Actor Harry Hamlin has voiced his thoughts on Hollywood’s changing attitudes toward LGBTQ characters in film, revealing that his own portrayal of a gay man almost derailed his career.
Hamlin stepped into the role of Bart, a gay screenwriter, in 1982’s Making Love. As written by gay writers A. Scott Berg & Barry Sandler and directed by Arthur Hiller, the film tells the story of a closeted, married man who falls for Hamlin’s Bart, leading them both on a journey of self-discovery. It was the first-ever gay romance produced by a major studio.
Now 68, Hamlin says that despite the groundbreaking nature of the movie, showbiz doors slammed in his face.
“It was, like, 10 years too early, I guess, and it completely ended my career,” Hamlin told the podcast It Happened in Hollywood. “That was the last studio picture I ever did. The door shut with a resounding smash.”
Related: ‘Making Love’ celebrates 35 years. Barry Sandler muses on how far cinema has come.
Prior to Making Love, Hamlin’s star had been on the rise, having appeared in hits like Clash of the Titans. He thought playing a gay man would offer a chance to show his dramatic range, and a certain amount of courage other actors hadn’t shown. “They’d gone out to every major star, and they’d all turned it down, because at that time, the idea of a gay world was still not accepted,” he added.
Making Love scored lukewarm reviews at the time, and Hamlin’s career wouldn’t recover until 1986 when he nabbed the lead on NBC’s iconic drama LA Law. He would earn a Golden Globe nomination for his performance, and appear in five seasons of the show.
Still, despite the career woes of the time, Hamlin embraces his work in Making Love. In recent years, the film has come to be seen as something of an overlooked classic, an idealistic pre-AIDS romance the likes of which wouldn’t be seen again for more than a decade. He appeared in The Celluloid Closet discussing his work and the reaction to the film and also has spoken at retrospective screenings of the movie alongside Barry Sandler.
“Not a week goes by when people don’t come up to me and say – and I’m serious about this – in the supermarket, anywhere, on the street, and they thank me for doing that movie,” Hamlin says.
rustyiam
But went on to star in one of the most popular and highly acclaimed legal drama series of the 80s and 90s! I guess his idea of ruined and the rest of the worlds is a little different!
Joshooeerr
His point is that it de-railed his movie career – and he’s right about that. He was consigned to television, which in those days was still decidedly B-grade and paid less.
Diplomat-G
@Josheerr
His movie career prior to “Making Love” consisted of several C and D rated films most notably “Studs Lunigan” and “Clash of the Titans”, not sure those were Oscar worthy….. or career advancing movies…
inbama
Whatever.
He was so darmned beautiful in “Clash of the Titans.”
TomG
@Joshooeerr
You make more money in TV anyhow even if you have to work longer. It also makes you more recognizable to the public at large.
RIGay
I hear him. That movie was groundbreaking; for once there was a gay character who was not a stereotype. But he’s right – there was still a lot of animosity towards gay content, and back in the 80’s, that was considered toxic. I remember him talking about how hard it was to get roles immediately afterwards; and never with remorse.
I give him a lot of credit for doing it in the first place. “Still, despite the career woes of the time, Hamlin embraces his work in Making Love. In recent years, the film has come to be seen as something of an overlooked classic, an idealistic pre-AIDS romance the likes of which wouldn’t be seen again for more than a decade.” – Bravo!
Mattster
I remember when this movie came out, it has probably aged poorly but at the time there was virtually NO LGBTQ representation in movies, except as swishy villains or comic relief. Gay people certainly didn’t have lives, let alone sex lives, on the big screen.
And if memory serves, the character doesn’t die, which is a destructive trope really only just ending recently.
taylor94
Ended his career? He had 3 or 4 parts prior to this movie. His career was hardly on fire at the time. As for the movie, groundbreaking yes, but poor acting and a weak script made it a dog. Hamlin and his wife are masters of self promotion and this PR stunt is a good example.
Mattster
Clash of the Titans was schlocky, especially viewed now, but at the time it was a high profile movie and I believe it was financially successful.
He went from roles in a few movies to starring in a big-budget studio picture, then a gay movie, and then NOTHING in Hollywood.
Say what you want about his acting ability, but given many terrible actors continue making terrible movies (Earnest? Larry the Cable Guy? Steve Gutenberg? Frank Stallone?) his explanation sound pretty plausible.
If there is some sort of Hollywood blacklist someone could Be on, I wish those people (and many others) had been put on it.
