August 14, 2006
I had a fun discussion recently with some friends about our first celebrity crushes. Specifically, that first guy who made us realize, “hmm, I seem to be attracted to men”. For me, it wasn’t really one guy, but it was a series of men who led me to that realization.
The first guy, way back in my pre-teen consciousness, may have been Richard Carpenter, of all people.
Yes, I loved Carpenters music, and yes, I was struck profoundly by the intimacy & warmth of Karen Carpenter’s voice. But I also found something warmly enticing about her talented blond older brother. If anything, he just seemed so nice!
Shortly after that, while still in my pre-teen years, I was enthralled by a Disney movie called “The World’s Greatest Athlete”.
Specifically, by the loincloth-wearing star Jan-Michael Vincent. I remember seeing it with a bunch of my friends from the neighborhood, but I don’t think it impacted them in quite the same way as it did me!
Of course, all of this was just a prelude to the 6-Million Dollar slab of hunkiness headed my way in the form of Lee Majors.
When that bionic beefcake launched himself into my awareness, in all of his hairy-chested, aw-shucks wonder, it became pretty hard to escape the conclusion that I wasn’t going to be getting the same sort of satisfaction from someone like, say, Farrah-Fawcett Majors, (although I loved her anyway!).
Finally, the one that really sealed the deal for me came soaring in from outer-space in the form of light-saber wielding Luke Skywalker, aka Mark Hamill.
While the Star Wars movie alone was enough to dazzle me for several months, it was Luke Skywalker who got my rockets firing in all the right places. (It’s interesting, when I see pictures of him now, how young he looks. Back then, he seemed so much older than me….like a long lost older brother or older cousin who I secretly wished would show up & be a part of my family).
So, there you have it…my string of pre-adolescent & adolescent celebrity teen crushes. And yes, I suppose there were others, but these are the ones that really made an impact on me. Maybe someday I’ll expand on the list, but for right now, I’d like to hear yours! That’s right, how about adding a comment here on this blog? I’m sure you’ve got someone you’d like to tell us about! Just click on the comments link below and share your experience; isn’t it time to let the world know about your teen heartthrob?
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It was Ron Ely - Tarzan. Gary Sandy of WKRPC of Cincinnati. And oh my goodness - Johnny Mathis. Last but not least, Greg Lougainus; that’s when I had to admit it and realize that I was already out of the closet. I’m sure there were others but I cannot think of them right now.
Comment by Bashful — August 14, 2006 @ 12:25 pm
Tom Cruise in Top Gun did it for me!
Comment by Sean — August 15, 2006 @ 3:15 am
I wasn’t quite a teenager at the time, but Jack Wild on HR Pufnstuf when I was 9 or 10. Later on, Robert Conrad in Wild Wild West.
Comment by Jay — August 15, 2006 @ 9:02 am
Always a great strip, Greg–nice work!! As for teenage celebrity crushes…well, since I shared Lee Majors, Jon-Michael Vincent (I’d forgotten that movie til you mentioned it…but as Disney hunks go, I’d have to also add Kurt Russell…) and Marc Singer with you, I couldn’t believe you didn’t also include David Cassidy on your list! And the guy who played Spiderman on the TV show was sort of cute, too! Ah, the seventies…good times, good times!
Comment by Greg — August 15, 2006 @ 11:41 am
Most of my childhood gay crushes were singers! Wonder if that led me to my career in music? David Cassidy was the first, soon followed by Bobby Sherman. Robby Benson’s blue eyes broke my heart, then Wesley Eure (Land of the Lost/Days of our Lives)was #1. Rex Smith was probably the final crush before real live guys took his place!
Comment by Tim — August 16, 2006 @ 12:03 am
Robert Conrad in reruns of Wild Wild West.John Schieder and his oh so tight jeans in the Dukes of Hazzard.Gary Sandy from WKRP,oh when will that come out on DVD so we can relive the photo shot episode.
Comment by Richard — August 16, 2006 @ 1:08 am
To show how old I am, it was Troy Donahue in Surfside Six.
Comment by Ben — August 16, 2006 @ 9:41 am
Let’s see. First there was the Phantom and Prince Valiant in the comics. Then Mark Lester in “Oliver!” Then Bobby Sherman and David Cassidy. Leonard Whiting in “Romeo & Juliet.” And remember that really hot shower scene in “Midnight Express”? So many men. So many fantasies. Fortunately, I found a real live one of my own.
Comment by Rick — August 16, 2006 @ 11:31 am
First-the older Hardy Boy, Parker Stevenson. Then, after I saw Star Wars-no not Luke–but Han Solo. That lasted me all through my late youth through my teens when he left space to become Indiana Jones-which lasted me through my teens.
