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Former “Queer as Folk” star Randy Harrison talks to The Advocate about his life on the stage
We know actor Randy Harrison best from the five seasons he spent playing Justin Taylor on the late great Showtime series Queer as Folk. He was one of the youngest actors on the show and along with castmates Peter Paige and Robert Gant, was openly gay.
But unlike those and other co-stars like his onscreen love interest Gale Harold (Brian Kinney), Randy has not popped up in any television roles since the series ended. It’s by design. He has spent the last four years on the stage
Randy, now 32, is currently starring as Andy Warhol in POP! a Factory-set musical which runs through December 19 at Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Conn.
He talked to Brandon Voss of The Advocate about what he’s been up to:
Advocate.com: How familiar were you with Warhol and the Factory before you started working on POP! at Yale Rep?
Randy Harrison: More than most. Near the end of college I was really into the Velvet Underground, which sort of brought me to Warhol. This was back when Kim’s video store was still open in the East Village, so I rented a lot of Warhol’s movies from there, like Lonesome Cowboys. I’m fascinated with him. I admire the fact that he just turned out art and created such challenging work, specifically his movies. I also think he’s funny as hell.
Do you wish you could’ve achieved your current marketability in the theater world without actually having to do Queer as Folk?
Not really, because the only reason I’m financially stable is from having worked in television. I’m sure Queer as Folk opened up a lot of doors for me, even if it closed some too, so I’m grateful for it.
Echoing the controversial statements gay directors Todd Holland and Don Roos made earlier this year, Rupert Everett recently advised gay actors to stay in the closet, saying, “The fact is that you could not be, and still cannot be, a 25-year-old homosexual trying to make it in the … film business.” As a former 25-year-old homosexual who hasn’t done much film work since Queer as Folk, do you think he’s right?
I’ve never really tried very hard to be a part of the film industry, so I don’t know if he’s right or not. Queer as Folk was a fluke, and then I just went back to theater. I’ve been significantly more satisfied with the work I’ve been doing since Queer as Folk ended. It’s been almost all theater, but that was my mostly my intention, so I’m doing what I always wanted to do.
But do you feel like your coming-out has hindered your career in any way?
I don’t know what decisions are being made behind closed doors in casting sessions or what people think of me, so I don’t know what kind of difference it would’ve made or what kind of career I would have now if I hadn’t come out. I just know that not coming out was something I wasn’t capable of doing. I don’t regret it. The one thing that’s been frustrating for me is that coming out has forced me to have to talk about my private life, which is something that I have no interest talking about in general. I don’t feel like actors should ever be obligated to open up about that. I want to be out because it’s important to me socially and politically, but at the same time I don’t think it’s anybody’s business who I sleep with.
There’s much more of the interview at Advocate.com.
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Liz says:
“[Randy] along with castmates Peter Paige and Robert Gant, was openly gay.”
Other out actors with fairly major roles on QaF included Jack Wetherall and Bruce Gray.
Yvonne Reid says:
I really enjoyed reading Randys interview but I was unhappy about there being no QAF reunion.
Jane says:
I am glad he is working on stage, a space that he is clearly passionate about. However, I’ve read numerous interviews with him and when it comes to QAF, he seems to have a negative experience of the show – he never has anything nice to say about it as if he’s ashamed of his role as Justin. If he has issues with the show, that is his business but I think it’s an insult to the other actors on the show, particularly Gale Harold whose performance throughout 5 season merits multiple award nominations if it wasn’t for homophobic Hollywood. Somehow one can’t help but feel that Harrison thinks he is more superior to other QAF members given that he is drawn to the theatre.
Lonnie says:
I saw an interview with Randy where he said he “adored” Gale and he has said in many interviews how he and Gale works well together. In fact towards the end of QAF Gale backed Randy when he was unhappy about Justin’s storyline. They both wanted B/J to experience more love but CowLip wanted them to be kinda lame still. And Randy and Gale are still very good friends who see each other’s play, etc. After all, QAF crew have spoken out and stated that they dated during QAF’s season 1 & 2 (not assuming Gale is gay/bi/whatever, just saying that sometimes lust/passion/love know no boundaries or recognizes normatively-limited sexual categories). Either way, I hope these two actors continue their good work.
joe ortiz says:
i am a mexican. i live in tijuana near the border of san isidro califirnia and in tj wee dont have to much education to de gay comunnity and life hiur is berry dificult ,but tanks to my family and god i live ,,jejejen i am a 31 year old guy and since i have seen the 5 sesons of queer as folks my life change totally becose all of the actor are a great inspiration in mi life, i hope everibudy are ok.and i wiched you all my beast ,and i hope one day i meet some of the actor in real life thet will bee an onor.
i am gay and i was sceard to tell enyone but thenks to the show i have other vision in my life .
i will allways remember the show and the only thing sad in my story is the fact that the show will never have been cut ore ended you will allwais be in my mind and heart….. all my love and respect.
four ever and ever .att. joe alberto ortiz.
