It wasn’t because of Jodie Foster’s Golden Globe speech but the timing is eerie: In an interview that ran today with entertainment writer Greg Hernandez, actor Victor Garber confirmed that he’s gay.
Hernandez encountered Garber, 63, at the TV Critics Association press tour, where Garber was promoting his new NBC show, Deception. The writer approached the actor privately and asked if information on Wikipedia about Garber and his longtime boyfriend, artist Rainer Andreesen, was accurate.
I just decided to ask him: “Wikipedia lists Rainer Andreesen as your partner. I wondered if that’s something that’s public, that you’ve confirmed.”
He seemed surprised by the question but said: “I don’t really talk about it but everybody knows.”
Garber then added: “He’s going to be out here with me for the SAG Awards.”
Garber is a veteran actor with film roles including shipbuilder Thomas Andrews in Titanic, San Francisco mayor George Moscone in Milk and most recently, Ambassador Ken Taylor in Argo. On Broadway he’s been nominated for a Tony four times, including for roles in Lend Me a Tenor, Deathtrap and Damn Yankees. On the small screen, Garber had memorable role on shows including Alias, Eli Stone, and now Deception.
Hmm, we wonder if Victor can put us in touch with his old Alias co-star Bradley Cooper?
Merv
How can he be called Titanic when I’ve never heard of him?
CaptainFabulous
@Merv: Cause he was in the movie “Titanic”? And you’ve never heard of Victor Garber? Have you been living in a cave for the past 30 years? 😀
LadyL
Fond memories of him from the 1972 musical film “Godspell” as well. Nice to hear he’s out.
niles
He was great in Flashdance.
FStratford
more stars should come out. silently or with a splash, doesnt matter
InscrutableTed
I’m surprised you didn’t mention Godspell. It’s one of his most famous roles.
Aidan8
He looks pretty damn good for 63…. would have guessed he’s younger.
Cam
“”
Garber then added: “He’s going to be out here with me for the SAG Awards.”
____________-
Part of the problem is the press. These actors are bringing their partners to awards shows etc… and yet the press has a blackout on all gay info.
My friends and I who didn’t watch the Golden Globes had no idea what Jodie Foster had said until other friends told us. All of the News Programs just said she had given a speech and went to a clip of her saying she was single and then to the part about not being lonley, so even when it’s in a speech they don’t play it.
leliorisen
Considering Garber’s lead role in “Godspell,” is it safe to now say that Jesus is gay?
@leliorisen
technicolornina
Holy crap! When I was thirteen and a scared little baby-gay still in the closet I saw Godspell and went “Is Jesus . . . ?” then promptly shut the thought off because OH NO BLASPHEMY.
Apparently, my gaydar is only broken sometimes. My next rewatch is gonna be awesome. I like to think if there is in fact a Big Guy In The Sky that he approves of this playful, awesome choice to portray him.
Jay
In Not News today…
tardis
Good for him 🙂
mfwettlaufer
Very cool! He’s one of my favorite actors.
Kenny1948
But somewhere I missed something. I for some reason, did not hear Jodie Foster say she was gay. She said what she has always said. That she is a private person, and it’s nobodys bleeping business!
thedavid
I’ve watched his career for a long time. I believe he was the original Toby in the original production of “Sweeney Todd.” He was also in “Assassins.”
Victor Garber has had a fantastic career.
MarvelUs
Garber is gorgeous, a silver fox if ever I saw one. Glad it all out for him; doesn’t sound like he was hiding anyway.
Mark
Maybe you are more familiar with Lindsay Lohan.
godot515
Actually, the incredibly talented and (in real life) sweet Victor Garber played the romantic lead in SWEENEY TODD, the sailor Anthony Hope, but it was his Jesus in the film version of GODSPELL that brought him down from Canada and onto the great White Way. And he played Jennifer Garner’s father in ALIAS on t.v. or was he her boss…..either way, he was there for all to see……in, out, he’s a dynamic and versatile actor, which is all that counts, right?
Aaron
I had such a crush on him all through Alias (he was Jennifer Garner’s father). He is a true silver fox, forget about AC. I always kind of wondered if he was gay, since he was never married and always did the “private person” line. Nice to hear he’s been out and partnered for some time.
Christopher
I’ve always found it amusing that Victor has played both (some people’s) God and the devil (in Damn Yankees). I think George Burns is the only other guy who did that.
In other news, Ted Neeley announced that he’s straight. And alive.
LadyL
@Cam: The press is a BIG part of the problem. They are so conditioned to gay being an untouchable subject they can’t acknowledge it even when the celebrity in question and everyone else does.
Sometimes though, reporters try to do the right thing and get shot down for it. I wonder how often that happens..?
I’m thinking of the Barbara Walters interview a few years back where she tried to get Ricky Martin to address the rumors and Martin refused (sweat beading his forehead, deer-in-the-headlights gaze, a tight smile on his face), insisting he just “didn’t feel like” talking about it. Walters caught all kinds of grief for that, and concluded it’s better just to steer clear of the subject.
A few years prior to that, Nathan Lane was profiled for Time magazine (or it might have been Newsweek) around the time of the release of “The Birdcage.” He spoke so freely and forthrightly with the two reporters interviewing him that, impressed by his honesty, they included his observations about his personal life in the published piece.
When the issue hit the newstands Lane hit the ceiling–or his publicist did–demanding an explanation and an apology from the bewildered reporters. Apparently they didn’t realize how the system worked.
erasure25
I thought he was already out? True story: I was working at Outfest (LA’s LGBT film festival) at the Opening Night film Hedwig and the Angry Inch some years back. I was under the impression that my cohorts were going to dress up for the occasion. I wore tight black leather pants, black boots, and a tight black semi-see through semi-shiny shirt, and styled my hair accordingly. I was quickly running across the room when I ran right into Victor Garber, my hands gracefully running down his chest as I blushed and made my excuses, oh pardon me, excuse me, I am so sorry!
There’s no point to this story other than I have felt him up in real life LOL!
Christopher
The press is part of the problem, but it’s very hard for me to blame them. The fine line between “outing” someone (which is basically investigative journalism) and simply reporting factual circumstances is something the press is working out. When so many of our richest and most famous closet cases are so litigious, I am not surprised that media types prefer to steer clear of the topic unless someone literally makes a statement “Yep, I’m gay/lesbian/bi/trans.” I have never been bothered by the lack of reporting on Jodie Foster because she is in fact a private person and she doesn’t hang out in gay bars or make out with women in public. Outing her would require investigating her. On the other hand, the press should be able to say “Celebrity X was spotted at XL dancing with Celebrity Y” without fear. If page six can report the “canoodlings” of our straight celebutantes, the same should be true of our gay ones. If you want to be closeted, stay home like Jodie- if you don’t, you shouldn’t expect the press to cover for you. (As for Nathan Lane, he has been interviewed enough that he should know the phrase “off the record.” Shame on him for demanding special treatment and contributing to the notion that being called gay is a libel.)
Brendon
He is an amazing actor. I think it’s funny how I’m just now reading that he has been gay and I saw him on an episode of The Big C playing Willy Wanker the gay sex line operator.
Josh
Can we please get an edit on the title since “comfirms” is not a word?
Mr Straight Guy
So he took the Queerty quiz to confirm his gayness?
Kasnar
@LadyL: I was lucky enough to see that movie on TV recently.
Kasnar
@godot515: I thought he played Jack Bristow, Sidney’s father, superbly in Alias. The pilot episode was initially so confusing and I couldn’t understand his character’s affect until certain family truths were revealed. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend the series.