Random Straight Characters Played By Gay Actors (29 items)

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  (#1) Mike Brady

  • The Brady Bunch, The Brady Bunch Hour, The Brady Bunch Movie, A Very Brady Sequel, A Very Brady Christmas

  Robert Reed is best known for playing Mike Brady on "The Brady Bunch."  Reed was gay, and although most people knew it, he chose not to discuss his sexuality. Sadly, Reed died of colon cancer in 1992. He was also HIV positive.
  
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  (#2) Miranda Hobbes

  • Sex and the City, Sex and the City 2, Sex and the City, Sex and the Matrix

  Cynthia Nixon is best known for playing Miranda Hobbes on "Sex and the City."  She married her partner, Christine Marinoni, in 2012.
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  (#3) Barney Stinson

  • How I Met Your Mother

  Actor Neil Patrick Harris is openly gay. He came out in 2006, saying, "I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love." He plays notorious womanizer Barney Stinson on "How I Met Your Mother."
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  (#4) Michael Scofield

  • Prison Break

  Openly gay actor Wentworth Miller played the straight character Michael Scofield on the show "Prison Break."  Miller came out in 2013 by posting an open letter on the GLAAD website in which he declined to attend a Russian film festival because of their anti-gay laws. 
  
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  (#5) Sheldon Cooper

  • The Big Bang Theory

  Jim Parsons has played several socially awkward heterosexual characters, including Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory," who has been in a relationship with Amy Farrah Fowler for several seasons. Cooper has been in a relationship with Todd Spiewak for over 10 years.
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  (#6) Darlene Conner

  Openly gay actress Sara Gilbert has played several straight characters, including Darlene Conner on "Roseanne." By the end of that series, Darlene was married. She is currently engaged to 4 Non Blondes frontwoman Linda Perry.
  
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  (#7) George O'Malley

  • Grey's Anatomy, Grey's Anatomy

  Openly gay actor T.R. Knight played the straight character Dr. George O'Malley on "Grey's Anatomy." Notably, Knight's "Grey's" co-star Isaiah Washington was fired after he used a homophobic slur. He married his partner, Patrick Leahy, in 2013.
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  (#8) Niles Crane

  • Frasier

  David Hyde Pierce played the Niles Crane on "Frasier" from 1993-2004. By the end of the series, Dr. Crane was married with a son. Pierce publicly came out in 2007.  He married his partner of over 20 years, Brian Hargrove, in 2008.
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  (#9) Lindsay Bluth Fünke

  • Arrested Development, Arrested Development, Arrested Development

  Portia de Rossi married talk show host Ellen Degeneres in 2008. She has played several straight characters, including promiscuous-but-married Lindsay Bluth Funke on "Arrested Development."
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  (#10) Martin Crane

  • Frasier

  John Mahoney does not speak publicly about his personal life, but it is widely accepted that the actor is gay. He has played many straight characters in his career, including twice-married Martin Crane on "Frasier."
  
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  (#11) Brad Allen

  • Pillow Talk

  Though he never came out during his lifetime, Rock Hudson was widely known as a homosexual throughout his career. Many in the gay community related to Hudson's struggles both publicly and privately, and he was the first major star to die of complications relating to AIDS. Still, Hudson played many straight characters throughout his career, often alongside Doris Day, including Brad Allen in Pillow Talk, Jerry Webster in Lover Come Back, and George in Send Me No Flowers.
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  (#12) Paula

  • Second Time Around

  "Glee" actress Jane Lynch is openly gay and a big supporter of gay rights. She played one half of a hilarious lesbian couple in the comedy Best in Show. She has played several straight characters, including helpfully horny Paula in The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
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  (#13) Neal Caffrey

  • White Collar

  Actor Matt Bomer publicly acknowledged that he was gay in 2012, and he has three sons with his partner, Simon Halls. Bomer has played several straight characters, including Neal Caffrey on "White Collar."
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  (#14) Spock

  • Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Coneheads, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek: Chains of Betrayal, Star Trek, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek

