07/13/2009
Gay Director Todd Holland to Actors: To Succeed, Stay in the Closet
Emmy-winning director Todd Holland caused a stir at an Outfest panel over the weekend after advising actors who wants to succeed to remain in the closet:
"Holland, who was talking as one of the featured panelists, and who once
worked as a director on the critically acclaimed HBO sit-com The Larry Sanders Show, explained that it's a necessary career choice if a gay actor wants to succeed in Hollywood. Fellow panelist and filmmaker Kirby Dick, director of Outrage,
a 2009 documentary about gay politicians who stay in the closet to
further their political careers, told Holland: "I know where you're
coming from, but it's a regressive argument." Holland, who was legally married before Proposition 8 was
passed by California voters in November, responded that he was just
being realistic, but Dick believed that if "an A-list actor came out,
it would have more impact on the culture than an A-list politician." No
one talked about the personal repercussions of a gay actor succeeding
in Hollywood by lying about his sexual orientation to the general
public."
Certainly one actor who would agree with Holland is Rupert Everett. Everett has continually blamed his lack of career momentum on his openness about his sexuality. Said Everett to Kevin Sessums in April: "There is just very little opportunity for a fag. That’s the reality. There isn’t."
Note: an earlier draft of the L.A. Weekly article stated that Kirby Dick is a gay filmmaker. He is not gay. This has been corrected.
Posted 11:18 AM EST by Andy Towle in Film, I'm Not Gay, Los Angeles, News, Television, Todd Holland | Permalink
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I am almost certain Todd Holland is the man who called me a faggot after a traffic altercation in West Hollywood a few months ago. If Holland drives a black Bentley Continental GT, then he is the guy.
Posted by: anon | Jul 13, 2009 1:32:32 PM
Way to tolerate the status quo.
Closet cases are our shame, famous or not.
Posted by: JeffRob | Jul 13, 2009 2:01:06 PM
I guess it's really easy for people who will never be in the public spotlight to JUDGE and criticize how other people chose to live their lives.
It's also easy to judge and criticize personalities of people that one has never spent any quality time with.
It must be empowering to feel that everyone should act/behave/live in the exact manner that other people have deemed THE RIGHT WAY TO ACT/BEHAVE/LIVE.
MY WAY or NO WAY.
IF YOU'RE NOT WITH US YOU'RE AGAINST US.
Where have I hear that before...?
Posted by: JimmyD | Jul 13, 2009 2:02:34 PM
Any more, David? You've got Neil and Ian who've bucked the trend. There are a helluva lot more out actors. I know tons of 'em who can't get any job beyond the gay friend of the female lead. And I'm talking about high profile films and TV projects, not festival-play indies that go straight to video or Logo.
One question I have for everyone who wants gay actors to all suddenly burst forth and pronounce that they're gay is: Do you do that in your life? Do you put on your resume? "I'm a gay teacher... librarian... construction worker... banker... etc, etc, etc." Because coming out as a gay actor puts that emphatically on your resume for every job you go for in the future. All it takes is a Google search for the casting agent to find that out. And if that's not on your resume, why are you asking actors to do it?
I'm not advocating DADT in hiring. I'm saying, being gay is almost always irrelevant to the job you're performing. And acting is job.
Posted by: MrRoboto | Jul 13, 2009 2:05:11 PM
I agree with Todd want to be famous stay in the closet, make lots of films and make lots of money. Have a few beards, sleep with some male prostitutes, almost get exposed, pay people off. Then become a bitter old closeted queen, rely on pills and drink to get you through, go to rehab, get out, go back in. Then at 50 when you are no longer making films come out, the Advocate will put you on the cover and GLAAD will give you an award and you become a poster boy.
Todd was right in is statement but did the gay community damage by advising people to stay closeted.
I say be open and honest. It may limit you, you may find yourself not getting the A list film roles. But you will be happier. And eventually the public will wonder why didn't they give that role in that new movie to that great gay TV actor rather than the guy who can't act.
Posted by: kujhawker | Jul 13, 2009 2:21:06 PM
Your final graph confuses me, Mr. Roboto. You're *exactly* advocating DADT in hiring, and saying being gay is *so* relevant to one's ability to do this particular job that it must be hidden at all costs.
Posted by: adamblast | Jul 13, 2009 2:23:32 PM
"There are a helluva lot more out actors. I know tons of 'em who can't get any job beyond the gay friend of the female lead. And I'm talking about high profile films and TV projects, not festival-play indies that go straight to video or Logo."
