From 2005: The confidential Tab Hunter

Hollywood star and gay icon Tab Hunter died on Sunday, July 8, 2018 at age 86. In this "Sunday Morning" profile originally broadcast on October 23, 2005, correspondent Susan Spencer talked with Hunter about his struggle with fame, battling homophobia in the 1950s and '60s, and the resurgence of his career working with outré filmmaker John Waters ("Polyester").
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[@katecalvert9583]

He looks like a really nice guy as an older man too. He's one of those people that I think would have been a good friend. RIP Tab Hunter. Looks like you had a good long life. A kiss goodbye.

[@devanshepard9118]

Kate Calvert Right and he was actually good in some of his movies

[@red.river6575]

Mr Hunter was down to earth. His mother was in a residential medical care facility in Santa Fe and Tab checked-in on her routinely and accompanied her to doctor visits. Attentive and loyal to his mom and respectful to staff, no movie star or snobbish attitude, just a nice guy. They had a home just outside of Santa Fe in northern NM back then. The Tab Hunter Confidential on TCM is a great documentary. May he rest in peace.

[@donnagreeninger6146]

P

[@donnagreeninger6146]

😊

[@janlewis9160]

A life lived with grace and dignity. What an honorable, incredibly handsome man! Rest well.

[@hmedchabour4343]

Tab Hunter hhhh he was a homosexuel man ,,,no kidding

[@ElectrologyNow]

I (first) ran into Tab at our local hardware store (Santa Barbara). He said, “I’m surprised anybody recognizes me!“ He was smiling, friendly, calm and all-round nice guy and always up for a conversation. We also had mutual friends and he was about as solid a guy as I’ve ever met. He was also a Republican … YEAH!

[@lindahandley5267]

Alright!

[@KayBarsotti]

Republican yeah again

[@tantepim1084]

❤❤❤❤

[@sarahs5340]

Oh my gosh, he is absolutely gorgeous, and seems so kind.

[@kelsoamistad9145]

Nothing could beat when somebody would say to another person "so kind".

[@DeborahManiscalco]

I beg to differ with you Jeffery hunter was much better looking than tab Hunter love from all of us on Staten Island, New York

[@lanadale1479]

TAB WAS A KIND SOUL AND TRULY WILL BE LOVED AND MISSED BY ALL OF US!

[@danielstanwyck2812]

what a sweetheart! genuine. natural. compassionate. thoughtful. all things that contribute to his human being.

[@heyya7464]

It’s terribly sad to hear his passing, he sure was one of my top idols and people I inspired. I watched his documentary 2 years ago , my then partner and I watched it and I fell in love with it , I mean after all the things he had been through we cannot blame him being closeted . he lived his life to the fullest as a kind human being . That’s all that mattered to him .he was a happy bloke . He will be missed , May he Rest In Peace In his heaven .

[@wallacehurt2490]

We all gotta go. Everyone. Old. Young. New.

[@mckavitt13]

A sincere, mutually respectful interview. She asks Tab Hunter questions, then lets him answer them. She occasionally interjects, doesn't interrupt. They both seem to be enjoying this encounter... perhaps the reason we do too? Thx for the memories. ♡♡♡🙆

[@garywarmee4367]

Yes, she's wonderful. Watching Tab on The Perry Como Show with him.

[@tjwash2]

When you have good bone structure you’ll be gorgeous till the end, Tab Hunter personifies that.

[@kllwc7772]

TJ Wash plus genuine talent .I am so glad he found true happiness/ love/ himself 🌈

[@dipdo7675]

Yes kept in good shape by exercising his jaw!!

[@tigergreg8]

Its the eyes, just look at his eyes, that's what did it. There is always something different about people who are always called beautiful or gorgeous. Farrah had the hair and I think the eyes too, Welch had the perfect body, naturally, Ann Margaret had the legs and that sexy voice. There is always something. That's why you should always accentuate your best feature.

[@Kimberly-pf4iy]

Great interview. Tab Hunter seemed like a very nice man who was easy to talk to. He was a handsome, talented man and his private life was no one's business. Being gay did not take away from his talent or his charming personality. As long as Tab wasn't being hurtful towards others, why try to hurt him. Thanks for the memories, Mr. Hunter. God bless you and rest in peace. ❤😊😘 🤗 🙏

[@lemorab1]

I loved his book. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley about 12-15 years after Tab and we both loved to ice skate at Schramm's and horseback ride at the Pickwick stables. I was lucky to get to spend my childhood in the Old Valley, just before the freeways, cookie cutter tract housing, and big box malls took over. RIP Old Valley of horse ranches and citrus groves and RIP Tab Hunter, you gorgeous man, you! Beautiful inside and out!