Jim
He was never an A list actor and he was going nowhere anyway. Quit whining.
msc1208
He means no major film studio would hire him after Making Love. A part in a TV series isn’t quite the same as being a major bankable movie star, which he was on the way to becoming. And he’s right Making Love ended any chance of that every happening. Clash of the Titans came out in 1981 and was a huge financial hit and he was the main character in it, a year later Making Love was released and then no major studio films after that. Just parts in low-budget films that most likely never even played in theaters and the pay probably wasn’t anything close to what he made on Clash of the Titans or Making Love. It was 4 years after Making Love before L.A. Law. So even though his career did recover somewhat, It took 4 years for that to happen and I am sure that sticks in his mind more than anything else.
Diplomat-G
he was on his way to being a movie star?? Really based on what?
thisdude
Oh you bitter queens
russellhm
Since he went on after the film to TV’s “L.A. Law,” I must infer he is referencing his film career. But I always found the movie very warm and honest. And Kate Jackson was a huge female star from “Charlie’s Angels.” Michael Ontkean, the other guy, was excellent but we’ve seen very little of him. I never saw “Slapshot” with Paul Newman but Ontkean was a hockey master in real life. And I recall something about Jackson & Ontkean’s fondness for Gilbert & Sullivan in the film.
RyanMBecker
Yes, it was a groundbreaking movie that was indeed heartwarming. No stereotypes, villains or blame, and no one died. If anything, some activists blamed it for being too neat and sweet. I condemned those arguments, because the same critics often also complained that other movies had too many stereotypes and insult unhappy endings. And I say this as somewhat of an expert, having been an LGBT media archivist as an undergrad, and for many years afterwards.
While I’m too young to have seen it in theaters, I can imagine the impact it must have had on gays, especially those still in the closet. I’m sure it also had a positive impact on the parents and other loved ones of gays — as well as the open-minded public. Finally, a gay-themed that wasn’t aimed at a niche demographic. Yes, it is now considered a classic in Queer Cinema.
RyanMBecker
You should DEFINITELY watch Slapshot, if only for the legendary jockstrap skating scene. It was enough to make me question my heterosexuality! If you’re into handsome dark haired sensitive men, Michael Ontkean should tickle your gonads (the guy even published a book of poetry). I’ve always said that he’s one of the top 5 guys I’d turn gay for. Now imagine him wearing nothing but a jockstrap, skating in front of hundreds of people. No body doubles, CGI, creative angling or lighting in the name of censorship. Nor was it a short scene. Ontkean deserves a lot of credit for the scene, and we’re all better people because of it! And for those of you who prefer daddies, there’s also Paul Newman.
If you have no interest in hockey, just go to Youtube. There are multiple uploads of that scene. In fact, my LGBT channel even had it at one point. Happy wanking!
xanadude
Any actor who claims any particular one role “killed” their career is just making excuses. Maybe their behavior behind the scenes while in that role? But I’m pretty sure everyone knows you are ACTING in a role, which is the point in the first place.
MikeM
The same thing happened to Laura Dern after her appearance on “Ellen.”
ThomasAnthony
And the same thing happened to Ellen herself, for a time. Hamlin’s promising film career was definitely derailed by this, and any one of us alive back then can confirm that the world (or the US) was not quite ready for such out gayness in major motion pictures. Hamlin is not expressing any regret and does not seem to be looking for sympathy, so I’m not sure why the trolls are attacking. Except for the fact that they’re bitter trolls. In retrospect, Hamlin’s doing that film was as heroic to our community as Ellen’s coming out was, and Ellen really changed the world.
mikeTigg
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
CKNJ
I agree… it was a risky venture, but glad he did it, though it did sadly damage his career. Hollywood studios are notoriously homophobic (yes, even NOW!)… I remember watching the movie in the cinema when it came out in ’82 and having straight guys in the audience yell out slurs and get up and leave the theater when they kissed… they almost RAN out of the theater! I definitely thank him for being prepared to do that role when he did. On a different note, why does it that so many of the comments on Queerty are so damned bitter and derisive… so many joyless nasty people abound!
Jared MacBride
A lot of actors would be very happy with the “ruined” career he went on to have.
Esscourt
Awww… poor baby wanted an Oscar. Oh well.