  Actor Zachary Quinto publicly came out in 2011. He supports several gay rights organizations. He has played several straight characters, including Spock in J.J. Abrams's adaptations of Star Trek.
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  (#15) Elyse Keaton

  • Family Ties, Mickey's 60th Birthday

  Meredith Baxter came out in an interview on "The Today Show" in 2009, and she married partner Nancy Locke in 2013. She is best known for playing Elyse Keaton on the family comedy "Family Ties." 
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  (#16) The Tasteful Lady - Lily Tomlin

  Lily Tomlin has played several straight characters throughout her career, including The Tasteful Lady on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In." Tomlin married her longtime partner Jane Wagner in 2013.
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  (#17) George Sands

  • Being Human

  Openly gay actor Russell Tovey is best known for playing straight werewolf George Sands on "Being Human." He has stated that he had a very difficult time being accepted by his family after he came out.
  
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  (#18) Miguel Morez

  Ricky Martin came out as gay in 2010. He wrote a statement on his website, saying, "These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed." He has since become an outspoken advocate for gay rights and same-sex marriage. Martin played the straight character Miguel Morez on "General Hospital."
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  (#19) Betty Rubble

  • The Flintstones, The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, I Yabba-Dabba Do!, The Flintstones

  Actor & TV personality Rosie O'Donnell publicly came out in 2002. She has since been a fierce advocate for gay rights, same-sex marriage, and gay adoption rights. She has played several straight characters, including Betty Rubble, wife of Barney, in The Flintstones and Doris in A League of Their Own.
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  (#20) Jesse St. James

  • Glee Encore, Glee Universe

  Jonathan Groff is best known for playing the role of the "Glee" character Jesse St. James, who dated Rachel Berry. Groff publicly came out in 2009 and was briefly involved with actor Zachary Quinto.
  
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  (#21) Harriet Hayes

  • Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

  Sarah Paulson played Harriet Hayes on "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."  She announced that she was in a relationship with Cherry Jones in 2007. The couple split in 2009.
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  (#22) Sandy Frink

  • Romy and Michele's High School Reunion

  Alan Cumming has played several straight characters in his career, including love interest Sandy Frink in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. He married his partner Grant Shaffer in 2007, and the couple renewed their vows in 2012.
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  (#23) Edie Stall

  • A History of Violence

  Maria Bello publicly came out in 2013 and is in a relationship with Clare Munn. She has played several straight characters throughout her career, including Edie Stall in A History of Violence.
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  (#24) Annabelle Bransford

  • Maverick

  Taxi Driver actress Jodie Foster publicly came out in 2013 during her Golden Globes acceptance speech, saying, "I already did my coming out about 1,000 years ago back in the stone age, those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends and family and co-workers, and then gradually and proudly to everyone who knew her, to everyone she actually met." Foster has played several straight characters including Annabelle Bransford in "Maverick."
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  (#25) Dawn Wiener

  • Welcome to the Dollhouse

  Heather Matarazzo is openly gay. She has played several straight characters in her career, including Dawn Wiener in the film Welcome to the Dollhouse.
  
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  (#26) Dr. Kildare

  Richard Chamberlain played several straight characters in his career, including teen idol Dr. Kildare on the '60s show of the same name. He publicly came out in 2003, but he was outed by the media in the late 1980s. He was in a relationship with Martin Rabbett for more than 30 years, but the couple split up in 2010.
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  (#27) Biggie Shorty

  • Pootie Tang

  Wanda Sykes has played many straight characters throughout her career, including Biggie Shorty in Pootie Tang. She publicly came out in 2008 after she married her wife, Alex.
  
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  (#28) Larry Harvey

  • American Horror Story

  Openly gay actor Denis O'Hare has played several straight characters throughout his career, including Larry Harvey on "American Horror Story."  He is married to Hugo Redwood, and the couple have one son.
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  (#29) Guillermo Garcia Gomez - Guillermo Diaz

  Guillermo Diaz has played several straight characters including Guillermo Garcia Gomez on "Weeds."  Gomez is openly gay, but he says that hiding his sexuality in his youth actually helped him to become a better actor.
  

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