 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject.(February 2020) |
Robert Gant | |
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 Gant in 2009 | |
| Born | Robert John Gonzalez July 13, 1968 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
Robert Gant (born Robert John Gonzalez; July 13, 1968) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Ben Bruckner on the Showtime series Queer as Folk . [1]
At age ten, Gant began acting in television commercials in Florida and became a member of the Screen Actors Guild at the age of eleven. [2]
Gant studied tap and jazz dance with the American Musical Theatre Company in Tampa, Florida. He performed a soft-shoe routine at MacDill Air Force Base with comedian Bob Hope as part of Hope's USO tour. [3] He attended George D. Chamberlain High School and graduated in 1986. [4]
While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Gant majored in English literature with both Shakespeare and poetry concentrations. At Penn, he was also a performing member of the slightly outlandish, artistically driven all-male a cappella group Pennsylvania Six-5000 and, as part of the school’s acting group Quadramics, played such roles as the sadistic dentist in Little Shop of Horrors . [2] He attended the Georgetown University Law Center, where he obtained his Juris Doctor in 1993. Gant was also a member of the Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society, performing in a number of its productions. [5] [6] Gant started a six-man a cappella group, The MetroGnomes, which performed in venues around Washington, D.C. [2]
Gant accepted a position with the Los Angeles office of Chicago-headquartered international law firm Baker McKenzie. When the firm closed its Los Angeles office shortly thereafter, Gant decided to pursue acting and performing. [2]
From 2002 to 2005, Gant portrayed Professor Ben Bruckner in Showtime's television series Queer as Folk . His character was married in the first legal gay marriage portrayed on American television. [7]
In 2004, Gant starred in the short film Billy's Dad is a Fudgepacker , an homage to 1950s educational films, [8] which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2005, [9] Gant was a series regular in the BBC 3-produced drama Personal Affairs , set in London's financial sector and filmed on location in both London and Scotland. Gant was the sole American in an otherwise all-British cast. [7]
Gant was a producing partner in the production company Mythgarden. Its 2007 feature film Save Me , a drama set against the backdrop of an ex-gay ministry, stars Gant along with Judith Light and Chad Allen and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. [7] He also co-produced, co-wrote, and starred in the Netflix-distributed period drama Milada , the true story of Czech politician Milada Horáková, who was executed by the Communist government in 1950. [7] [10] [11]
Gant portrayed television's first gay spy in the film, Kiss Me Deadly , which was shot on location in New Zealand. [12] [13] Gant has portrayed Melissa Benoist's Kryptonian father Zor-El on Supergirl , [7] Todd Crimsen on the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why , [14] [7] and Jim Hunter on The Fosters and its spin-off series Good Trouble . [15] [16] [17] Prior to Queer as Folk, Gant recurred as Principal Calvin Krupps in Ryan Murphy's first television series, Popular , [7] [18] and a recurring role as Caroline's boyfriend Trevor in Caroline in the City . [19] [2]
Gant has had guest roles on the television show Friends , where he played one of two men Phoebe was dating simultaneously. The other man Phoebe dates was played by recurring Queer as Folk actor, Matt Battaglia. [7] [19] Gant guest starred in Melrose Place , [13] Becker , [2] several CSI -related shows, [7] Caroline in the City , and Criminal Minds . [18] In 2013, he portrayed Captain Robert Norton in Dead Space 3 , the third installment in the Dead Space video game series released by Electronic Arts. [20]
In an interview published by The Advocate magazine, Gant came out as gay in 2002. [21] [22] [23]
Gant supports such organizations as Services & Advocacy for LGBT Elders (SAGE) and Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH). [24]
