Charles Nelson Reilly was one of the few in an era when being "out" that lived his life on his own terms. Mind you he didn't flaunt things, but neither did he hide them, the man just simply was himself. This in an era when many others would rather not be seen with CNR in public for fear of being outed by association, but that never bothered Mr. Reilly, nor his loyal friends.
What most probably thought is that Mr.Reilly's campy way was amusing and never gave his sexuality a second thought,sort of like Mr. Paul Lynde. Happily CNR never had the sort of scandalous priviate life of the later. Much of this is coming out in the various obits to CNR, praising the man and his talent. He never pretended to be something he wasn't, OTHO neither did he force things down people's throats (very important in that era), but if you were up on things, you "knew".
Many serious actors looked down on televison, which in the 1950's was a new medium, and by the 1970's though still not considered "art" attracted many former "stars" from Broadway. CNR once quipped, that once one did television there was no going back to the theatre. The laugh was, according to a friend, CNR would then flip through TV Guide and count how many programmes he was on that week.*LOL* In short televison might not have the prestige of Broadway, but it sure put meat on the table.
Sad Mr.Reilly never wrote an autobiography, a la Mr. Farely Granger. Oh the stories he could probably have told! *LOL*
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