A Half-Century Later, the Secret Gay Life and Tragic Death of William Haines Are Revealed

He was born on January 2, 1900, in Staunton, Virginia, and died on December 26, 1973. In the interim, he relinquished his first name and achieved prominence as both a motion picture actor and an interior designer. He was the first openly gay actor to gain prominence in Hollywood. This is the account of his life. The gay rights movement gained significant momentum following the Stonewall riots. It was not permitted to depict homosexual relationships in motion pictures, but actors were free to live their lives as they saw fit. William Haines was a pioneering figure. Following his designation as one of New York's most promising new actors, he convened with MGM studio executives, asserting, "I am your new prized beauty." Four years later, he encountered Jimmie Shields in New York. In the aftermath of the Great Depression and the Hollywood norms that governed the status of stars, Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM, advised Haines to terminate his relationship with Shields and marry. Haines was subsequently dismissed from his role due to his refusal to comply. In September 1930, William Haines inaugurated a boutique at 1522 La Brea Avenue in Hollywood. That same year, he was the second-highest-grossing male box-office star, behind only Joan Crawford, the second-highest-grossing female box-office star. In 1932, while filming their movie Are You Listening, Haines proposed to Anita Page, with whom he had formed a close friendship and shared acting credits. She declined his proposal, but the two remained on amicable terms. In 1930, Haines was the highest-grossing male film star, while Crawford was the highest-grossing female film star. The same year, he relocated from Hollywood and established a 1522 La Brea Avenue boutique. William Haines and Jimmy Shields maintained a relationship for over 50 years. They remained together until Haines's demise in December 1973. Three months later, in a tragic turn of events, Shields took his own life. It was a poignant conclusion to a remarkable life and partnership.