Robert Gant is perhaps best known as one of the stars of Showtime’s hit television series, “Queer as Folk.” As Professor Ben Bruckner in that groundbreaking show, Gant explored broad dramatic terrain. His character’s wedding in the series was, in fact, the first legal gay marriage ever portrayed on television. Gant also traveled across the Atlantic to star as the sole American cast member in the BBC British series, “Personal Affairs.” He became television’s first gay spy in the film, “Kiss Me Deadly” for Here! Television and starred with “House’s” Lisa Edelstein in the Lifetime movie, “Special Delivery.” In addition to these projects, some of his recurring roles include principal Calvin Krupps on The WB’s “Popular,” Caroline’s boyfriend Trevor on NBC’s “Caroline in the City” and lawyer David Sherman on “The Young and the Restless.” Currently, he recurs as Melissa Benoist’s Kryptonian father Zor-El on “Supergirl” and as Todd Crimsen on Netflix’s new series, “Thirteen Reasons Why.”
Gant has had many notable guest spots on such TV hits as “Friends,” where he played one of two men Phoebe was dating simultaneously, “Castle,” “The Closer,” “Nip/Tuck,” “Bones,” “Hot in Cleveland,” the “CSI’s,” “Mike and Molly,” “NCIS” and “Shameless,” to name a few. He has also appeared in numerous films and recently wrapped the indie features, Love is All You Need and A Million Happy Nows. Gant will soon begin filming a starring role in the period drama Milada, the true story of Czech heroine Milada Horakova, who was, in 1950, the first woman in Czech history who was executed by the Communists.
Gant’s love of acting and performing began at an early age. He started doing television commercials and joined the Screen Actors Guild at the age of 10 in his home state of Florida. He attended college at the University of Pennsylvania and went on to law school at Georgetown University. While studying, he never gave up on his true passions and took part in numerous theatrical productions. Interestingly, it was his career as an attorney that brought him to Los Angeles when he accepted a position with the world’s largest law firm. In a twist of fate, the firm’s Los Angeles office was closed soon after. Taking that as a sign, he made the decision to focus all his time on the entertainment business.
His time in Hollywood is not limited to performing, however. Gant was a producing partner in the film and television production company, Mythgarden. Their feature film Save Me, in which he stars along with Judith Light and Chad Allen, premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and opened Outfest that same year. Gant has also recently completed the first draft of his first novel and, with a writing partner, is developing television projects and penning screenplays.
While he has given time to a number of philanthropic and political causes, such as HRC (by which he was given their National Equality Award), GLAAD (by which he was given their Davidson/Valentini Award for the promotion of equal rights in the community), and Lambda Legal, Gant’s “torch issue” has been that of aging in the gay community. He’s supported such organizations as SAGE (Senior Advocacy for GLBT Elders), which named him their first Honorary Elder, and GLEH (Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing), for which he served as a Board Member, and has been committed to addressing the community’s collective challenge of growing old, alone. In March of 2016, Robert received the ADL Heroes Award from the Anti-Defamation League for his work on behalf of the LGBT and aging communities.
