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Happy 80th Birthday to Tab Hunter!
Tab Hunter, who celebrates his 80th birthday today, made a big splash in movies with the starring role in Damn Yankees. A few years later, he turned to television with The Tab Hunter Show which lasted one year on NBC then moved to Europe to star in a series of spaghetti Westerns.
After fading from view in the 70s, Tab made a comeback in the early 80s in a series of movies including Grease 2 and most significantly, the films Polyester and Lust in the Dust.
When I met and chatted with Tab at last year’s TCM Classic Film Festival, I wondered if life had changed for him much since the publication of his autobiography Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star a few years back.
In the book, he not only shared details of his Hollywood hey-day, he also publicly confirmed that he is gay.
“I wrote is because I didn’t want some schmuck writing about me after I was dead and gone,” he said. “I figured get it from the horse’s mouth and not from horse’s ass after I’m no longer here so that’s exactly why I wrote it.”
Tab was closeted during his career as were other stars of his generation (Rock Hudson, Richard Chamberlain etc) and I wondered what he thought of some of these younger actors who are coming out such as Neil Patrick Harris, John Barrowman, Luke Macfarlane etc).
He said: “That’s up to the individual. I never talk about those things. The only thing that’s important is the work and growing as a human being from A to Z. Your growth mentally, physically and spiritually. Those are the three most important things on this journey of life.”
His advice to younger actors, gay or straight: “Put your nose to the grindstone. Ego’s a killer, remember that.”
Tab told me his life is good these days: “I live in Santa Barbara and I write and I work in my garden. I’ve got my dogs and my horse and I’ve got some nice friends. I’m doing all right for an old man.”
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Richard Bortness says:
I had opportunity to meet him at his book signing 2005. While waiting in line for 20-mtes all the while I could hear him and he was in visual view … by the time I was directly in front of him, I lost all abilities for speech. Wish he would visit Palm Springs more often.
Nola Ross says:
watched his movies on Turner last night. please let me look as good as he does at 80. I’m 64.
Stuart Jarvis says:
I met Tab Hunter when he visited London to promote his book. He was charming and I wish he had been able to do more interviews etc while he was here. The book is extremely interesting to read. I liked the way he found time to talk to everyone and wish he would come back to the UK. Hope he had a great 80th birthday – and many more to come!
Chuck Black says:
Four words “Good for you, Tab”.
Obviously a dignified gent, enjoying his later years the way he should. No matter what is orientation was… he did it his way and I have great respect for him.
Deanne stiff says:
Hi Tab! I met you at Darryl Hickman’s book signing and never got to tell you that Glenn Milstead (Divine) was a cousin of my husbands, he came to our wedding and was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. When my husband’s and his grandfather passed, I was standing off to the side and was very pregnant.. It was a very warm day in Baltimore. All of a sudden, Glenn showed up with a chair and a glass of water, he said sit down before you fall down,
I know you did a few films with him and I’m so sad about Glenn’ s untimely death.
I also live in Santa Barbara and have seen you several times at Traders Joes, etc. I don’t want to bother you , but want to tell you how much I admire you and you look wonderful as always. The best of luck, Sincerely, Deanne
Lance Krystopher says:
Tab Hunter! I’ve known of Tab for many years of course, but only recently (this month, in fact) I learned a lot more about him as I just finished reading his autobiography. I passed it on to my mom, and she’s reading it now. (Mom and Tab are from the same “era”, she tells me. Mom is 89, and Tab is 83 this year.) I’m very excited to learn of the upcoming documentary of Tab’s life, apparently based on his autobiography. Cannot wait to see it, hopefully at a screening attended by Tab Hunter himself, as I’d really love to meet him!
If Tab weren’t gay, I’d fix him up with mom so he could be my extremely handsome stepfather! And if I were a bit older, I’d fix myself up with him and be his male lover!
Tab Hunter; what a hunk! (And at that age!) We should all be so gorgeous and fit in our senior years! I was happy to discover near the end of his autobiography that he found a partner in Allan! And I’m happier still to learn that they are still together. That really makes me happy for Tab! Although I don’t know Tab personally, as a gay man I know I would have felt bad for Tab if he were alone in his senior years. Although his horses and whippets make him happy, I’m sure Allan makes him even happier.
Blessings to Tab and to Allan, and their horses, whippets, and any other animals and friends who are in their lives. A belated Happy Birthday to Tab, and many happy returns of the day!
With warm regards,
Lance Krystopher