Dan Levy was sick of seeing LGBT+ people ‘put in danger’ before Schitt’s Creek
Dan Levy as David and Noah Reid as Patrick in Schitt’s Creek. (POP/CBC)
Dan Levy had become accustomed to seeing LGBT+ people “put in danger” before Schitt’s Creek.
Levy captured the hearts of queer people across the world with his hilarious and heartwarming comedy, which he co-created with his father Eugene. Schitt’s Creek won praise for its unashamed exploration of same-sex love and intimacy.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Levy revealed that he saw his on-screen relationship with Patrick (Noah Reid) as a kind of activism.
“Personally, up until that point, I hadn’t seen a lot of gay characters and gay relationships portrayed with that kind of ease,” Levy said.
“As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, we’re so accustomed to seeing the members of that community put in danger,” he added.
He continued: “Even if you’re going to tell a light little comedy, it feels like it should be about something.”
Schitt’s Creek became a global hit after it arrived on Netflix
Schitt’s Creek came to an end last year after six seasons. The series first debuted on CBS and Pop TV in 2015, and it quickly exploded in popularity after it arrived on Netflix.
The series went on to sweep the Emmy awards last year, winning in every major comedy category and cementing its place as a future television classic.
Levy, who is gay, revealed in an interview with Bustle in December of last year that his crippling anxiety and bullying stopped him from coming out.
The actor said he completely avoided social situations, like birthday parties and summer camp, during his younger years because he knew he was gay would not be “able to be free”.
“By the time I got to high school, when your brain is starting to catch up to your physical impulses, it led to a very confusing time.
“Because on the one hand, you are now being introduced to things like self-awareness and anxiety. At the same time, you’re becoming more and more savvy when it comes to hiding it.”
He later went on to find relief through theatre, before getting involved in directing, writing and acting in school plays.
