'The Boys in the Band': Meet Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer and rest of the cast of film based on the famed play
In 1968, 'The Boys in the Band', a play by Mart Crowley premiered Off-Broadway. It was termed a "theatrical gamechanger", putting gay men's lives onstage, at a time when most gay men preferred to keep their sexual orientation a secret. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the seminal queer play came the critically acclaimed 2018 Broadway adaptation with stars like Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, and Matt Bomer. Now the Tony-winning cast from the revival has reunited, with the help of Ryan Murphy, for their Netflix debut, which will expand on the world of Mart Crowley’s play to include scenes on the streets of Manhattan. Some scenes will also feature an establishment called Julius, one of the oldest gay bars still operating in NYC.
When the original play was staged in 1968, many cast members, though gay, remained in the closet because it was career suicide. Acting in the play was risky enough. A lot has changed since then. Murphy discussing the project launch on his Instagram wrote: "Everyone in the cast was out and proud…feeling so blessed to mark the 50th anniversary of Mart’s landmark play." Here is what you need to know about the key characters whose lives and secrets unfold at a house party.
Jim Parsons as Michael
Michael, played by 'The Big Bang Theory' actor Jim Parsons, is a screenwriter who spends and drinks too much and is a lapsed Catholic. The plot's main events occur at the birthday party he throws for his 'frenemy', Harold. Michael is also the main catalyst of the story because he is the one who suggests an emotionally fraught game designed to get his friends, especially Alan, to reveal their secrets. Jim Parsons' break out role was that of Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom 'The Big Bang Theory'. He has received several awards for his performance on this sitcom, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy. He has also played supporting roles in films like 'Hidden Figures', 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile' and most recently played the leading role of Henry Willson, a talent agent, in the Netflix miniseries 'Hollywood', another Ryan Murphy production.
Zachary Quinto as Harold
The man of the hour is Harold whose birthday brings together the group of friends and some surprise guests like Alan and the "Cowboy". He is as sharp-tongued as he is sharp-dressed. Since he is one year older, he is morose about losing his youthful looks and his ability to attract cute young men. Zachary Quinto is known for his roles as Sylar, the primary antagonist in TV series 'Heroes', Spock in the 'Star Trek' franchise and most recently, Charlie Manx, in the AMC series 'NOS4A2'. He was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in 'American Horror Story: Asylum'. His other notable film roles include 'Margin Call', 'What's Your Number?', 'Snowden' and 'Hotel Artemis'.
Matt Bomer as Donald
Matt Bomer is Donald, Michael's former lover, who is trying to reject the "homosexual lifestyle" by going into therapy and is mired in self-analysis. Michael still has feelings for Donald, making their friendship complicated. Bomer made his television debut on the long-running soap opera 'All My Children'. In 2009, he took on the lead role of con-artist and thief Neal Caffrey in the 'White Collar'. Bomer has also featured in films like 'In Time', 'Magic Mike' and 'Magic Mike XXL'. In 2015, he won a Golden Globe Award and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for playing a closeted writer of The New York Times in the drama television film 'The Normal Heart'. Most recently, he portrayed Larry Trainor in the DC Universe series 'Doom Patrol', and starred in 'The Sinner' as Jamie Burn.
Tuc Watkins as Hank
Tuc Watkins is Hank, Larry's live-in boyfriend. He is a school teacher who is separating from his wife with whom he has had kids with. He "passes" as straight because of his looks and demeanor and believes in the traditional values of monogamy, unlike Larry. Watkins is known for his roles as David Vickers on 'One Life to Live' and as Bob Hunter on 'Desperate Housewives'. Watkins started his career with guest appearances on various television series including 'Sisters', 'Baywatch', and 'Melrose Place'. He has also guest-starred in television series such as 'NYPD Blue', 'Six Feet Under', and 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'. His first appearance in a big studio production was in 'The Mummy' as the near-sighted glasses-wearing tomb raider Burns.
Andrew Rannells as Larry
Andrew Rannells portrays Larry, a randy and promiscuous fashion photographer and commercial artist. He clashes with Hank, his monogamy-preferring boyfriend, because of his preference for multiple sex partners. What is interesting is that Rannells has been in a relationship with actor Tuc Watkins (who plays Hank) since 2019, after they did the Broadway revival of the original play. Rannells is primarily a theater actor, who was nominated for the Tony Award for 'Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical' for his performance as Elder Price in the 2011 Broadway musical 'The Book of Mormon'. He won the 2012 Grammy Award for 'Best Musical Theater Album' as a featured soloist on the musical's original Broadway cast recording. He received his second Tony nomination in 2017 for his performance as Whizzer in the 2016 Broadway revival of 'Falsettos'. Other Broadway credits include 'Hairspray', 'Hamilton', 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', 'Jersey Boys', and 'The Boys in the Band'. He has also appeared in shows like 'Will and Grace', 'How I Met Your Mother', 'Glee', 'Drunk History' and the reality series 'RuPaul's Drag Race' as a guest judge. He is currently starring in 'Black Monday' as Blair Pfaff.
Robin de Jesús as Emory
Emory is a flamboyant and effeminate interior decorator. His often campy sense of humor and effeminate mannerisms irritate the others, who often make fun of him. He is played by Robin de Jesús, an actor of Puerto Rican descent who is best known for playing the role of Sonny in the 2008 Broadway musical 'In the Heights', for which he received a Tony Award nomination for 'Best Featured Actor in a Musical'. For playing the role of Emory in the 2018 Broadway version, he received his third Tony Award nomination, for 'Best Featured Actor in a Play'. His second Tony nomination was for playing Jacob, the sassy housekeeper, in the 2010 Broadway revival of 'La Cage aux Folles'.
Brian Hutchison as Alan
Brian Hutchison is Alan, Michael's married college friend, who drops in unexpectedly on Michael. He is visiting New York and anxious to tell Michael something but hesitant to do so in front of the others. It is implied that he once had homosexual affairs while in college, but his sexual orientation is never explicitly stated, leaving it to audience interpretation. Hutchison guest-starred on series such as 'Blue Bloods', 'Madam Secretary', 'Chicago Med', 'Jessica Jones', 'Elementary' and 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'. Most recently, he has been seen on 'Godfather of Harlem', 'The Sinner', 'FBI: Most Wanted' and Apple TV's 'Lisey's Story'
Michael Benjamin Washington as Bernard
Michael Benjamin Washington is Bernard. Because of Michael's game, we get to know that he still pines for the wealthy white boy in whose house his mother once worked as a maid. Benjamin Washington's break out role on TV was as Donald Jordan on Tina Fey's hit comedy '30 Rock'. He is also appearing in the third season of Netflix's 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' and was in Ed Zwick's feature film 'Love and Other Drugs'.
Charlie Carver as Cowboy
Charlie Carver plays the none too bright prostitute who is a 'birthday gift' for Harold. He is called "Cowboy" by the guests at the party and we are never told his real name. Charlie Carver was Porter Scavo on 'Desperate Housewives', Ethan on 'Teen Wolf', and Scott Frost on the first season of the HBO television series 'The Leftovers'. He often gets acting gigs with his twin brother Max Carver having frequently portrayed the twin of his characters. He currently stars in Netflix's 'Ratched'. He also starred in the ABC miniseries 'When We Rise' in 2017, which traced the history of the LGBTQ rights movement, beginning with the Stonewall riots in 1969. Soon after this production, he came out as gay.
'The Boys in the Band' premieres on Netflix on September 30.