 | This section needs to be updated.(June 2022) |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Cityscrapes: Los Angeles | Policeman B | |
| Jane Street | Jay | ||
| 1997 | Hercules | Video reference cast | |
| 1999 | Teaching Mrs. Tingle | Professor | |
| The Contract | Gene Collins | ||
| 2002 | Fits and Starts | Ian | |
| 2004 | Marie and Bruce | Bartender | |
| Billy's Dad Is a Fudge-Packer! | Billy's Dad | Short | |
| 2007 | Save Me | Scott | Also producer |
| Live! | Casting Director | ||
| 2012 | Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean | Ian | |
| 2016 | Love Is All You Need? | Pete Santilli | |
| The Thinning | Vince Davi | ||
| 2017 | A Million Happy Nows | Dr. Hansen | |
| Milada | Bohuslav Horák | Also writer and producer | |
| 2021 | The Map of Tiny Perfect Things | Weatherman Dave | |
| 2023 [25] | To Catch a Killer | Jimmy Kittridge (uncredited) |
Television
 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Ellen | Dr. Garber | Episode: "The Dentist" |
| My So-Called Life | Gunther | Episode: "Pressure" | |
| Melrose Place | Waiter | Episode: "Just Say No" | |
| 1995 | My Wildest Dreams | Stewart | Episode: "Sister's Mister" |
| Step by Step | Fireman | Episode: "The Girls and a Baby" | |
| 1996 | High Tide | Mason | Episode: "Old Friends" |
| Melrose Place | Deputy Tom | Episode: "Moving Violations" | |
| 1997 | Townies | Guy | Episode: "Things to Do in Gloucester When You Are Dead" |
| Life with Roger | Rod Davis | Episode: "The Boxer Rebellion" | |
| Friends | Jason | Episode: "The One with Ross's Thing" | |
| Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Bartender | Episode: "Party, Party" | |
| Silk Stalkings | Kevin | Episode: "Night of the Parrot" | |
| Head Over Heels | Blake | Episode: "Hot Guy" | |
| Night Stand | Frank Thatcher | Episode: "Leave Your Job or I'm Leaving You" | |
| 1997–98 | Caroline in the City | Trevor | 9 episodes |
| 1998 | Style & Substance | Matthew | Episode: "Terry, We Hardly Knew Ye" |
| Fantasy Island | Dave Sullivan | Episode: "Estrogen" | |
| 1999 | Becker | Doug | Episode: "Cyrano De-Beckerac" |
| Rude Awakening | Jim | Episode: "Abstinence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" | |
| 2000 | Linc's | Dr. Brad Wheeler | Episode: "I Just Want to Testify" |
| Veronica's Closet | Bernie | Episode: "Veronica Sets Josh Up" | |
| 2000–01 | Popular | Calvin Krupps | 11 episodes |
| 2002 | V.I.P. | Arthur Goodwin | Episode: "Val Cubed" |
| Providence | Groom | Episode: "It's Raining Men" | |
| 2002–05 | Queer as Folk | Prof. Ben Bruckner | 55 episodes |
| 2005 | The Closer | Julian Carver | Episode: "Batter Up" |
| 2006 | Pepper Dennis | Benny Gold | Episode: "Celebrity Twin Could Hang" |
| 2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Lewis Greyburg | Episode: "Empty Eyes" |
| 2008 | Nip/Tuck | Jeff Morris | Episode: "Magda and Jeff" |
| Kiss Me Deadly | Jacob Keane | Television film | |
| Special Delivery | Nate Spencer | Television film | |
| 2009 | Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World | Mayor Mayer | Voice; Episode: "The Only Straight in the Village" |
| CSI: NY | Felix Redman | Episode: "Green Piece" | |
| Tracey Ullman's State of the Union | Buzz | Episode: "Fuzzy Cheeks" | |
| Personal Affairs | Rock van Gelder | 5 episodes | |
| Castle | Ron Bigby | Episode: "Deep in Death" | |
| CSI: Miami | Lloyd Arrington | Episode: "Hostile Takeover" | |
| 2010 | Bones | Jason Hendler | Episode: "The Dentist in the Ditch" |
| Hot in Cleveland | Steve | Episode: "Birthdates" | |
| 90210 | Dr. Wright | Episode: "Catch Me If You Cannon" | |
| 2011 | Mike & Molly | Kyle | Episode: "First Valentine's Day" |
| Happily Divorced | Marc | Episode: "A Kiss Is Just a Kiss" | |
| The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Mr. Martin | Episode: "4-1-1" | |
| My Life As an Experiment | Craig Rolle | Television film | |
| 2012 | Free Agents | Mark | Episode: "The Kids Are Probably Alright" |
| Shameless | Greg Garvin | Episode: "Father's Day" | |
| 2013 | Vegas | Rick Kent | Episode: "From This Day Forward" |
| NCIS | Mike Dunkel | Episode: "Detour" | |
| Anger Management | Dr. Konner | Episode: "Charlie and the Hot Nerd" | |
| Baby Daddy | Steve | Episode: "Christening" | |
| Sean Saves the World | Chase | Episode: "Date Expectations" | |
