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15 Straight Actors Who Have Played Gay Characters

Will Jada Smith
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Jan. 28 2015, Updated 2:08 p.m. ET

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While it may be pretty typical to see a gay character on television or in movies these days, there was a time (not long ago!) when such a portrayal was seen as a brave career move by an actor. Here are a few who have played against type!

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Joshua Jackson New Show

Joshua Jackson played a devious gay character who hooked up with a guy for the purpose of outing him in Cruel Intentions.

Will Jada Smith
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Early in his acting career, Will Smith received critical accolades for portraying a gay character in Six Degrees of Separation.

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Shay Mitchell
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Shay Mitchell portrays the lesbian character Emily on Pretty Little Liars, whose family struggles with her sexuality.

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Darren Criss

Blaine proposed to his boyfriend on Glee, but his alter ego Darren Criss is straight.

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Naya Rivera
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Naya Rivera plays lesbian character Santana on Glee, but in real life she's engaged to rapper Big Sean.

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Andy Samberg FOX Party

Andy Samberg played the ironically masculine, even bro-y gay younger brother of Paul Rudd's character in I Love You, Man.

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Paul Rudd
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Paul Rudd himself played a gay best friend whom Jennifer Aniston's character developed feelings for in The Object of My Affection.

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Rashida Jones
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Rashida Jones and Zooey Deschanel played a lesbian couple in My Idiot Brother.

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While his on-screen husband is gay in real life, Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet is straight.

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Oscars 2014 olivia wilde
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Olivia Wilde's character served as a lesbian experimentation for Marissa Cooper on The OC.

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Adam Pally
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Adam Pally played perhaps the least stereotypical gay character on TV on Happy Endings.

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Debra Messing Eric McCormack

He played one of the most iconic gay characters in television history, but Will & Grace star Eric McCormack is married to a woman.

Jake Gyllenhaal Hottie

Straight actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger played a passionate couple in the Oscar-nominated Brokeback Mountain.

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