Robert Gant: Difference between revisions
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In 2015, Gant played [[Zor-El]], the titular character's father in ''[[Supergirl (TV series)|Supergirl]]''. |
In 2015, Gant played [[Zor-El]], the titular character's father in ''[[Supergirl (TV series)|Supergirl]]''. |
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==Activism== |
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Gant has given time to a number of philanthropic and political causes and organizations, such as HRC (the Human Rights Campaign, from which he received their National Equality Award), GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, from which he received their Davidson/Valentini Award for the promotion of equal rights in the LGBT community), and Lambda Legal. Robert has placed particular focus on highlighting the issue of aging in the gay community. He’s supported such organizations as SAGE ([[Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders]]), which named him their first Honorary Elder, and GLEH ([http://www.gleh.org/ Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH)].; now a part of the Los Angeles LGBT Center), for which he served as a Board Member. In 2016, Robert received the ADL Heroes Award from the Anti-Defamation League for his work on behalf of the LGBT and aging communities. |
Gant has given time to a number of philanthropic and political causes and organizations, such as HRC (the Human Rights Campaign, from which he received their National Equality Award), GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, from which he received their Davidson/Valentini Award for the promotion of equal rights in the LGBT community), and Lambda Legal. Robert has placed particular focus on highlighting the issue of aging in the gay community. He’s supported such organizations as SAGE ([[Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders]]), which named him their first Honorary Elder, and GLEH ([http://www.gleh.org/ Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH)].; now a part of the Los Angeles LGBT Center), for which he served as a Board Member. In 2016, Robert received the ADL Heroes Award from the Anti-Defamation League for his work on behalf of the LGBT and aging communities. |
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Gant has also been involved politically, stumping at presidential campaign events for both Howard Dean (in LA, San Francisco, and NY) and Hillary Clinton (in Pennsylvania and Texas), alongside Rob Reiner, Gavin Newsome, and Chelsea Clinton. For the 2020 presidential election, Robert expressed his support for Pete Buttigieg to become the Democratic nominee and next President of the United States. |
Gant has also been involved politically, stumping at presidential campaign events for both Howard Dean (in LA, San Francisco, and NY) and Hillary Clinton (in Pennsylvania and Texas), alongside Rob Reiner, Gavin Newsome, and Chelsea Clinton. For the 2020 presidential election, Robert expressed his support for Pete Buttigieg to become the Democratic nominee and next President of the United States. |
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Gant is involved in a number of philanthropic organizations with a great deal of focus going to the issue of aging in the [[gay]] community. He currently resides in Los Angeles. |
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Gant [[Coming out|came out]] as gay in ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]''magazine in 2002. |
Gant [[Coming out|came out]] as gay in ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]''magazine in 2002. |
Revision as of 22:15, 28 November 2019
Robert Gant | |
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![]() Gant at a 2009 GLAAD summer event | |
Born | Robert John Gonzalez July 13, 1968 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
Other names | Robert J. Gant |
Alma mater | Georgetown University (J.D.) University of Pennsylvania (B.A.) |
Occupation(s) | Actor, producer |
Years active | 1994–present |
Robert Gant (born Robert John Gonzalez; July 13, 1968) is an American actor. He rose to prominence through his role as Ben Bruckner on the hit Showtime series Queer as Folk and was recognized as a pioneer in the LGBT community by coming out publicly as an openly gay leading male actor at a time when very few did.
Early life
Gant was born in Tampa, Florida, of Spanish, Italian, Cuban, Irish, and English descent. He was raised Baptist.[1] Despite his family’s Catholic roots, he was largely raised in the Baptist church. At age ten, he began acting in television commercials in his home state of Florida and became a member of the Screen Actors Guild at the age of eleven. He filmed his first national commercial for the “Monster Cereals” (Franken Berry, Boo Berry, and Count Chocula) during his fifth grade year. The commercial was advertising Battlestar Gallactica trading cards that were available in each cereal box. His first spoken line on national television was “Viper fighters in battle!”
While in Tampa, he studied tap and jazz dance with The American Musical Theatre Company, participating in multiple productions. In one of those shows, Robert performed a soft-shoe routine at MacDill Air Force Base with renowned comedian Bob Hope as part of Hope's USO tour.
Gant’s great-grandmother, Winifred Wellington, was a Broadway actress, particularly lauded for her comedic prowess.
