Tab Hunter

Tab Hunter – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

A comprehensive biography of Tab Hunter (1931–2018), the American actor, singer, producer, and author—covering his early life, Hollywood stardom, later years, legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Tab Hunter (born Arthur Andrew Kelm on July 11, 1931 — died July 8, 2018) was an iconic figure in mid-20th-century Hollywood. He was one of the era’s quintessential “boy next door” stars: handsome, charming, and marketed as the all-American heartthrob. Over the span of his career, he expanded his repertoire to include singing, producing, and memoir writing. In later life, he emerged as a quietly powerful voice about identity, authenticity, and resilience.

His story is compelling not only for the glitz of stardom but also for the challenges he faced in a studio system that demanded a constructed image, and for the personal journey he undertook to reveal his true self. In this article, we explore his life, work, influence, and a treasury of quotes that reflect the complexities behind the facade.

Early Life and Family

Tab Hunter was born Arthur Andrew Kelm in Manhattan, New York City. His father, Charles Kelm, was Jewish, and his mother, Gertrude (Gelien), was a German immigrant. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised primarily by his mother, along with his older brother, Walter.

After leaving New York, the family moved to California, and he was raised in various locations including San Francisco, Long Beach, and Los Angeles, often living with his mother and maternal grandparents. His mother reverted to her maiden name, Gelien, and changed her sons’ surnames accordingly.

Hunter also attended Catholic schools in his youth, reflecting his mother’s religious background. As a teenager, he developed a talent and interest in figure skating, competing in singles and pairs.

At age 15, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard (understating his age to do so). Later, when his real age was discovered, he was discharged. During his time in the Coast Guard, he was nicknamed “Hollywood” by peers, for his interest in films.

His early life was colored by family instability, ambition, and a youthful willingness to take bold steps—elements that would echo throughout his career.

Youth and Education

Hunter’s formal education beyond his Catholic schooling remains limited in public record. He did not attend college; instead, his ambitions gravitated toward entertainment and performance from early on.

After leaving the Coast Guard, he connected socially with people in the film industry. A pivotal relationship was with actor Dick Clayton, who encouraged him to pursue acting. Through Clayton’s network, Hunter met agent Henry Willson, known for grooming handsome male stars. It was Willson who rechristened him “Tab Hunter.”

Thus, his training was not academic but on-the-job, learning the art of film, image management, and public persona under the studio system.

Career and Achievements

Breaking Into Hollywood

Hunter’s earliest film credit came in The Lawless (1950), where he had a minor role. His first starring role was in Island of Desire (1952), opposite Linda Darnell—a romantic South Seas adventure. The movie’s success helped propel him forward.

As Warner Brothers signed him, they sought to mold him into a leading man for romantic and dramatic roles.

His breakout role came in Battle Cry (1955), a World War II drama, which became one of Warner Bros.’ top-grossing films that year. This cemented his status as a bankable star.

In the late 1950s, Hunter appeared in several successful pictures:

• The Girl He Left Behind (1956)

• Gunman’s Walk (1958), where he challenged his usual “heroic” casting by playing a more morally ambiguous character.

• Damn Yankees (1958), a musical adaptation—Hunter played Joe Hardy, a fan who strikes a deal to become a great baseball player.

He was one of Warner Bros.’ top male stars from about 1955 to 1959.

Music and Popular Culture

Hunter also ventured into music. In 1957, he recorded “Young Love”, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, and also topped charts in the UK. The song sold over two million copies and earned him a gold certification.

He also recorded “Ninety-Nine Ways,” which charted in the U.S. and U.K.

However, label conflicts and studio politics sometimes hindered further musical momentum. Warner Bros. infamously restricted the release of follow-up records to protect their control of his career.

Transition, Decline, and Reinvention

By the 1960s, Hunter’s career faced challenges as tastes changed and the studio system weakened. He starred in his own sitcom, The Tab Hunter Show (1960–61), though it lasted for only one season (32 episodes).

He took roles in a variety of genres, including romantic comedies, foreign productions, war films, and musicals. In the mid-1960s, he also acted on Broadway, notably in The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore (1964) opposite Tallulah Bankhead.

His film output tapered off by the 1970s. But in the 1980s and beyond, he experienced a kind of renaissance. He played against type in Polyester (1981), directed by John Waters. He also starred in Lust in the Dust (1985).

In Grease 2 (1982), he took a small but memorable cameo role as a substitute teacher.

Hunter’s final film role was in Dark Horse (1992), a family film about horses. He co-produced it and contributed the story.

Memoir and Later Recognition

In 2005, at the age of 73, Tab Hunter published his memoir, Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star, co-written with Eddie Muller. The book became a New York Times bestseller. In the memoir, he publicly acknowledged his homosexual identity—a secret he had maintained for decades under the constraints of Hollywood’s studio era.

His life story became the subject of the 2015 documentary Tab Hunter Confidential, directed by Jeffrey Schwarz and produced by his long-time partner, Allan Glaser. The film introduced him to new audiences and reappraised his significance.

Over time, he received honors such as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (for his contributions to the music industry) at 6320 Hollywood Blvd. In 2007, a Golden Palm Star was dedicated to him on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Thus, Tab Hunter’s career spanned the heights of studio-era stardom, the challenges of change, and a final act of self-revelation and legacy building.

