Actor Harry Hamlin says playing a gay man in 1982’s Making Love ‘completely ended’ his career
Harry Hamlin (Paul Harris/Getty)
Actor Harry Hamlin has revealed that playing a gay man in the 1982 drama Making Love “completely ended” his film career.
Making Love tells the story of a married man who is coming to terms with his sexuality and ends up in a love triangle with his wife and another man.
Speaking on the It Happened in Hollywood podcast, Hamlin said his career never recovered from taking on the gay role.
Harry Hamlin says Making Love came about ’10 years too early’.
In the interview, he revealed that he had wanted to take on a part that was “relevant and cutting edge”, but said the film was ultimately “too early”.
“It was 10 years too early, I guess, and it completely ended my career. That was the last studio picture I ever did. The door shut with a resounding smash,” he said.
Furthermore, the actor – who has since starred in television shows such as LA Law – said that Making Love took a long time to get funding as its themes were so controversial.
It was 10 years too early, I guess, and it completely ended my career. That was the last studio picture I ever did.
“Everyone in town had turned the movie down, because at that time the idea of a gay world was still not accepted.”
When he read the script, he immediately signed on, but as filming progressed, that original script was significantly toned down. One scene – which involved a sex act with a payphone – was cut completely.
He is still glad he took the role despite its impact on his film career.
While the film negatively impacted on his own career, he is glad he took on the role.
“I’m very proud of the movie and not a week goes by that people don’t come up to me and – I’m serious about this: in the supermarket, on the street – and they thank me for making that movie.”
Hamlin previously opened up about his bad fortune in a 2014 interview.
“[The film] was way ahead of its time,” he said.
“It was before the AIDS issue had risen yet, so we could tell a love story without that being a part of it.
“We didn’t have to address that at all in this film so it was very innocent.
“I didn’t work in feature films ever again. That was the last feature I did.”
