

And that's just the personal level. A lot of folks struggle with the question of what their obligation is to the next generation. ( And of course, a lot do NOT.)

Do we want to make a meaningful difference to the next generation? Or do we want to leave things as they were?

"Silly?" Poor choice of words on the good "doctor's" part.

[WingDinger]

5. Your public life, is an extension of your character. And you will not get the same juices flowing

for the ladies, if you are proven gay. The fantasy of you as sex object suffers. You should and will do as you must do, to maximize wealth achieved.

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. Right. And leave the social order undisturbed.

Ahhh... "our ancient and holy social order. It must be preserved."

Some people are ok with that. And I guess Richard is one of them. It's plenty safe... that's for sure.

Some people are not.

We all get to decide which is the most responsible path.

[WingDinger]

7. It's all about the benjamins!

Prove to them that you have an audience, and they might let you live. Otherwise, they might be able to sue you, for killing the goose that laid a golden egg. Perhaps they take out insurance, to warranty against doing anything to harm THEIR BRAND. Your personal life, costs them, or reinforces their investment.

Oh, and that's hollywood, not real life.

[foxfeet]

8. Pssst! Richard! Your sexuality wasn't all that big a secret.

I've known you were gay since the '70s.

[K8-EEE]

9. Well everyone in the biz knew Rock Hudson was gay too

But the deal is, if it's a secret from most of the ticket-buying public you're more bankable as an actor -- unfortunately I think he is right. Films are marketed to the masses and most people in the U.S. are not very sophisticated about such things.