Dame Starry

Probably because he isn't actually still working.

YDSL x.

Marky B

I read somewhere his career went spiralling down amidst revelations of his homosexuality. I think Hollywood has a grown up attitude towards that now.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

batman

IIRC Van Johnson was also expelled from the Screen Actors Guild for a time because he broke some of that union's rules.

Van Johnson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bats.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

rskershaw

Really? Can you name any current gay "A List" actors/actresses? Rumours circulate, but if any of the "A List" came out, they would commit professional suicide. The studios' don't do gay, because their audiences won't buy it. Which just about sums up the liberalism of the average US cinemagoer.

Marky B

I did say "I think" as oppose to "I know";perhaps their attitude has evolved over the years.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

orpheum

Gloria Stuart,born 1910 last made a film in 2004

Welcome To Highbury The Home Of Football

Moor Larkin

That would explain the popularity of 'Philadelphia' and 'Brokeback Mountain' then.....

MNP

A recent Midsommer Murders (last episode) had both George Cole and Donald Sinden playing old veterans. George Cole may not be the oldest, but I believe his first film was Cottage To Let, about 1942 (and a good film too). That is one hell of a long career.

Mark.

Steve Crook

Straight(ish) actors playing gay characters. That's quite different

Steve

Freddy

Shows the risk that Dirk Bogarde took in playing a homosexual in the 1961 film Victim.

Steve Crook

Very much so, especially as he was promoted as a "matinee idol" at the time

Steve

rskershaw

I knew at the time of writing that these two films would be mentioned in reply. Certainly both are Studio financed films and won a multitude of Oscars (whatever they mean). So that's alright then.
Were they popular? As studio films they were both shown at Multiplexes but didn't stay there very long as they were more suited to Art House venues. I did see Philadelphia at the Harlow Odeon, of all places, on a Friday evening. There were a handful of people in the audience and they didn't look like mainstream moviegoers. I think it showed for a week, before being shifted to one of the smaller screens with limited showings per day.
But are we not missing the point? Just two Hollywood gay films in 15 years and the first being Philadelphia, when the Hollywood industry was already nearly 90 years old. From what I remember the film was mostly a long tedious court room drama. Though it dealt with Aids, it was hardly groundbreaking stuff. Compare it to what Jarman was doing around the same time here, just before he died.
In the mean time Hollywood has historically prevented many of its employees from living open lives, the end result being that it ruined many. Blacklisting, was another of their specialities, but at least that had some happier endings, such as Joe Losey coming to live and work over here.

JamesM

Jodie Foster

batman

She hasn't actually come out yet .... although she dropped a strong public hint at a recent awards ceremony.

Re Dirk ... it was a very brave role for him to take on, but I expect the large majority of his fan base had no idea about his sexuality at the time. However, playing the role did leave him wide open to possible 'press intrusion'. If the press at that time had been as bad as the current lot they'd have crucified him.

Does Rupert Everett count as an 'A' lister?

Bats.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

Windthrop

Not really - he is not a conventional 'leading man' more a character actor.

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !