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30 YEARS OF

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30 Years of Looking Back, Looking Forward.
The Out100 designates All That’s In.

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Dan Levy in Out Magazine
Television

Dan Levy Has the Power Now and He's Ready to Use It

The 2019 Out100 honoree is having the best year ever, and he's not about to slow down.

Daniel Levy came into 2020 on a high. He was riding the success of his show Schitt's Creek, which had in the past few years become an international hit, and was cruising into a much-anticipated finale season. And there were all the intentions to go out with a bang! The show's network had purchased a large billboard in Los Angeles and plastered it with a photo of David Rose and his fiance Patrick Brewer kissing that instantly became a tourist attraction. The series even announced a documentary special based on the season and slotted a tour that would begin during the Netflix Is a Joke Festival. And then the pandemic happened, putting a halt to some of the biggest plans (namely the tour.) But there's nothing that can stop Levy.

The multi-hyphenate and former MTV Canada VJ still completed the press tour for the final season of his show virtually, and then went on to have a history-making night at the Emmy Awards. Not only is Schitt's Creek now the first show to ever sweep all of the seven major comedy categories, but Levy is now the first person to win a Primetime Emmy in all four major disciplines in a year (writing, directing, acting, and producing). In addition though, the 2019 Out100 honoree (he was also honored back in 2015) has had other projects in the works.

This month, Happiest Season will debut on Hulu and in it he stars as John, the best friend of Kristen Stewart's Abby, who leads the romantic comedy. The project is historic in that it is the first holiday-themed queer romantic comedy ever made by a major studio, and though fans won't be able to see it in all of its big-screen glory, they will be able to enjoy the Levy they've come to know and love as both insightful and damn-funny. But it's not the only role he's played this year: there was also Mark Hesterman in HBO's Coastal Elites. In what Levy called his "greatest challenge" given that he had to memorize a monologue of about five pages and execute it in one take, he plays a gay actor discussing the internal struggle of taking reductive, sometimes-trite roles because of the opportunity, knowing that they may do actual queer and trans folks a disservice.

"I think I've tried as best I can to try and take whatever opportunities I can to tell stories that mean something to me and feel representative of my life," he tells Out when asked about encountering those types of roles in his career. We spoke in the press run for Coastal Elites earlier this year. "So often, the gay characters that I have been asked to play were the quirky gay best friend or the guy that always had a one-liner and never really had much depth. To be able to have the opportunity on [Schitt's Creek] to tell stories that I feel really go beyond the world of caricature and start to explore, in a more profound way, the lives and the happiness and the hopes and the aspirations of queer people, you know, that was an opportunity that I had to run with. Then when [Coastal Elites] came around, it did feel very much in that same vein of, 'we're pushing the boundaries of showing what gay characters should be in entertainment'. There is so much more to them than I think you know mainstream movies and television have often perpetuated."

But those decisions are made based on power. Earlier in his career, Levy didn't have that power and as a result, he says he had no ability to address the handful of roles that he felt objectionable. But now, he's in a different place. On Schitt's, as co-creator and head writer, he called the shots. As a result of that work, when he went into Coastal Elites he was in a position to have a series of conversations around his role. And Happiest Season was itself a creation of Clea DuVall, who is lesbian.

But moving into 2021, Levy will continue to operate from a seat of control around these sorts of issues -- though networks will have the final say. In 2019, he signed an overall deal with ABC Studios off the back of what was said to be an intense bidding war.

"I've been very spoiled with how encouraging and loving these past six years have been," Levy told Variety of the deal which is rumored to be eight-figures. "For me, it was all about having the freedom to continue to assemble those kinds of casts and crews, where I can feel a tremendous amount of satisfaction creatively and emotionally when I come to work. ABC felt like they were on board to support that. I really enjoyed the team, and I felt like they were people that I could trust in terms of offering feedback or helping to shape or mold what I would do next. The deal was good, and we said 'yes.'"

