Are homosexual actors one of the most popular Google searches? Many people wonder whether they’ve found their favorite actors or actresses in a film because they are LGBT. We’ve compiled this list not only to answer this question but to celebrate all famous gay actors throughout history. This list is the top 50 actors most recognizable or popular in the LGBT community.
1. BD Wong
BD Wong was born in 1960 in San Francisco, California. Wong is an American actor. Wong is the only performer in Broadway history to win the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Clarence Derwent Award, and Theatre World Award for the same role after winning a Tony for his portrayal of Song Liling in M. Butterfly. His portrayal of Whiterose in Mr. Robot earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. He was also nominated for a Critic’s Choice Television Award.
2. George Takei
George Hosato Takei was born in 1937. He is an American actor, director, author, and activist. Takei is most widely known for his roles in Star Trek and the animated series Gargoyles. He also appeared in the movies The Encounter, Frontiers, and Mulan.
3. Ian McKellen
Ian Murray McKellen, CH CBE, was born in 1939. He is an English actor. Throughout his seven-decade career, he has played in plays by Shakespeare and contemporary theater, as well as works of popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a British cultural icon and has won several honors, including a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, and seven Laurence Olivier Awards. His “performances have ensured him a place in the canon of English theater and screen performers,” according to the BBC.
4. Randy Harrison
Randy Harrison was born in 1977 in Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S. He is an actor and director. Harrison has been in movies such as The Stickup and the TV series Queer As Folk. In the 2000 American adaptation of the British television series Queer as Folk, Harrison made his acting debut as gay youngster Justin Taylor. The five-season run of the show came to an end in 2005. Harrison portrayed Sean in Bang Bang You’re Dead, a made-for-television film based on the same-named play, in 2002.
5. Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman was born in 1984. He is a Canadian actor, model, and television personality. He is well-known for his roles in movies and television, particularly as Jay in the Lifetime dark comedy-drama series Unreal (2015–2018) and as one of the primary judges on Canada’s Drag Race’s inaugural season (2020).
6. Noah Galvin
Noah Egidi Galvin, an American actor, and singer, was born in 1994. He is recognized for his roles as Dr. Asher Wolke in The Good Doctor, Kenny O’Neal in The Real O’Neals on ABC, and later as Dear Evan Hansen, the title character in the Broadway musical. Galvin revealed to his mother that he was gay when he was 14. He now divides his time between Manhattan and Los Angeles, California, as of February 2019.
7. Conrad Ricamora
American actor Conrad Wayne Ricamora was born in 1979. He gained fame most notably for playing Oliver Hampton in the ABC drama How to Get Away with Murder (2014–20). He gained recognition as a theatrical performer for his parts in the Off-Broadway original musicals Here Lies Love and Soft Power, which debuted in 2013 and 2019, respectively. He made his Broadway debut in The King, and I’s 2015 revival.
8. Matt Dallas
American actor Matthew Joseph Dallas was born in 1982. He is best known for playing Kyle XY on the ABC Family series. Dallas was raised at Arizona School for the Arts and was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He has a younger sister and two brothers. At age 12, his grandmother took him to a performance of the play The Ugly Duckling at a nearby community theater called Desert Stages Theater, sparking his interest in acting.
9. Keiynan Lonsdale
Keiynan Lonsdale is an Australian actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter. He was born in 1991. His credits include playing Oliver Lloyd on the ABC series Dance Academy from 2012 to 2013, Wally West/Kid Flash on The CW’s The Flash from 2015 to 2020 and Legends of Tomorrow from 2017 to 2018, and Abraham “Bram” Greenfeld in the film Love, Simon (2018). His parts in The Divergent Series’ Insurgent (2015) and The Finest Hours are also well-known (2016). In addition, Lonsdale has performed as an MTV VJ and put out original songs, including a studio album in 2020.
10. Julio Torres
Julio Torres is an actor, comedian, and writer from El Salvador. He was born in 1987. In addition to being the co-creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO series Los Espookys, he is best recognized for his work as a writer for Saturday Night Live. He has written for The Chris Gethard Show on truTV in the past.
11. Brandon Flynn
In addition to playing Justin Foley in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why Brandon Paul Flynn was born in 1993. He also starred as himself in the short film Home Movies and Mike the Intern in the movie BrainDead. He also appeared in the 2022 horror film Hellraiser and the 2020 television series Ratched.
