These comments are un-moderated and do not necessarily represent the views of PinkNews.co.uk. If you believe that a comment is inappropriate or libellous please click "Report" or email us. Terms and Conditions · Privacy Policy
London: Gay couple threatened with death in violent late night homophobic assault
141
Government considers watered down same-sex marriage bill to minimise Tory rebellion
133
Tory MP Gerald Howarth: 'There are plenty in the aggressive homosexual community who want more than just same-sex marriage'
94
France: Far right activist commits suicide in Notre Dame following legalisation of equal marriage
93
Philip Hammond: 'No great demand for gay marriage and it's upsetting vast numbers of people'
73
Government to consider abolishing civil partnerships or opening up to straight couples
68
Norman Tebbit: David Cameron has 'f**** things up' with his equal marriage bill
66
Tory MP Sir Gerald Howarth defends 'aggressive homosexual community' equal marriage slur
63
David Cameron: Gay teenagers will stand that bit taller following equal marriage vote
62
Lib Dem Deputy Leader Simon Hughes: 'Marriage should be between one man and one woman'
58
Robert in S. Kensington 710
GulliverUK 353
Jock S. Trap 344
Iris 324
Mark Y 323
Rehan 300
Tim 296
That There Other David 295
Wingby 277
D.McCabe 273
It’s an anecdote from an old actress about events over 45 years ago.
How is this news, of ANY kind?
It’s very important to let the world know that so called straight actors were not straight at all. The homophobia in Hollywood exists in a unbelievable way, even today! Not only actors but camera men and the whole crew have to pretend to be straight or lose their jobs!!! I know former lovers who have married because they came under suspicion to be gay and outcasted! Same thing with sports men! You cannot be gay as a socker player and thus they pretend to be straight and thus there aren’t gay socker players. It’s the Awfull truth and time to make it public. At least when it cannot harm the person anymore like Stephen Boyd but will make it clear he too was factually blackmailed by a heterosexual mafia in Hollywood.
Don’t be such an idiot. Our history, all of it, is important. Thank you Raquel for this recollection and your gracious acceptance of Boyd’s polite rejection.
Stephen Boyd played Messala in 1959′s Ben Hur as gay and in love with Ben Hur (Charlton Heston) butr no one told ‘Chuck’. Its a great story, told in Vito Russo’s book Celluloid Closet and in the excellent documentary film based on Vito’s book. Boyd should have been nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for that film, but was overlooked. I wonder why?
I have read Vito’s book more than once, and I have the DVD narrated by Lily Tomlin.
Also, the story of how the adorable and virile Stephen Boyd excelled as Massala by portraying a gay attachment to Ben-Hur was told on film by Gore Vidal who had actually coached Boyd during the shoot.
Boyd’s close-up in that scene is as clear in my mind as the day I first saw it… an unforgettable actor, and I’m so happy to hear he was gay and a well-kept secret in those awful days in Hollywood.
This is old old news. Gore Vidal outed him in his autobiography “Palimpsest” in 1995
Btw Vidal was the screenwriter and he told Boyd to play the part gay. As TheLizzie says this was also covered in the Celluloid Closet.
Not everyone reads the grandiose Gore Vidal… but thanks for the lead.
Speak for yourself, Jonpol. Try Lincoln, it’s very dry!
eh, eh… fair enough, Mr. Ripley.
Lincoln?
Jonpol, don’t take Mr. Ripley’s word for it. Vidal’s “Lincoln” is probably the best Lincoln book I’ve ever read other than “Team of Rivals – The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” – by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Both books show tremendous insight into the genius that was Lincoln and how he played his rivals (all in his cabinet) like a fantastic politician, magician, and psychologist. In the end they were all totally thankful that Lincoln, not them had won the responsibility for his near impossible task. Both books well worth reading if this era and history interest you.
Very tempting, David, thank you.
Last year my partner read a book which contained Lincoln’s intimate correspondence with his ‘favorites’, but he said the book was disjointed, basically a collection of affectionate letters with the odd commentary.
I’m more acquainted with Lincoln as ‘Oh Captain, my Captain’, but I have yet to find a letter to Lincoln from Whitman.
DUH, Raquel! I think you were the only one who DIDN’T know. (You and Chuck, that is, though I have serious supicions about Chuck and his ‘macho’ persona, but he was a moron also).
Maybe it’s indeed old news. You may know it but many dont and it is not really publicly known. Like I wrote here before, awareness and unveiling the truth, I.o.w. undermining the heterosexual Hollywood mafia is very important! Here in the Netherlands, of all places, gay soccer players are still in the closset. Actually in their own vaults! :(
Yet another banal non news story from PN. Unusual for a Monday to be so bereft of anything resembling a worthy news story. How is this in any way something any of us need to hear….. the man is dead ffs. Let him rest in peace.
thank you for some kindness toward a fine actor.
and i believe he was not gay & loved women period…
…and Raquel Welch’s claim to know he was gay is somewhat diminished by the fact that she thought he was Welsh and didn’t know he was Irish.
“an actress is a little bit more than a woman but an actor is a little bit less than a man?”
What the hell does this really mean? He sounds kinda sad. And if you have to live your whole life in a closet and even marry the opposite because of your career, as he apparently did, it really is sad. Is he really saying that being a gay man is being less than a man? Unfortunately alot of people think this including alot of gay men. And that’s sad.
The history of the film industry in Hollywood reflects the American religious homophobia of the 20th century.
Vito Rosso’s work is a a tremendous insight into Tinseltown… definitely worth a read.
the film is also worth a look, it’s available on youtube. Don’t miss Gore Vidal’s description of Will Hayes as “looking not unlike Mickey Mouse” and damned if he didn’t!
Yeah, it’s old news but still…now I want to see “Fantastic Voyage” again.
That was a great film.
…for bulges!! :-o
Well, considering Raquel “Squelch” was judged by many to be the hottest property around in those days, it must have been slightly obvious that she was totally smitten by him, and that he showed no interest. If that doesn’t ring alarm bells, I don’t know what does.
Raquel Welch as become a bitter dried up conservative.
Thank you, Raquel Squelch, a great Superstar, for the precioius information. I love Boyd’s wildness. But I’ve been wondered why he had been single. Maybe, you are right.
Welch’s comments mean nothing
he was married twice
he died married to a woman
cut the bull about BenHur
he was great actor doing his work
Boyd once said he didn’t like amateurs..
go figure