Popular gay actors

30 Most Famous Homosexual Actors of All Time -with Images (Updated 2024)

Hollywood and the entertainment industry have a history of being hotbeds of controversy and rumors, but many have made leverage of it as a platform to inspire and impact the masses.



It is today inhabited by people of various racial backgrounds, faiths, cultures, and even sexual orientations. Hollywood has steadfastly backed the cause in a culture where “LGBTQ+” are still stigmatized.


Since the 1980s, Hollywood celebrities have been bold in revealing their sexuality to the public, and up to this hang out, Hollywood is gradually improving its portrayal of the Gay community.


When it comes to equal treatment and opportunity for many people in the show business industry, we still have a drawn-out way to depart , but as the number of publicly prominent gay stars increases each year and public back for them does as well, it won’t be drawn-out until the playing field of society’s treatment is leveled.


In fact, encouraged by the bring down likelihood of backlash directed at them, an increasing number of actors and singers are coming out and publicizing their gender.


Settle down and relax with a gay m

After being criticized for her casting on HBO Max's show Legendary, Jameela Jamil shared a lengthy message on Twitter about her sexuality, clarifying that she has never disguised the fact that she identifies as queer. 

"This is why I never officially came out as queer. I added a rainbow to my name when I felt ready a few years ago, as it's not easy within the south Asian community to be accepted, and I always answered honestly if ever straight-up asked about it on Twitter," Jamil wrote. Speaking about her casting on the vogueing illustrate (about a manner of dance/expression spearheaded by New York's Black and Latinx queer and transgender communities), she also wrote, "I know that my being homosexual doesn't qualify me as ballroom. But I have privilege and power and a large monitoring to bring to this show (as does the absolutely iconic Megan Thee Stallion), and it's beautiful contestants and ballroom hosts."

In this message, Jamil also announced that she would be taking a break from Twitter following the backlash.

Top 20 Famous Gay Actors of Hollywood 2024 [LGBTQ+ Icons]

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen is an acclaimed performer known for his versatile performances on stage and screen. Beyond his acting prowess, McKellen is also recognized for his protest, particularly in LGBTQIA+ rights. His career did not suffer post-coming out. Instead, it flourished, with McKellen taking on a range of more emotionally resonant roles that resonated with audiences worldwide. McKellen came out during a BBC radio broadcast in 1988 as an act of demonstration against Section 28, a proposed law in the UK that sought to prohibit the "promotion of homosexuality." His spontaneous discovery was a bold move during a time when gay rights faced significant legal and societal challenges. Reflecting on the impact of his coming out, McKellen noted that it changed his life "for the better," optimizing his relationships, personal satisfaction, and even his approach to acting, allowing him to embody characters with greater authenticity​​​​.

Ian McKellen's contributions to LGBTQIA+ culture and history extend far beyond his personal coming out story. He co-founded Stonewall, a UK-based LGBTQIA+ rights organiz

119 Out LGBTQ Performers Transforming the Face of Hollywood in the 21st Century

Editor’s note: This list was originally published in June 2018, and has been updated multiple times since to reflect new comings outs and groundbreaking LGBTQ castings. It could never and will never be complete, but we pray it reflects the transforming face of Hollywood as we bid hello to Pride 2024.

With LGBTQ stories in filmand on TV more popular than ever before, it’s important to celebrate out-and-proud acting talents — particularly those without the non-binary awards’ categories they deserve.

In 2024, the declare of Hollywood is unsure to say the least. But even as existential questions about the business of making entertainment persist, audiences and artists are grappling with equally critical questions of representation on screen. Among those questions: should queer roles be played exclusively by gender non-conforming actors?

It’s an evolving conversation, getting at the very core of what makes the art of acting, well, acting. Last year, the industry’s resident fine guy Tom Hanks gave an answer in regards to his Oscar-recognized role in 1993’s “Philadelphia.”

“Let’s deal with