12. Wilson Cruz
Wilson Cruz (born Wilson Echevarra), was born in 1973. He is an American actor best recognized for his roles as Dr. Hugh Culber on Star Trek: Discovery, Rickie Vasquez on My So-Called Life, Angel in the Broadway tour of Rent, and Junito on Noah’s Arc. He has worked as an LGBT advocate, particularly for gay kids of color, as an Afro-Puerto Rican male.
13. Charlie Carver
American actor Charles Carver Martensen was born in 1988. His most well-known roles include Cowboy in both The Boys in the Band on Broadway and the upcoming 2020 film of the same name, as well as Porter Scavo on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, Scott Frost on the HBO television series The Leftovers, and Scott Frost on the first season of the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The twin of his characters has frequently been played by his identical twin brother Max Carver.
14. Ben Platt
Benjamin Schiff Platt is an American actor, singer, and songwriter born in 1993. He started acting in musical theater as a child, performing in The Book of Mormon (2012–2015) and The Sound of Music (2006). He gained notoriety for creating the main role in the Broadway coming-of-age musical Dear Evan Hansen (2015–2017). He received numerous honors for his performance in the latter, including a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Awards.
15. Andrew Rannells
American actor Andrew Scott Rannells was born in 1978. He has worked in theater, cinema, television, and voice acting. Rannells gained notoriety for creating the part of Elder Kevin Price in the 2011 Broadway production of The Book of Mormon, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2012. He was nominated for another Tony in 2017 for his portrayal of Whizzer in the Falsettos Broadway revival from the previous year. Other Broadway performances include The Boys in the Band, Hamilton, Hedwig, and the Angry Inch, Jersey Boys, and Hairspray.
16. Gavin Creel
American actor, singer, and musician Gavin James Creel was born in 1976. He is most recognized for musical theater. Before playing Claude in the 2009 Broadway revival of Hair, Creel made his Broadway debut in the 2002 production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, which received two Tony Award nominations. He played Elder Price in The Book of Mormon from 2012 until 2015.
17. Robin Lord Taylor
American actor and director Robin Lord Taylor was born in 1978. He is best known for playing Oswald Cobblepot in the Fox TV series Gotham and for his roles in Accepted (2006), Another Earth (2011), Would You Rather (2012), John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), and You (2019).
18. Guillermo Diaz
Actor Guillermo Dáz was born in the United States in 1975. He is well-known for the movies Stonewall, 200 Cigarettes, and Half Baked from 1998. (1995). His most well-known performance was as Diego “Huck” Muoz in the drama Scandal. Daz has made cameos on shows like Girls, Broad City, Weeds, ER, Chappelle’s Show, and Law & Order.
19. Rupert Everett
Rupert James Hector Everett, a British actor, director, and producer, was born in 1959. Everett first gained notoriety in 1981 when he was hired as a gay student at an English public school in the 1930s in Julian Mitchell’s play and subsequent film Another Country. The portrayal earned him his first BAFTA Award nomination. For his performance in My Best Friend’s Wedding, he garnered a second BAFTA nomination and his first Golden Globe Award nomination. This was followed by a second Golden Globe nomination for An Ideal Husband.
20. Scott Evans
American actor Scott Evans was born in 1983. Oliver Fish, a police officer on the ABC daytime serial opera One Life to Live, and Oliver, a recurring character on the series Grace and Frankie, are two of his most well-known roles. Chris Evans’ younger brother is this person.
21. Chris Salvatore
Christopher Louis Salvatore, an American actor, singer-songwriter, model, and advocate for homosexual rights, was born in 1985. He is most known for playing Zack in the gay film Eating Out. On AfterElton’s annual list of the top 50 homosexual and bisexual male celebrities, he was listed at position #41 in 2011.
22. Jon Kortajarena
Jon Kortajarena Redruello is a Spanish actor and fashion model born in 1985. He has been hired for commercial campaigns by Just Cavalli, Versace, Giorgio Armani, Bally, Etro, Trussardi, Diesel, Mangano, Lagerfeld, and Pepe Jeans. Still, his longest-running ads have been with H&M, Zara, Guess, and Tom Ford. On June 26, 2009, Forbes listed Kortajarena as the world’s sixth most successful male model.
23. Billy Eichner
Billy Eichner, an American comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter, was born in 1978. He is the creator, executive producer, and star of the comic game show Billy on the Street from Funny Or Die, which aired on truTV. Eichner was nominated for the program’s 2013 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host. He is also well-known for his roles as Timon in the 2019 adaptation of The Lion King and Craig Middlebrooks on the animated TV shows Bob’s Burgers, Mr. Ambrose the Librarian, and the sitcom Parks and Recreation.
