Thursday, September 27, 2012
National Enquirer Blind Item
WHICH deceased TV icon hid his gay lifestyle so well from fans and industry associates that not a single person approached his longtime lover at his funeral to offer condolences? But now the secret’s getting out – and one of his famous former co-stars from the classic sitcom they starred on intends to reveal all the juicy details in a tell-all book.
Sherman Hemsley
ReplyDeleteI would say Sherman Helmsley, but I read yesterday that his body is still at the mortuary because of a pending legal battle.
ReplyDeleteJohn Ritter
ReplyDeleteSherman..and it's sad to me that people still have to "hide" who they love.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was John Ritter.
ReplyDeleteCostars Suzanne Sommers and Joyce DeWitt.
DeleteI read a black gossip site (lipstick alley, they post CDaN blinds there) and as soon as Sherman died, they all started talking about how he was gay. I'm sad that he felt the need to hide who he was.
ReplyDeleteSherman hasn't had funeral yet tho.
ReplyDeleteHow about Carroll O'Connor? Sally Struthers for the book.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure any of Shermans co-stars are "famous"
DeleteThey're not. Can't be him.
DeleteChad Everett
ReplyDeleteBea Arthur!
ReplyDeleteBetty White's doing the book =P
Andy Griffith
ReplyDeleteWhy write the book? If he didn't want it known, can't they respect that? Oh right, it's their way of being relevant again.
ReplyDeleteKnowing absolutely nothing about this, if Sherman Helmsley's body is still in the mortuary and not yet buried or cremated, why would a funeral not be held? He's dead, there's no disputing that. Or was a funeral held?
The Andy Griffith guess is intriguing . . .
ReplyDeleteIdk Ron Howard isn't the type to write a "tell all" and he doesn't need the money..
DeleteTom Bosley from Happy Days.
ReplyDeleteAnita
ReplyDeleteI googled and as of yesterday he had yet to have a funeral.
Omg wait!!! I think I got it..
ReplyDeleteForget his name but that guy from MASH who died recently..
And Alan Alda as the famous co-star writing a tell all!!
John Ritter was married when he died to Amy Yasbeck and they had a small child. Andy Griffith was also married when he died, and I think had been married twice before.
ReplyDeleteSherman Hemsley. He never married or had children. The item is timely b/c Sherman was part of the Emmy in memoriam tribute. As for the famous former co-star - ? Most of them are dead now, too. Maybe Marla Gibbs?
ReplyDeleteI like the Tom Bosley guess - Enty did say (on Twitter) that Erin Moran (Joanie from Happy Days), is now homeless and probably could use the money from a tell-all book.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree Caitlin. Ron Howard doesn't need to do a tell all book. He really doesn't seem the type. He's such a prestigious Director who has money and fame all on his own.
ReplyDeleteI do like the Andy Griffith guess though. He is an icon and it is a classic sitcom...but I don't know what famous co-star would sell him out in a tell-all.
I'm assuming this has to be someone who passed away in the past year for this to be a current BV. John Ritter died years ago.
I think I'm sticking with the Tom Bosley guess. I think Erin Moran (who hated her entire cast) would sell any one of them out if she could.
Oh, please tell me this isn't Florence from The Jeffersons.
ReplyDeleteJohn Ritter died about a decade ago, I doubt any co-stars would wait that long to write a tell-all book about him.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't think Ronnie Howard would do it, I could for sure see this being Andy Griffith. I feel like we're missing someone, though.
ReplyDeleteHarry Morgan, Mash and Dragnet.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit surprised no one mentioned this, but how about Ron Palillo? I was a huge fan of his back in the day (seeing him do the opening soliloquy to Richard III was what helped get me into medievalism in the first place--thanks, Ron!), and I only ever remembered hearing about him in terms of dating theatre actresses, so I was very surprised to learn he had a male partner of many years. (I distinctly recall that one of the ladies had a most impressive rack, assuming the photos of them together were accurate...) Perhaps it was well-known within the business; I really don't know, but it does sound like a possibility.
ReplyDeleteAs for the tattletale co-star, I think we can safely assume it's not Travolta, eh? ;-)
When he died multiple reports talked about him and his partner who worked together so I don't think it was a secret that he was gay.
DeleteWhen he died multiple reports talked about him and his partner who worked together so I don't think it was a secret that he was gay.
DeleteI think it was a pretty open secret in hollywood that Sherman was gay.
ReplyDeleteWhy is there always some idiot who comes in and guesses "Betty White"?? Do they think they are making us laugh?? *Eyeroll*
ReplyDeleteLol you really had to call me names on two different posts?
DeleteTom Bosley.
ReplyDeleteI live the Ron Pallilo guess. Everyone loved him on Welcome Back Kotter
ReplyDeleteReally, Andy Griffith! Come on! Not my Matlock, but he could easily solve this in under 60 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI say Sherman H or Tom B or someone we haven't thought of yet.
Tom B makes the most sense given crazy Erin. What a sad mess :(
Here's a possibility:
ReplyDeleteAndy Griffith, with Jim Nabors writing the book. Nabors has never married, and was rumored to have dated Rock Hudson. Hudson said it was an urban legend, based on a joke invitation sent around by some in the LA gay community to put on a wedding for Rock and Jim. Supposedly, some didn't understand the joke and spread it as the truth.
Nabors is 82 years old, and in somewhat delicate health. He may feel the need to 'confess' before he passes.
Ron Palillo was well known to be gay. His partner of 41 years was mentioned in an article in the Palm Beach Post. There would be no need to out him.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/services-for-actor-teacher-ron-palillo-set-for-wed/nRFpM/
Henry Morgan came to mind for me too, but I can't imagine Alan Alda doing something like that, and he's certainly the most famous of the co-stars. Heck, he was the star.
