Anthony Rapp, the actor (whom we interviewed here) who created the role of Mark in the original Broadway production of Rent and who currently stars on Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access streaming service, has told BuzzFeed News that two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey made a pass at him when Spacey was 26 and Rapp was only 14 years old
Rapp reported no sexual acts were consummated.
According to the report, in 1986 both Rapp and Spacey were appearing in separate plays on Broadway. Rapp attended a party at Spacey’s apartment and went alone into Spacey’s bedroom to watch TV. Some time later, Rapp realized that he was the only one left at the party with Spacey. Spacey appeared in the doorway, allegedly drunk. Spacey then lifted Rapp and pressed himself against the teenager. Rapp says he frozen, but eventually extricated himself and left the apartment.
Rapp never addressed the encounter with Spacey again. It’s unclear whether he had mentioned the details to anyone in the intervening years. Spacey’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Rapp said came forward now in light of the allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior in the entertainment industry, from Bill Cosby to Harvey Weinstein to director James Toback. He wanted to draw attention to the importance of coming forward.
“[I share this] not to simply air a grievance, but to try to shine another light on the decades of behaviors that have been allowed to continued because many people including myself [have been] silent.”
Spacey won Oscars for supporting actor in 1996 for Bryan Singer’s The Usual Suspects and leading actor in 2000 for Sam Mendes’ American Beauty. He currently stars on the Netflix series House of Cards. Rapp was awarded a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble of A Beautiful Mind in 2001.
— Arnold Wayne Jones