Hunter Doohan. Photo Credit: Calvin Klein
Actor Hunter Doohan, best known for playing Tyler Galpin in the Netflix series Wednesday, has spoken candidly about the pressure he once felt to conceal his sexuality in Hollywood.
During an interview on the Zach Sang Show, Doohan recounted the audition process for the 2019 Showtime series Your Honor. Despite being openly gay and in a relationship with his now-husband, Fielder Jewett, he was concerned that revealing his identity could jeopardize his chances.
“I really was trying to hide it,” he said, admitting that he went so far as to archive photos of himself and his partner on Instagram. “I’m never going to do that for a role again,” he added, calling the experience “unsettling and awful.”
After he landed the part, he found himself coming out to his co-star Bryan Cranston during a lunch conversation.
Doohan explained that he had never played a gay character before, and the fear of being “scrutinized” during the screen test led him to make that decision. He also cited openly gay actor Jonathan Bailey as an inspiration, praising how Bailey has “released all perceived limitations” around his sexuality.
“We’re lucky to be living in a different time where we can [play non-gay roles] and people can watch it and suspend their disbelief,” Doohan said.
The actor also shared a humorous anecdote about his time on the set of Wednesday. In a separate interview, he joked about being “the one gay guy on the show” but missing the chance to meet guest star Lady Gaga. “It might be a hate crime,” he quipped.
