Actress
Film
Tab Hunter was the quintessential all-American heartthrob, whose blond good looks and clean-cut charm made him a sensation among teenage audiences in the 1950s. With his boy-next-door appeal and striking presence, Tab Hunter quickly rose to fame, capturing the hearts of fans who saw in him the ideal image of youthful sincerity. Though he had no formal acting experience, Tab Hunter landed a role in Joseph Losey’s “The Lawless” (1950), marking the beginning of a promising career. By 1952, Tab Hunter earned his first leading role in “Island of Desire,” starring opposite Linda Darnell—a breakthrough that solidified his status as a rising star.
Over the next decade, Tab Hunter became a familiar face in Hollywood, working with acclaimed directors such as Raoul Walsh on “Battle Cry” (1955), William Wellman in “Lafayette Escadrille” (also known as “Hellbent for Glory,” 1958), and Sidney Lumet in “That Kind of Woman” (1959). During this time, Tab Hunter also ventured into music, launching a successful recording career. In 1957, his single “Young Love” skyrocketed to #1 on the Billboard charts, where it remained for six consecutive weeks and sold over a million copies—an impressive feat that made Tab Hunter a true multimedia star.
His film work continued throughout the late 1950s, including a notable performance in “Gunman’s Walk” (1958), where Tab Hunter also performed the song “I’m a Runaway.” That same year, Tab Hunter delivered a standout performance as Joe Hardy, the devoted Washington Senators fan in the Faustian musical “Damn Yankees,” directed by George Abbott and Stanley Donen. He further showcased his dramatic range in the Emmy-nominated television production “Portrait of a Murderer,” part of the “Playhouse 90” series, appearing alongside Geraldine Page.
In the 1960s, Tab Hunter starred in films like “Operation Bikini” (1963) and “Ride the Wild Surf” (1964), while also appearing in Tony Richardson’s darkly satirical “The Loved One” (1965). Around this time, Tab Hunter expanded his reach to television, headlining his own NBC series. In 1964, he took on the stage, performing on Broadway opposite Tallulah Bankhead in Tennessee Williams’ “The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore”—a bold move that demonstrated his versatility as an actor.
The 1970s saw Tab Hunter return to the big screen in John Huston’s “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean” (1972). He began taking roles that playfully mocked his former golden-boy image, such as in the Hollywood satire “Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood” (1978) and the sequel “Grease 2” (1982). Yet one of his most compelling performances came in 1973, when Tab Hunter portrayed a disturbed loner in Curtis Hanson’s directorial debut, “The Arousers”—a chilling, underrated role that revealed his depth as an actor. He also collaborated with the legendary Divine in three films, most famously in John Waters’ cult classic “Polyester” (1981).
Tab Hunter wasn’t just an actor—he was also a producer. In 1984, he produced and starred in Paul Bartel’s Western parody “Lust in the Dust,” once again sharing the screen with Divine. Later, Tab Hunter contributed a story credit for David Hemmings’ “Dark Horse” (1992), showing his ongoing involvement behind the scenes.
As the years went on, Tab Hunter became a respected voice in film history, frequently appearing in documentaries reflecting on Hollywood’s golden era. He was featured in “Wild Bill, Hollywood Maverick: The Life and Times of William A. Wellman” (1995) and “I Am Divine” (2013), as well as television specials like “Sophia Loren: Actress Italian Style” (A&E, 1997) and “Natalie Wood: The E! True Hollywood Story” (1997).
In 2005, Tab Hunter published his memoir, “Tab Hunter Confidential,” which quickly became a New York Times bestseller. The book offered an honest, moving account of life as a closeted gay man in an era when such truths were dangerous to reveal. This deeply personal story inspired a documentary of the same name in 2015, produced by Allan Glaser and directed by Jeffrey Schwarz. The film premiered at South by Southwest and enjoyed a successful festival run before receiving a theatrical release in October of that year—further cementing Tab Hunter’s legacy.
Tab Hunter passed away on July 8, 2018, at the age of 86, due to a heart attack caused by deep vein thrombosis. His life and career remain a testament to resilience, talent, and quiet courage—qualities that defined Tab Hunter both on and off the screen.
Celebrity Info
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