Role models of greatness.

Here you will discover the back stories of kings, titans of industry, stellar athletes, giants of the entertainment field, scientists, politicians, artists and heroes – all of them gay or bisexual men. If their lives can serve as role models to young men who have been bullied or taught to think less of themselves for their sexual orientation, all the better. The sexual orientation of those featured here did not stand in the way of their achievements.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Robert Gant

Openly gay actor/producer Robert Gant has a role as a film director in Joshua Tree 1951: A Portrait of James Dean which screened at L.A.’s Outfest on Monday night, but I first became aware of him in his role as Ben Bruckner on the Showtime TV series Queer as Folk (2001-2005). The character Ben was an HIV positive college professor who became the long-term partner of lead character Michael (Hal Sparks), and the two eventually married in season 4. Gant came out publicly at the time Queer as Folk was on the air.

Born Robert John Gonzales in 1968 in Tampa FL, he studied law at Georgetown University in Washington DC and accepted a position with the L.A. office of Baker & McKenzie. The international firm's Los Angeles office closed soon thereafter, and Gant decided to abandon his career in law and devote his time to acting.

Gant stayed in the closet for over a decade while securing roles in television shows such as Caroline in the City, Friends, Melrose Place and Popular. Even after his success and recognition as Ben in Queer as Folk, he believes that openly gay actors are limited in their choices until achieving the stature of a romantic leading man. In 2009 Gant had a role in a BBC series called Personal Affairs that aired in the U.K. He was the sole American in the cast and crew, playing a straight guy from Amarillo, Texas.

Gant believes that “the last real frontier in Hollywood”  is an openly gay actor playing a leading romantic straight role.  Robert was cast as a straight man involved with a woman in the Lifetime movie Special Delivery, in which his character was involved with a woman played by Lisa Edelstein (House). The role involved an on-screen kiss.

Robert, who turned 44 on July 13, is involved in several philanthropic organizations that focus on the issue of aging in the gay community.

Trailer for a film about the ex-gay movement: Save Me (2007) with Chad Allen



Queer as Folk compilation of scenes with Ben (Robert Gant) and Michael (Hal Sparks). Considering that Sparks is straight, that's a whole lot of man-on-man kissing. Guess that's why they call it acting:



7 comments:

  1. I wouldn't have a problem making out with Robert Gant or Hal Sparks for that matter!!

    I only started watching the series 5 years ago when I discovered LOGO and was able to experience Gay men living the lives of regular "folk" for the first time and the show was pivotal in my decision to come out and embrace my true self. Haven't seen anything nearly as true-to-life since and "Queer as Folk" should be required watching for anyone struggling to find themselves like I did. I laughed, I cried and seeing this post today made me smile. Many thanks...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me either O!Daddie, would embrace either of them, especially Robert Gant. I only just finished the series, but sure wished I'd seen it back when it first aired. A friend showed me one episode and I was hooked, started from the beginning and went through all 5 seasons in about two weeks, WOW, this should have gone at least 2 or 3 more seasons. Would love to see them all get together and maybe produce a Mini-Series showing them all together 9 years later, be terrific, and know Showtime would be glad to put it on. Going to try and contact Robert Gant to see the possibilities, hey it's worth a try. Loved your comment, and I sure feel the same way.

      Delete
  2. I LOVE THAT SERIES. I WISH THEY WOULD COME OUT WITH A REUNION MOVIE OF QUEER AS FOLK.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. Its to bad we couldnt contact with someone or something to get this to happen. 10 yrs later on queer as folk and what has happened since then. Are all the couples still together. Did Brian and Justin get back together. Love I think if more important then some job....

      Delete
    2. Please bring back queer as folk. I Love that show. Can you see it 10 yrs later. Everyone back together for maybe Pride wk. See if they got married. It would be awesome to see Brian and Justin together. Love is more important then and stupid job. After everything they went through they deserve each other. I know they were all acting but damn if they didnt love each other. There is no one that good. You can tell by the way they looked at each other. This is all about Justin and Brian love for each other and from the very beginning with the pic.Justin drew and Brian getting and staring at it that night. Wow is all there is left to say!!!

      Delete
  3. Totally agree with Pete and Lisa. How about Queer As Folk, Again. I'm sure the entire cast would come back, if not for a series but maybe a mini-series. Did Justin become a famous Artist, Did Brian keep his title and do Brian and Justin re-kindle their romance, did Brian maybe re-open Babylon, Did Mel and Lindsay move back to Pittsburgh after prop 14 failed. Did Debbie and Carl marry. Love to see Ben and Michael adopt a baby, and have Hunter finish school and marry himself and make them grand parents. How about Emmett meeting up with Drew Boyd, finding out he's turned 21 and wanting to be with Emmett again. Not sure about Ted, but I'm sure the writers would write something juicy for him. I think Showtime would jump at the chance to have it return, I know myself and all my friends would love it to come back. PLEASE consider it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I know I hope there can be a reunion or a special season or something because I loved this show when I started watching it which I started a month ago and finished !! Already and for me honestly it was more then a TV show it was like my life and I felt really connected with the characters and it made me literally cry because its over it was bitter sweet so I would love another series !!

    ReplyDelete