ReplyDeleteI'd say Sherman as well, with either Marla Gibbs or the actor who played his son writing the book. I really think they are the only co-stars from that show still alive, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was Andy Griffith, even tho' he's been married 3 times.
ReplyDeleteThen I read about Sherman Hemsley, and think it's him. I'm questioning the "famous" co-stars, however. I can't name a one of them.
I was curious so I did a little research - I can find no record of Tom Bosley ever marrying or having a child. In fact, I couldn't find anything about his private life at all. Therefore, I'm guessing it's Tom Bosley and either the guys who played Ralph or Potsie or Erin Moran (who would have to hire a ghost writer so it doesn't interfere with her drugs) will write the memoir.
ReplyDeletei think it was well known unsecret sherman was gay. I like the bosley guess, altho if it has been secret all this time,can we not just leave it that way?
ReplyDeleteI always giggle at the Betty White guesses. I used one myself the other day, AAMOF. Maybe I'm a dork, though. *shrug*
ReplyDeletepeople in hollywood knew sherman was gay so dont think its him
ReplyDeletetom bosely maybe ,but, i cant imagine a tell all about him would do so well or be that juicy.
dick clark?
jeff conaway from taxi--he had addiction problems and a crazy"girlfriend" he didnt love--a book about him could be juicy
Also, I don't think it could be Tom Bosley. Married to Jane Eliot from 1962–1978 and Patricia Carr from 1980 until his death.
ReplyDeleteSherman makes the most sense, if we're exclusively considering recent deaths. There is no mention of time in this BI, though. It could be someone who died in 1975 for all we know.
AKM, I always chuckle at the Betty White guesses ;)
ReplyDeleteIf it is Tom Bosley how about Scott Baio as the tell-all writer? He played Chachi in the spin-off of Happy Days and I think he was in the regular show as well.
ReplyDeleteI think it's definitely Erin Moran writing it about Tom Bosley. There's a photo of her above.
ReplyDelete@Layna thank you for the explanation of the Rock Hudson/Jim Nabors are secretly married rumor. I was told that one when I was 9 or 10 years old. All the kids on the block were saying "How is that even possible?". Lack of imagination on our parts. The late 1960's were a long long time ago.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, do we really think that if Tom Bosley's WIFE were at his funeral, his supposed long-time male lover would also show up?! It ain't him.
ReplyDeleteAKM - I too am a dork who laughs at the Betty White stuff - and the Ben Affleck guesses as well - remember those? Poor Ben. PLUS @crystal - idiot is being a bit harsh because U don't find something funny.
ReplyDeleteAs for Sherman - his family(s) are fighting tooth and nail over burial rights and and where he should be interred. Crazy stuff. You know it's about money! I am going for the Tom Bosley guess - i think just because someone was married doesn't mean you can count them out as being in the closet.
I like all the Betty White guesses too!
ReplyDelete100% Shermann .. So sad..
ReplyDeleteBut even my Grandma said "isn't he...."
"deceased TV icon"
ReplyDeleteI don't know who that would be, but icon is a pretty strong word. But since it is from a "classic sitcom" there are a lot to choose from--no one gay was out back then. My grandmother didn't think Liberace was gay!
I remember seeing Andy Griffith in a TV Movie of the Week where he played an evil judge who threw two young girls who were skipping school in jail and kept them there. I think one of the girls was Shawnee Smith. Andy was a long way from Mayberry...
Sherman was on Amen too. The actress that played his daughter was on New Girl the other night.
ReplyDeleteOT but did anybody see David Naughton on Major Crimes the other night? His eyes and voice had me googling on my phone. He's .............aged. : sob
Its Sherman, his partner being Kenny Johnston, and the person writing the book is most likely Marla Gibbs. Also, I believe they've had a funeral but he has not been buried. If you look at his Wiki, it even says that he lived with Kenny.
ReplyDeleteso i googled "tv icon sitcom died 2012" and the 2 names that came up again and again were Sherman Hemsley and Andy Griffith. hmmmm rethinking my Bosley guess
ReplyDeleteHow could this be Sherman, everyone knew he was gay. However, this is a National Inquirer blind item.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Lindsey?
ReplyDeleteMr.Mike Brady.
ReplyDeleteLol mike brady. If thats hiding it, i'd love to being open, lol
ReplyDeleteSherman.
ReplyDeleteI heard decades ago he was gay.
I've heard a lot of rumours that Vic Tayback was gay but's been dead over twenty years. I did wonder about Harry Morgan too but can't imagine any of the remaining MASH crowd writing a tell all book, except maybe Loretta Swit who is having some financial difficulties at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI always laugh at the Betty White guesses. I'm waffling between Tom B, and Sherman.
ReplyDeleteWell... I recall a conversation many, many years ago (early 90s) with a friend producing a play starring Mr. Griffith. Let's just say that my childhood image of Opie's kind and jovial "Pa" were replaced by stories of a less than pleasant diva. Friend referred to him multiple times using less than nice epithets that are commonly used in by the gay community. "Sour old queen" was probably the mildest one I can come up with.
ReplyDeleteI've been under the impression for nearly 20 years that AG was gay.
But who would write a book about him? I think I'll go for the Bosley guess just because of the rest of it and Erin's pic today.
I've always heard that Andy Griffith was a total asshole in person and that his colleagues all hated him, but never heard anything about him being gay.
ReplyDeleteI remember that when Andy Griffith divorced his first wife, some movie magazine gossip columnist asked him something about the divorce, and whatever his answer was, it ended with, "You know I ain't no fag." Even though it was 1972 and I was only 14, I wondered, well, who said anything about THAT, and I immediately thought, I'll bet he's gay. I vote Jim Nabors for the tell-all. Although Thelma Lou is still alive and probably needs the cash.
ReplyDelete