Gee maybe they're WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT LIKE YOU!!!!
As ofr straight to video or Logo," Chad Allen and Charlie David are mighty fine.
Such a shame Scoth Ellis Loring ca't rise to their level.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Jul 13, 2009 2:46:44 PM
Shame on him for saying that gays and lesbians should stay in the closet if they want to succeed in the industry. It's that kind of thinking that is holding our community back. And his single statement undermines all the efforts of fighting for equality for the LGBT community.
Whether it's reality or not, NO ONE should stay in the closet for any reason. If you really have talents, then it doesn't matter if you are asexual or whatever, you will still be offered roles that people think are suitable to you. i.e. Neil Patrick Harris.
All I want to say is that there are many more important and significant things in life than one's acting career. Living in the closet is living a lie. He is basically saying to these "young, gay actors" to live a life that is full of lies and concerns that one might find out about their sexuality.
As for Rupert Everett, he's a no talent drama queen - and he should stop blaming others for not offering roles to him because he is gay. He should consider going back to acting school first.
Posted by: Gayalltheway | Jul 13, 2009 2:55:49 PM
Closet cases will always defend closet cases. Dishonesty only leads to more dishonesty. Good luck with that.
Posted by: SFshawn | Jul 13, 2009 2:59:23 PM
Great comment about Todd's boyfriend, David!
YOu crack me up.
Yeah, nice job, Todd. Thanks for sticking up for the gay people, you homophobic creep, especially at Outfest.
Posted by: Michael Patrick | Jul 13, 2009 3:28:43 PM
Damn, David, you paint with some pretty broad strokes. I don't think I could find many points I'd disagree with you on, but I wouldn't immediately resort to calling you a piece of shit. Out of everyone posting here, I'd give you the most credibility because you are in fact quite out in your chosen profession, and so that essentially does appear on your resume for anyone looking close enough.
Look, I'm not trying to cast any negative light on any gay actor who is publicly out. More power to them. I count many of them as friends. Nonetheless I'm not going to join the bullshit demands here that all gay actors should out themselves or immediately be termed self loathing or closet cases. They're human beings just like you. They need to pay the rent just like you. And their sexuality should not prevent them from a getting a good job in their chosen profession. But in Hollywood, it does. That's their reality and I'm not going to throw insults or epithets at them for choosing not to come out on the cover of People.
Posted by: Mrroboto | Jul 13, 2009 3:50:48 PM
It's not "bullshit" and it's not a "demand." Kevin Spacey can go right on bieng Kevin Spacey. Just don't ask me to take him seriously.
What Holland said was monstrous and demonstrably false.
It's hard to get work as an actor, no matter whatimgaining that the closet will protect you is folly, cause Hollywood 's a very small town and everyone knows about everything.
Looking down one's knows at out actors working on Logo is most unbecoming.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Jul 13, 2009 4:05:48 PM
Speech is the new artificial threshold. Michael Urie thinks he's "safe" because he won't "say" that he's gay. He gets this notion from the "Mainstream" media which insists that it won't "out" anyone who doesn't "say" they're gay -- gossiping from here to the moon all the while. They then use this to "re-closet" people who were never in the closet -- like Adam Lambert __ just so they can preside over the official spectacle of a fromal "I'm Gay" declaration.
THen there are weirdies like Anderson Cooper -- who used to be out but after becoming a "Name" decided to go back in. But at the same time he hasn't given up Julio nad has been seen with him everywhere. Who the fuck does he think he's kidding?
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Jul 13, 2009 4:11:56 PM
If an actor wants to stay closeted, that's his own business. (Hypocritical anti-gay politicians are another story.) At the same time, no one should be guarding their closet doors. And in a tell-all 24/7 blog world, those closet doors are going to become harder and harder to maintain without going to extraordinary lengths. Closeted actors made sense in the 50s, when nearly everyone was closeted. As we move forward, remaining closeted is going to become more and more weird and out of synch with the times. I hope there comes a time when talent (talent is probably more of an obstacle than sexuality for some who blame the latter) and being out with integrity is more acceptable than a sham existence. I understand Holland's argument (Hollywood has its own rules), but it's still odd that he's telling other human beings to avoid the life he has made for himself--being out and married. But I suppose Hollywood is full of such ironies, or it wouldn't be Hollywood.
