Actor Hunter Reflects
on Past in Memoir
By AP from the
NYTimes on the Web, October 27, 2005
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Tab
Hunter writes about being a closeted gay actor in the spotlight of 1950s
Hollywood in his new memoir, ''Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie
Star.''
Teens of that era loved Hunter's blond, surfer-boy good looks, and he rose to
stardom with roles in films such as ''Island of Desire,'' ''Battle Cry'' and
''Damn Yankees!'' He also had a pop-music hit single with ''Young Love.''
When Confidential magazine published a story in 1955 that implied he was gay,
''I wasn't angry, I was more fearful,'' Hunter told AP Radio in a recent
interview. ''I had very, very few close friends and even a smaller number
knew what my sexuality was.''
Hunter was able to hide his sexuality from the public, but his acting career hit
a dry spell in the 1960s. Then filmmaker John Waters offered him the role
of Todd Tomorrow in 1981's ''Polyester.''
''He said, 'How do you feel about kissing a 300-pound transvestite?' And I
thought about it for a minute. I thought, 'I'm sure I've kissed a heck of
a lot worse,''' Hunter recalled with a laugh. ''Divine was one of my
favorite leading ladies.''
Writing the memoir was difficult, the 74-year-old actor said, ''because I'm a
really private person. I grew up full of denial. I just didn't like
any suggestions or questioning of my sexuality.''
|
