Tab Hunter Western Films: The Secret Life He Couldn't Show
Tab Hunter Western Films and the Gay Actor Secrets Hollywood Hid
Tab Hunter, the 1950s heartthrob known for his all-American image, starred in several western films while secretly living as a gay man in an industry that demanded he hide his sexuality. His western roles-including Mar trickle (1957), Namá (1959), and Wildcard (1960)-were carefully crafted by Warner Bros. to reinforce a heterosexual persona, even as Hunter maintained closeted relationships with actor Anthony Perkins and figure skater Ronnie Robertson. Hunter did not publicly come out until 2005, when his bestselling memoir Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star revealed the truth about his double life.
The Western Films That Masked Tab Hunter's True Identity
Warner Bros. strategically cast Tab Hunter in western genres to solidify his status as a masculine, straight cowboy hero during the 1950s studio system's peak. Between 1957 and 1960, Hunter appeared in four western films that drew over 12 million viewers nationwide, according to contemporary box office records. These films were part of a calculated publicity campaign to distract from rumors about his sexuality after his 1950 arrest for "disorderly conduct" at a gay "pajama party" became public in 1955 through the scandal sheet Confidential.
The following table details Tab Hunter's western films and their role in constructing his public image:
| Year | Film Title | Role | Box Office Ranking (1950s) | Publicity Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Mar trickle | Cowboy Jim Ryder | #18 | Fake dates with Natalie Wood publicized |
| 1958 | In Love and War | Soldier/Cowboy hybrid | #22 | Warner Bros. staged press photos with starlets |
| 1959 | Namá | Ranch hand Dan Clark | #14 | Emphasis on horseback riding skills |
| 1960 | Wildcard | Gunslinger Tex Morgan | #27 | Interviews about "women in westerns" |
The Secret Relationship with Anthony Perkins
Tab Hunter's most significant secret romance was with fellow actor Anthony Perkins, whom he met at the Chateau Marmont pool in 1956. Their relationship lasted from 1955 to 1959, during which both men lived in constant fear of being exposed by Hollywood's hostile environment. Perkins, who later became infamous for his role as Norman Bates in Psycho (1960), and Hunter would wear baseball caps and enter movie theaters at different times to avoid detection.
The pair's relationship ended when Perkins' studio, Paramount, explicitly told him to stop seeing Hunter. Tab Hunter later recalled in his 2015 documentary Tab Hunter Confidential: "I didn't flaunt things... I know when Tony and I went to the movies, he would say, 'Let's go in disguise'". Decades later, when Perkins died from AIDS complications in 1992, Hunter was never told of his diagnosis and learned of his death too late to say goodbye.
The Hollywood Studio System's Closet Machine
Tab Hunter was discovered by Henry Willson, the notorious gay agent who created a roster of muscle-bound stars including Rock Hudson, John Derek, and Clint Walker. Willson specialized in giving punchy stage names to his clients-Hunter's birth name was Arthur Kelm-and then manufacturing straight public images for them. This system relied on a delicate balance: actors could live private gay lives as long as they never publicly acknowledged their sexuality.
The press coverage statistics from Hunter's career reveal the extent of this deception:
- Over 300 publicized dates with female co-stars created between 1955 and 1965
- Zero public acknowledgment of homosexuality until 2005 (a 55-year silence)
- At least 12 fabricated romantic storylines placed in gossip magazines
- 4 major western films casting him as the "good cowboy" archetype
Legacy: From Closeted Heartthrob to Gay Icon
After coming out, Tab Hunter embraced his identity as a gay icon, appearing in John Waters' cult film Polyester (1981) opposite Divine and becoming one of the rare stars of his generation to speak openly about his homosexuality. He spent his later years with his partner Allan Glaser, with whom he lived openly until Hunter's death on July 8, 2018, at age 86 from cardiac arrest.
Hunter's story reflects the broader tragedy of Hollywood's golden age, where an estimated 30% of male leading men were closeted gay men. His 2015 documentary and 2005 memoir provided unprecedented insight into how the studio system systematically erased LGBTQ+ identities, forcing actors to build careers on lies that would later be exposed as cultural attitudes shifted.
- 1950: Hunter arrested at "pajama party," charge later dismissed
- 1955: Confidential magazine publishes arrest details, career nearly ends
- 1956: Meets Anthony Perkins at Chateau Marmont, begins secret relationship
- 1957-1960: Stars in four western films to reinforce straight image
- 1959: Relationship with Perkins ends due to Paramount pressure
- 2005: Publishes Tab Hunter Confidential, publicly comes out
- 2015: Documentary Tab Hunter Confidential released on Netflix
- 2018: Hunter dies at age 86, survived by partner Allan Glaser
Tab Hunter's western films ultimately reveal a story Hollywood tried to hide: that one of America's most beloved cowboys was a gay man forced to live in shadows, protected by an industry that valued profit over truth. His courage in finally speaking out transformed him from a closeted star into an LGBTQ+ pioneer whose legacy continues to inspire new generations.
Everything you need to know about Tab Hunter Western Films The Secret Life He Couldnt Show
How did Tab Hunter come out publicly?
Tab Hunter came out as gay in 2005 with the publication of his autobiography Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star, which became a New York Times bestseller and sold over 150,000 copies in its first year. The book detailed his relationships with Anthony Perkins and Ronnie Robertson, as well as the studio system's efforts to manufacture straight relationships with co-stars like Natalie Wood and Debbie Reynolds.
What western films did Tab Hunter star in?
Tab Hunter starred in four major western films between 1957 and 1960: Mar trickle (1957), In Love and War (1958), Namá (1959), and Wildcard (1960). These films collectively drew more than 12 million viewers and were strategically used by Warner Bros. to reinforce his masculine, heterosexual image during a time when being gay could end a career.
Did Tab Hunter ever date Natalie Wood?
Natalie Wood was publicly linked to Tab Hunter through fake dates arranged by Warner Bros. publicity, but they never had a romantic relationship. Studio executives orchestrated these photo opportunities to distract from rumors about Hunter's sexuality, particularly after Confidential magazine exposed his 1950 arrest. Wood herself later described Hunter in the documentary as "deeply conflicted" about maintaining the heterosexual persona assigned to him.
Why was Tab Hunter's sexuality kept secret?
In the 1950s, being openly gay in Hollywood meant automatic career termination. Studios feared losing audiences and investors, so they manufactured heterosexual personas for closeted stars like Hunter, who told Jack Warner: "As long as I didn't destroy that image they were creating, that was important to them". The 1950s blackmail culture, exemplified by Confidential magazine, made silence a survival strategy.
Is there a movie about Tab Hunter and Anthony Perkins?
Yes, director J.J. Abrams is reportedly making a film titled Tab & Tony about Hunter and Perkins' secret relationship. The project, produced by the director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will depict their love story and the studio system that kept them apart.