Luigi, honey, I think there's a bottle of Ativan with your name on it.
Posted by: Ernie | Jul 13, 2009 4:57:14 PM
The damage of the heterosexual dictatorship.
Posted by: Bill | Jul 13, 2009 5:30:38 PM
Not looking down my nose at those who work on Logo at all. In fact, I'm quite impressed by those who make a living doing that. What I'm saying is that when your pool of roles is gay indies and Logo fare, you are generally very poorly compensated in comparison to your peers. Many make only scale on those roles, if that. They don't make much in residuals, if they make anything at all. They're often not union-supported productions, so they don't get health care credit.
Posted by: MrRoboto | Jul 13, 2009 6:27:47 PM
Most businesses has a bias against gays. It stems from religious belief rather than science and fact.
Here's an antidote: Don't deny your sexuality, just butch it up a bit.
Posted by: ty | Jul 13, 2009 8:40:40 PM
I knew there was a reason I never liked "Malcolm in the Middle."
Posted by: Attmay | Jul 13, 2009 9:04:08 PM
Rupert should have done what all smart actors do as they age - become a producer or director.
Posted by: Daniel | Jul 13, 2009 9:11:10 PM
I started writing gay characters in college as a reaction to the "heterosexual dictatorship" crying for more sex and profit. I'm straight, female and I don't care to be told what to write. Logo is great but "preaching to the choir". Mainstream America is a strange place, for many reasons, but I doubt it will changed much until we are all prepared to sacrifice a little cold comfort.
Posted by: Wendy Kovitz | Jul 13, 2009 10:50:36 PM
I find it hard to believe that if a really big star came out they would never get good work again--except maybe the ones who've married, bearded 24/7 and generally lied day and night to their fans. That level of lying will be hard for people to swallow. But others, just not buying it.
And people always trot out the no-talents as an example, and try to scare everyone else into not coming out. Shame on Holland for doing that. I know NPH works in tv and that makes him different, but what also makes him different is he actually has some talent, and that is a big reason why he keeps working.
Posted by: Clem | Jul 13, 2009 11:38:15 PM
Back in the eighty's I lived with an up and coming actor. Yes, he represented himself as straight in the streets gay in the sheets. Closeted in our relationship but deeply passionate in our love for each other.Our close friends knew and we were happy perhaps young and naive at the time though.His profile got to the point that he was auditioning for sitcom castings and movie parts first rung but a start. We started to hear gossip of our relationship around town and it got to the point that a journalist called our house to ask if we knew each other. No shit, as I was the one answering the bloody phone I was in the theatre at the time, though not high profile or so I thought. We decided to not answer as we felt it private. We stayed together for 6 plus years and rolled with the choice but leading roles seemed to evaporate and though not yet twenty-eight it seemed he was not able to be in the same room any more when career building chances are given. Can I prove this no I
can't but you know, deep down you just know!
Please, before you judge my relationship our choices were both his and mine and though we aren't together any more I'm most happy we did it together too.I keep this anonymous as he is still around but not with me so coming out is his choice not mine.
Posted by: Theatreboy | Jul 14, 2009 12:02:57 AM
Come on people this is 2009 not 1959! Rupert's not getting work has more to do w/ poor choices than being gay. If an established "A" lister were to come out tomorrow I think they wouldn't have as much trouble as some people think. All it takes is a little creative thinking on the part of producers and directors.I;d like to think we've come a little farther than this.
Posted by: robert ryan | Jul 14, 2009 2:19:13 AM
David, its true, Mckellan is a good example of an out gay actor getting work in high quality films,
Though the truth is that he didnt come out till he was almost 50, meaning that he had passed his romantic lead stage; though he has always been more of a character actor than a romantic lead.
Britain, and Denmark where I am from originally is generally better in terms of not really be that bothered with Star Systems and sexuality, but its hard to imagine a Tom Cruise/ Will Smith/ or other A list romantic lead/ action lead being out in hollywood today
Posted by: nick | Jul 14, 2009 6:13:03 AM
The hatred people feel toward Rupert Everett is strange. He was openly gay before Ian McKellan was, and it did hurt his career. Yeah, he's bitter, but he has a right to be. He is a towering pioneer in gay visibility, someone who the commenters here should recognize as having made an enormous contribution to the history of out performers. People who reduce him to a an ill-considered remark and a bad face lift are ignorant.
Posted by: Landon Bryce | Jul 14, 2009 8:32:32 AM