It's way past time for a gay actor to win an Academy Award!
With the recently-announced Oscar nominations earlier this month, we were reminded once again how rare it is for the Academy to nominate queer actors. While both Kristen Stewart (for Spencer) and Ariana DeBose (for West Side Story) were nominated, making for the first time two out actors have been nominated in the same year, no out gay male actors were nominated at all, despite some stellar performances.
In fact, it's been twenty years since an out male actor was nominated for an acting Oscar, the last one being Ian McKellan's Best Supporting Actor nod in 2002 for Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. An out gay male actor has yet to win an acting Oscar -- and we think that needs to change.
Many of today's best actors are gay, and they deserve the roles and the attention that can get them nominations, and wins. Here are 11 gay male actors we think deserve an Oscar in the years to come.
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1. Ian McKellan
Ian McKellan is the blueprint. He was nominated twice for Oscars, for Gods and Monsters and The Fellowship of the Ring. Unfortunately, he didn't win either. We'd love to see him get some juicy new roles and get back on the Oscar nominations list.
2. Colman Domingo
While he's had a long and storied career, Colman Domingo is giving some career best performances in recent projects. He could have been nominated for Ma Rainy's Black Bottom or for this year's Zola. And soon, he'll be playing civil rights leader Bayard Rustin in a biopic, which should be perfect for Oscar consideration.
3. Billy Porter
Billy Porter has yet to enter his true movie star era, but we are READY for it! He's already a Tony winner for the role of Lola in Kinky Boots, and an Emmy Winner for playing Pray Tell on Pose, and we think it's about time he added an Oscar to that list. Who knows, maybe an EGOT is in his future?
4. Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane is one of the greatest stage actors of our time. He's been nominated for six Tonys, and has won three, for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Producers, and Angels in America. He's also been nominated for two Golden Globes and six Emmys. Honestly, he could've earned nominations for his role in the movie The Birdcage, and even his voice acting as Timon in The Lion King. He's set to co-star in Ari Aster's (Hereditary) next film Disappointment Blvd along with Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, and Amy Ryan.
5. Wilson Cruz
Ever since he burst onto the scene as gay teen Rickie Vasquez on My So-Called Life, Cruz has been one of the best actors in Hollywood. He hasn't had many chances to shine on the big screen, but we'd love to see him get some big movie roles in the next few years.
6. Anthony Rapp
Cruz's Star Trek: Discovery and Out Magazine cover co-star Anthony Rapp has also been one of our favorite actors since the 90s. After originating the role of Mark Cohen in Rent, and reprising the role in the film version, he's killed every role he's had. We want to see what he can do with more big screen roles.
7. Robin De Jesús
De Jesus was one of this year's big Oscar snubs. As Michael in tick, tick... BOOM!, De Jesus soared and bared his entire heart. He's been nominated for three Tonys, for In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles, and The Boys in The Band, so an Oscar is well within reach. He just needs some more roles like the one he had in tick, tick... BOOM!.
8. Lee Pace
Ever since he played trans woman Calpernia Addams in Soldier's Girl, Lee Pace has always demanded attention for his sensitive and deep performances. He won a Gotham Award for that role, and was nominated for a Golden Globe, Satellite Award, and Independent Spirit Award. He was later nominated for another Golden Globe, as well as an Emmy for playing Ned the baker in Pushing Daisies, and then another Satellite Award for his role in Halt and Catch Fire.
9. BD Wong
BD Wong made history when he became the only actor in Broadway history to win a Tony, a Drama Desk, an Outer Critics Circle Award, Clarence Derwent Award, and Theatre World Award for the same role when he won for playing Song Liling in M. Butterfly. More recently, he's earned Critic's Choice and Emmy nominations for playing Whiterose in Mr. Robot. He definitely deserves an Oscar-worthy film role.
10. Jonathan Groff
Groff got his first Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role when he was just 22 for Spring Awakening. He was nominated for his second Tony for playing King George in Hamilton, a role that also got him his first Emmy nomination, as well as a Grammy. With Mindhunter, he should have at least two more Emmy nominations, but that's beside the point. Now it's time for him to go for the Oscar.
11. Victor Garber
Victor Garber is the whole package and has been for decades. He's received four Tony Award nominations, six Emmy nominations, and three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Some of his best film roles include Godspell, Titanic and Argo, but we want to see him lead an Oscar-worthy film. It's about time.