And while there have been no confirmed details on the projects, The Hollywood Reporterhas described it as an "expansive slate" with at least one written by Levy himself. But more importantly, all have Levy in the driver's seat meaning that we'll no doubt be able to enjoy more characters with depth, insight, and that are frankly, damn-funny.

This story is one in a series looking back at Out100 2019 honorees as we prepare to announce the Out100 2020 list. Stay tuned for covers, names, as well as details about the first-ever Out100 Live virtual event, all coming soon.

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Jason Isaacs; Arnas Fedaravicius; Nicholas Duvernay; Aimee Lou Wood; Jon Gries on The White Lotus season 3
HBO
Television

Here's what the 'White Lotus' stars revealed about the season 3 finale

The actors have been spilling some tea in the lead-up to the grand finale of White Lotus!

Make room for new revelations.

The biggest, boldest, and gayest whodunnit mystery of 2025 will be solved Sunday night during the grand finale of The White Lotus season 3 — and the cast and crew of the HBO series are now sharing theories, feelings, and hints about who kills and who dies at the end of this poisonous, incestuous, and transformative journey in Thailand.

The White Lotus showrunner Mike White has made it clear in several interviews that he isn't giving anything away about the season 3 finale… except to say that HBO has already renewed the series for a fourth season.

On the other hand, executive producer David Bernad did spill some tea to The Hollywood Reporter about why there is so much confusion and uncertainty — even among crew members and actors in the series — about how season 3 actually ends.

"Season 2, we were super lax," Bernad told the publication. "Even Jennifer [Coolidge's] death scene was on the [script] sides. Woody Harrelson happened to be visiting the set, and he read them and was like, 'You ruined it for me!' We were idiots. So, this season, our script supervisor wrote these crazy fake endings that we distributed on set. We didn't distribute the real last script."

Keep scrolling to find out what the actors are saying about The White Lotus season 3 finale — airing this Sunday, April 6 on Max and HBO.

Leslie Bibb (Kate)

Leslie Bibb on The White Lotus season 3

Leslie Bibb on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Leslie Bibb played Kate, the Trump-voting member of the BFF trio of white women who gossiped about and dissed one another throughout season 3. According to the actress, this season of The White Lotus ends differently than the first two seasons.

"I will say, it was a very different ending than we've ever seen of this show," Bibb told Entertainment Weekly. "It feels more emotional."

Carrie Coon (Laurie Duffy)

Carrie Coon on The White Lotus season 3

Carrie Coon on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Carrie Coon, the biggest breakout star of the season among gay audiences, will never be forgotten for her performance as Laurie Duffy on the HBO show. Unlike Laurie's on-again, off-again dynamic with Kate, however, Coon agreed with Bibb's assessment.

"In seasons 1 and 2, you've always seen the bodies," Coon told EW. "This is much more of a mystery. It's different, it doesn't actually start the same way."

The actress continued, "And what I love about White Lotus is that you forget a few episodes in that it's a murder mystery, and it's just the psychology and the relationships. And then you're like, 'Oh yeah, there's a dead body!' when you get to the ending, but you forgot there was a dead body. It's really amazing."

Arnas Fedaravicius (Valentin)

Arnas Fedaravicius on The White Lotus season 3

Arnas Fedaravicius on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Played by The White Lotus heartthrob Arnas Fedaravicius, Valentin is one of the main suspects of killing someone during the season 3 finale. Some fans argue that he is too obvious of a choice, whereas others insist that the gunshots heard in episode 1 do involve Valentin to some extent. But how would the actor describe the finale?

"Unexpected. Explosive. Loving," he told Club Cine.

In an interview with Flaunt, Fedaravicius warned that fans will experience "shock" while watching the season 3 finale. "Part of what makes The White Lotus so compelling is that it keeps people guessing," the actor added, "I love seeing all the theories online — even the ones that are completely wrong — because it shows how engaged people are. Some viewers will definitely figure things out, but there will still be surprises."