| 2013–17 | The Young and the Restless | David Sherman | 16 episodes |
| 2014 | The Tomorrow People | Peter MacKenzie | Episode: "The Citadel" Episode: "Sitting Ducks" |
| Hit the Floor | Louis Jason | Episode: "Full-Court Press" | |
| 2015 | Criminal Minds | Miles Tate | Episode: "Lockdown" |
| 2015–16 | Supergirl | Zor-El | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | K.C. Undercover | Vice President Jackson Cleveland | Episode: "Accidents Will Happen" Episode: "Brainwashed" |
| Summer of Dreams | Noah Burns | Television film | |
| American Housewife | Tim Donohue | Episode: "Krampus Katie" | |
| 2017 | Hawaii Five-0 | Thomas Stratham | Episode: "Huikau na makau a na lawai'a" |
| 2017–20 | 13 Reasons Why | Todd Crimsen | 6 episodes |
| 2018 | The Fosters | Jim Hunter | 3 episodes |
| Wedding of Dreams | Noah Burns | Television film | |
| 2019 | Why Women Kill | Dale Clark | Episode: "You Had Me at Homicide" Episode: "Practically Lethal in Every Way" |
| All Rise | Daniel Fox | Episode: "Maricela and the Desert" | |
| 2019–21 | Good Trouble | Jim Hunter | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Ron Lewis | Episode: "A Fait Accompli" |
Stage
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Queer as Folk is a serial drama television series that ran on Showtime from December 3, 2000, to August 7, 2005. The series was by Cowlip Productions, Tony Jonas Productions, Temple Street Productions, and Showtime Networks, in association with Crowe Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. It was developed and written by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, who were the showrunners and also the executive producers along with Tony Jonas, former president of Warner Bros. Television.
Peter Paige is an American actor, director and screenwriter. He is best known for his portrayal of Emmet Honeycutt in the gay drama Queer as Folk. His debut as director and writer was on the film Say Uncle.
Queer Duck is an American adult animated web series produced by Icebox.com that originally appeared on the company's website, then later moved to the American cable network Showtime, where it aired following the American version of Queer as Folk. Although far from featuring the first gay cartoon character, Queer Duck was among the first animated series to have homosexuality as its predominant theme.
LGBT themes in horror fiction refers to sexuality in horror fiction that can often focus on LGBTQ+ characters and themes within various forms of media. It may deal with characters who are coded as or who are openly LGBTQ+, or it may deal with themes or plots that are specific to gender and sexual minorities.
Billy's Dad is a Fudge-Packer! is a 2004 American black-and-white short comedy film written and directed by Jamie Donahue in her first non-acting effort. It is a parody of the 1950s social guidance films, and depicts the life of a boy learning about adulthood in a traditional family. The apparently innocent account of family life in the 1950s is loaded with sexual innuendo. It was made by production company POWER UP.
Chad Allen is an American retired actor and psychologist. Beginning his career at the age of seven, Allen is a three time Young Artist Award winner and GLAAD Media Award honoree. He was a teen idol during the late 1980s as David Witherspoon on the NBC family drama Our House and as Zach Nichols on the NBC sitcom My Two Dads before transitioning to an adult career as Matthew Cooper on the CBS western drama Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. He announced his retirement from acting in April 2015.
Lesbian portrayal in media is generally in relation to feminism, love and sexual relationships, marriage and parenting. Some writers have stated that lesbians have often been depicted as exploitative and unjustified plot devices. Common representations of lesbians in the media include butch or femme lesbians and lesbian parents. "Butch" lesbian comes from the idea of a lesbian expressing themselves as masculine by dressing masculine, behaving masculinely, or liking things that are deemed masculine, while "femme" lesbian comes from the idea of a lesbian expressing themselves as feminine by dressing feminine, behaving femininely, or liking things that are deemed feminine.
