Ryan Phillippe just gave us a good glimpse of his career-shaping experience. He was the first openly gay teenager on daytime television more than three decades ago. Immediately at age 17 he joined the cast of One Life to Live in 1992. He took on the role of Billy Douglas, a teen who dealt with the struggles of coming out to his family.
That experience, at once awe-inspiring as well as overwhelming, was how Phillippe described it. He candidly acknowledged that he was afraid to accept such a large, challenging role. This fear was compounded by the societal stigma of the early ’90s. “I was so young that there were elements of me that were afraid because it was such a different time,” he shared. His performance as Billy Douglas became a watershed moment in his career. Though, at that time, he didn’t quite understand the magnitude of how important it was going to be.
Billy Douglas was a closeted friend, and secret admirer, of Joey Buchanan. His internal conflict resonated with audiences and became one of the most relatably iconic movies of all time. Phillippe played this iconic role until 1993, but reception from fans was quick and intense. Many viewers reached out to express their gratitude, with one fan stating, “I’ve never seen someone represent me in any entertainment before in my life.” Another viewer remarked, “watching this show on my lunch break gave me a way to connect with my LGBTQ child.”
The influence of Phillippe’s performance reached even farther than the screen. He received numerous letters from both teens and parents, highlighting how his character provided representation during a time when such visibility was scarce. Stepping into this role wasn’t without its challenges. It ignited more than a little debate inside the Phillippe home.
Reflecting on the era in which he played Billy Douglas, Phillippe noted, “I think there were some fears associated with the point in time that we were at, and it being before so many walls and ceilings have been broken.” Still, in spite of these fears, he understood that any potential unease about his portrayal would be immediately dissipated by the positive response from those watching. “I know that any fears that anyone had about me doing it immediately went away once I saw the reaction that it got from the people who viewed it,” he stated.
Unbeknownst to us, Ryan Phillippe was pretty close to 50 years old in this pic. He deliberately contemplates how his character opened doors for more consistent queer representation on TV. His time playing Billy Douglas was one of the most important periods of his life and career. It’s a highpoint in his artistic trajectory, to be sure, but in the larger story of LGBTQ visibility onscreen.