Tayme Thapthimthong (Gaitok)

Tayme Thapthimthong on The White Lotus season 3

Tayme Thapthimthong on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

The Muay Thai scene in episode 7 felt like a deliberate set-up for Gaitok, played by Tayme Thapthimthong, to be shown training for a physical confrontation that seems inevitable to fans who theorize that the season's gunfire scene — teased in the White Lotus season 3 premiere and taking place at the finale — will involve him.

During an interview with Today, Thapthimthong echoed those sentiments even further. "From episode to episode, I wanted to let Gaitok develop from smiling the whole time and being worry free because, like, no one's going to ever break into this hotel. I'm never going to have to use a gun. Like, guns never been on my radar," he explained.

"As each episode goes on," the actor added, "it gets a bit more so stressful for him."

Thapthimthong also told the news outlet that "by the end of episode 7, every single character has a reason for them to be tied to this" yet-to-come murder unfolding at the finale.

Though the actor's statement didn't fully confirm or deny Gaitok's direct involvement in the endgame of the season, it evidenced his awareness that the character was shown in that scene as a set up his for next move or as a red herring.

Michelle Monaghan (Jaclyn Lemon)

Michelle Monaghan on The White Lotus season 3

Michelle Monaghan on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

The character of Jaclyn Lemon fluctuated between being the center of attention between the three BFFs and the root of most of their problems, or jealousies, or self-consciousness. As far as Michelle Monaghan is concerned, she was concerned about how this journey ended for her character the entire time.

"We were all worried whether or not we're going to make it," Monaghan confessed to Entertainment Weekly. "When we all got cast and signed on, we got all eight eps in our inbox, and I've never binge-read anything as quickly as I did. As much as we can say without any spoilers, it always feels like there's a little bit of unfinished business with all of the characters. These are all works in progress."

Jason Isaacs (Timothy Ratliff)

\u200bJason Isaacs on \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Jason Isaacs on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Jason Isaacs has been stressing, and sweating, and spiraling all season long while playing Timothy Ratliff. But when asked by Entertainment Weekly about who dies at the end of The White Lotus season 3, the actor shared a deadpanned response in jest:

"Oh my god, they all die! Who's going to get to come back then?"

Parker Posey (Victoria Ratliff)

\u200bParker Posey on \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Parker Posey on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Victoria Ratliff really said it with her whole chest: "I just don't think, at this age, I'm meant to live an uncomfortable life. I don't have the will." And that's all it took for the internet to have a field day with the hilarious line written by Mike White and delivered by Parker Posey.

Though long-time Posey fans can attest to the fact that she's nothing like Victoria, the actress is clearly having a blast doing press for the series and, at times, seems to be channeling the Lorazepam-pilled kookiness of the Ratliff matriarch.

"I forgot who died," Posey told The Hollywood Reporter when asked about the season 3 finale. "It was so stressful when I read it. The dark stuff, I blazed through." Well, okay, then!

Patrick Schwarzenegger (Saxon Ratliff)

Patrick Schwarzenegger \u200bon \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Patrick Schwarzenegger on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Patrick Schwarzenegger is walking away from season 3 of The White Lotus as a much more well-known actor after playing the puzzling "eldest boy" of the Ratliff clan, Saxon.

"I knew the show was big, but I didn't know how big," the actor told THR. "Everywhere we go, on planes, in coffee shops, people come up talking about their theories about what's going to happen."

Schwarzenegger added, "I'm just excited to watch the finale with the rest of the world because I actually have no idea what happens."

Sarah Catherine Hook (Piper Ratliff)

Sarah Catherine Hook \u200bon \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Sarah Catherine Hook on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Sarah Catherine Hook played the soul-searching daughter of the Ratliff family, Piper, who is anxious about the White Lotus finale but suggested that she doesn't know how season 3 actually ends.