24. David Burtka
David Michael Burtka, an American actor and chef, was born in 1975. He is well-known for his acting work in plays and TV productions like The Play About the Baby and How I Met Your Mother. Burtka got media recognition after his appearance on How I Met Your Mother for dating Neil Patrick Harris, whom he later wed in 2014.
25. RuPaul Charles
RuPaul Andre Charles, better known by his stage name RuPaul, is an American drag queen, television judge, musician, and model. He was born in 1960. The reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race, which he created, hosted, and judged, has made him the most well-known person in the world. He has won several awards, including a Tony Award, two Billboard Music Awards, three GLAAD Media Awards, 12 Primetime Emmy Awards, and three GLAAD Media Awards.
26. Billy Porter
William Ellis Porter II is an American actor, singer, writer, and director born in 1969. After earning his degree in drama from Carnegie Mellon University, he rose to renown on Broadway before launching a solo acting and singing career.
27. Sean Hayes
Sean Patrick Hayes is an American actor, comedian, and producer born on June 26, 1970. He is best remembered as Jack McFarland on the NBC comedy Will & Grace. He received six Golden Globe nominations, four SAG Awards, one American Comedy Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award.
28. Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming was a Scottish actor. He was born in 1965. He has performed on stage in London in plays like Hamlet, Accidental Death of an Anarchist as the Maniac (for which he won an Olivier Award), Bent as the lead, The Bacchae at the National Theatre of Scotland, and Samuel Beckett’s Endgame at The Old Vic, where he costarred with Daniel Radcliffe.
29. Kal Penn
Kalpen Suresh Modi was born in 1977. He is an American actor, novelist, educator, and former member of the Barack Obama administration’s White House staff. He gained notoriety as an actor for his portrayal of Lawrence Kutner on the television series House, Seth Wright, a White House employee on Designated Survivor, and Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar movie franchise. He is praised for his role in the movie The Namesake as well.
30. Lance Bass
James Lance Bass, an American singer, dancer, actor, and producer of cinema and television, was born in 1979. He rose to fame as the bass singer for the American pop boy band NSYNC after being raised in Mississippi. Bass began working in cinema and television due to NSYNC’s fame. He appeared in the 2001 movie On the Line, which was also produced by his business, Bacon & Eggs.
31. Chris Colfer
Christopher Paul Colfer, an American actor, singer, and novelist, was born on May 27, 1990. For his role as Kurt Hummel on the television musical Glee, he received widespread acclaim (2009–2015). Several honors have been bestowed upon Colfer in recognition of his portrayal of Kurt, including three consecutive People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Comedic TV Actor in 2013, 2014, and 2015, as well as the 2011 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film.
32. Luke Macfarlane
Thomas Luke Macfarlane is a Canadian-American actor. He was born in 1980. His roles as Scotty Wandell on the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011), RAC Agent D’avin Jaqobis on the Space television science fiction series Killjoys (2015–2019), and the romantic protagonist in several Hallmark Channel films have made him well-known.
33. Ben Whishaw
Benjamin John Whishaw was born in 1980. He is an English actor and producer. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his depiction of the title role in a 2004 production of Hamlet after receiving a British Independent Film Award for his performance in My Brother Tom (2001).
34. Ezra Miller
American actor Ezra Matthew Miller was born on September 30, 1992. Following Afterschool, when they made their [a] feature picture debut, they starred in the dramas We Need to Talk About Kevin and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Miller also plays the role of the Flash in movies and TV shows from the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The most notable of these is Justice League. Zack Snyder and The Flash cut its director Justice League.
35. Maulik Pancholy
Known for his work as Jonathan on 30 Rock, Baljeet Tjinder in Phineas and Ferb, Neal in the first season of Whitney, and Sanjay Patel in both Weeds and Sanjay and Craig, Maulik Navin Pancholy was born in 1974. He is an American actor and author. His first book, The Best at It (published by Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins), follows the maturation of a gay Indian American adolescent.