Historically, the portrayal of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in media has been largely negative if not altogether absent, reflecting a general cultural intolerance of LGBT individuals; however, from the 1990s to present day, there has been an increase in the positive depictions of LGBT people, issues, and concerns within mainstream media in North America. The LGBT communities have taken an increasingly proactive stand in defining their own culture, with a primary goal of achieving an affirmative visibility in mainstream media. The positive portrayal or increased presence of the LGBT communities in media has served to increase acceptance and support for LGBT communities, establish LGBT communities as a norm, and provide information on the topic.
Gay media refers to media that predominantly targets a gay, lesbian or LGBTQ+ allied audience. The primary target market for gay media may also more broadly be considered to include members of an LGBTQ+ community. Secondary targets are LGBTQ+ allies, and in some instances those who oppose gay rights may be targeted as a form of activism to change their minds. There are many types of gay media, and the type is determined by the purpose of the media presented. Gay or queer media can also be defined as web sites, films, magazines and other cultural products that were created by queer individuals, or groups that are typically out, meaning that they are public or open about their identity. Gay creators do not always include gay themes or issues in their productions but there is usually at least subtle references to queerness or acceptance in these media.
For many years, LGBT representation increased on animated series and animated films. In the 1990s, LGBT characters were depicted in animated series like South Park, The Ambiguously Gay Duo, and The Simpsons. In the early 2000s, LGBT representation increased in Western animation, culminating in GLAAD's "Where We Are in TV" report in 2005, even as representation in such animation was scattered and disparate. In the 2000s, series like Queer Duck, The Oblongs, The Venture Bros., Drawn Together, and Archer would air. It would not be until the advent of shows like Steven Universe, The Legend of Korra, and Adventure Time in the 2010s, that LGBT characters in animation would gain more of a prominent role, leading to shows such as She-Ra and the Princesses of Power in 2018 and Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts in 2020, along with other series in the 2020s. This page will show this progress by building off the lists of animated series which contain these characters and explain the History of LGBT characters in animation. It does not focus on LGBT characters in anime series or films, which is examined on the LGBT themes in anime and manga page.
In the 1990s, more LGBTQ characters began to be depicted in animated series than in any of the years before. The depiction of LGBTQ characters changed significantly compared to previous decades. Some of the most prominent Western animated series during this decade which featured LGBTQ characters were South Park, King of the Hill, Futurama, and The Ambiguously Gay Duo. The representation in 1990s series would also influence series in the 2000s.
The depiction of LGBTQ characters in Western animated series in the 2000s changed significantly from the previous decade. This included series such as Queer Duck, the first animated TV series with homosexuality as a predominant theme, The Boondocks, American Dad, bro'Town, W.I.T.C.H., The Venture Bros., Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, Moral Orel, Lizzy the Lezzy, and many others would include LGBTQ characters.
Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term's use as a reference to male homosexuality may date as early as the late 19th century, but its use gradually increased in the mid-20th century. In modern English, gay has come to be used as an adjective, and as a noun, referring to the community, practices and cultures associated with homosexuality. In the 1960s, gay became the word favored by homosexual men to describe their sexual orientation. By the end of the 20th century, the word gay was recommended by major LGBT groups and style guides to describe people attracted to members of the same sex, although it is more commonly used to refer specifically to men. At about the same time, a new, pejorative use became prevalent in some parts of the world. Among younger speakers, the word has a meaning ranging from derision to a light-hearted mockery or ridicule. The extent to which these usages still retain connotations of homosexuality has been debated and harshly criticized. This page examines gay characters in fictional works as a whole, focusing on characters and tropes in cinema and fantasy.
This article features the history of the representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) characters in animated productions under The Walt Disney Company, including films from the studios Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar, and programming from the Disney Branded Television channels as well as the streaming service Disney+. From 1983 onward, Disney struggled with LGBTQ representation in their animated series, and their content often included LGBT stereotypes or the content was censored in series such as Blazing Dragons. Some creators have also criticized Disney studio executives of cutting LGBTQ scenes from their shows in the past, or criticized that their shows were not seen as part of the "Disney brand", like The Owl House.
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