"The finale just needs to be out already!" Hook told The Hollywood Reporter. "There was a lot to keep secret. I'm still feeling a bit suffocated. And I don't even know what happens."

Walton Goggins (Rick Hatchett)

Walton Goggins \u200bon \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Walton Goggins on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Walton Goggins, who played Rick Hatchett in the third season of The White Lotus, told THR about how this saga ends: "Season 3 is about spirituality, it's about life, and it's about death."

"You get all of them in episode eight," the actor remarked.

Aimee Lou Wood (Chelsea)

\u200bAimee Lou Wood on \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Aimee Lou Wood on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Just like Chelsea, who was (at times) one of the most relatable characters on the show, actress Aimee Lou Wood recalled that her experience reading the season 3 scripts were very similar to the viewers now watching it all play out from home.

"It could be anyone," Wood noted to Entertainment Weekly. "While I read it, I guessed so many different people, and it wasn't any of the guesses."

Jon Gries (Greg Hunt a.k.a. Gary)

\u200bJon Gries on \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Jon Gries on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

The White Lotus fans are still mourning the loss of Tanya McQuoid-Hunt (played by Jennifer Coolidge) in season 2. Though Jon Gries isn't responsible for the shenanigans pulled by his character — Greg Hunt, who has renamed himself as Gary in season 3 — the actor is understandably being more careful than other cast members when asked about any potential spoilers.

"Whatever you think you know, you're going to get it wrong," Gries told THR while discussing the ending of season 3.

Charlotte Le Bon (Chloe)

Charlotte Le Bon \u200bon \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Charlotte Le Bon on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

When asked about the season 3 finale of The White Lotus, Charlotte Le Bon — who played Greg a.k.a. Gary's enigmatic romantic partner, Chloe, in the series — shared a bold statement with The Hollywood Reporter:

"I think people are going to hate Mike White."

Natasha Rothwell (Belinda Lindsey)

Natasha Rothwell \u200bon \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Natasha Rothwell on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

While circling around the question of what actually happens at this finale, Natasha Rothwell, who reprised her season 1 role as Belinda Lindsey for season 3, talked about one piece of feedback she often receives.

"I travel a lot, and I'll have hotel and spa staff come up to me like, 'Thank you so much for representation. We have to deal with some crazy guests, and you show how much we have to hold it in. They better not kill you!'" Rothwell actress told THR.

Is that simply an anecdote, or a hint? Time will tell.

Nicholas Duvernay (Zion Lindsey)

Nicholas Duvernay \u200bon \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Nicholas Duvernay on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Zion Lindsey, Belinda's son, is the first character that fans get to know at the start of The White Lotus season 3. The flash-forward scene, however, is interrupted by gunfire — and Zion doesn't return to the series for quite a while.

Nicholas Duvernay, the actor who brought Nicholas to life, discussed how frustrating that experience was. "Since that very first scene, I've just been waiting and waiting, sitting on this whole storyline that I couldn't even talk about,” the actor told L'Officiel. "It was really hard, especially because I was a fan of the show already. I was like, 'I have all of this sensitive information?'"

Duvernay continued, "It's nice to not be fearful of spoiling something, and the excitement is building, too. Obviously, everything has to come to a head in these last episodes, so I'm curious to see how people react."

Lisa a.k.a. Lalisa Manobal (Mook)

Lalisa Manobal \u200bon \u200bThe White Lotus\u200b season 3

Lalisa Manobal on The White Lotus season 3.

HBO

Lalisa Manobal — best known as Lisa from Blackpink — made her acting debut in the third season of The White Lotus playing Mook, a staff member at this resort in Thailand.

"You're not ready for it," Manobal said, when asked by The Hollywood Reporter about this season's finale.

When is the season finale of White Lotus?

The White Lotus season 3 poster

The White Lotus season 3 poster

HBO

The White Lotus season 3 finale drops this Sunday, April 6 on Max — where you can also watch the first two seasons of the Emmy Award-winning HBO series.

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