Education
Robert attended Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida for his freshman year and Chamberlain High School, also in Tampa, for his remaining years. He graduated in 1986. Throughout high school, Robert played football, performed in plays and musicals, was in the honors programs, president of the Key Club, an officer in multiple student and honors organizations, and a member of four signing groups, including Chamberlain’s pop ensemble, Act One, and its barbershop quartet, The Chieftains.
For his undergraduate studies, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in English literature with both Shakespeare and poetry concentrations. He was a fraternity brother in the Beta Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) and a four year member of Penn’s first a cappella group, the twelve man Pennsylvania Six-5000, which was founded in 1980. Robert was also a member of Penn’s Philomathean Literary Society, the nation’s oldest collegiate literary society. While in college, Robert performed in musicals as well, including playing the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrorsand Neville Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Droodand acted in the school’s Penn Film Foundation film Movements. He was also a member of the Friars Senior Society and the Order of Omega.
For his graduate studies, Robert attended at Georgetown University Law Center, where he was awarded his Juris Doctor (Doctor of Laws) in 1993. At graduation, he served as commencement speaker. While at Georgetown, Gant interned at the DC Federal Circuit Court of Appeals and for the Senate Judiciary Committee during the time of the controversial Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings and Anita Hill testimony. The Committee was then headed by Senator Joseph Biden. During his law school summers, Robert worked for the Department of Justice (in the Executive Office for US Attorneys) and at the law firm of White & Case in its Miami office. He was a member of the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, serving as its Executive Editor. Robert was also a member of the Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society, performing in a number of its productions. Along with several fellows, Gant started a six-man a cappella group, The MetroGnomes, which performed in various venues around Washington, DC.
It was ultimately the legal world that brought him to Los Angeles when he accepted a position with the LA office of the then largest law firm in the world, Chicago-based Baker & McKenzie. When the international firm closed its Los Angeles office shortly thereafter, Robert decided to pursue his lifelong dream of acting and performing. Booking the first two jobs he auditioned for helped ease the stark career transition. From that point on, he focused all his time on the entertainment business.
Career
From television to film, dramatic to comedic, Robert Gant’s portrayals have spanned all genres. In one of his most well known roles, Robert starred as Professor Ben Bruckner in Showtime’s hit television series, Queer as Folk. In that groundbreaking show, Robert explored broad dramatic terrain, including being married in the first legal gay marriage portrayed on television. His character was also lauded as the first HIV-positive character to live a fully realized life (including sexually) without an ongoing focus on the spectre of AIDS. Among Gant’s credits are roles in numerous television series and theatrical films, including portraying television’s first gay spy in the film, Kiss Me Deadly, which was shot on location on New Zealand.
Among his recurring characters, Robert stars as Melissa Benoist’s Kryptonian father Zor-El on Supergirl, as Todd Crimsen on the Netflix series Thirteen Reasons Why, and as Jim Hunter on The Fostersand its spin-off series Good Trouble. Prior to Queer as Folk, Gant recurred as Principal Calvin Krupps in Ryan Murphy’s first television series, Popular, and as Caroline’s boyfriend Trevor in Caroline in the City. His many guest starring roles include a well known turn on the hit TV show Friends, where he played one of two men Phoebe was dating simultaneously. Other guest starring appearances include portraying characters on series such as Melrose Place, Ellen, Becker, Nip/Tuck, The Closer, Hot in Cleveland, Bones, Mike & Molly, Shameless, NCIS, the CSI’s, and Criminal Minds, among others.
In 2004, Robert starred in the short film Billy's Dad Is a Fudge-Packer!, an homage to 1950’s educational films, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2009, Gant was a series regular in the BBC 3-produced drama Personal Affairs, set in London's financial sector and filmed on location in both London and Scotland. Robert was the sole American in an otherwise all British cast. In 2013, Robert portrayed Captain Robert Norton in Dead Space 3, the third installment in the popular Dead Space video game series released from Electronic Arts.
Gant’s experiences in Hollywood are not limited to performing. He was a producing partner in the production company, Mythgarden. Its feature film, Save Me, a drama set against the backdrop of the ex-gay ministry, stars Robert along with Judith Light and Chad Allen and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Robert also co-produced, co-wrote, and starred in the Netflix-distributed period drama Milada, the true story of Czech heroine Milada Horakova, who was, in 1950, the first woman executed in Czech history by the Communist government. In addition, Robert has completed a draft of his first novel and, with a writing partner, is developing television projects and penning screenplays.
