Memorable gay charactor in films

Gay charactors in movies played either by a strait or gay actors can be so funny and hilarious with the right material. These are some of more memorable charactors that have played on silver screen.

Not in any particular order:

Victor Votoria (1982): Robert Preston was as tough as they come playing a bad guy in noir films. But playing a middle-aged gay performer in Paris, he was very enjoyable to watch.
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Frankie and Johnny (1992): Nathan Lane stole every scenes he is in. Wish they gave him more screen time in this film, and less cheesy romance between Al Pacino and Pfeiffer.
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Partners (1982): Starring Ryan O'Neal and John Hurt as a mismatched pair of cops on a stakeout, Ryan start liking it as John take on the house choirs.
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The Birdcage (1996): Although Nathan Lane was funny, but I thought Robin Williams was funnier. Especially with his John Wayne's walk comment :D
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History Of World Part I (1981): Mel Brook seem to use the same gay hairdresser in most of his movie scenes and it is always funny (guy in the middle).
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Oh parodies of gay people in films.

I think you need to mention "Brokeback Mountain" and the characters of Jack and Ennis. Ennis struggled with his feelings and they both had to deal with the times in which they were living.

"Milk" the story of Harvey Milk. Now that is a movie worth watching. He was an activist, politician and ultimately a martyr.

Here is a better list of movies you might want to watch.

Top 50 of Gay-themed movies (and shorts)

IMDb: Top 50 of Gay-themed movies (and shorts) - a list by jadsonrocha

John, I think you better give us a list rather than adding one by one :D

I agree that some of my listed movies are parodies, but ther are some others (like you mnetioned) that are very intelligent. Philadelphia is also a good example.

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Originally Posted by Smokey

John, I think you better give us a list rather than adding one by one :D

I agree that some of my listed movies are parodies, but ther are some others (like you mnetioned) that are very intelligent. Philadelphia is also a good example.

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I will give them as I think of the ones most important to me and check the list above.

Here is another list.

Top 11 Great Gay Interest Movies

Here is a Top Ten from the Sundance Film Festival.


Sundance Channel | Sundance Film Festival Coverage | Top 10

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Originally Posted by JohnMichael

Here is another list.

Top 11 Great Gay Interest Movies

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Interesting listing. Must admit that have not seen most of mentioned films.

I obviously do not like movies that perpetuate stereotypes.

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Originally Posted by JohnMichael

I obviously do not like movies that perpetuate stereotypes.

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But after all John, they are only movies. You have to take the good with the bad as movies do with other situations.

Yes but you only listed the bad.

Birdcage was mentioned and it was not the original by any means. The story started as a French movie "La Cage aux Folles" and then became a Broadway musical of the same name. The French movie and the Broadway musical concentrated on the long term relationship between the two leads and the impending nuptials of the son to a woman from a poltically conservative family. By the time Birdcage was released the story seemed to have been minimalized and had become a farce.

Milk was a brilliant movie. Sean Penn is a very under-rated actor. He's one of the best of our generation.

my favorite was John Ritter as Vaughan in Sling Blade.

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Originally Posted by dingus

my favorite was John Ritter as Vaughan in Sling Blade.

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I need to watch that movie. Glad you reminded me of it.

How could anyone forget George Hamilton in Zorro: The Gay Blade?


anyone...



anyone...




I'm not helping, am I?

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Originally Posted by 3LB

How could anyone forget George Hamilton in Zorro: The Gay Blade?


anyone...



anyone...




I'm not helping, am I?

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If the title had been Comedies with memorable gay characters I would have thought nothing of the first group of movies. The title "Memorable gay character in films" made me think here is a thread I might enjoy.

JM- Have you seen The Boys in the Band (1970)? I'd be interested in reading your take on it. Yes, some of the characters reflect stereotypes, but I thought it was entertaining and surprisingly intense. It's an adaptation of a popular play from 1968 (revived in 1996). It seems to be criticized today for its depiction of self-loathing (which it has plenty of), but I was struck by the tension created as it moves along. It has wit and dialog that cuts to the bone.

My answer: Harold from The Boys in the Band.

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Originally Posted by dean_martin

JM- Have you seen The Boys in the Band (1970)? I'd be interested in reading your take on it. Yes, some of the characters reflect stereotypes, but I thought it was entertaining and surprisingly intense. It's an adaptation of a popular play from 1968 (revived in 1996). It seems to be criticized today for its depiction of self-loathing (which it has plenty of), but I was struck by the tension created as it moves along. It has wit and dialog that cuts to the bone.

My answer: Harold from The Boys in the Band.

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I read the book years ago but have not seen the movie. Another on my list of must watch films. I think years ago there was a lot of self-loathing. I was in high school from 1970-74 (my school was grades 1-8 and then 9-12) and as I was struggling to accept myself as gay I was bombarded with negativity. Teachers and Priests spoke against it. Friends and classmates would use hate words. Much of tv if they had a gay character of any kind they were loathed and mistrusted. I think it was easy back in the days to internalize some of the negativity I was bombarded with daily.

Each generation is becoming more comfortable being gay. I know a couple of older gays that do not like to go places with me because they perceive me as being very out and then I have younger friends that are so out I get nervous at times. We are victims of the times we lived.

Watching, studying and reading about different (and not-so-mainstream) film genres and themes used to be an obsession/hobby of mine. But it's very time-consuming to try to keep up with new themes and movements in film. Thus, my references are quite old now. I remember seeing the documentary The Celluloid Closet (1995) when it came out on video in '95 or '96. It was an interesting and entertaining survey of gays and lesbians (and their influence) in film up to that time. I would think there's enough material out there for a "part 2" picking up where it left off through the present date.

While The Celluloid Closet focuses most of its attention on gay men, the book Vampires and Violets (1993) is an in-depth discussion of lesbianism in film, both subtle and as a main theme.

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Originally Posted by 3LB

How could anyone forget George Hamilton in Zorro: The Gay Blade?

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I sure did as completely forgot about that movie. Very funny film.

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Originally Posted by JohnMichael

If the title had been Comedies with memorable gay characters I would have thought nothing of the first group of movies. The title "Memorable gay character in films" made me think here is a thread I might enjoy.

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I hope you are enjoying it :D

The first title you mentioned probably would have restrict the broadness this thread as we wouldn't have exellent movies dingus, 3LB or Dean Martin mentioned. I started off in comedy genre since that is my first choice in movies and IMO non of them are bad or stereotyped as you mentioned. Most questionable film in my list is probably Mel Brooks, but he makes fun of everybody including his own Jewish heritage.

I would put bad or stereotype label on movies like Cruising with Al Pacino which exploid the dark side of gay community.

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Originally Posted by Smokey

I sure did as completely forgot about that movie. Very funny film.



I would put bad or stereotype label on movies like Cruising with Al Pacino which exploid the dark side of gay community.

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The gay community boycotted that one. In the homosexual community as well in the heterosexual community we have our fringe elements. We do not want to see a film about them. I do not see that movie as a stereotype as much as I see it as exploitive and sensationalizing of a very small part of the gay community.

Its funny, or not, how most minorities are first portrayed in print, film or TV as comedy relief or parody. I mentioned the movie Zorro: The Gay Blade as a sarcastic joke, the way I'd suggest Amos & Andy as memorable African-American characters (being facetious of course).

The true sign of progress is when a character's gender, race or sexual orientation is revealed as a trait for the purpose of character study and not the defining factor in the plot of a story. In movies anyway.