Out and Proud! Meet Hollywood’s Most Famous Gay Actors

Let’s be honest: Most of us grew up watching straight actors play gay characters and awkwardly act out implausible gay sex scenes. And, for the most part, we’re at peace with that (hear us out): 

Without them, we’d have never gotten Jake Gyllenhaal’s iconic “I wish I knew how to quit you!” line from Brokeback Mountain (or the rough and tumble sex scenes). We would’ve been deprived of Timothée Chalamet’s juicy little peach moment in Call Me by Your Name (and the even juicier sex scene that ensued).

Still, it’s nice to know that nowadays, actual gay actors are playing actual gay roles in actual gay movies (with actual gay sex scenes!). Representation matters. Also, it’s nice to daydream about the possibility of actually making it work with your on-screen crush — even if it’s a bit delulu.

Of course, gay actors in Hollywood are nothing new. They’ve always been there, but it’s safer than ever for gay actors to be out and proud. So, let’s take a look at some of the most famous gay actors who are gracing our favorite movies.

Also, it goes without saying that lesbian, bisexual, and transgender actors have been a part of Hollywood for just as long as gay actors have been. Wanda Sykes, Holland Taylor, Laverne Cox, Elliot Page, Cynthia Nixon, Hari Nef, Mj Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Kate McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, Jamie Clayton, Kristin Stewart — there’s no shortage of LGBTQ icons to celebrate. For now, we’re focusing on gay male actors, but that doesn’t make any other lesbian, bi, trans, or queer stars any less groundbreaking. 

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1. Neil Patrick Harris

We’re starting off strong with everyone’s parents’ favorite gay actor, Neil Patrick Harris. (Unless your parents like to yell at people on the street — then it’s probably Billy Eichner).

Harris got his start in Hollywood when he was young, starring in the titular role in Doogie Howser, M.D. when he was just a kid. He went on to deliver an award-winning performance in Glee and starring roles in A Series of Unfortunate Events and, of course, How I Met Your Mother. 

Harris came out publicly in 2006 and has been married to his husband, David Burtka, since 2014 (although they have been together since 2004). 

2. Matt Bomer 

Given his Ken Doll-like good looks, it’s probably unsurprising that Matt Bomer started his acting career on a serial soap opera. If there’s anything gay guys love, it’s standing around being pretty and overacting. Yet, Matt Bomer has proven he is so much more than that. After circulating through various roles in the Ryan Murphy cinematic universe (Glee and multiple seasons of American Horror Story) and Magic Mike, Bomer has won numerous accolades for roles in feature films like The Normal Heart and The Boys in the Band. 

Most recently, his starring role in Fellow Travelers gave us not only incredible acting and a beautiful story but also some of the best on-camera gay sex scenes the industry has ever seen. Thank you, Matt Bomer!

3. Jonathan Bailey

It would be impossible to follow Matt Bomer with anyone other than Jonatha Bailey because, as Jonathan Bailey said in a recent award show speech, “Those of you who have seen Fellow Travelers will know that Matt and I come together.” A tongue-in-cheek nod to one of Bailey’s biggest roles outside of Bridgerton.

That is until November 2024, when we’ll see him on the big screen as Fiyero in Wicked alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Bailey has come a long way from Crashing, the series that might be credited as his big break. Still, this feels like just the beginning for him.

4. BD Wong

You might know BD Wong best for his voice acting. He’s the voice that sparked thousands (if not millions) of gay and bisexual awakenings — Captain Li Shang from Mulan. Beyond being an animated sex symbol, he’s also an incredibly decorated stage actor and the only person to win a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Clarence Derwent Award, and Theatre World Award for playing the same role — Song Liling in M. Butterfly. Now, that’s an LGBTQ icon!

5. Zachary Quinto

Like Matt Bomer and BD Wong (and several other gays yet to be mentioned), Zachary Quinto was also part of the Ryan Murphy cinematic universe, participating in several seasons of American Horror Story. However, his big break came several years before, playing Spock in the Star Trek reboot and its two sequels. (Spoiler alert: It’s not the first time a gay actor has been in Star Trek.)