Historical Milestones & Cultural Context

Hunter’s life is tightly entwined with the evolution—and eventual decline—of the classic Hollywood studio system. He rose under a regime that manufactured stars, controlled publicity, and enforced strict moral images.

His role as a heartthrob was part of Hollywood’s efforts to capture the teenage market of the 1950s—a time when the notion of a “teen idol” was becoming commercially significant.

Yet, behind that idealized image lay personal constraints. Homosexuality was taboo; actors who were gay had to suppress or conceal their identity to avoid career death. Hunter lived a “don’t ask, don’t tell” existence for many years, balancing the pressures of image and authenticity.

When he came out publicly via memoir, it marked an important moment of agency—claiming one’s own narrative in a culture that often dictated it for you.

His resurgence in later decades—as an actor in offbeat films and as a storyteller of his own life—reflects changing attitudes in Hollywood and society toward identity, queerness, and the power of personal storytelling.

Legacy and Influence

Tab Hunter’s legacy is multifaceted:

1. Cultural Icon of an Era
   He symbolizes a particular moment in Hollywood history—the blond matinee idol of the 1950s. His looks, charisma, and filmography remain part of the nostalgia for that golden age.

2. Quiet Courage in Identity
   By later publicly acknowledging his sexuality and sharing his personal story, Hunter became, in retrospect, a figure of quiet courage. For LGBTQ+ history in Hollywood, his life is a case study in the tension between public image and private truth.

3. Inspiration for Autobiographical Voice
   His memoir and the documentary adaptation inspired other actors and public figures to reclaim their narratives. His articulation of the cost of secrecy—and the reward of authenticity—resonates with many.

4. Durability of Reinvention
   He refused to vanish when his stardom lapsed. By taking roles in more avant-garde or independent projects, and by writing his own life, he demonstrated adaptability and resilience.

5. Humanizing the “Star”
   Through his interviews, writings, and film retrospective, Hunter let audiences see that the glamorous image often hides struggle, vulnerability, and sacrifice.

Personality and Talents

On screen, Hunter often projected warmth, sincerity, and a kind of predictable decency—qualities that made him a favorite for romantic leads and earnest protagonists. But beneath that veneer were complexities.

He was deeply aware of external judgments and anxieties about public perception. He struggled with the conflict between his real self and the persona imposed by studios and fans.

His perseverance, work ethic, and steadiness of character are evident through a long career that weathered changing tastes and industry challenges. He also had a reflective side, shown by his willingness to revisit his life in writing and film.

In personal relationships, he maintained a life partner, Allan Glaser, for over three decades (from the 1980s until his death). Their connection underpinned the latter part of his life and his later creative projects.

He was modest in many ways—guarded about publicity, preferring substance over spectacle.

He also loved horses, and in fact Dark Horse (1992) combined his interest in equestrian life with his cinematic sensibility.

Taken altogether, Tab Hunter was more than a pretty face: he was an actor, singer, memoirist, and a man whose life offers lessons in identity, reinvention, and courage.

Famous Quotes of Tab Hunter

Here are some notable quotes attributed to Tab Hunter, reflecting his views on life, fame, identity, and perception:

• “I don’t care whether people like me or dislike me. I’m not on earth to win a popularity contest. I’m here to be the best human being I possibly can be.”

• “My sexuality is only a thread of the tapestry of my life.”

• “I’ve been a very, very fortunate man. I’ve had a lot of highs — and a great deal of lows.”

• “I did Polyester, and I don’t regret one minute of it. It was wonderful.”

• “I turned into a workaholic to the point of where my health was in jeopardy.”

• “People believe what they want to believe.”

• “Hollywood cools, and when it cools you have to go to where the work is. I ran off to Italy to do spaghetti westerns.”

• “People place such importance on the external. It’s disgusting.”

These lines reveal a man who had wrestled with appearance, expectation, control, and self-worth—and who sought to emphasize the inner life over external judgment.

Lessons from Tab Hunter

From Hunter’s life and career, several broader lessons emerge:

1. Embrace your whole identity
   Hunter’s later decision to discuss his sexuality publicly underscores the importance of living authentically—even when earlier circumstances demanded concealment.

2. Reinvention is possible
   Even when mass popularity fades, one can pivot direction—to character roles, behind-the-scenes work, writing, or niche projects—and maintain dignity.

3. Image is powerful—and perilous
   Hollywood’s construction of stars can preserve one and constrain also. Being aware of that tension is crucial for anyone in the public eye.

4. Legacy is built late
   Sometimes one’s most meaningful work happens beyond the obvious prime years—through reflection, narrative, or mentorship.

5. Balance ambition and boundaries
   Hunter’s quote about jeopardizing his health hints at the risk of overwork. Ambition must be balanced with self-care.

Conclusion

Tab Hunter remains an emblematic figure in Hollywood lore—a man whose the picture-perfect image masked a deeper struggle for self-expression. He navigated the pressures of stardom in a time of rigid moral expectations, and in his later years reclaimed his narrative with candor and dignity.

His journey offers insight into how celebrities are crafted and constrained, how identity can be suppressed and later recovered, and how artistic life can stretch beyond the bright lights of early fame.