Was richard deacon gay

Richard Deacon was Mel Cooley, Brady’s brother-in-law and the show’s pompous, prissy—“unctuous”—producer. Mel Cooley kissed Alan Brady’s ass, while serving as the constant butt of jokes and insults by gag writer Buddy Sorrell (played by Morey Amsterdam). According to academic writers David L. Smith and Sean Griffin, Deacon was gay, and was among "a number of actors and actresses who were closeted homosexuals" working in Hollywood and often employed in Disney films.

[17][18]. Whether Richard Deacon played straight, and was gay in real life never mattered to his countless fans, many of whom continue to herald his beloved performances as Mel Cooley, Fred Rutherford, among his many others of the small and big screens. Deacon was a life-long bachelor. He was a closeted gay man who had to keep his sexual orientation secret to keep his options open to work for companies like Disney.

He was also a gourmet chef. In the s, he hosted a Canadian cooking show about microwave cooking, writing a book that sold almost two million copies. Richard Deacon, best known for his supporting roles on classic sitcoms like The Dick Van Dyke Show and Leave It to Beaver, was, unfortunately, one of the famous gay actors who had to keep his truth a secret thanks to the less accepting times.

richard deacon movies and tv shows

He was brilliant. Richard, we miss your sarcastic wit! T he book, "Hollywood Gays" by Boze Hadleigh has a really interesting interview with Richard Deacon from the late seventies. Deacon would die about five years later. I reprint the interview below for the true Deacon fan who is curious to know what his personality was like. Before I do, here is an email I received that casts doubt on the interview from somebody who knew Deacon.

I'm glad he contacted me. I just saw your site. What a great thing to do, Richard was a great man and a better friend was not to be found. I do beg to differ with your including the interview portion from some character's book on Hollywood Gays. Richard didn't talk like that, he wouldn't have dished other actors, especially gay actors to a stranger, and it just doesn't ring true. I met Richard in and was friendly with him through the end of his life.

He gave fantastic parties, lived rather well in the house on Dalegrove, and as far as driving an "old" white Cadillac-no. He was friendly with quite a bit of old Hollywood, and was supportive of many young and upcoming entertainers. He took me to see Michael Feinstein at The Toy Tiger in Silverlake, and would have him to parties at the house to play. He deserves better than the dishy writing in that interview, and I would like for you to include a rebuttal to that.

I never read the book-was unaware that it existed, frankly-and it seems like a rip-off of Mr. Anger's books on Hollywood , Babylon. The writing isn't even very good. I knew RD, and found it hard to be interested in the pap that character wrote. Thank you. Hadleigh writes: Richard Deacon was always the straight man, comedically speaking. But let him describe himself:.

I acted in college and began in Hollywood in the early s.

I did a lot of uncredited appearances, my roles have been small, and nearly everything I've done reflects the physical me. I'm tall, I'm bald, I wear glasses, I'm seen as either dignified or pompous. But I'm not threatening enough to be a villain, so I often get cast as supercilious types. Like on Dick Van Dyke. I replaced Roger C.

Carmel on that, as Kaye Ballard's husband. Roger wanted more money, Arnaz wouldn't pay it, so I came aboard when Roger left. I'm a cookbook author; I also collect rocks, and love art, mostly painting and sculpture. I'm pretty private, but not a hermit.