Grey, in his Oscar-winning role alongside Liza Minnelli
It is perhaps the biggest piece of non-news of the year to date: Joel Grey, the Academy Award-winning star of Cabaret and a Broadway legend for roles such as the Wizard in Wicked, has, at age 82, finally comes out publicly as gay, in an interview with People magazine.
If you hear crickets chirping, I’m not surprised. Despite being the father of actress Jennifer Grey, Joel has frequently been at the fore of gay causes. So why hide it for so long? (As Nathan Lane noted when he came out years ago, “I’m single, I’m 40, I do musical theater …. you do the math!”)
The People interview sheds little light on that matter, other than the fact he grew up “in a different time.” But those times have long passed, and now in his ninth decade, you’d think he would have come out long ago. But no.
Ah, well. Better late than never. Welcome to the party, Joel! Your toaster oven is on its way.
