Straight Men: Dying For An Oscar
“Gay roles can win Oscars,” explains Gold Derby’s Tom O’Neil, “but only if portrayed by straight people who die hideous deaths.” But this year may mark a turning point. Christopher Plummer, who’s the Best Supporting Actor frontrunner for “Beginners,” has a quiet death. As does Leonardo DiCaprio, a contender for Best Actor for “J. Edgar,” in which his character dies of natural causes, offscreen. O’Neil includes a photo gallery of the old Hollywood, in which Oscar-winning gays-played-by-straights did have to go unquietly. William Hurt, who won Best Actor in 1985 for “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” is pictured.
