Muscle daddy Claybourne Elder brings the gay heat to ‘The Gilded Age’ & now we’ve caught fire
By Editors · 7 comments
Claybourne Elder has gone from Broadway hunk to TV hunk.
While the 41-year-old has been thrilling theater fans for years with his acting and singing chops, Elder is getting extra attention from home audiences ever since he started flaunting his pearly whites and buff physique on HBO’s The Gilded Age.
On the series, the out actor portrays John Adams, the closeted great-grandson of the second president of the United States, who is the secret lover of aristocrat Oscar von Rhijn (played by the equally handsome Blake Ritson).
Elder’s stage presence has been getting rave reviews ever since making his Broadway debut in Bonnie and Clyde in 2011.
The following year, he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play for One Arm. In 2015, Elder was nominated for Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for Allegro.
Six years ago, he played Soldier/Alex in Sunday in the Park with George and was understudy for the one and only Jake Gyllenhaal, who played George.
Most recently, he starred alongside theater icon Patti LuPone in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company and launched his touring concert, I Want to Be Evil, which depicts Elder’s journey from growing up Mormon to coming out and moving to New York City.
Throughout it all, Elder proves that his voice may be the only thing bigger than his bulging biceps.
? ‘Cause I’m still waitin’ and lovin’ you, imagine that, ain’t that a laugh ?
In his personal life, Elder has been married to playwright/theater director Eric Rosen since 2012. The couple are also parents to their adorable six-year-old son, Claybourne “Bo” Philip Rosen-Elder.
“I had always hoped I would get to be a dad but because I’m gay I thought that might never be possible,” Elder told Broadway World in 2020.
“It’s almost strange to think that 10 years ago I wouldn’t even have a legal marriage. There are so many ways to make a family, but as a gay man there are some unique challenges that are difficult and often times expensive.”
We stan a talented queer dad who is gorgeous inside and out!
Elder can currently be seen on season two of The Gilded Age, with new episodes premiering Sundays on HBO. Check out more shots from his amazing Instagram page below:
I’ve known Claybourne and Eric for the better part of two decades and while I wish him nothing but success, I always found it strange when married people constantly post but rarely feature their partner. Looking at his socials you would absolutely think he was single and maybe that’s part of how he markets himself – god knows some gays do that. At minimum Claybourne could use the excuse “we keep our relationship private” or “Eric doesn’t enjoy the limelight” but… Eric himself is part of the same business so….. I’ve always found it odd. There’s no shame in the age difference AND Eric is very attractive so it’s always been a head scratcher.
Tbh I thought the first season of the Gilded Age was okay, I mostly continued to watched it when Elder popped up lol. He just have a nice presence and charm that the show needed. And he’s a stage veteran and singer ? His husband is one lucky man.
He’s a minor character & his face is a bit Picasso-esque, and the actor who plays his (former?) love interest, Blake Ritson, isn’t the most appealing, but the show itself is worth watching, mainly because of the performances of the main women actors. Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Carrie Coon, and Donna Murphy eat up the scenery episode after episode. Audra McDonald is an added plus too (though please, can Peggy and her family have some moments of joy in their lives, even as difficult as things were politically and socially back then in racial terms?). And then there’s Sullivan Jones!
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EducatedOtter
I’ve known Claybourne and Eric for the better part of two decades and while I wish him nothing but success, I always found it strange when married people constantly post but rarely feature their partner. Looking at his socials you would absolutely think he was single and maybe that’s part of how he markets himself – god knows some gays do that. At minimum Claybourne could use the excuse “we keep our relationship private” or “Eric doesn’t enjoy the limelight” but… Eric himself is part of the same business so….. I’ve always found it odd. There’s no shame in the age difference AND Eric is very attractive so it’s always been a head scratcher.
dbmcvey
Gorgeous and talented man!
nm4047
If only the show was worth watching.
dmarcus
Tbh I thought the first season of the Gilded Age was okay, I mostly continued to watched it when Elder popped up lol. He just have a nice presence and charm that the show needed. And he’s a stage veteran and singer ? His husband is one lucky man.
dwick
why are all these Broadway actors so ripped-yum
DMos
Years of dance training.
Kangol2
He’s a minor character & his face is a bit Picasso-esque, and the actor who plays his (former?) love interest, Blake Ritson, isn’t the most appealing, but the show itself is worth watching, mainly because of the performances of the main women actors. Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Carrie Coon, and Donna Murphy eat up the scenery episode after episode. Audra McDonald is an added plus too (though please, can Peggy and her family have some moments of joy in their lives, even as difficult as things were politically and socially back then in racial terms?). And then there’s Sullivan Jones!