[@californiascreaming1131]

God bless him...don't be ashamed of who you are. Rest in peace

[@teopistorsind9874]

God hates homosexuality.

[@godsowncountry3605]

@@teopistorsind9874 Have You talked to him? I am sure You haven´t.

[@danthomas6587]

@@teopistorsind9874 Don't knock it till you've tried it. I bet I can flip you to the dark side.

[@teopistorsind9874]

@@danthomas6587 God protects His children from those on the opposite end of His moral spectrum. They are a far off and that is where He keeps them. Before you flip me to "the dark side", He will destroy you and confound your tongue.

[@teopistorsind9874]

@@godsowncountry3605 I talk to Him everyday. You too can. Try it.

[@monapause8108]

I remember when he came to Seattle for the book signing. I couldn't get the day off from work. I was heartbroken. now I am really heartbroken that he died just 3 days before his birthday. he would have been 87 yesterday. rest in peace, Tab. xoxo

[@larkpraise]

There aren't many 74 year old men who are beautiful and sexy. Tab Hunter was one of them!

[@TheStuport]

I got this book ordered from my local Library after having read of his passing. Regardless of his private lifestyle choices he seems to have always had a celebrated life. I do remember hearing my Mom say what a doll Tab was. I was convinced that the soda pop TAB was in fact named for Mr. Hunter...LOL. Cheers Everyone

[@sorman10]

You seem to have good will towards Mr. Hunter. To clarify, being gay is not a lifestyle choice.

[@milhouse14]

Can't believe that, in 2018, several people still think that homosexuality is a "lifestyle choice". The only thing openly gay people is choosing is choosing to be their authentic selves.

[@triciajohansen9295]

He just seemed like a gentleman, an upstanding man. I am devastated by his passing.

[@TheStuport]

sorman10--- I have good will towards Mr. Hunter because of how I was raised....be kind to EVERYONE no matter what.

[@jamesdooling4139]

Tab Hunter lived an amazing life. Closeted or not. Though, not really. He was a legend. Read the book. I've got mine ordered. He was the celebrity male of his generation.

[@heathermiller6046]

Already read it. Loved it! I couldn't put it down, but that's just me lol

[@shigsho]

Rest in peace Tab Hunter and thank you.

[@43jaygee]

Tab was above all a very good guy!

[@hmedchabour4343]

Tab Hunter hhhh he was a homosexuel man ,,,no kidding

[@conniebarnes9274]

@@hmedchabour4343 Are you an idiot? Just wondering. Not much attention at home?

[@Honeycombe88]

My gosh, a handsomer man has never existed. And he seems like a positive, great guy, too. He's been very lucky in life. And seems to know it.

[@crisgarza2016]

rip,cant believed he had died i really loved his music

[@vintagegoldenage]

i love his music too!

[@livencali1]

Today is/was the day pre-destined that the Lord GOD, your mother and father and all the host of heaven welcomed you home. Tab Hunter you are a beautiful spirit now. I will see you one day.

[@jdjking]

Meeting him was a highlight in my life. A few years before he passed I had that honor 🎖. Even as a older man he was striking and very humble 🙏. Tab Hunter will always occupy a space in my ❤ heart ❤

[@siberangel]

A beautiful soul both inside and out. RIP Mr. Hunter - we were privileged to know you.

[@fob1xxl]

So glad he lived his life his way. He was so good looking. That smile would melt ice ! No ego, no false pride. What a wonderful human being. "Magic" is "Magic" !

[@loridee1182]

He was always talented, handsome and so charming, no wonder why we loved him. RIP TH

[@ceciliem1811]

I remember watching Tab, on T.V.; as a child! He had a such a wonderful glow about him and he was so handsome! Who knew, that he had a domineering mother and his father deserted them?

[@jamesr1703]

I'm 56 and I had never heard of him, until he died last year. Recently watched him on 'What's My Line?". Most of Tab's fame and time in the limelight took place before I was born. A very nice person, he was.

[@stevestearns2241]

REST IN PEACE, The great movie legend

[@paleobc65]

R.I.P Tab I remember watching your documentary and thinking how glad it is you stayed alive for so many things to change in terms of lgbt tights

[@KJ-xc6qs]

Not only was he handsome and talented, but he was also a genuinely nice down-to-earth person. We miss classy old Hollywood.

[@FreyrNordisk]

I would have fallen in love with him even at an older age, he kept his good looks and boyish appearance until the end, he was such a charming man ❤

[@tylerdenaro639]

Rest in peace Tab Hunter 🙏😥

[@jerryg3524]

What a great interview from Susan Spencer. Tab Hunter was a real teen idol & star and it's just amazing to hear him in this video be so candid. Thanks CBS Sunday Morning for this gem.

