You may know actor Johnathon Schaech (pronounced Shek, like you’re saying Shrek with a speech impediment) from his memorable roles over the years, like the snot-nosed singer who blows it with Liv Tyler in That Thing You Do!, to his more recent arch as eccentric movie star Sean Walker on Showtime’s Ray Donovan.
These days, Schaech plays Jonah Hex on the CW’s Legends Of Tomorrow, a DC comics smashup that joins the Arrow and Flash lineup.
But during a recent Reddit AMA, it was Schaech’s love life that dominated the public’s interest. And while he had a lot to say about his famous musical exes Christina Applegate and country singer Jana Kramer, it was a little question about his ’90s-era red carpet appearances with a then-closeted Ellen Degeneres that caught our eye.
A fan asked:
How about we take this to the next level?
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Is it true that you dated Ellen DeGeneres? I saw that online one time that someone said you had dated and didn’t believe it, but when I googled you and Ellen, pictures came up! Were you just friends?
To which Schaech responded:
My manager asked me to accompany her to events. She was scared people would not watch the show, Her sitcom Ellen, because she was gay. It was an honor. I grew up with two gay aunts and a gay uncle. My Aunt died of cancer. She was a proud woman and she didn’t get proper care because she didn’t want to be away from her partner. Hospitals didn’t allow partners the same rights as a spouse. When you have someone you love in your life that is gay or a lesbian it’s very clear that they deserve the same rights as anyone else. It’s not about religion. If you don’t love ELLEN now — you don’t watch her show. She’s a great example for the human race.
Well there’s a little hyperbole with your coffee, especially with all the backstage horror stories we’ve heard from people who work with her.
But just to clarify, the fan asked this followup:
So, you were Ellen’s beard?? or was she already out? That is so cool. So kind of you to do that!
And without really clarifying much, Schaech continued:
She wasn’t out…I was suppose to perform in her coming out episode but I ran the marathon and couldn’t walk the next day, the netowrk fired me cause they thought I was lame. I was lame, DONT RUN A MARATHON when your [sic] given a great gift.
There you have it, folks — words to truly live by: Don’t run a marathon when you’re given a great gift.
Jimmy Radosta
I remember when he told Rosie O’Donnell that he shared a crush on Tom Cruise. It was such a strange interview – was he bi, or just being coy?
Scott Deane
Being Gay or Lesbian doesn’t mean you’re allergic to the opposite sex. As a gay man I find many women beautiful and sexy and I’ve been intimate with women. I prefer men . There is an old saying… “even a diabetic goes in to a bakery once and awhile “
Prinny
Merkin is the lesbian equivalent of beard.
Stacy Imler
Oh wow. I couldn’t pronounce Shek. Thanks for clearing that up. You just lost me. Respect-gone.
DarkZephyr
@Scott Deane: I have never been with a woman in that way and never intend to. I love women, have many female friends, but I have zero desire to have sex with them. Not wanting to sleep with them doesn’t mean I am “allergic” though. 😉
@Stacy Imler: Wow, calm down.
potus8
So you reprint an article that bitchIly calls out ELLEN? A woman can’t act like a boss without being called out? I love gossip as much as the next guy, but dogging women in the process ain’t cool; especially a member of the LGBT fam that has done more than most. Stop it..,be better
Zaikheura Tankir Fross
Haha
Gary McGonigle
He was too HOT!
DCguy
@Scott Deane:
She stated quite clearly that his manager had him show up with her as cover because she was closeted. Why are you acting like you are defending the fact that they could have dated?
GayEGO
@Scott Deane: No it doesn’t mean I am allergic to women, but when I tried to neck with them as I was supposed to do back in the 1950s in Boise, Idaho, my willy would go to sleep. Now a guy was a different story! My willy would stand at attention on its own! :>)
He BGB
I don’t get the metaphor of don’t run a marathon when given a gift. Is it sarcasm? Personally I don’t think ellen is all that nice even though she likes to think she is.