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'Melrose Place' star Doug Savant explains why he refused to come out as straight while playing gay character on TV

I might have to start listening to this podcast by Leighton, Thorne-Smith and Zuniga. Seems like lots of tea gets spilled.

[quote]Savant feels that the show's handlers and producers thought "it would be somehow more palatable to the American public if they could avail themselves of the reality that I was actually a straight man. And I thought that was morally reprehensible... I just couldn't morally bring myself to say, 'I'm going to come to work and I'm going to play this character, but I should distance myself from it.' My intention with Matt was to say he is your son, he is your brother, he is your friend. He is every man, he's your neighbor. He's a regular guy who happens to be gay."

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by Anonymousreply 5November 30, 2024 9:12 PM

I admired him for that at the time. So many straight actors make sure everyone knows they aren’t actually gay. Or if there is a love scene, they have to talk about how “difficult” it was to pretend to have sex with another man. Of course, Savant never had to do that since MP never even let Matt have a kiss with a guy.

by Anonymousreply 1November 30, 2024 8:34 PM

We love a thoughtful ally. Especially back in the '90s when it really counted.

by Anonymousreply 2November 30, 2024 8:58 PM

Wow, lovely thoughts. We sure need more of him.

by Anonymousreply 3November 30, 2024 9:00 PM

Always liked him. Glad to see he's a decent person.

This was, supposedly, the issue that came up with Armistead Maupin and the first actor to play Mouse in the first season of Tales of the City. Maupin got angry that the actor (his name escapes me) was very vocally talking about his straightness on every talk show.

It's great that Savant didn't feel a need to distance himself from the role.

by Anonymousreply 4November 30, 2024 9:09 PM

R1, if I remember correctly, they filmed the kiss but then edited it out. I think that was what the episode of Will & Grace (where they wind up on the Today Show) was based on.

by Anonymousreply 5November 30, 2024 9:12 PM
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