Władziu Valentino Liberace, better known by his mononym, “Liberace,” was an American pianist and entertainer. He was born on May 16, 1919, in West Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to a family of Italian and Polish descent. Liberace came from a musical family and started playing the piano at only four years old. Growing up, he gravitated towards fashion, music, and cooking, but was constantly teased and mocked for being different. Nevertheless, this didn’t stop the future superstar from taking his music lessons.
During the Great Depression, Liberace started performing in cabarets and strip clubs to make ends meet for his family. Although his parents didn’t approve, they couldn’t complain since their son was bringing in money during difficult times. It turned out that Liberace had a gift for showmanship and by the 1940s, he had created a name for himself by playing in nightclubs around the country. It wasn’t long before the rising performer landed in Las Vegas and dropped his first name, this time only going by his famous stage name.
At the peak of his fame, Liberace was the richest performer in the world. Aside from his Las Vegas residency, he had national and international tours, recordings, endorsements, films, and an extremely popular fan club. Liberace was known for many things including his flamboyant costumes, flashy performance style, and trademark phrases, earning him the nickname of “Mr. Showmanship.” He was undoubtedly a sex symbol and an icon of excess both in his public and personal life.
Despite the glowing reviews, extravagant wealth, and adoration from his fans worldwide, Liberace’s life was not without its challenges. Up until his death, the performer was plagued with allegations regarding his sexuality, money, and relationships. He fought several lawsuits and was even on the brink of death at least once. Today’s feature will answer some of the most sizzling questions that have hounded the performer throughout his life. So, was Liberace gay? Read on below to find out.
VOTE: What was Liberace’s Sexuality?
Liberace’s Relationships
Since his debut on the stage and up until his death, Liberace never married. This fact coupled with his bachelor personality and extravagant lifestyle led people to believe that he must be gay. Although it was later confirmed that the performer was indeed a homosexual, Liberace strongly denied the rumors. In fact, he was so anxious to make the rumors go away that he got engaged to a dancer named JoAnn Del Rio. The pair never made it down the aisle and went on their separate ways once the talks died down.
It wasn’t the last time that Liberace got engaged – when the gay allegations started building up again, he proposed to Sonja Henie, an Olympian who won gold in figure skating. Like his engagement to Del Rio, this relationship was also short-lived.
While Liberace flirted with female fans on stage, he was leading a double life behind closed doors. The performer had many male lovers to whom he often gifted lavish tokens. It’s debatable whether his family and friends knew about his sexuality, but if they did, they turned a blind eye. According to reports, Liberace’s mother believed that he would soon settle down once he found the right woman – he never did.
Among Liberace’s long list of lovers, Scott Thorson was undoubtedly the most famous. The duo met in the early 1980s when the performer hired the young Thorson to be his companion. They lived together for five years before Thorson decided to sue Liberace for $113 million in palimony after he was evicted from their shared home. The lawsuit brought unwanted press for Liberace who strongly denied having relations with Thorson.
In 1986, Thorson’s case was settled out of court and he received a cash settlement and three cars among other things. However, the story didn’t end there. Liberace’s scorned lover would then publish a book detailing the performer’s private life. Thorson’s book, “Behind the Candelabra” spilled details on Liberace’s relationships, insecurities, and eccentrities.
One of Thorson’s biggest revelations was that Liberace was actually bald. The performer was so insecure about his hair that he insisted on wearing wigs at all times. Thorson also rebuked Liberace’s former claim that he lost his virginity to a female stripper. According to his book, the entertainer first had intercourse with a footballer from the Green Bay Packers.
Despite the heavy allegations, Liberace never publicly acknowledged his relationship with Thorson and insisted that he was straight. It wasn’t until decades after his death, when Liberace’s close friend, Betty White, confirmed that the performer was indeed gay. White also insisted that Liberace’s managers often used her to cover up his hidden sexuality.
The Pianist’s Infamous Lawsuits
In 1959, Liberace sued Daily Mirror, a British newspaper, after it published an article describing the performer as “fruit-flavored.” The performer protested this description because it implied that he was a homosexual. Liberace insisted on the derogatory expression and eventually won the case. He was awarded $22,400 in damages which led to his famous phrase, “I cried all the way to the bank!”
Around the same time, Liberace also settled a case with Confidential, an American publication. The gossip magazine published an issue with the performer on the cover and a caption heavily implying that he was gay. Liberace sued the publication and won the suit as well.
Liberace’s Death
On February 4, 1987, Liberace passed away in his home in Palm Springs after a long battle with pneumonia. Later on, it was revealed that the performer was secretly diagnosed with HIV years prior. He kept his diagnosis to himself and never sought treatment. It’s important to note that at the time of his death, he was allegedly in a relationship with his personal assistant, Cary James Wyman. They were reportedly together for seven years until Liberace’s death. Wyman also died in 1997 due to complications from HIV.
Was Liberace Gay?
Yes, Liberace was gay. Throughout his life, he was in sexual and romantic relationships with men. Two of his well-known lovers included Scott Thorson and Cary James Wyman. The former stayed as his partner until his death while the latter sued him after his dismissal. Liberace was also engaged to two different women to counter gay rumors but he never married them. At this point, it’s clear that the world-class performer was actually gay.
Featured Image: “Liberace”, by Alan Light, licensed under CC BY 2.0 DEED