36. Cheyenne Jackson
Cheyenne David Jackson is an American singer and actor born on July 12, 1975. His resume features lead roles in Broadway musicals and other stage productions, in addition to appearances in movies and television shows, concerts, and music albums. Jackson moved to Manhattan after beginning his playing career in regional theatre in Seattle, Washington. He understudied Aida and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
37. Kevin McHale
Kevin Michael McHale, an American actor, singer, and dancer, was born in 1988. McHale, a former member of the boy band NLT and one of its two lead vocalists, is best known for his part as Artie Abrams in the Fox comedy-drama series Glee. He served as the host of the British panel show Virtually Famous on E4 from 2014 until 2016. A podcast called Showmance, hosted by McHale and his Glee costar Jenna Ushkowitz recaps Glee episodes and includes interviews with other people.
38. Lee Pace
Actor Lee Grinner Pace was born in the United States in 1979. He is well-known for his roles as Joe MacMillan in the AMC historical drama television series Halt and Catches Fire and Thranduil the Elvenking in The Hobbit trilogy. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he has also made an appearance as Ronan the Accuser, a part he first played in Guardians of the Galaxy and later returned in Captain Marvel.
39. Wentworth Miller
Wentworth Earl Miller is an American-British actor and screenwriter born in 1972. He gained notoriety after playing the lead character Michael Scofield in the Fox television series Prison Break. He was nominated in 2005 for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama. In 2013, he wrote the thriller movie Stoker, which marked his screenplay debut.
40. Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson was born in 1975. He is an American actor. He played Mitchell Pritchett in the comedy Modern Family from 2009 to 2020, for which he received five consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
41. Colton Haynes
Colton Lee Haynes, an American actor and model was born in 1988. He is most recognized for playing the lead character Jackson Whittemore in the supernatural drama series Teen Wolf on MTV and Roy Harper/Arsenal in the superhero drama Arrow on the CW. In New York City, Haynes started his modeling career at fifteen. He then appeared in an Abercrombie & Fitch picture shoot with Bruce Weber.
42. Zachary Quinto
Zachary John Quinto was born in 1977. He is an American actor and producer. He is well-known as Dr. Oliver Thredson in American Horror Story: Asylum and Sylar, the main antagonist of the fiction drama series Heroes (2006–2010). He is also well-known for playing Spock in the 2009 film Star Trek and its sequels Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond.
43. Michael Urie
American actor Michael Lorenzo Urie was born in 1980. Urie grew up in Plano after being born in Houston, Texas. His most well-known role was as Marc St. James on the ABC dramedy series Ugly Betty. He can be heard playing Bobby Kerns in the Broadway Podcast Network’s original podcast soap opera As the Curtain Rises.
44. Andrew Scott
Irish actor Andrew Scott was born in 1976. He received the BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Jim Moriarty in the BBC television series Sherlock. Scott was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film for his portrayal of the priest in Fleabag’s second season. He took the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
45. Luke Evans
Luke George Evans is a Welsh actor and singer born in 1979. Before making his cinematic debut in the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans, he started his career as a stage performer, appearing in several of London’s West End musicals, including Rent, Miss Saigon, and Piaf. After making his acting debut, Evans was cast in action and thriller movies like Immortals, The Raven, and the reimagined The Three Musketeers.
46. Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris, an American actor, singer, writer, producer, and television host was born in 1973. He has won numerous awards over his career, including a Tony Award, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and nominations for a Grammy Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. He is primarily recognized for his humorous television appearances and dramatic and musical theatrical parts.
47. Jonathan Groff
American actor Jonathan Drew Groff was born in 1985. He has won a Grammy Award and has been nominated for two Tony Awards, two Drama League Awards, a Drama Desk Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. His performances in theater, movies, and television have made him well-known.
48. Matt Bomer
Actor and producer Matthew Staton Bomer was born in the United States in 1977. He has received honors like a Critics’ Choice Television Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He appeared on television for the first time in 2000 on the venerable soap series All My Children. Bomer earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Soon after, he was cast under contract on Guiding Light and made appearances on primetime series like Tru Calling.
49. Dan Levy
Daniel Joseph Levy, a Canadian actor, writer, director, comedian, and producer, was born in 1983. He started his career as a television host on MTV Canada. His parents are Eugene Levy and Deborah Divine. He was born in Toronto. The CBC sitcom Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020), which Levy also co-created with his father and costarred in with him and his sister, Sarah Levy, brought him fame and praise globally.
50. Jim Parsons
James Joseph Parsons, an American actor, and producer, was born on March 24, 1973. He portrayed Sheldon Cooper in the CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory from 2007 to 2019. He has won numerous honors, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy and four Primetime Emmy Awards.