johnart said:

It was a production of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. Six women cast in all the roles - male and female. (The original director was a lezbean - nuff said.) I played four different parts - one of which was a guy.

I found out later that the original director never meant for me to play that part. She'd cast me as the old guy's wife - but the director who stepped in for her when she went off to a professional gig in Maine got confused (the sub was confused about more than that, lemme tell ya) and it was she who stuck me in the male part.

I had insane difficulty until I saw Morgan Freeman on Inside the Actors Studio. James Lipton asked him about the process of aging as Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy. Freeman said he realized that old men walk as if their balls are made of glass - and it got easier after that.

I totally stole that part from him.

Maybe it would help if we knew nothing about actors at all. It doesn't help me to watch Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie and get lost in their roles when I know ever detail of their lives.

johnart said:

Legislation made some good moves in the 60's let's hope "Hollywood" catches up soon.

joseph8 said:

...folk knew he was gay when he was on Doogie Howser

The guy that played the second Darren on "Bewitched" did a great job. He also played a straight character on a guest appearance on "Charlie's Angels" and also took over as the sheriff on "The Dukes Of Hazzard" when Rosco left.

Robert Reed did a good job playing Mike Brady on "The Brady Bunch" as well as multiple television roles and guest spots playing straight characters. He was also good in "Roots".

Meredith Baxter played the mother on "Family Ties" for years as well as endless roles in television movies.

The lady that played Marcy Darcy on "Married With Children" did an excellent job.

vainandy said:

Good examples, I guess the question is were they out of the closet? I think Portia DeRossi does a fine job & Anne Heche played straight (even though maybe she really was all along!)

NDRU said:

I think there's a definite double standard and easier for a lesbian to play straight than a dude. Femininity is not questioned due to sexual orientation in the same way that masculinity is. At least not as much.

The issue is not whether a gay male actor can play a straight male role convincingly or well. The issue really is that a lot of people won't let go of their own preconceptions and stereotypes.

vainandy said:

Meredith doesn't count. She was still straight (including 3 marriages to men) around the time that she was in Family & Family Ties. Beside, she only been a lesbian for the last 3 years. Nonetheless, I see you point.

As a actor, Robert Reed was underrated. Beside being famous in The Brady Bunch, Robert was also a long-time veteran in Shakespeare plays.

DesireeNevermind said:

Sesame Street's Ernie & Bert

....enough said.

NDRU said:

Anne Heche is bisexual.

Well I think sebwhateverhisname is trying to say that Out gay actors have a harder time convincing the audience that he/she can play a straight character, or thats the last I heard he was trying to explain it. That's why I think its all a PR ploy cause his statements kept shifting throughout his lil media blitz this week.

TonyVanDam said:

I still don't get the gay connotations associated with those muppets. I didn't watch much Sesame Street when I was little but what I did see...I always thought they were cousins. Did they even work or go to school? Now that vampire muppet....totally gay.

DesireeNevermind said:

Ernie & Bert are not related. They are two guys that have been on Sesame Street for decades and neither one of then ever had a girlfriend OR wife.

TonyVanDam said:

Did they ever kiss?

Maybe they are supposed to be college roommates?

But um...decades pass and no girls come to visit is kind of suspect. Then again...what muppets besides that snuffalupagus had spouses or kids? Seems they're all a-sexual.

DesireeNevermind said:

yeah when I start to analyze the reality of Sesame Street or The Muppet Show, then I remember a huge bird is best friends with an elephant, an oversized talking frog is an M.C., nobody is afraid of the green monster in the garbage can, and nobody is ever hitting on Maria

NDRU said:

johnart said:

I would love to see her play Prince.

TheVoid said:

...as a beaver.