You guys are totally going to call me an idiot and I totally deserve it. I was reading this Joel Grey-coming-out story on People Magazine yesterday, and it was like revelation after revelation for me. I knew Joel Grey’s work, of course: he was the original MC on the stage production of Cabaret, which won him a Tony. Then he played the same role in the film version and won an Oscar. He’s a Broadway legend, a real song-and-dance man, and he’s popped up in all of your favorite TV shows, from Law & Order to Buffy to Private Practice to Alias to Grey’s Anatomy and on and on. He’s also a gay man. Which I knew already, but he’s formally coming out in this week’s People Magazine and bless him. But here’s what I didn’t know this whole time: he’s Jennifer Grey’s father!!! DID YOU KNOW THAT?! Anyway, here are some highlights from his People interview:
Mr. Grey on his sexuality: “I don’t like labels, but if you have to put a label on it, I’m a gay man.”
He’s never talked about it publicly before: “All the people close to me have known for years who I am. [Yet] it took time to embrace that other part of who I always was.”
Growing up: “[I remember] hearing the grownups talk in the next room, my mother included, talking derisively about ‘fairies’ and men being dragged off to jail and even worse for being who they were. I came to realize, along with being attracted to girls, I had similar feelings for boys.”
He was married to a woman, actress Jo Wilder for 24 years: That period was “the happiest of my life.” Together they have two children: actress Jennifer Grey and son James, a chef.
He loves his young fans who know him from his TV appearances: “Teenage girls stop me on the street. I’m a very happy guy. I’m still cookin’.”
He’s 82 years old – he’ll be 83 in April. Better late than never! The People article includes quotes from Liza Minnelli, because they’re still friends and whenever a gay man comes out, Liza gets another pair of angel wings. There are also some nice quotes from his daughter (!!!) Jennifer Grey (how did I not know that?!) about how happy she is that her dad came out. And in case you’re wondering “why now?” – Mr. Grey has a memoir coming out this year. You know that will be good too. Joel Grey was friends with EVERYBODY in the 1970s. The memoir is probably going to be called COCAINE.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
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