15) Rock Hudson
Several famous men who have come out as gay have been married to women. While some married before they fully recognized that they were gay, others used their marriages to keep their sexuality a secret from the public.
Rock Hudson was married to Phyllis Gates from 1955-1958. Although many of his co-stars alleged that Hudson was gay, he never officially came out. Hudson died of AIDS-related complications in 1985.
Birthplace: Winnetka, Illinois, United States of America
14) Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins was married to the actress Berry Berenson. The couple had two children, Oz Perkins (born 1974) and Elvis Perkins (born 1976). Perkins had several relationships with men prior to his marriage. He died from AIDS-related complications in 1992. Berry Berenson died in the 9/11 attacks aboard Flight 11, which crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
13) Elton John
In 1984, Elton John married Renate Blauel, a German recording engineer. They divorced in 1988, and John told Rolling Stone magazine that he "was comfortable being gay." In 2005, he married David Furnish, with whom he had been in a relationship with since 1993.
Birthplace: Pinner, London, United Kingdom
12) Oscar Wilde
Author Oscar Wilde was married to Constance Lloyd from 1884-1898. Oscar Wilde was charged with the then-crime of sodomy in 1895, and he was imprisoned for two years. He had two children with Lloyd, Cyril Holland (born 1885) and Vyvyan Holland (born 1886).
Birthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
11) Cole Porter
Cole Porter was married to Linda Lee Thomas from 1919 until her death in 1954. He was rumored to have had several same-sex relationships throughout his life, though he never publicly came out as gay. His long-time friend Ray Kelly's children now receive a large portion of Porter's royalties.
Birthplace: Peru, Indiana, United States of America
10) Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming was married to Hilary Lyon from 1985-1993. He has been married to the graphic artist Grant Shaffer since 2007. Cumming considers himself to bisexual and came out as such in 1998.
Birthplace: Aberfeldy, United Kingdom
9) Tony Richardson
Academy Award-winning director Tony Richardson was married to the actress Vanessa Redgrave from 1962-1967. They have two daughters together, the actresses Natasha (born 1963) and Joely Richardson (born 1965). Richardson came out as bisexual in 1985, after he was diagnosed with HIV. He died of AIDS-related complications in 1991.
Birthplace: Shipley, United Kingdom
8) Little Richard
Little Richard was married to Ernestine Campbell from 1959-1963. He always enjoyed wearing makeup, and he performed in drag groups in the early 1950s. In 1995, he told Penthouse that he always knew he was homosexual.
Birthplace: Macon, Georgia, United States of America
7) Peter Allen
Musician Peter Allen was married to Liza Minnelli from 1967-1974. A few years later, he came out as gay. He was in a 15-year relationship with Gregory Connell.
Birthplace: Tenterfield, Australia
6) Vincente Minnelli
Vincente Minnelli, Liza Minnelli's father, was married to several women including Judy Garland (1945-1951), Georgette Magnani (1954-1958), Danica "Denise" Radosavljevic (1962-1971), and Lee Anderson (1980-1986). Minnelli's biographer stated that Minnelli was openly gay in New York, but he remained closeted in Los Angeles.
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
5) Peter Marc Jacobson
"The Nanny" creator Peter Marc Jacobson was married to Fran Drescher from 1978-1999. Jacobson came out as gay after they divorced. They did not have any children, but the ex-couple did create the sitcom "Happily Divorced" based on their lives.
Birthplace: Flushing, New York City, New York, United States of America
4) Richard Cromwell
Actor Richard Cromwell was married to actress Angela Lansbury from 1945-1946. Lansbury has stated that the marriage ended because of Cromwell's bisexuality.
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States of America
3) Jonathan Plummer
Jonathan Plummer was the inspiration for the young love interest in his wife Terry McMillan's book How Stella Got Her Groove Back. The couple was married from 1998-2005. Plummer came out as gay in 2005, and McMillan sued him for $40 million for emotional distress.
Birthplace: Unkonwn (Earth?)
2) Phillip Schofield
Phillip Schofield was supported by his wife of 27 years when he came out publically as gay on ITV's This Morning. Schofield is an English television presenter who works for ITV. He is the co-presenter of This Morning and Dancing on Ice.
Birthplace: Oldham, United Kingdom
1) Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury born Farrokh Bulsara was a British singer, songwriter, record producer, and lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Mercury defied the conventions of a rock frontman, with his highly theatrical style influencing the artistic direction of Queen.
Birthplace: Stone Town, Sultanate of Zanzibar