Other guest appearances on television programs include Melrose Place, Ellen, Becker, Friends and Nip/Tuck, among others.
In 2005, he appeared in an episode of the television crime drama The Closer.
In 2007, Gant, Chad Allen and Judith Lightacted and produced Save Me. The movie about the ex-gay movement was distributed by Mythgarden, the production company formed by Gant, Allen, and Christopher Racster in 2004.
In 2009, Gant appeared in Personal Affairs, a BBC Three-produced drama set in London's financial sector.
He also appeared in the independent films Special Delivery, The Contract, Fits and Startsand Marie and Bruce.
In 2011, Gant made a cameo appearance in season 1, episode 8 of TV Land's Happily Divorced.
In 2015, Gant played Zor-El, the titular character's father in Supergirl.
Activism
Gant has given time to a number of philanthropic and political causes and organizations, such as HRC (the Human Rights Campaign, from which he received their National Equality Award), GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, from which he received their Davidson/Valentini Award for the promotion of equal rights in the LGBT community), and Lambda Legal. Robert has placed particular focus on highlighting the issue of aging in the gay community. He’s supported such organizations as SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders), which named him their first Honorary Elder, and GLEH (Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH).; now a part of the Los Angeles LGBT Center), for which he served as a Board Member. In 2016, Robert received the ADL Heroes Award from the Anti-Defamation League for his work on behalf of the LGBT and aging communities.
Gant has also been involved politically, stumping at presidential campaign events for both Howard Dean (in LA, San Francisco, and NY) and Hillary Clinton (in Pennsylvania and Texas), alongside Rob Reiner, Gavin Newsome, and Chelsea Clinton. For the 2020 presidential election, Robert expressed his support for Pete Buttigieg to become the Democratic nominee and next President of the United States.
Gant came out as gay in The Advocatemagazine in 2002.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Bitter Vengeance | Bookstore customer | Television film |
1994 | Cityscrapes: Los Angeles | Policeman B | |
1996 | Jane Street | Jay | |
1999 | Teaching Mrs. Tingle | Professor | |
2001 | Uta Hagen's Acting Class | Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew | Direct-to-video |
2002 | The Contract | Gene Collins | |
2002 | Fits and Starts | Ian | |
2004 | Marie and Bruce | Bartender | |
2004 | Billy's Dad Is a Fudge-Packer! | Billy's dad | Short film |
2007 | Save Me | Scott | Also co-producer |
2007 | Live! | Casting director | |
2008 | Kiss Me Deadly | Jacob Keane | Television film |
2008 | Mask of the Ninja | Chief Garver | Television film |
2008 | Special Delivery | Nate Spencer | Television film |
2010 | Walter | Jim Benjamin / God | Short film |
2012 | Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean | The Famous Director | |
2015 | A Million Happy Nows | Dr. Hansen | |
2016 | Summer of Dreams | Noah Burns | Hallmark movie |
2016 | Love Is All You Need? | Pete Santilli | |
2016 | The Thinning | Vince Davi | Filming |
2017 | Milada | Bohuslav Horák | |
2018 | Wedding of Dreams | Noah Burns | Hallmark movie |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Ellen | Dr. Garber | Episode: "The Dentist" |
1994 | My So-Called Life | Gunther | Episode: "Pressure" |
1994 | Melrose Place | Room service waiter | Episode: "Just Say No" |
1995 | My Wildest Dreams | Stewart | Episode: "Sister's Mister" |
1995 | Step by Step | Fireman | Episode: "Three Girls and a Baby" |
1996 | High Tide | Episode: "Old Friends" | |
1996 | Melrose Place | Deputy Tom | Episode: "Moving Violations" |
1997 | Night Stand with Dick Dietrick | Frank Thatcher | Episode: "Leave Your Job or I'm Leaving You" |
1997 | Life with Roger | Rod Davis | Episode: "The Boxer Rebellion" |
1997 | Friends | Jason | Episode: "The One with Ross's Thing" |
1997 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Robin Hood bartender | Episode: "Party, Party" |
