Nathan Lane Was Told ‘I Was Too Gay’ for ‘Space Jam’ Role of Michael Jordan’s Assistant, but Lane Was Relieved: ‘Thank God I Didn’t Have to Do It’

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In a conversation with Vanity Fair, Nathan Lane shared that he missed out on a part in the 1996 film “Space Jam.” He was informed it was due to being considered “too gay,” though he admits he’s unsure of what truly transpired privately. However, he muses that perhaps homophobia may have influenced the roles he was offered or denied, with “Space Jam” serving as a notable instance.

Lane mentioned that he was initially considered for a role in the film ‘Space Jam’, which ultimately went to Wayne Knight from ‘Seinfeld’. However, he shared that the director decided against casting him because he perceived Lane as too openly gay based on his hosting of the Tony Awards. As a result, Lane is grateful he didn’t have to be part of ‘Space Jam’.

Lane expressed uncertainty, saying, “I’m not sure, I may never fully understand people’s opinions. Regrettably, homophobia still persists in our society. It would be wonderful if I could perform a significant role in a film before my time is up. That’s why I am incredibly thankful to Ryan Murphy for giving me the chance to play Dominic Dunne and F. Lee Bailey. In truth, things are going well for me. I don’t want it to seem like I’m not content with my truly outstanding, enviable career.

Lane believed that the popularity of his character in the 1996 film “The Birdcage,” directed by Mike Nichols, and starring alongside Robin Williams, would considerably boost his profile within Hollywood. This comedy movie was a massive success, earning a staggering $185 million globally at the box office.

Lane expressed that he had assumed the success of “The Birdcage” would pave the way for more films, but that wasn’t the case. He recalled saying to his agent, “I thought there would be more after ‘The Birdcage.'” His agent replied, “Perhaps if you weren’t so open about your personal life, it would have been different.” This was advice given by an older gay man. Unsatisfied with this response, Lane parted ways with his agent and was then introduced to CAA (Creative Artists Agency) by Mike Nichols. However, there weren’t many opportunities that followed.

2023 saw Lane disclose on “Sunday Today” that during their promotional tour for “The Birdcage,” Williams shielded him from unwillingly revealing his sexuality on national television. Both actors played a gay couple in the movie, with their son planning to marry a conservative family’s daughter. Lane was apprehensive about appearing on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” since “The Birdcage” marked one of his significant film roles, and he wasn’t ready to openly announce his homosexuality at that point in time.

Lane admitted he wasn’t at all prepared to openly discuss his sexuality when he appeared on Oprah. He confessed that he wasn’t ready to reveal his sexual orientation to everyone, and instead, he wanted the focus to be on his new role in a film. Lane expressed concern about discussing his sexuality on national television, fearing it would overshadow the conversation about his acting career. He mentioned that Oprah might not have intended to out him, but before the interview, he told Robin that he wasn’t ready to disclose his sexuality during the broadcast.

In the end, Oprah posed questions that subtly encouraged Lane to reveal himself. As Lane recalled, she asked, “Why are you so proficient in feminine activities? Are you concerned about being stereotyped?” Then, Tom Hanks, who was a kind and compassionate individual, skillfully steered the conversation away from Lane and diverted Oprah, leading to an unexpected tangent. This protective act of Hanks earned him the title of a “beautiful, sensitive soul” by Lane.

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2025-03-25 01:20