Joshooeerr
Making Love an “overlooked classic”?! I don’t think so. Even claiming it as a brave early attempt at a gay-positive movie is a stretch. The sympathies in the film are entirely with the Kate Jackson character, the devoted, “innocent” wife whose life is blown apart when her husband falls in love with a man. Homosexuality is treated like a social problem in the manner of the “disease of the week” telemovies of the day, and the prurience around the relationship with the guys somewhat overshadows what could have been a romantic story. Those involved were relatively well-intentioned, but if the movie failed it did so because ultimately it was neither fish nor fowl – not shocking enough to really upset the homophobes and not progressive enough to win the support of the homos.
Mattster
Overlooked classic is a stretch, sure, I haven’t seen it since it was first on TV, it’s probably age very poorly. And what you say is pretty much true, it was very much about getting sympathy for Kate Jackson, I was annoyed with that angle at the time.
But still, gay characters onscreen, and gay characters that had SEX LIVES! There really was not much to choose from then, and much of it was really… problematic.
I’d encourage everyone to read Vito Russo’s outstanding book The Celluloid Closet to get a sense of what the representation of us was onscreen, and how it changed over time.
trog
I’d argue “Making Love” is an LGBTQ classic. Especially given the time period and context. I saw it in the 80s when it first aired on TV, and it was a scandal. I was a kid and didn’t even really understand what gay meant. Can you name any other mainstream gay movie that reached as many people and portrayed gay men with respect? That alone would make it a classic and one for the history books.
I saw it a few years ago and thought it aged well. All three actors were great and gorgeous.
ScottOnEarth
The usual bitter-no-matter-what Bitches have their ratty claws out on this. If you fools would notice, Harry isn’t complaining or blaming. He expresses no regret and is simple stating facts.
Scribe38
I love Harry. I was a kid when Titans came out and a teen for L.A. Law. I respect the heck of him. I’ve never seen the gay movie, but I’ll look around for it. I thank him for the support
trsxyz
I’m sure it had a negative career impact. Straight actors had been warned again & again that playing gay was career suicide. Cliff Gorman & Laurence Luckinbill who starred in the 1970s film “Boys in the Band” were straight, and their careers were similarly impacted.
Me2
Well, someone had to kick in the door. Thank you Harry for being that “sacrificial lamb“ that somewhat paved the way for gay characters in major films. Now, go be grateful for the career that you did have. Life has no guarantees, but you still managed to do well.
okiloki
Clash of the Titans was huge back in the day. I remember watching it over 10 times as a kid. It’s regarded as a classic and too bad they didn’t make any sequels. And yes, Hollywood was incredibly homophobic back then and still is, even though things have improved a lot since.
RyanMBecker
Trivia: that same year also saw the release of Personal Best, a mainstream lesbian- themed movie. It was a breakthrough year for Queer Cinema. And despite the detractors, both are well-regarded as classics within the field. I say this as a former LGBT media archivist.
trog
PERSONAL BEST!!! Thank you for mentioning this film. It’s absolutely one of my favorite movies of all time,–gay, strait, bi or whatever. It’s SO fascinating on so many levels, and not just the lesbian/bi stuff. I really wish it got brought up more often in discussions of LGBT films. Very deserving of a wider audience.
Paulie P
Hey Harry….. there’s more to love than making love…….. (only a handful will get that reference)
nirthboy69
I’d be interested in learning the ages of the commenters above who are so dismissive of Hamlin’s claims. Because his claims are quite credible.
Clash of the Titans may not have aged well to our present day eyes, but it was a major movie casting coup for such a young actor and he was definitely on his way up in a world that still saw television stardom as lesser than movie stardom. The status barriers between the two only really began to blur starting in the 90s. And the years where a straight actor adopting a gay role being seen as a badge of honour that could immediately catapult you into serious award contention were still a few years off. Let alone what a whisper of a star actually being gay themselves could do (and would still do for decades past that time period). That Hamlin can speak so honestly about the personal effects on his career with pride for the positive impact it had on others is a tribute to his depth as a human being and support of the LGBTQ community.
I remember when Making Love was released. And as a young gay teenager growing up in a hostile world of the period I’d simply like to say to Harry Hamlin: Thank you.
Josh447
Making Love is a great movie. I have nothing but respect for the guy for doing it. It truly was a trail blazer ahead of its time.
When I read how people today walk up to him and thank him for doing it, it gives my heart a shake. I’m sure he’s ever so grateful for those compliments and made it all worth it, maybe. It would be interesting to ask him if he had it to do all over again, would he have done that movie.
KevinG
Maybe it was a little early and hurt his career, but not ten years too early. Just three years later, William Hurt played a gay character in Kiss of the Spider Woman and won a Best Actor Oscar for it.