Guy Pearce (pictured) is the latest heterosexual actor to go gay-for-pay on the small screen.
The sexy Australian star, who made an indelible impression as the outrageous Felicia in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has been cast as Sean Hayes’ new boyfriend in the sitcom Sean Saves the World.
TV Line reports Pearce will play a “charming, thrill-seeking adventurer who Sean will do almost anything to impress.”
A thrill-seeker with a taste for adventure? We love the sound of that. We’ll be curious to see how Pearce fares in the role. Shooting is slated for early 2014.
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Check out these other Hollywood actors who have played gay love interests on the small screen.
James Wolk
Wolk joined the cast of Mad Men last season, playing gay junior account man Bob Benson. But that’s not the heartthrob’s first foray into gay-for-pay acting. He also played Adam Pally’s love interest in ABC’s Happy Endings.
Darren Criss
Real-life musician Criss joined the cast of Glee as Chris Colfer’s love interest, Blaine Anderson, in 2010. Critics and fans were so excited by the teenage romance that he was soon made a series regular.
Mathew St. Patrick and Michael C. Hall
The two actors received widespread critical acclaim for their groundbreaking portrayal of interracial gay couple David and Keith on HBO’s Six Feet Under in the early 2000s.
Trevor Donovan
All-American actor Donovan played Teddy Montgomery, a gay tennis-playing prep student in the 90210 remake. Not only did Donovan spend much of his time on screen shirtless, but he also shared a rather steamy kiss with another hot straight actor Alan Ritchson, now seen in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Michael K. Williams
Williams became well-known after playing the role of Omar Little, a gay “Robin Hood” of the Baltimore streets, on the HBO’s The Wire. He was pretty bad ass on the show, but he also had some tender love scenes, most notably a bedroom kiss with boyfriend Dante, played by Ernest Waddell.
Matt Damon and Michael Douglas
The award-winning A-listers paired up as doomed lovers in HBO’s Behind the Candelabra earlier this year. The film was praised by critics and nabbed several Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Douglas.
KittyLitter
Anyone else fall asleep while watching Behind the Candelabra?
Spike
Who knew that Sean Saves The World is still on. Thought it was one of the first shows cancelled. Should have been.
mz.sam
No matter what the actor’s actual sexual preference that’s hired for film or TV roles, this is an example the desperation of Sean Saves The World’s producers to save its dismally low ratings by infusing big ticketed actors to draw more viewers in. Also the same goes for Robin Williams’ new failing sitcom in future episodes as reported. Its time the drive the final nail into these walking dead coffins.
Stache1
@KittyLitter: Loved it. Watched it twice.
balehead
Does Guy Pearce really need the money??? Should we send him some??
tricky ricky
stunt casting in a desperate attempt to keep the show from being cancelled.
boring
Guy Pearce gets to do anything he wants, and you know why?
Ravenous.
Stache1
He needs to bring back Felicia. About the only thing that will make me watch that crappy show.
middleagespread
Mathew St. Patrick has always been such a fantastic looking man. He should have his own 24 hour show!!
jwtraveler
Guy Pearce is probably the only man who could get me to watch “Sean…” Oh, and Bobby Cannavale. I’d watch him do anything.
Ajai
I don’t watch a lot of network tv, but I saw an episode of this. It’s refreshing to see a show centered around a gay parent.
Cam
That show is still on????
dagny_t
You’ve missed a number of other straight-to-gay actors: Johnny Depp (‘Before Night Falls’ among others), Charlie Hunnam & Aiden Gillen (‘Queer As Folk’), Robin Williams (‘The Birdcage’), Terence Stamp & Hugo Weaving (‘Priscilla …’ co-stars), most of the actors in the 1st wave of AIDS films such as ‘Longtime Companion’, et VERY al
jckfmsincty
Guy Pearce is straight?