Comment by Troy — August 16, 2006 @ 11:25 pm
I am also going to show my age but for me it was Steve Reeves as Hercules and with Gordon Scott in Duel of the Titans. I also thought Johnny Crawford in the Rifleman could share my bunk in the bunkhouse and Luke Halprin (the older brother in Flipper) could help me with my wetsuit
Comment by Rich — September 18, 2006 @ 8:17 pm
I’m older than the others - my first was James Dean, than Rock Hudson. Giants, with both of them! I had to sneak into the cinema through the back door to see East of Eden.
Comment by Gert — September 30, 2006 @ 4:27 pm
For me I can actually remember when Ron Ely (tv’s Tarzan) was on the cover of TV Guide and my thumb was the size of his loin cloth. With my thumb in place, he appeared to be nude. I think that’s when I learned to masterbate.
Comment by Bill — October 2, 2006 @ 9:17 am
Johnny Weismuller, an early Tarzan in the movies and Charles Atlas, a magazine heman who advertized bodybuilding. Later on, Tom Sellick and more recently that guy Michael Weiss I think his name is, see the pattern muscular and or hairy guys…. Now I’ll take John Cena…
Comment by John O — October 11, 2006 @ 8:37 am
Strange but true. For me, it was Aquaman, the ’70’s Aquaman. He with that ultimate swimmer’s physique, blond helmet hair, steely blue eyes, and a seeming lack of serious interest in the women folk around him.
Hey, the new Aquaman is even hotter!
Comment by Marlin — October 26, 2006 @ 6:21 pm
I am hopeless in love with Jan-Michael Vincent. I’ll take him as he is. Drunk and all. I know he is really gay. He always looked it maybe that is why he drank all of his life. Hey- being gay is not all that bad if you’re with someone you like. I knew his maneger was a gay older man. I’ve met him in 1976. Jan had tight pants that only gay people wore He also had a very handsome gay face. That is why I have been deeply been in love withall of my life I’ve met woman who he’s dated but Jan was like Rock Hudson who could still have sex with woman. Drinking is only a sympton that means that there is someting else going on. I don’t care if he can’t face it because I don’t ever think it is realistic that we are ever going to get togeather. Best wishes and much gay loving to Jan! We don’t have to sleep with Jan to love and admire this beautiful man.
Comment by Tommy — November 9, 2006 @ 1:10 am
For me it was model/actor Jon-Erik Hexum in the early 80s.
Comment by Anonymous — February 11, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
My very first gay crushes were on THE DUKES OF HAZZARD-era Tom Wopat and John Schneider. Even though I was only 6 years old-ish when that show was on, I felt a strong attraction to those guys/characters (even though I did not realize exactly what I was feeling at that age). And when I happen to catch reruns now, I still feel a certain stirring.
Comment by Mike — February 22, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
Yup I kinda agree. I remember as an 8 year old being awoken by the raw beauty of Jan Michael Vincent, seen in The Worlds Greatest Athlete. Whaoh he hit the spot.
Comment by Ronie — March 14, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Jan Michael Vincent is one of the sexiest men ever, whenever I saw him it was pure lust and attraction, my gaydar goes all the way up and I am from Italy so…all the worlds the same!!!
Comment by ol'nick — December 29, 2007 @ 11:21 am
— Undoubtedly it was Robert Conrad in his tight leather Wild, Wild West pants — taking off his shirt again! O those hormone filled nights…..
Comment by alfonso — March 11, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
dude, tony dow tony dow tony dow
Comment by Anonymous — July 12, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
just a little more on tony dow. butch little fuck, round ass in tight pants, perfect face, and so very comfortable with a big bat
Comment by Anonymous — July 13, 2008 @ 10:45 am
I would have to say the first crush was Little Joe on Bonanza. I was a car freak, and every Sunday night I was glued to the floor in front of the TV, Chevy used to advertise on (I think they sponsered the show?) but it would go from Little Joe with that wondrous package in those tight jeans to a beautiful Chevy commercial. I still drive Chevy’s……..
Comment by kosmiken — November 27, 2008 @ 11:09 pm
Ed Asner as Lou Grant did it for me, hairiness & maturity mmmmmmm……. I still get the thrills when I see photos of him !
Comment by Patrick B. — January 10, 2009 @ 11:36 pm
Lyle Waggoner on The Sonny and Cher show. I must have been 5 when he came on the screen in a loincloth. Lee Majors, of course. Gil Gerard from Buck Rogers. Christopher Reeve in the first Superman movie.
Comment by Troy — February 21, 2009 @ 12:38 am
How about William Shatner on Star Trek? As a 6-year old I always felt jealous of the alien women who got to kiss him. Henry Winkler as The Fonz also attracted me in a way I didn’t quite understand.
Comment by Jake H. — June 30, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
Did you ever like Donny Osmond?
Comment by sam carter — July 9, 2009 @ 12:50 am
gays make me sick go die you freaks
Comment by will — November 4, 2009 @ 3:40 pm