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Land of the Lost star Wesley Eure talks about his life as a gay man – and his ex Richard Chamberlain
I’ve just finished reading Brent Hartinger’s terrific interview with Wesley Eure who starred on the Saturday morning kid’s show Land of the Lost in the 70s before spending a decade on the NBC soap Days of Our Lives. He is wonderfully candid about his life as a closeted actor and about the time when he thought he was going to be outed by the tabloids. Here’s an excerpt and a LINK to Brent’s article. It’s a very good read:
Eure on nearly being outed before he was ready:
“Richard Chamberlain and I were boyfriends for a year, before he met Martin [Rabbett, his long-term partner]. We lived together, he was at my place. We broke up. He met Martin, who he’s with now for all these years. He’s talked about it, or else I wouldn’t. It’s great for him. It broke my heart. I was destroyed. I was a kid, and he was a much older guy.
I remember, they were going to out him. I was starring in a play, and somebody said, “There’s a magazine guy who wants to talk to you.” And I said, “Great. Bring him to the dressing room after the show.” It was this smarmy looking guy and a friend of his, they come in and he says, “What do you know about Richard Chamberlain being gay?” It took the wind out of me, and I was like, “What are you talking about?” And he goes, “Well, he came out in a Paris magazine.”
And I said, “Well, if Richard is gay, then I wish him a great deal of happiness.” And he said, “Well, we heard you were very close to Richard.” So I said, “Richard and I are very good friends and I wish him a lot of luck, and my God, if he is and he’s talking about it, that’s terrific.” I wouldn’t answer their questions. I remember when they left my heart was beating so fast and I was terrified.
The next week, it was all over the tabloids. The Enquirer, The Globe, everyone’s cover was Richard. I called a friend of mine who worked with the National Enquirer, I was panicked, “Please, what can I do? Am I going to get outed?” It was like the end of my life, I thought. He said, “I’ll make some calls,” and he squelched it. I remember that weekend, when the gossip papers came out in the grocery stores, I went to the store in Florida and I was shaking, and I grabbed one, and sure enough, on every couple was, “Richard Chamberlain is gay.” I bought all three of them and read through the articles and didn’t see my name, but I was shaking.
It was that kind of fear. It’s immobilizing. It was a horrible experience, and I’m certainly very, very proud of Richard with his book and what he wrote, and he’s had a great life with Martin, and he’s a terrific guy, an amazing man. But that’s the kind of fear that existed, and still exists today. As much as we can come out, as much as we say it’s okay. Neil Patrick Harris came out and it didn’t hurt him, but that was a choice he made.”
Photo credit: Valerie Macon/Getty Images
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
DARLEEN says:
YOU SHOULD NEVER BE ASHAME OF WHO YOU ARE.IF PEOPLE DON’T LIKE WELL THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM.I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU.BE HAPPY OF WHO YOU ARE.
Jdavis says:
Gay? So what? Grew up watching Land of the Lost! Great memories!
Michael McCurdy says:
I became aware of my being gay in the early seventies. Life was much different then than it is now. I struggled with fear and anxiety for a few years. In 1979 I met my partner of 15 years and thre myself out of the closet in celebration of our relationship and love. I lost my love to AIDS in 1992. But comming out early made remaining out an easy thing going forward. Sure due miss him even after so many yeas.
Michael McCurdy says:
I am sorry. I mistyped the year of Jimmy’s death. I lost him in 1994.
chris says:
I am happy to find this out. glad I did not have a crush on a storage boy…lol..you are so sexy man
chris says:
That was straight boy..oops
Judy says:
I am so sorry for what you, Richard, and all the gays have suffered in needing to lead secret lives. I pray for you all, and wish you every happiness. Judy
mel says:
Well he may be gay, but he still made a lot of little girls happy back in the day, including me!
Kiki Riley says:
What a wonderful thing to have missed at such an awful time in America; I was brought up to respect ALL people as unique and special no matter what they looked like or who they were, being disabled myself but few practice what they preach!
You brought me a lot of happiness as a kid watching your shows (we’re the same age!) and I wish that you go on with your life in the best way you can. In peace, in contentment and in love.
Namaste and G-d bless!
Kiki Riley
Debbie Blansett says:
It seems I’ve watched Days of Our Lives forever. I also remember watching Land of the Lost. I’ve always thought DOOL was fortunate to have some the best- looking actors and actresses, straight or gay. I’ve often wondered what happened to Mr. Eure after he left Days. Interesting isn’t it that one of the story lines on Days involves a gay couple? Good luck to you, Mr. Eure, for all you may do in the future.
Jerry Martinez says:
As a 10 yr old boy i had a crush on will
im 49 now.
Sean says:
Story of my life. I was in love with both Wesley Eure and Richard Chamberlain at different times. I had no idea either of them were gay. If they had been able to come out at that time, they would have made fantastic role models. Unfortunate it remailns the same in society for most.