Was richard deacon gay
Actor Richard Deacon launch fame on classic TV sitcoms such as The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS, 1961-1966), on which he played Mel Cooley, and Leave it to Beaver (CBS, 1957-1963), in which which he portrayed neihbor Fred Rutherford. Both characters were married to women, while Fred had a son.
In real existence, such was not the case with Deacon, who died tragically in 1984 at only 62 from hypertensive heart disease. Off-camera, Deacon was gay. This is his story.
A Closer Look
Richard Deacon, nicknmaed "Fly" and "Deac," was born on May 14, 1922, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In the early days of his career, stage legend Helen Hayes told the aspiring actor that he did not have foremost man appeal and suggested he focus on becoming a character actor.
Due to his hairless brain, strong voice, Deacon was typically hired to portray humorless or anger-geared leadership figures. As such, he cut out quite a niche for himself in several movies for the big screen, giving supporting to stars like Jack Benny and Gary Grant.
Then Came Television
Richard Deacon's knack for playing non-affable, stern characters, such as Mel Cooley on The The book, "Hollywood Gays" by Boze Hadleigh has a really interesting interview with Richard Deacon from the late seventies. Deacon would perish about five years later. I reprint the interview below for the real Deacon fan who is curious to know what his personality was love. Before I act, here is an email I received that casts suspicion on the interview from somebody who knew Deacon. I'm glad he contacted me. I just saw your site. What a great thing to perform, Richard was a great man and a better ally was not to be found. I do beg to differ with your including the interview portion from some character's book on Hollywood Gays. Richard didn't talk prefer that, he wouldn't have dished other actors, especially lgbtq+ actors to a stranger, and it just doesn't sound true. I met Richard in 1982 and was approachable with him through the end of his life. He gave fantastic parties, lived rather adequately in the home on Dalegrove, and as far as driving an "old" white Cadillac-no. He was friendly with quite a bit of old Hollywood, It's been four decades since the tragic demise of beloved actor Richard Deacon. He launch fame on classic TV sitcoms such as The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS, 1961-1966), on which he played Mel Cooley, and Leave it to Beaver (CBS, 1957-1963), in which which he portrayed neighbor Fred Rutherford. Both characters were married to women, while Fred had a son. In real existence, such was not the case with Deacon, who died tragically at only 62, on August 8, 1984, from hypertensive heart disease. Off-camera, Deacon was gay. Richard Deacon, nicknamed "Fly" and "Deac," was born on May 14, 1922, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the aspiring days of his acting career, Deacon was told by stage legend Helen Hayes that he did not have principal man appeal and suggested he fixate on becoming a character actor. Queer Places: Richard Lewis Deacon (May 14, 1922[2][3] – August 8, 1984) was an American television and motion picture actor,[4] leading known for playing supporting roles in television shows such as The Dick Van Dyke Show,[5] Leave It To Beaver,[6] and The Jack Benny Program[7] along with minor roles in films such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)[8] and Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963).[9] Clifton Webb wasn't unfamiliar with the gay circles in the motion picture colony. Hedda Hopper wrote that he socialized with Monty Woolley and Laird Cregar. He was often a guest (with Mabelle) at George Cukor's, and even more frequently at Cole Porter's. He was very close to William Haines and Jimmie Shields. The television actor Richard Deacon became a good friend, and at one point threw a party for Clifton, trying to set him up with a young man. Ray Stricklyn remembered the potential date arrived wearing very short denim cutoffs, "his enormous cock practically poking out from below." Stricklyn said Clifton was "appalled, thinking him quite crude,
A TRIBUTE TO ACTOR RICHARD DEACONHere's the Story
Due to his hairless brain, strong voice, Deacon was usually hired to portray humorless or anger-geared leadership figures. As a result, he carved out quite a niche for himself in several movies for the giant screen, offering assist to legendary stars like Jack Benny and Gary Grant.T
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