John Glover on "Smallville"
As Lex Luthor's diabolical daddy Lionel on TV's latest Superman saga Smallville - which premieres on The CW Network on Sept. 28 - out actor John Glover keeps a lot of secrets.
In real life, however, he's an open book.
Glover's on-screen acting career began in the early 1970s, but it wasn't until 1985 that he truly arrived in Hollywood. As Victor DiMato, a flamboyant AIDS patient in the groundbreaking made-for-TV movie An Early Frost - a film about a young in-the-closet lawyer (Aidan Quinn) who comes out simultaneously as gay and suffering from AIDS - Glover landed the gig of a lifetime. Despite the stigma associated with AIDS and homosexuality at the time, he jumped at the chance to play the character, a role that gained him an Emmy nomination. The film and Glover made history the November night An Early Frost debuted on NBC. It was the top-rated program of the evening. More importantly, it changed the way many people with AIDS were treated.
In a recent interview, the Maryland native discusses why the now-classic film - which was recently released on DVD - meant so much to him and the rest of the country; his penchant for playing villainous roles, specifically comic-book evil-doers; and how he handles the super sexy men with whom he works.
Which, as you can imagine, can require the willpower of the Man of Steel himself.
EDGE: As an actor, was it difficult for you to come out of the closet?
John Glover: I didn't talk about it so much. When people started asking, I told the truth. As soon as they cared, I told them. People are always interested in others' sexuality. But you have to reach some sort of notoriety before they care.
EDGE: When you chose to take on the role of AIDS patient Victor DiMato in "An Early Frost," were you afraid of what people might say about you? Was there any fear of being associated as gay or as actually having the disease?
JG: No, I just knew I wanted to be in it. I asked [director] John Erman, [and he said] there were two roles, Aidan Quinn's boyfriend and Victor. He said you have next to nothing of a chance to be the boyfriend, but you have a good chance to be Victor. So I said I'll take Victor. I wanted to be an honest portrayal of a rather flamboyant gay man. Didn't matter what they thought about me as long as the story got told.
EDGE: In 1985, when An Early Frost premiered on television, what was the reaction of the general public, to your recollection? Your family and friends, what did they think?
JG: It was very successful when it was on, the numbers were very high. A lot of people watched it. It did what it was meant to do, pass on information that wasn't getting out in other ways. My friends and family were very proud of me.
EDGE: You were nominated for an Emmy for your performance in An Early Frost. Even though you didn't take home the award, do you feel validated? Do you consider that performance one of your best?
JOHN GLOVER: Yeah, it was very successful. I feel very happy with what ended up on screen.
EDGE: You've worked steadily for the length of your career, but do you feel being an out actor has prohibited you from reaching other goals? Have you lost parts because you're gay? It just seems like it might be more difficult for an out actor in Hollywood.
JOHN GLOVER: If there are roles that I haven't gotten because I'm gay, I don't know about them. I'm more or less a character actor than a leading man. It hasn't affected a lot of work I've been up for.
EDGE: You grew up in Salisbury, Md. Having lived just outside Baltimore my whole life, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be gay. How was growing up gay for you?
JG: I didn't know what gay was. I graduate high school in '62. We didn't have gay people. I wasn't gay. I was just different, or felt different inside. I didn't know what I was, nobody talked about that. It wasn't until I went to Summerstock [theatre], or went to college that it was more open.
EDGE: Do you remember any kind of gay "culture" where you were raised?
JG: I know Rehoboth, Del., has a gay culture, but I don't know if Salisbury has anything. I wonder if they have gay clubs... I know Towson had a GLBT organization, but I don't know if the Eastern Shore schools do.
EDGE: Speaking of Towson, you graduated from Towson State Teachers' College, which is now known as Towson University. I hear that you're still quite active with the drama students there.
JG: I am, indeed. I was just back sometime in April or May, a couple months or so ago. My friend, Marvine, started asking me to in the beginning. I started doing it, and I enjoyed it. It's kind of home, family, it's where my roots are. I want to give back. It kind of makes me see things on a purer level. It makes me go back to working with my instincts. Every now and then there's a real special student that pops out and that's wonderful.
EDGE: If nothing else, your career seems to hover around comic-book-based roles. You voiced the Riddler in the early 1990s animated version of "Batman," you played Dr. Jason Woodrue in Batman & Robin in 1997, and, most recently, you've been on the hit WB series Smallville as Lex Luthor's father, Lionel. Any particular reason you've taken on these roles? Just a coincidence or do you look for these types?
JG: They were offered to me, they looked like fun and I did it. I was never a fan of comic books. Just stuff that has come my way and looked like fun.
EDGE: Let's talk about the beautiful men by whom you're usually surrounded. You've worked with George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Mel Gibson, Aidan Quinn, Tom Welling. The list of hotties goes on and on. How do you manage to keep your hands to yourself?
JG: I do my work. It's alright. I'm not a sex maniac. I've been in a relationship for 13 years.
EDGE: Without implicating anyone, has there ever been any behind-the-scenes action with any of your co-stars?
JOHN GLOVER: No. I don't shit where I eat.
EDGE: Good philosophy! Anything about the new season of Smallville you can divulge?
JG: I don't know anything about it yet. I wish I could, if I could. They're very secretive.
EDGE: Aren't well all! Thanks, John.
Michael A. Knipp is a Baltimore-based freelance writer and the founder of Line/Byline Communications. He can be reached at [email protected].
Michael A. Knipp is a 26-year-old Baltimore-based freelance writer and the founder of Line/Byline Communications. Visit him at www.myspace.com/roxmikey.
