Tab Hunter, 'Damn Yankees' Star and Gay Icon, Dies at 86

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Variety

JULY 9, 2018 6:17AM PT

Tab Hunter, 'Damn Yankees' Star and Gay Icon, Dies at 86

By Brent Lang @BrentALang https://twitter.com/BrentALang

Tab Hunter, a former on-screen heartthrob and a gay icon, has died. He was 86. The news was announced on a Facebook page associated with the actor, but a cause of death was not included. ... With his All-American good looks, wavy blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and toothy smile, Hunter rose to the top ranks of Hollywood leading men in the 1950's and early '60's. He appeared in the likes of "Damn Yankees" and "Battle Cry,"and had chart-topping records such as "Young Love." But at the height of his popularity he was dogged by rumors that he was gay, a potentially career-ending rumor during that culturally conservative era. At one point, he was "outed" by the gossip rag, Confidential.

Hunter fell out of favor as the 1960's continued and a new breed of stars such as Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino, actors who were often less corn-fed and polished, entered the mainstream. As tastes changed, Hunter did summer stock and dinner theater, as well as appeared in spaghetti westerns.

He was rediscovered in middle age, however. Hunter was cast opposite Divine in "Polyester," a low-budget John Waters comedy that gleefully sent up everything from alcoholism to foot festishism. The film helped introduce Hunter to a younger audience, some of whom were unfamiliar with his pin-up past.

Hunter came out as gay in 2005 with the publication of his autobiography Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star. In it, he wrote about studio publicity arms efforts to mask his homosexuality by linking him with co-stars and friends such as Debbie Reynolds and Natalie Wood. That book inspired a 2015 documentary by Jeffrey Schwarz, also called "Tab Hunter Confidential." .... Despite being publicly closeted for much of his life, Hunter had relationships with “Psycho” star Anthony Perkins and figure skater Ronnie Robertson. Producer Allan Glaser was his partner for more than three decades.

Read more: https://variety.com/2018/film/news/tab-hunter-damn-yankees-star-and-gay-icon-dies-at-86-1202868343/

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Hat tip, Joe.My.God: http://www.joemygod.com/2018/07/09/actor-tab-hunter-dies-at-age-86-video/

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I thought he was gorgeous when we were young.

[Roy Rolling]

2. Sad

i didn't know he was gay, not that it mattered. I guess I should pay attention more. I just thought he was a handsome dude. 😝

[Greybnk48]

3. My older sister, who would be 75 now, was gaga for him

back in the late 50's and early 60's! He was a heart-throb!

I'm 69, so I'm more of the Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino group mentioned in the article than my two older sisters were.

[murielm99]

4. RIP

I did not know he was gay. I liked him, but he was just a few years before my time.

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. I had a big crush on him as a kid.

Bought "Young Love" and played it over and over and over...

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. That was Edd {not Ed} Byrnes, unless there were two of them.

Will check....

Edited: Edd Byrnes, not Ed Byrnes.

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. Damn, you're correct.

Sorry about that. I'm going to delete that post.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. It happens. My mom was a big fan of the show. I remember the gimmick tune from the era.

Yes, huge hit, "Young Hit." I just posted the original of that in the DU Lounge not long ago. I've already forgotten the country star so closely identified with that.

More checking....

Sonny James:

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. Same here.

[denbot]

10. R.I.P., and thank you for your role in one of my favorite cult type films

Lust in the Dust!

[Kali]

16. How the hell did I miss this?!!???

[denbot]

17. Gather ye cow folk around, and rent the DVD.

I suggest popcorn and Margarita’s on the rocks as well.

Chilie Verde or bust!

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Wow. Hadn't heard his name in years.

Didn't realize he was still around. He was part of the ranks of other closeted romantic leads like Rock Hudson, although Hudson was a bit older.

R.I.P.

[LeftInTX]

12. He was outed because the tabloid threatened to out Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was a money maker, so the studio gave up Tab Hunter instead.

The documentary, "Tab Hunter Confidential" is still on Netflix.

I didn't know he was 86.

[Coventina]

13. RIP Watched a fascinating documentary on him a few years ago.

He had a really interesting life!

Condolences to his family and friends.

[Honeycombe8]

14. Oh, I hate to hear this. He seemed like a nice guy.

I saw some interviews with him over the years. He seemed like just a regular nice person. And he sure was handsome back in the day. I saw Damn Yankees on tv with Gwen Verdon when I was a kid.

[niyad]

15. requiscat in pace--damn, he was gorgeous!!