Top Gay TV Characters
9 Mar 2009
As we bid goodbye to the L Word, we take a look at the most important lesbian, gay and bisexual characters in TV history.
Last night the final episode of the lesbian drama The L Word was screened in America after six years on our screens. Love it or hate it, the show was hugely significant as it became the lesbian equivalent of Queer as Folk. Here we take a closer look at some of the best and most significant lesbian, gay and bisexual TV characters to grace our screens.
Omar Little (Michael K Williams) - The Wire
The Baltimore set cop show The Wire is President Obama's favourite programme and gay hitman Omar is his top character. Omar is the most feared hitman in the city, but is something of a Robin Hood figure; he steals from the rich drug dealers and gives to the poor. Omar is one serious stereotype buster.
Honourable mention: Harry Starks (Mark Strong) - The Long Firm
Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) - Brookside
The lovely Beth and the object of her affections Margaret hit the headlines in December 1993 as their lips locked, in what was then the first pre watershed lesbian kiss. Beth went on to court her University lecturer (or should that be letchurer) Chris, before murdering her father and burying him under the patio. How I miss Brookie!
Honourable Mention: Zoe Tate (Leah Bracknell) - Emmerdale
Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) - Dawson's Creek
All American boy next door Jack McPhee made history by becoming the first teen character on a US television drama to announce that he was gay. Viewers witnessed Jack face homophobia at school, go on his first date and join the football team. If only he'd have got together with Pacey!
Honourable mention: David Fisher (Michael C Hall) Six Feet Under.
Kim Daniels (Olivia Hallinan) - Sugar Rush
Kim was the lead character in Channel 4's adaptation of Julie Burchill's lesbian teen novel 'Sugar Rush'. Kim was a perfect example of lesbian teen angst. She spent most of season one in unrequited love with her best friend Sugar, but by season two her brattish, drunken and downright loveable behaviour bagged her the lovely Saint.
Honourable mention: Virginia Braithwaite (Sarah Smart) - At Home with the Braithwaites.
Vince Tyler (Craig Kelly) - Queer as Folk
Russell T Davies' ground breaking Queer as Folk followed the antics of three gay men: Stuart, Nathan and Vince as they copped off, broke hearts and put Manchester's gay village on the map. But it was cute everyman Vince who won us over, usually unlucky in love and harbouring an unrequited love for his best friend Stuart (Aiden Gillen).
Honourable mention: Captain Jack (John Barrowman) - Torchwood.
CJ Lamb (Amanda Donohoe) - LA Law
In February 1991, LA Law hit the headlines, when bisexual lawyer CJ Lamb kissed Abby Perkins (Michelle Greene). At the time it was first lesbian kiss on American mainstream TV.
Honourable mention: Helen Stewart (Simone Lahbib) - Bad Girls.
Will Truman (Eric McCormack) - Will & Grace
Hugely significant in that Will was the first gay character to spearhead a prime time American comedy in the massively successful Will & Grace. The gay lawyer is best known for his OCD and his failure to commit. Ironically he is the straight man of the show, but then again he was competing with Jack's campness, Grace's neurosis and Karen's multi personality disorder!
Hourable mention: Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson) - Sex in the City.
Nicky Wade (Mandana Jones) - Bad Girls
Nicky Wade was banged up in Larkhall Women's Prison for killing a policeman who was attempting to rape her girlfriend. Wade wasn't your usual inmate; she had strong moral fibre, was a fierce defender of the underdog and was usually found with a novel in her hand... is it any wonder sexy Governor Helen Stewart fell for her? One of Wade's best moments was when she trowled herself on garden duty, just to see Stewart.
Honourable mention: Faye Boswell (Googie Withers) - Within These Walls
Jodie Dallas (Billy Crystal) - Soap
Jodie Dallas was the son of Mary Campbell, one of the two main characters on the 1970s American soap opera spoof, Soap. Jodie is significant because he was the first gay / bisexual male main character on a US television show. He was also the first gay parent on TV.
Honourable mention: Sean (Antony Cotton) - Coronation Street
Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey) - L Word
L Word characters usually divide opinion; if you love Bette, you tend not to like Tina. But Alice's kooky humour and relentless good nature means you can't help but love her. She's cool, witty and sharp, she's been dumped, she's gone mad and still managed to pick herself again. She's an example to us all.
Honourable Mention: Willow (Alyson Hannigan) - Buffy.
