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Tab Hunter’s Secret Life: 7 Shocking Revelations About Hollywood’s Golden Boy And His Closeted Career

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Few stars embodied the clean-cut, all-American optimism of the 1950s quite like Tab Hunter. With his dazzling blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and impossibly handsome features, he was the quintessential matinee idol, a manufactured heartthrob for the Eisenhower era whose image was meticulously crafted by the powerful studio system. Yet, beneath the wholesome facade of the Warner Bros. star lay a complex and deeply hidden reality: Hunter was a gay man, forced to live a double life in a Hollywood that was violently homophobic, a secret that defined both his glittering career and his private struggles until he bravely chose to reveal his truth decades later. This article, updated in December 2025, explores the most compelling and shocking aspects of his incredible journey, from a chart-topping pop star to a pioneering gay icon.

The story of Tab Hunter is a powerful case study in the crushing pressure of conformity in the Golden Age of Hollywood. His career was a tightrope walk between public adoration and private terror, a narrative he finally shared in his candid 2005 autobiography, *Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star and the Man Who Had to Hide*. This memoir, and the subsequent 2015 documentary, provided a fresh, unique, and deeply personal perspective on a life lived in the shadows of stardom.

The Complete Profile and Biography of Tab Hunter

Arthur Andrew Kelm, who would become the iconic Tab Hunter, was a multifaceted talent whose career spanned film, music, and television. His life was a journey from a troubled youth to a major Hollywood figure, and finally, to a respected author and producer who reclaimed his own narrative.

  • Full Name: Arthur Andrew Kelm (later Arthur Gelien, using his mother's maiden name).
  • Stage Name: Tab Hunter (The name "Tab" was suggested by his agent, Henry Willson).
  • Born: July 11, 1931, in New York City, New York, U.S.
  • Died: July 8, 2018, in Santa Barbara, California, U.S. (Three days before his 87th birthday).
  • Cause of Death: Cardiac arrest.
  • Occupations: Actor, Singer, Film Producer, Author.
  • Career Peak: Late 1950s and Early 1960s.
  • Key Genre: Romantic leads, Westerns, and War films.
  • Notable Partner: Allan Glaser (Partner for over 30 years).

7 Shocking Secrets That Defined Tab Hunter's Career

Tab Hunter’s carefully constructed image was a masterpiece of studio propaganda. The following revelations, largely drawn from his own book and the documentary *Tab Hunter Confidential*, expose the dramatic contrast between his public persona and his private reality.

1. The Secret Affair with Anthony Perkins

One of the most compelling revelations in Hunter's memoir was his secret, passionate, and often tumultuous relationship with fellow actor Anthony Perkins, who would later star in *Psycho*. Both men were rising stars in the 1950s, trapped by the same industry pressures to maintain a heterosexual facade. Their relationship was conducted entirely in secret, a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the press and the powerful Hollywood gossip machine. The story of their love and the subsequent heartbreak, as both men struggled with their identities and careers, is a central, poignant theme of the era's closeted history.

2. His Chart-Topping Pop Star Career Was an Accident

In 1957, Tab Hunter unexpectedly became a major pop music star when his song, "Young Love," soared to the number one spot on the Billboard charts. This success was a complete surprise, as he was not primarily a singer. Warner Bros., his studio, was so frustrated that he recorded for Dot Records (a rival label) that they quickly created their own record label, Warner Bros. Records, just to control his music career. "Young Love" spent seven weeks at No. 1 in the UK and was a massive hit in the US, cementing his status as a dual-threat teen idol.

3. He Was Blackmailed by a Hollywood Tabloid

The constant threat of exposure was a daily reality for Hunter. In 1955, the notorious tabloid *Confidential* magazine threatened to expose his homosexuality. To mitigate the damage, his agent allegedly leaked a story about Hunter being arrested at a gay party in 1950—a minor incident—to preempt the more damaging, career-ending rumors about his ongoing relationships. This tactic was a chilling example of how the studio system and its agents controlled the narrative, sacrificing a small piece of truth to protect the larger, more profitable illusion of their star's heterosexuality.

4. The Iconic Role in *Damn Yankees*

Hunter's most famous film role was as the baseball star Joe Hardy in the 1958 musical *Damn Yankees*. The film required him to sing and dance, which he had to quickly learn, demonstrating his commitment to his craft despite his initial lack of musical training. The film solidified his image as the perfect American boy, a testament to his acting skill in maintaining a persona that was far removed from his personal life.

5. The Long-Term Partner Who Helped Tell His Story

After years of secret relationships, including one with figure skater Ronnie Robertson, Hunter found lasting love with producer Allan Glaser. They were partners for over 30 years, living together until Hunter's death in 2018. Glaser was instrumental in encouraging Hunter to write his autobiography, ensuring that the true story of the "Hollywood Golden Boy" was finally told on his own terms. Glaser also served as a producer on the documentary *Tab Hunter Confidential*, ensuring the integrity and honesty of Hunter's legacy.

6. His Later Career Revival with Divine and John Waters

As the Golden Age of Hollywood faded, Hunter's career experienced a fascinating and unexpected revival in the 1980s. He starred in several cult films, most notably the Western-comedy *Lust in the Dust* (1985), where he was intentionally—and subversively—paired with the drag queen icon Divine. This shift to working with transgressive directors like John Waters showed Hunter’s willingness to embrace his past and satirize the very image that had constrained him for decades, bringing his career full circle from a closeted idol to a camp icon.

7. The Courageous Decision to Come Out on His Own Terms

Hunter’s decision to publish his autobiography in 2005 was a profound act of courage. Unlike many stars whose secrets were exposed by others, Hunter chose to control his own narrative. He stated that he wanted to tell his story before someone else did, ensuring that the truth was accurate and honest. His memoir offered a crucial, first-hand account of what it was like to be a gay actor at the height of the studio system, providing invaluable historical context and making him a posthumous gay icon for a new generation.

Tab Hunter's Enduring Legacy in Film and Culture

Tab Hunter’s legacy extends far beyond his box office hits like *Battle Cry* and *Lafayette Escadrille*. His true impact lies in his post-career honesty, which provided a human face to the systemic repression of the past. By revealing the emotional toll of his double life—the fear, the isolation, and the constant threat of exposure—Hunter’s story resonates as a powerful indictment of the studio system's cruelty.

The documentary and book, *Tab Hunter Confidential*, continue to introduce his story to new audiences, ensuring that his experience is not forgotten. His life serves as a vital historical record, illustrating the immense personal sacrifice required of stars who were forced to sell an image of "normalcy" that was completely at odds with their true selves. Today, Tab Hunter is remembered not just as a handsome actor and a one-hit-wonder singer, but as a brave man who, late in life, finally allowed the world to see the authentic person behind the silver screen persona.

movie actor tab hunter
movie actor tab hunter

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