Stanley Baxter, 94, comes out as gay and says he brought men home with wife's blessing
Veteran actor Stanley Baxter has bravely come out as gay aged 94 and explained he made a pact with his wife allowing him to bring men home with her blessing
Veteran actor Stanley Baxter has bravely come out as gay at the age of 95 and explained how he brought men home with his wife's blessing.
The telly star, best known for his self-named comedy shows as well as kids' TV series Mr Majeika, stepped away from the spotlight 25 years ago.
However, he has now opened up about his life in a new book, The Real Stanley Baxter.
Baxter reveals he spent his entire career hiding his sexuality and discussed the impact it had on his relationship with his wife Moira Robertson, who died in 1997,
In the book, he says he initially broke off his relationship with Moira when she told him she wanted to get married.
Explaining he felt bad about hurting her, he wrote: "I couldn't entertain such a thought [marriage] and I felt the relationship simply had to stop, so I broke it off.
"However, Moira was very, very upset. I kept getting those sheep’s eyes every time she passed me in the theatre and she appeared to be heartbroken...
"I told her my preference and said: 'That’s why I am breaking off the relationship. This would be no life for you, married to someone who is essentially and primarily a homosexual.'”
He claims she was very upset and threatened to jump out of a window, so he determined to continue the relationship and get married.
After they wed, Baxter claims they had a pact which allowed him to bring men home with her blessing.
He went on: "I couldn't put up with very long periods of not being with men.
"Thankfully Moira was very understanding. If there were someone I were interested in, I could bring them home.
"And she was very good about letting them go to bed with me. She would go off to our bedroom and let me take the one opposite."
Baxter's world came crashing down in 1962 when was arrested at a public toilet in north London on suspicion of soliciting for sex.
In the book, he explained he was terrified his career would be over but his lawyer managed to get the charge dropped.
His marriage to Moira was troubled over the next few years as she battled mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She died in 1997 aged 69 after suffering an overdose.
The actor admits he started turning down work towards the end of his career and eventually withdrew from showbiz completely.
In the book, he added of his sexuality: "Anybody would be insane to choose to live such a very difficult life.
"There are many gay people these days who are fairly comfortable with their sexuality, fairly happy with who they are. I’m not. I never wanted to be gay. I still don’t."
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