Colin (Michael Cashman) - Eastenders
Back in 1987 it was Eastenders that gave us our first ever gay kiss in UK soap. Colin Russell the yuppie locked lips with fruit and veg man Barry. Seriously ground breaking considering that at the time Eastenders was watched by 17 million people and it took another 6 years for a lesbian soap kiss to reach our screens.
Honourable mention: Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley) - Coronation Street.
Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres) - Ellen
How can we forget Ellen? Comedienne Ellen Degeneres came out in real life on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1997, and then her on-screen character Ellen Morgan came out on the Ellen Show to a therapist played by Oprah Winfrey. Confused! Talk about art imitating life. Now Ellen is one of the most powerful people in American entertainment.
Mr Humphries (John Inman) Are You Being Served?
Mr Humphries sexuality may never have been explicitly stated but for many his camp character in the 1970s department store comedy Are You Being Served? Was the first time that a perceived gay person had been seen on mainstream British TV. However Mr Humphries mincing walk and catchphrase 'I'm free' polarised opinion; as some gay rights groups attacked the character for what they perceived to be a stereotypical portrayal of a homosexual.
Honourable mention: Sebastian Flyte (Alan Cunnings) - The High Life.
Have we missed out your favourite gay TV character? Let us know by leaving your suggestions below.
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Simone Lahbib aka Helen Stewart deserves more than an honorary mention! Her realistic portrayal of the wing governor in Bad Girls and her intense and passionate relationship with Nikki Wade, make Simone stand out. Together with Mandana Jones, Simone portrayed one of the most convincing and captivating lesbian relationships ever seen on British TV.
Could I just give an honorary mention to Amanda Redman in Close Relations (A BBC drama series of the 90's) where Amanda's character, Prudence had some amazing scenes with Manouke van der Meulen aka Kaatya.
Posted by Gabby, 13/03/2009 5:34pm (1 year ago)
nevermind nancy and leon, what about jackie? what a role model!
Posted by carol, 11/03/2009 11:50pm (1 year ago)
I think that Alyson Hannigan should be more than just an honorable mention! haha. She played one of the best lesbians on tv that I have ever seen. She was very convincing!
I'm glad to see that Eric McCormack was listed on here. He has had a huge impact on a lot of people, including both gays and straights. He was, and still is, awesome on Will & Grace!
Posted by Eric, 10/03/2009 10:54pm (1 year ago)
Cadney and Lacey the most perfect duo of crime and passion ever.
Posted by Lisa McCaffrey, 10/03/2009 7:37pm (1 year ago)
I like Ian Gallagher in Shameless - he's a complicated gay character that doesn't fit into the 2D sterotype.
It's really important young people grow up seeing gay characters they can relate to. All to often the only gay characters on soaps and TV shows are the camp figures of fun. That's good for a laugh, but when it's all young people questioning their sexuality see, I think it's damaging.
I worry for young lesbians as well. The number of plot-lines of fleeting lesbian flings in soaps to attract ratings, where the characters "revert" afterwards is a bit cynical.
I agree with Christine, too, I remember my parents chatting about transexual issues at the dinner table when Hayley appeared on Corrie which is quite an achievement!
Posted by Matt, 10/03/2009 6:01pm (1 year ago)
Alyson Hannigan deserves more than an honorable mention. Even if it was for the first lesbian kiss on American Prime Time. Willow was the best.
Also Skins fans; Maxxie, Naomi/Emily
Posted by Ant, 10/03/2009 3:57pm (1 year ago)
Judy Bryant, Joan Ferguson or Frankie Doyle from Prisoner: Cell Block H get my vote.
Posted by Rod Bollox, 10/03/2009 1:20pm (1 year ago)
How could you only put Michael C. Hall's David Fisher as only honorable mention He trumped all of those you mentioned.
Posted by Juju, 10/03/2009 12:55am (1 year ago)
Thanks for the picture of Anna - it really brightened my day at work!
What about Nancy from 'Roseanne'? And Leon?!
Posted by Kate Francis, 09/03/2009 11:16pm (1 year ago)
You can't mention Omar without including his counterpart on the side of the law, the lovely, smolderingly sexy Kima Greggs. She had her share of mad crazy deep kisses with her galpals, although none of them could compete with Omar's passionate foreplay, shortlived as they were.
Posted by shantiquax, 09/03/2009 11:14pm (1 year ago)
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