Canadian actor Gordon Thomson—known for his role as Adam Carrington in Dynasty—has come out as gay at the age of 72.
In an interview with the Daily Beast, Thompson talks about the shame and confusion he felt about his sexuality as a young man.
“When I was growing up it [homosexuality] was a crime, and then classified as a mental illness,” he says.
It was not until Pierre Trudeau was prime minister of Canada when I was 23, 24 years old, did it cease being a crime, and it was not until I was nearly 30 that it stopped being classified as a mental illness in the US,” he says.
“So you’re dealing with that. And the shame, the breathtaking lack of self-esteem, has only just begun to seep out of my soul.”
The actor says that while he’s never gone out of his way to hide his sexuality, he’s never announced it publicly.
“I’m assuming that people know, and now that I’m my age that’s fine. I don’t go out of my way because it’s my generation, I think. I’m probably as homophobic as any gay man alive because of my background.”
Thomson grew up with a strict father and was sent to a private all-boys school, an atmosphere he describes as “really restrictive”.
When asked if his Dynasty co-stars were aware of his sexuality, he says “No, they didn’t have a clue. Never. No, no, no.”
“I suppose if they cared, people knew.”
The interview also includes Thomson’s opinion of the Dynasty reboot that’s set to premiere on the CW in October, saying he is “appalled”.
“What the f*** is the CW doing? It’s utter shit.”
“Why call it Dynasty? It’s nothing to do with Dynasty at all. It’s insulting. If the afterlife exists—it doesn’t, but if it did—Aaron [Spelling] would be having major fits in his grave.
“And the audience the CW is aiming for is going to think it’s shit because it is such shit that a cretinous 6-year-old would not be interested. It’s abominable.”
You can read the full Daily Beast interview with Thomson here.