[@Duricas]

"Into Paradise, may the Angels lead..."

[@jayyoung4534]

If only in just a friendship, he seems to me someone you'd want to know. Such sincerity. Despite his fame and good look, so unpretentious.

[@MatthewLavan]

RIP, Arthur/Tab

[@bdavis8397]

He was the All American Boy who happened to be gay.

[@dipdo7675]

No father and a domineering mother!!

[@finderkeeperrrs]

​@@dipdo7675 please stop. I have an amazing masculine father and I'm gay. It's got nothing to do with parents

[@PhilAlumb]

Tab... didn't make his Sexual Orientation the focal point of his identity. Of course, he grew up in more oppressive times, But Tab didn't need to let the world know he had sex with men. This current "Let it All Hang Out" attitude is troubling because Everything is accepted. There are No limitations. Time will tell if these Changes were the better. From my view, Ethics are worsening and Men are softening, weakening. CHINA approves this

[@AnimatedBlast]

@@finderkeeperrrsMy family died of AIDS and as far as I know, their parents were straight 😅

[@littlecasino60]

"Limp-wristed pajama parties?" Lordy, lol. R.I.P.

[@tjwash2]

Princess Taboo say what? I didn’t see that in the bio

[@leekee2578]

It’s in the segment where the reporter mentions confidential magazine.it was in an article.they show it in the vid

[@stephenridley1153]

Get me an invite lol 😜😜😜

[@scotnick59]

When we see what an incredibly warm, seemingly happy person, who cares about his sexual orientation?

[@heathermiller6046]

Beautifully stated. It makes me love him all the more lol :)

[@triciajohansen9295]

Kirk Barkley well said!😎

[@jondishmonmusicandstuff2753]

R.I.P. Tab.

[@KayBarsotti]

Back in the day, he was one of the best-looking actors - just adorable!

[@kllwc7772]

His autobiography is so honest and touching.R🌈I🌈P Tab....

[@danielbisson8032]

HE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL

[@juice2835]

Tab Hunter was impossibly handsome. If I had his looks for one day I would own the world haha

[@HolgerRuneFan]

Tab was without question the most gorgeous "old" man ever. He's better looking at 80 than 99.9% of any 20-30 year old men.

[@MartinRiosIII]

Aww you can still see that beautiful hunky gorgeous smile when he talks & laughs!! Rip Tab

[@fearsomebeard4290]

I was introduced to Tab Hunter through John Waters’ Polyester when it was released. He was superb. Equally as good if not even better was his second pairing with Divine in Paul Bartell’s Lust in the Dust which was co-produced by Tab himself. Tab is one of my idols.

[@garywarmee4367]

I love Tab singing Young Love on The Perry Como Show and love him even more here, watching it with his interviewer with the two of them fun flirting back & forth! A dreamboat, all right.

[@smallfry7743]

Sucks he’s gone, he seem like an awesome person.

[@pmajudge]

AAAH !! R.I.P. TAB HUNTER . REMEMBER SEEING A PICTURE OF HIM IN A MOVIE MAGAZINE. 1950's I WAS A VERY YOUNG. ALL MY OLDER COUSINS WERE FAWNING OVER HIM ! LATER I GOT TO THINK HOW HANDSOME HE WAS & YEEKS !! A HEAVENLY GORGEOUS MAN. FROM U.K. (2024).

[@aidanamson8568]

What a cool guy, thanks Tab. Very handsome man.

[@arthursteven5601]

Even as he got older hes still very handsome man

[@caroljones4511]

Lovely smile I love that in him RIP.

[@johnvaccaro7022]

Boyishly handsome till the end....R.I.P. Tab!

[@michellerosebrown]

RIP

[@saltyroe3179]

In the early 1970s my mom ended sitting next to Tab on a cross country flight. All she could talk about was how handsome he was and what a pleasure it was to talk to him. I told her that Tab was gay, and she said he wasn't:-) btw Tab was one of the few men who were better looking than my mom also blond and blue eyed

[@oceanlover3530]

Seemed like a genuinely good guy. Would have been fun to hang out with him. RIP. ✌🏻🙂✌🏻

[@jm7804]

Gorgeous his entire life. But when he was younger he was stunningly attractive. I bet he had every gay guy in hollywood after him back in the day.

[@optitom9033]

When I turned 21 in 1966 I partied with tab, Paul lynde, Richard deacon and bill Bixby, those were the days in hollywood

[@amberlyoness555]

I saw tony perkins once in NY he passed by and wow he was handsome can you imagine how handsome Tab was in person ?? two gorgeous guys plus Rudy N another gorgeous guy !

[@opaulamorgan4265]

Oh! Tab Hunter. read his book, honest, straitforward. Remember "Young Love"Such a good looking guy and nice too."