Before he was out, Quinto had minor roles in several iconically gay series, including Charmed, Lizzie McGuire, and Six Feet Under. 

6. Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo rose to fame primarily for his roles on the stage, garnering Tony and Olivier award nominations. Then, he hit the big screen with roles in If Beale Street Could Talk, Selma, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, starring Viola Davis. 

In 2023, he received an Academy Award nomination for his starring role in Netflix’s Rustin. The same year, he played Mister in the film adaptation of the musical The Color Purple. He also received an Emmy award for a guest-starring role in Euphoria. Although there have been gay black actors in Hollywood for quite some time, Domingo’s success feels long overdue. 

7. Jesse Tyler Ferguson

If we were to guess whether Mitch or Cam in Modern Family was played by an actual gay actor, our money would probably have been on Cam, and we would have lost. That’s not to say Jesse Tyler Ferguson isn’t a great actor; Mitch was perfectly uptight, and Cam just seemed like the more obvious choice — a credit to Ferguson’s versatile acting. Although Modern Family might be his claim to fame, he’s also made a name for himself on Broadway with roles in Spamalot, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Producers. 

8. Ian McKellen

Alright, enough of these young bloods. Let’s kick it old school for a second and talk about some of the gays who paved the way. It doesn’t get any more iconic than Sir Ian McKellen, better known as everyone’s favorite wizard, Gandalf. Or, depending on which nerd you’re talking to, X-Men’s Magneto. 

McKellen has a long and storied career on the stage and has received more accolades than one can count, including, but not limited to, Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, numerous Academy Award Nominations, and a knighting from Queen Elizabeth II.

9. George Takai

We’ve already discussed gay actors in Star Trek, but George Takai is the OG. He first played Sulu in the original Star Trek television series and many subsequent Star Trek films before the 2009 reboot. Although Star Trek is certainly what he’s known best for, Takai has also been a tireless LGBTQ activist, fighting for gay rights for decades.

10. Dan Levy

If you were a gay person (or a straight ally) with a Netflix subscription in the 2010s, you know exactly who Dan Levy is. He’s “ew, David!” The person responsible for everyone’s favorite heartwarming gay TV rom-com, Schitt’s Creek. As the son of Eugene Levy, Dan may be a classic Hollywood nepo baby, but that doesn’t change anything; we still think he’s simply the best.

11. Joel Kim Booster

Thanks to Joel Kim Booster, Fire Island isn’t just a sex-soaked summer vacation spot gays have been flocking to for generations; it’s also one of the best gay romcoms out there. Kim Booster’s Fire Island is a gay retelling of Pride and Prejudice that’s chock-full of the best contemporary queer talent. (It’s got bisexual bicon Margaret Cho; need we say more?)

Sure, his resume might not be as long as that of some of the other people on this list, but he’s just getting started. If Fire Island was Joel Kim Booster’s big debut, we can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us next. 

12. Bowen Yang 

Speaking of Fire Island, no list of contemporary gay actors would be complete without Joel Kim Booster’s co-star (and good friend), Bowen Yang. Bowen made a considerable name for himself when he snagged a role on Saturday Night Live and has blessed us with iconic Weekend Update characters ever since (the outed Oompa Loompa and the Iceberg that struck the Titanic immediately spring to mind). 

Although he made a name for himself in the New York comedy scene and on his podcast Las Culturistas, Yang is playing in the big leagues now with a role in the Wicked movie (alongside Jonathan Bailey) and a remake of The Wedding Banquet starring Lily Gladstone.

We don’t know where Yang is going next, but, in the words of RuPaul, we can’t wait to see how this turns out.

Get your big break on Grindr

And, there you have it: 12 gay actors you should definitely know about. They make us laugh, cry, and emit all sorts of other involuntary sounds. Some might take it for granted now, but seeing gay actors on the big screen is still a huge deal.

How about seeing some gay representation on the small screen? We’re talking about your phone, of course. Download the Grindr app today and get to reenacting all those culture-shifting sex scenes.