Tony & Oscar Winner Joel Grey On Sexuality and Living Openly: 'I'm a Gay Man'

Joel Grey has a Tony, an Oscar and a myriad of iconic characters to boot, but now, the legendary song-and-dance is speaking out about his own life—as a gay man.

“I don’t like labels,” Grey told People Magazine, “but if you have to put a label on it, I’m a gay man.” While the performer has never spoken about his sexuality publicly, he did note: “All the people close to me have known for years who I am...It took time to embrace that other part of who I always was.” Grey was married to actress Jo Wilder from 1958 to 1982—a period he refers to as “the happiest of my life.”

Grey made his Broadway debut under the name of “Joel Kaye” in the short-lived musical revue Borscht Capades in 1951. He originated the role of the Emcee in Cabaret, winning a Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. After appearing in Chicago, Wicked, Anything Goes and more, Grey directed the Tony-winning revival of The Normal Heart.

Onscreen, Grey reprised the role of the Emcee in the 1972 film adaptation of Cabaret, winning an Oscar for his performance. His many additional film and TV roles include Dancer in the Dark, Kafka, Oz, Alias and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Aged 82, he has two children with Wilder: actress Jennifer and James Grey. “I feel very happy for my dad,” Dirty Dancing star Jennifer told the magazine. “The more people are free to own their true nature and can hopefully come closer to love and accept themselves as they really are, no matter what age, no matter how long it takes…it is freedom."