1997 | Silk Stalkings | Kevin | Episode: "Night of the Parrot" |
1997 | Head over Heels | Blake | Episode: "Hot Guy" |
1997–1998 | Caroline in the City | Trevor | Recurring role; 9 episodes |
1998 | Style & Substance | Matthew | Episode: "Terry, We Hardly Knew Ye" |
1998 | Fantasy Island | Dave Sullivan | Episode: "Estrogen" |
1999 | Becker | Doug | Episode: "Cyrano De-Beckerac" |
1999 | Rude Awakening | Jim | Episode: "Abstinence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" |
2000 | Linc's | Dr. Brad Wheeler | Episode: "I Just Want to Testify" |
2000–2001 | Popular | Principal Calvin Krupps | Recurring role; 11 episodes |
2000 | Veronica's Closet | Bernie | Episode: "Veronica Sets Josh Up" |
2002 | V.I.P. | Arthur Goodwin | Episode: "Val Cubed" |
2002–2005 | Queer as Folk | Professor Ben Bruckner | Main role; 55 episodes |
2002 | Providence | Dancing groom | Episode: "It's Raining Men" |
2005 | The Closer | Julian Carver | Episode: "Batter Up" |
2006 | Pepper Dennis | Benny Gold | Episode: "Celebrity Twin Could Hang" |
2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Lewis Greyburg | Episode: "Empty Eyes" |
2008 | Nip/Tuck | Jeff Morris | Episode: "Magda and Jeff" |
2009 | Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World | Mayor Mayer / another student | Voice; episode: "The Only Straight in the Village" |
2009 | CSI: NY | Felix Redman | Episode: "Green Piece" |
2009 | Tracey Ullman's State of the Union | Buzz | Season 2, episode 6 |
2009 | Personal Affairs | Rock van Gelder | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
2009 | Castle | Ron Bigby | Episode: "Deep in Death" |
2009 | CSI: Miami | Lloyd Arrington | Episode: "Hostile Takeover" |
2010 | Bones | Coach Jason Hendler | Episode: "The Dentist in the Ditch" |
2010 | Hot in Cleveland | Steve | Episode: "Birthdates" |
2010 | 90210 | Dr. Wright | Episode: "Catch Me If You Cannon" |
2011 | Mike & Molly | Kyle | Episode: "First Valentine's Day" |
2011 | Happily Divorced | Marc | Episode: "A Kiss Is Just a Kiss" |
2011 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Mr. Martin | Episode: "4-1-1" |
2011 | Free Agents | Mark | Episode: "The Kids Are Probably Alright" |
2012 | Shameless | Greg Garvin | Episode: "Father's Day" |
2013 | Vegas | Rick Kent | Episode: "From This Day Forward" |
2013 | NCIS | Lt. Michael Dunkel | Episode: "Detour" |
2013 | Anger Management | Dr. Konner | Episode: "Charlie and the Hot Nerd" |
2013 | Baby Daddy | Steve | Episode: "The Christening" |
2013 | Sean Saves the World | Chase | Episode: "Date Expectations" |
2013–2014 | The Young and the Restless | David Sherman | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
2014 | The Tomorrow People | Peter | Guest role; 2 episodes |
2014 | Hit the Floor | Lewis Jason | Episode: "Full-Court Press" |
2015 | Criminal Minds | Warden Miles Tate | Episode: "Lockdown" |
2015-2016 | Supergirl | Zor-El | Guest role; 3 episodes |
2016 | K.C. Undercover | Jackson Cleveland | Guest role; 2 episodes |
2017 | 13 Reasons Why | Todd Crimsen | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
2018 | The Fosters | Jim Hunter | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
Theatre
- Working – The Iron Worker
- Taming of the Shrew (Uta Hagen's Acting Class DVD) – Petruchio
- Little Shop of Horrors – The Dentist (et al.)
- Grease – Danny Zuko; Kenicke
- Whose Life is it Anyway? – John
- The Mystery of Edwin Drood – Neville Landless / Victor Grinstead
- The Mikado – Koko
References
- ^ Steele, Bruce C. (July 23, 2002). "Robert Gant Works It Out". The Advocate. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
External links
- Robert Gant at IMDb
- 1968 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- American male soap opera actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- Gay actors
- Georgetown University Law Center alumni
- Hispanic and Latino American male actors
- LGBT entertainers from the United States
- LGBT Hispanic and Latino American people
- LGBT rights activists from the United States
- LGBT people from Florida
- Living people
- Male actors from Tampa, Florida
- University of Pennsylvania alumni