Roddy mcdowell gay

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During an interview with The Advocate, Reubens made an interesting comment about McDowall’s sexuality. He continued to act in British films throughout the 1950s, including in the horror classics “Dead of Night” (1945) and “The Innocents” (1961).

In the 1960s, McDowall became a prominent character actor in Hollywood.

roddy mcdowell gay

It happens to be one of my favorite modern gay art pieces. By age 10, he had appeared in his first film, Murder in the Family (1938), playing Peter Osborne, the younger brother of sisters played by Jessica Tandy and Glynis Johns.

His mother brought Roddy and his sister to the U.S. at the beginning of World War II, and he soon got the part of "Huw", the youngest child in a family of Welsh coal miners, in John Ford's How Green Was My Valley (1941), acting alongside Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara and Donald Crisp in the film that won that year's best film Oscar.

Wigs and other forms of prosthetics can help to create a certain appearance or transformation for a character, and can be an important part of bringing a role to life.

There is evidence to suggest that Roddy McDowall did wear a wig during certain performances and appearances, including during his time on “The Carol Burnett Show” and his role in “Cleopatra.” Wigs and other prosthetics have long been a part of the entertainment industry, and are an important tool for actors to create a convincing and believable character.

Why was Roddy McDowall not in beneath the Planet of the Apes?


Roddy McDowall was an integral part of the Planet of the Apes films, portraying the character Cornelius in the first film, and later returning as Cornelius’s son Caesar in the third and fourth installments of the series.

When asked about his co-star, Reubens said, “I remember once he said something to me about being gay, but that was all he ever said.”

While Reubens’ statement doesn’t explicitly confirm McDowall’s sexuality, it certainly adds to the ongoing speculation about it.

The Legacy of Roddy McDowall

Despite the rumors and speculation about his personal life, Roddy McDowall left an indelible mark on Hollywood and the entertainment industry.

(They reprised their roles in Don Taylor's highly entertaining sequel "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" (1971).) Roddy's obit in The New York Times obituary finished with the bittersweet sentence "Mr. However, one of his co-stars did make an interesting statement that added to the speculation.

A Co-Star’s Statement

In the early 1990s, McDowall starred in the television series “Batman: The Animated Series,” alongside co-star Paul Reubens.

While there were certainly signs and rumors of his sexuality, McDowall never confirmed them publicly.

One of the greatest Hollywood gays of all time, although he never officially came out, Roddy McDowall, was BOTD in 1928 and died too soon in 1998 at the age of 70. In this blog post, we will delve into the question, “Did Roddy McDowall ever come out of the closet?” and explore the actor’s legacy.

Making a Name for Himself in Hollywood

Roddy McDowall first rose to fame in Hollywood during the 1940s.

He transitioned successfully from brilliant child star (Ford's "How Green Was My Valley") to solid, if always mannered, character actor. He reprised his role as Caesar in the third film, Escape from the Planet of the Apes and the fourth film, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. My profile picture is "David and Me," 2001 painting by artist Steve Walker.

 Overwhelmed by the Hollywood publicity machine, Hunter struggled to keep secret the fact that he was gay. See the full spread for Calling All Girls from June 1953 here.

Although McDowall never officially came out, the fact that he was gay was one of Hollywood’s best known secrets.

Young Roddy was enrolled in elocution courses at age five. However, fans of the series may notice that McDowall’s character is notably absent from the second film, Beneath the Planet of the Apes. McDowall never married."


Roddy McDowall was a talented British-American actor who starred in over 120 films and television productions during his lifetime.

That doesn't mean there won't be ups and downs; that's all part of life.