Hollywood is a wild place. One day you’re the heartthrob of the moment, the next day you’re flipping through scripts wondering if playing this new character is really worth it. Few know this better than Harry Hamlin, a man who had it all, a rising career, dashing good looks, and yes, even a Bond girl on his arm.
But then, he made a fateful decision in 1982, a decision that he believed ended his career in the blink of an eye. Playing a gay character in Making Love might have been artistically fulfilling, but Hollywood wasn’t ready. Back in the early ’80s, being a leading man meant having a chiseled jaw, a rugged stare, and a long list of on-screen romances with glamorous women.
But Hamlin, ever the risk-taker, chose to star in Making Love, a film about an affair between a married man and another man. A bold move? Absolutely. A career-ending move? According to Hamlin, also absolutely. He was ready to push boundaries, but Hollywood? Not so much.
Making Love closed Hollywood’s doors to Harry Hamlin
Let’s take a step back to 1982. Neon leg warmers were all the rage, people thought shoulder pads were a personality trait, and Hollywood had the emotional maturity of a middle school lunchroom. While many actors politely side-stepped Making Love, Harry Hamlin walked in headfirst.
1987’s sexiest man thought it was exactly the kind of project that would cement his reputation as a serious actor. On the It Happened In Hollywood podcast, Hamlin said,
It was, like, 10 years too early, I guess, and it completely ended my career. That was the last studio picture I ever did. The door shut with a resounding smash.
It did the opposite. Hamlin noted that playing the role caused the industry to slam its doors in his face. To be clear, Making Love wasn’t some obscure indie flick that played in someone’s basement for three weeks.
It was a studio movie with a proper release, a significant storyline, and a serious attempt to explore LGBTQ+ relationships on screen. But the world, or at least the Hollywood casting directors, wasn’t ready.
Mad Men was Harry Hamlin’s career defibrillator
After years of career purgatory, Harry Hamlin got the kind of lifeline that actors dream about, a role in Mad Men. Now, if Hollywood had metaphorically thrown him out the front door, Mad Men came along, looked around, and said, “Hey, isn’t that the guy we totally ignored for two decades? Let’s put him in a sharp suit and give him another shot.“
Hamlin joined the critically acclaimed series as Jim Cutler, a character with enough charm and power moves to make even Don Draper raise an eyebrow. It wasn’t just a role, it was a resurrection. Suddenly, Hollywood remembered he existed, and audiences got a reminder that, oh yeah, this guy can really act.
So, what did we learn from Harry Hamlin’s journey? Hollywood is unpredictable and sometimes unfair, but also full of second chances. Oh, and if you ever find yourself dating a Bond girl, maybe double-check that Hollywood hasn’t quietly erased your name from all their call sheets. Just in case.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
