I'd rather be a professional homosexual
than have anyone assume
that I'm heterosexual
Harvey Fierstein
B: 6 June 1952
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As one of the few Hollywood actors who is openly gay, Harvey Fierstein has paid a heavy price for such sexual honesty,
namely limited mainstream roles and here cue a series of minor parts in such box-office hits
MRS DOUBTFIRE / 1993 and INDEPENDENCE DAY / 1996.
But then this does not bother a man who rose to fame, thanks to his Tony award-winning play and subsequent film TORCH SONG
TRILOGY / 1988. A classic of its kind, the play was trimmed by close to two hours for its celluloid adaptation
of the life and times of the most lovable drag queen in all of New York City.
Yet whilst further awards have followed, major film success appears to remain somewhat more evasive, promoting
Fierstein to return to his first love and tread the boards to considerable acclaim.
His performance as Edna Turnblad in the 2002 Broadway version of the John Waters film HAIRSPRAY secured him yet another
Tony Award, making him one of the few actors to have won the Tony award in four different categories.
As a gifted actor and playwright, the gravel-sounding vocal tones of Fierstein remain one of the few out and proud
voices to be heard in American cinema and for that not only do we salute him, but question whether
such homosexual openness merits an award all on its own!
1982 TORCH SONG TRILOGY
Tony Award - Best Play
Tony Award - Best Actor in a Play
1983 LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
Tony Award - Best Book of a Musical
2003 - HAIRSPRAY
Tony Award - Best Leading Actor in a Musical
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