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5 Hidden Truths About Tab Hunter: The 1950s Heartthrob Who Defied Hollywood’s Closet

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Few stars in Hollywood history embody the paradox of the Golden Age quite like Tab Hunter. The quintessential "boy next door" of the 1950s, Arthur Andrew Kelm—known professionally as Tab Hunter—was the blond, blue-eyed idol whose clean-cut image sold millions of movie tickets and records. His life, however, was a masterclass in duality, a secret existence he bravely documented decades later. As of this current date in December 2025, Hunter’s legacy continues to be celebrated not just for his film career, but for his courage in exposing the suffocating reality of being a closeted gay man at the height of his fame, influencing modern discussions on celebrity and sexual identity.

The enduring fascination with Hunter, who passed away in 2018, stems from the sheer contrast between his public persona—carefully manufactured by Warner Bros.—and his private life, which included a volatile, passionate affair with another future Hollywood legend. His story, immortalized in his memoir and the acclaimed documentary *Tab Hunter Confidential*, remains one of the most compelling narratives of an era defined by both glamour and profound repression.

Tab Hunter: A Complete Biographical Profile

Hunter's life was a dramatic arc from a troubled childhood to teen idol, and finally to a revered figure who spoke his truth.

  • Full Name: Arthur Andrew Kelm (later adopted his mother's maiden name, Gelien).
  • Born: July 11, 1931, in New York City, New York.
  • Died: July 8, 2018, in Santa Barbara, California (aged 86).
  • Parents: Gertrude Gelien (Mother) and Charles Kelm (Father). His father was abusive and left when Arthur was young.
  • Early Life: Grew up in California. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard at age 15 by lying about his age.
  • Stage Name Origin: Adopted the name "Tab Hunter" from his agent, Henry Willson, who also managed Rock Hudson.
  • Major Career Peak: Mid-to-late 1950s, signed with Warner Bros.
  • Hit Single: "Young Love" (1957), which hit No. 1 on the *Billboard* charts, making him a dual-threat star (actor and singer).
  • Key Films: *Battle Cry* (1955), *The Burning Hills* (1956), *Damn Yankees* (1958), *Lust in the Dust* (1985).
  • Long-Term Partner: Allan Glaser, a film producer, whom he met in 1983 and remained with until his death.
  • Memoir: *Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star* (2005).

The Secret Affair with Anthony Perkins and the Hollywood Closet

The most explosive revelation in Tab Hunter’s memoir was the detailed account of his secret, three-year relationship with actor Anthony Perkins, who would later become famous as Norman Bates in *Psycho*.

A Volatile and Clandestine Romance

Hunter and Perkins were two of Hollywood's most desirable young men in the mid-1950s, both struggling to maintain a heteronormative façade while secretly dating. Their relationship was a tumultuous, passionate, and deeply clandestine affair, a necessity in an industry that demanded absolute conformity from its male idols. The studios, particularly Warner Bros. for Hunter, went to extreme lengths to protect their stars' lucrative "all-American" images, often arranging fake dates with female co-stars to generate positive press and quell rumors.

The romance eventually deteriorated, not primarily due to studio pressure, but due to professional rivalry. Perkins reportedly took a role that Hunter had been seeking, a betrayal that ultimately led to their split. This intense personal drama played out entirely behind the scenes, a stark reminder of the emotional toll the "Hollywood Closet" took on its inhabitants. The story highlights the widespread practice of 'beard' relationships and the constant fear of exposure, which was often weaponized by gossip magazines like *Confidential* to extort money from studios and stars.

The Rock Hudson Parallel and a Brave Choice

Hunter’s situation was remarkably similar to that of his contemporary, Rock Hudson, another major star managed by Henry Willson who was secretly gay. However, unlike Hudson, whose sexual orientation was only revealed after his death from AIDS, Hunter made the conscious decision to come out on his own terms in his 2005 memoir, *Tab Hunter Confidential*. This choice was a powerful act of reclaiming his narrative, shifting his legacy from a victim of studio manipulation to a pioneer of honesty in the entertainment industry.

From Teen Idol to Cult Icon: The Second Act of Tab Hunter

After his initial run as a teen idol faded in the early 1960s, Hunter’s career took a significant downturn. He transitioned to television and European films, but his comeback in the 1980s solidified his status as a cult icon and demonstrated his willingness to embrace his past with humor and self-awareness.

The John Waters and Paul Bartel Era

Hunter’s career was resurrected thanks to a series of collaborations with independent and counter-culture filmmakers. He starred alongside Divine, the legendary drag queen, in the 1985 Western parody *Lust in the Dust*, directed by Paul Bartel and produced by his partner, Allan Glaser. This role was a brilliant, satirical nod to his own image, showcasing a willingness to poke fun at his former status as a clean-cut heartthrob. He also had a memorable role in the 1982 film *Grease 2*.

These roles in the New Queer Cinema movement cemented his legacy with a new generation of fans who appreciated his camp sensibility and his willingness to work outside the rigid confines of mainstream Hollywood. The films were a symbolic break from the studio system that had once controlled every aspect of his life, allowing him to finally express a different facet of his persona.

The Enduring Legacy of *Tab Hunter Confidential*

The 2015 documentary, *Tab Hunter Confidential*, directed by Jeffrey Schwarz and based on the memoir, brought his story to a global audience, securing his place in LGBTQ+ history. The film offered an intimate, first-hand account of the immense pressure and emotional duplicity required to survive as a gay man in 1950s Hollywood. It is considered an essential historical document, providing crucial context to the lives of closeted stars like Rock Hudson and Montgomery Clift.

In a final testament to the power of his story, a feature film adaptation of *Tab Hunter Confidential* is currently in development. The project, backed by J.J. Abrams and set to star Zachary Quinto as Anthony Perkins, ensures that Hunter’s narrative of love, secrecy, and eventual truth will continue to resonate with new audiences for years to come. Hunter’s ultimate legacy is that of a survivor who, despite the industry's best efforts to keep him silent, eventually wrote his own happy ending, living openly and authentically with Allan Glaser for over three decades.

tab hunter the actor
tab hunter the actor

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