Sheri says:
To be clear, let’s remember that Robert Gant did not come out until about Season 2 of QAF. I’m saying this as a fact only — not saying he should have sooner or shouldn’t have! — this is a personal thing. Jane, you’re dead wrong if you think Randy feels “superior” about doing more theater than TV. It’s always dangerous to assume how people feel or think. Use a direct quote from the person and of course there is nothing that Randy ever said to back this up.
As someone already pointed out, Gale Harold has also done a lot of theater and they have been to each others’ plays etc. I hope Gale and Randy did date if they wanted to and are or will be together some day, but this is up to them. I wish them the best of luck; they’re amazing.
Brian says:
Randy Harrison does have a certain way about how he speaks that can make him seem as though he feels or acts superior to those around him, but I think it is unintentional. I can understand that some don’t want to talk about their private lives and I totally think he has every right to keep his private life private. Having said that, does he think anyone would care, or stalk him and his lover/ boyfriend/ fiance’/ husband if he did have someone in his life? I do think he keeps quiet about his personal life as added insurance from the crazy people out there that might stalk him or the person he was with and he is merely not taking any chances.
Now I will say that I heard that Randy said if there was a sixth season of QAF he would not be returning to the series as the character he was playing was getting old and he wanted to do something new. While I think doing something new is always great for an actor I do think that Randy was being a bit of an ingrate. He was turning down a paying acting job in a VERY difficult economy and he was practically born for the role. Mr. Harrison is always going to look like a young person, possibly in his teens for quite some time. It’s his lot in life, and Justin was the role for him. He also should have been a little bit more loyal to the fans who loved the character of Justin and continued the role.
I also kind of feel sorry for Gale Harold. As far as I know, Mr. Harold is straight, and when a straight guy is paid as an actor to be that close and physically intimate with another male for five years I think it can really affect his mind, so…he may not be quite as straight as he was before he started the series…I hope the women don’t pick up on that through his mannerisms.
Jennifer says:
I obviously do not know Mr. Harrison, but from what I’ve read & seen in interviews, I have to agree with what Brian & Jane have said in their previous posts. I can’t help but get the impression from comments made that he felt lucky to get the job on QAF, but wasn’t happy shortly after becoming part of the cast; which all were made to sign 5 yr contracts from the start. Hal Sparks said in a 2008 interview that there will “never” be a QAF movie because of 2 actors that the prod/writers would “never work with again” & said there was “bad blood”. He would only say one is gay & one is straight. I’m not Sherlock Holmes, but from Mr. Harrison’s comments, I have a sneaking suspision that he may be the gay half of that statement.
I’m a huge fan of that show & still rewatch all the seasons whenever I can. I also follow the actors careers currently as I think they are ALL extrememly talented. It’s disappointing to hear that any of the actors would seem disloyal to such a tremendous show that had such an impact on important G/L/B/T issues during these critical times where this group has taken on the unfortunate role of being the new African-Americans….
Chrissie says:
With the greatest respect, what a lot of rot people come out with. QAF went for FIVE years. By the 5th season the producers/writers were running out of ideas, stories were being repeated, more and more character inconsistencies were creeping in, they were “jumping the shark” with the the bombing (if a drama/soapie is sagging, throw in a bombing), the unwelcome appearance of Rosie O’Donnell, and with everyone needing to be famous or know someone famous (Justin goes to Hollywood, Emmett’s bf is a famous footballer, Emmett becomes famous on TV, etc). QAF had had a very good innings, but it needed to be put the bed.
My understanding is that BOTH Randy Harrison and Gale Harold were reluctant to do a sixth series, not just RH, so don’t put the blame on him. But it doesn’t matter anyway.
While RH was still working with the show he DID make some negative comments about the show, but these comments were not an insult to his fellow actors. Sounds like at least GH agreed with them. Randy is still in contact with most of the other actors. The comments were an insult to the producers though and unprofessional … but that was years ago !! Time has marched on.
These days Randy DOES say how grateful he is for QAF, and has said many times that he understands the benefit it had for many gay teenagers and those not out of the closet (including within this interview). I haven’t heard of him being negative about QAF for a long time. He does get impatient with interviewers who only want to talk about QAF, while he wants to talk about his latest play. He wants to “live in the now” (as Ben used to say). Fair enough!
And … I have no idea what “Brian” is talking about. Why feel sorry for Gale Harold? I must say he didn’t look at all unhappy in the many, many kissing/sex scenes he had with RH over five years. If he was repulsed all those times, well then he’s obviously the best actor that has ever lived! Give him an Oscar.