When actor/artist Thom Bierdz was asked to return to The Young and the Restless after a twenty year absence, he stated that he’d love to~~if he could play a gay man.
When Bierdz first played Philip Chancellor III on daytime TV’s top rated soap, he was a teen idol–and deeply closeted off screen.
As he recalls in his superb memoir, Forgiving Troy, he lived in fear, but yearned to come out. During the 1980s, sexual honesty in Hollywood meant career suicide.
Bierdz left the series in 1989. Soon after, he suffered through a series of real-life events that made his soap opera exploits seem tame in comparison. One shocking day, his mentally ill brother Troy picked up a baseball bat and murdered their Mom. In Forgiving Troy, Bierdz recounts the long, hard road to forgiveness, and his coming-out process. He also had to deal with the suicide of his other brother.
What Thom Bierdz lived through might have broken the spirit of a weaker person, but the now out, proud Bierdz bounced back, and forged a new, very successful career as an artist. He’s highly in demand for his detailed portrait work, often traveling for the many commissions he’s offered.
This past month, Bierdz returned to his second home. On July 7th, 2009, Y&R viewers were in for the shock of their lives: they had already learned that Philip Chancellor III had faked his death 20 years prior. On the 7th, they learned why: Philip didn’t want his conservative loved ones to know that he was gay.
Tricia Cast, who played Philips “widow” Nina, also returned to the show. Nina was the first character that Philip came out to.
“I’m pleased and proud to be a part of such a well written storyline, and hopeful that it may help some people”, Cast said in an email to TWO. “Maybe those who have yet to come out will feel a little freer to do so. And perhaps others will be led to a place of love and acceptance.”
According to the reactions Bierdz is getting from viewers, it would seem that Cast’s wish is coming true.
“I get hundreds of emails from people in the closet thanking me,” Bierdz reports. “And also hundreds from straight families thanking me to help represent the gays in their families. I get kudos from ex-wives of gays, children of gays and mothers of gays.”
The Philip Chancellor storyline may be far more important and significant than non-soap fans realize. The ex-gay ministries that TWO stands up to are strongest in more conservative, rural areas, which, coincidentally, is where soap opera viewership is the highest.
The Young and the Restless could very well be changing minds where they most need to be changed.
Says Thom Bierdz: “I’m honored to be a gay man playing a gay man in such a visible role that’s seen daily by millions of people.”
I think Philip’s presence is needed on this show to show how gay people are normal and a part of everyone’s family. I want to make Philip someone people are proud to know.”
The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS and weeknights on Soap Net.
For more information on Thom Bierdz’ art, or to order his book, Forgiving Troy, please visit:
www.ThomBierdz.com
David Alex Nahmod lives in San Francisco.
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I just got an email from Thom Bierdz:
he LOVES this story and thanks TWO.
He also points out that it’s important for us to let CBS & the show’s producers know that we support gay visibility on television.
Snail mail letters of support may be sent to:
The Young & the Restless
c/o
CBS
7800 Beverly Blvd
LA CA 90036
or email:
yrbb@tvc.cbs.com
Comment by David Alex Nahmod — July 29, 2009 @ 12:46 pm