UPDATE: “Paul Winfield’s Secret Life EXPOSED — The Truth Hollywood Tried To Hide”
Paul Winfield was a Hollywood legend—an Oscar nominee, Emmy winner, and a trailblazer for Black actors in film and television. But for more than 30 years, Winfield lived with a secret that, if revealed, could have ended his career. His story is not just one of talent, but of survival in an industry that demanded he hide his true self.
Born in Dallas in 1939, Winfield was raised by his single mother, Lois, a union organizer who taught him dignity must be claimed, not given. Moving to Los Angeles, Winfield stood out early for his intellect and acting ability, eventually earning scholarships to Stanford and UCLA. In the 1960s, opportunities for Black actors were rare and often limited to stereotypical roles. Winfield was determined to change that.
His breakthrough came in 1968 with the TV series “Julia,” starring Diahann Carroll. He played her boyfriend, bringing depth and intelligence to the role. But it was the 1972 film “Sounder” that made him a household name. As Nathan Lee Morgan, a sharecropper fighting to keep his family together, Winfield delivered a performance so powerful it earned him an Oscar nomination—making him only the third Black actor ever nominated for Best Actor.
Despite his rising fame, Winfield faced a personal struggle. During the filming of “Sounder,” he confided in co-star Cicely Tyson that he was gay—a revelation that could have destroyed his career in the hostile climate of 1970s Hollywood. Tyson protected his secret, and Winfield went on to build a life with Charles Gillan Jr., a set designer. Their relationship lasted three decades, but was kept hidden from the public eye.
Winfield’s career flourished. He played Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the miniseries “King,” starred in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” and “The Terminator,” and appeared in countless TV shows like “LA Law” and “Murder, She Wrote.” Directors loved him for his commitment and versatility, and he finally won an Emmy in 1995 for “Picket Fences.”
But the cost of secrecy was high. Winfield and Gillan lived in the shadows, never able to publicly acknowledge their love. Winfield battled obesity and diabetes, struggles made worse by the stress of hiding his true identity. When Gillan died of bone cancer in 2002, Winfield grieved privately, unable to share his loss with the world.
Winfield died in 2004 at age 64, just two years after Gillan. His estate was modest—reflecting the reality that even successful working actors rarely achieve vast wealth. Obituaries praised his career but rarely mentioned Gillan or the life they built together.
Today, Winfield’s legacy is being reclaimed. He’s recognized as a pioneer for Black actors and for the LGBTQ community, celebrated for his courage and artistry. The real scandal isn’t that Winfield was gay, but that he had to hide it for so long. His story is a reminder of the progress made—and the work still to be done—so that future generations can live and love authentically.
Paul Winfield’s life proves that true greatness is not just about talent, but about the courage to persevere, even when the world isn’t ready to accept you.
—