[@lindabarnes9415]

Reminds me of Pat Boone, especially in the gracious attitude.

[@gedigi9010]

Great interview.

[@boblowney]

he seems like a nice guy who had an extraordinary life. his best role was with John Waters!

[@pamm8608]

What a NICE guy. Lucky people who knew or met him in real life.

[@matthewedwards3550]

What a HANDSOME HANDSOME MANNNNNN!!!! BRAVO MISTER HUNTER!!!

[@SDU1969]

What a lovely man.

[@agileanalyst214]

I recommend his book.

[@MitchGrooms]

RIP///

[@rogerauclair1670]

The presenter is wrong, Tab's real name was Arthur Kelm, not Arthur Gelien as Gelien was his mother's maiden name.

[@bdavis8397]

Roger Auclair In his documentary he says his name is Gelein.

[@triciajohansen9295]

His mother changed his and his brother's last name when the father abandoned the family. I would have done the same thing!

[@rogerauclair1670]

B Davis, you are absolutely correct in saying that the documentary says his name was Gelein, but that doesn't mean that it's correct. I am aware that his mother did change his name but in saying that his name was Kelm, I was referring to his birth name.

[@batgurrl]

When Polyester came out back when I knew he had been a teen idol back then before but never heard he was gay and I thought he was so brave to be in a John Waters movie and how it might ruin him forever which it did not back then. I was much younger so I didn’t know about about a lot of Hollywood gossip and didn’t care I was into punk music and John Waters lol. He was a real babe when he was younger and a good looking older man. RIP

[@Marketoromagnolo]

what a beautiful man, and handsome, it's a pity it's a forgotten actor

[@ronaldcrenfro4637]

GREAT Person Tab Hunter

[@EARLMARX3]

Think about it, gay actors are some of the best actors.

[@lindaacosta6156]

He was a handsome great actor.LOVE HIS MOVIES..MISS HIM ALWAYS .......

[@heathermiller6046]

I heard an interview with him on NPR and actually happened to find that book that on the sidewalk (interestingly enough in Hillcrest, the rainbow section of San Diego). I recognized his story from the radio, and I hung onto every word in Confidential. I'm not usually into blondes, but I thought he was beautiful lol. I may only be 29, but I was sad to hear of his passing all the same. RIP Tab Hunter

[@garywarmee4367]

When you learn that somebody in Tab Hunter's position kept no memorobilia about himself you have to consider he might be somewhat of a real, genuine person.

[@dreamingoflouis330]

what a good looking man

[@rdo1231]

lovely man

[@kellykim3684]

A lot of gay men seem like they didn’t have a father around

[@thangvuong9196]

It's 2020 please use your brain.

[@davidallen508]

Kelly Kim ,and many of the fathers who were around did not help the situation.

[@sharksport01]

Its true.

[@naifalbaihed1230]

Because they are bigots.

[@finderkeeperrrs]

​@@sharksport01 ummm no that's a false stereotype. I'm gay with an amazing father

[@davidbreedlove8234]

Beautiful, sweet, multi talented superstar 👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@andyroo9381]

He is as handsome now as he was then.

[@daisyduke8656]

Handsome man but picturing him on all fours is horrifying.

[@juliehoffman6292]

Wonderful person

[@MicaRayan]

He talked the same style since young!

[@chazzjazz6906]

Miss you Art, my handsome friend!

[@alwayssme]

wow i had not heard,,,,,,,,,, rest in peace

[@carolinecorman2240]

still a sweetie. R.I.P.

[@ВолодимирЯцик-ч4з]

Nice man. Best wishes to you!

[@aburns5KSU]

His voice is angelic. Love him from damn Yankees to grease 2

[@helenjones604]

Such a wonderful man so beautiful and Good-looking

[@hayward022]

AKA Todd Tomorrow

[@anderander5662]

An honorable, good man...

[@jayyoung4534]

I haven't read his autobio. But does anyone know whether he and Troy Donahue were just friends?

[@aaronsrok3422]

Gosh he was such a cutie. He seems like a sweetheart. Definitely someone you'd like to know.

[@neilhunter3144]

Does anybody else get the feeling he asked someone to do the documentary on him?

[@meropale]

That's the feeling I get, but he answers that question here by saying that he heard someone was going to write a book on him so he headed them off at the pass.

[@ceciliem1811]

@@meropale That was smart of him because, no one will tell the truth about yourself but YOU!!

[@jamesfeeney3016]

Seemed like a very sweet , kind man!! Still smoking hot at 75!

[@chado_6742]

What's the song at the begin?

[@roberthansen9294]

He still so dam good looking

[@goat1408]

Rest In Peace Tab, I didn’t even know he was alive in the 2000s...sry for my ignorance.