Jonathan Groff reveals how storyline of ‘Looking’ mirrored his real-life romantic history

If Jonathan Groff seemed to fit very comfortably into the shoes of Patrick on HBO’s Looking, it is probably because in some ways the character was him.

‘I’ve never played a character that hit so close to the bone,’ Groff says in an upcoming photo biography of the show about a group of gay friends living in San Francisco.

‘It felt like an extension of myself taking place in the present. Trying to figure out what it means to be gay. Patrick and I are from the same generation of gay men so it has been so real for me.’

During the show’s two seasons, Patrick was involved in relationships with a hairdresser named Richie (Raúl Castillo) and with his boss Kevin (Russell Tovey).

The tumultuous relationship with Kevin especially hit home for Groff whose past boyfriends include actors Zachary Quinto and Gavin Greel.

‘I had told (director and executive producer) Andrew (Haigh) of a break up I had where the other guy wanted to be in an open relationship – so he wrote that situation for Patrick and Kevin.’

The series lasted only two seasons but its loyal fans were given some closure with a special series finale that premiered in July.

‘This job has changed my life in so many ways,’ says the 31-year-old Groff who came out publicly when he was 23 during the National Equality March in Washington.