Nathan Lane Reveals Homophobia Cost Him a Role in ‘Space Jam’

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Emmy-winning actor Nathan Lane has built a reputation for his work in numerous projects. He lent his voice to Timon in Disney’s The Lion King, portrayed Albert Goldman in The Birdcage, and more recently, played Dominick Dunne in the contentious Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. However, there’s one role Lane claims he missed out on due to a baseless prejudice: homophobia. This role was eventually given to an actor from Seinfeld for an apparently absurd reason.

In 1999, Lane publicly identified as gay, and he recently shared stories about his life and work with Vanity Fair. When questioned if homophobia may have restricted his roles in Hollywood, the esteemed stage actor suggested that it might not have been a factor in every lost opportunity, but he did point out an instance where it clearly surfaced. The film in question was the popular 1996 family sports comedy, “Space Jam.

I can only speculate about what happens in private, but it seems plausible that it had some influence. I was informed that it affected a film I wasn’t particularly interested in – Space Jam. Surprisingly, the role that Jerry Seinfeld’s show co-star eventually got was one I had considered taking.

Stan Podolak originally auditioned and prepared for the role of Michael Jordan’s assistant in Space Jam, a position eventually given to Wayne Knight, renowned for his character Newman from Seinfeld. Prior to Space Jam, Knight had already made an impact as the troubled computer programmer Dennis Nedry in Jurassic Park, which was three years before his audition for Space Jam. Lane further stated, “I had been considered for that role.

It seems that Joe Pytka, the director, assumed my hosting of the Tony Awards implied I was too open about being gay to play the part in Space Jam. Fortunately, I didn’t have to take on that role. [Laughs] Still, I can never be certain what people might think or say. Unfortunately, homophobia remains prevalent today.

Nathan Lane Thought ‘The Birdcage’ Would Lead to Bigger and Better Things

Not long after missing the role in Space Jam, The Birdcage unexpectedly came to Lane. This film was based on the 1973 French play La Cage aux Folles and featured Lane and Robin Williams as a gay couple whose son was about to marry the daughter of a conservative senator and his wife. With a budget of $31 million, the comedy went on to gross over $185 million at the box office. Lane believed this success would open doors for more significant roles. Regrettably, it didn’t, and his agent’s disparaging remark confirmed his suspicion that homophobia was indeed a problem in Hollywood.

The Birdcage arrived, leading me to believe that its success might pave the way for other films. However, this didn’t happen. Not at all. I expressed my thoughts to my agent, ‘I assumed there would be more after The Birdcage.’ He replied, ‘Perhaps if you were less open about your personal life, things might have turned out differently.’

Fortunately, Lane dismissed that agent not long after. Coming up next for him is “Mid-Century Modern,” a Hulu original comedy series. This show, set in Palm Springs, is reminiscent of “Golden Girls” but with a twist – it features three male leads instead of four women. In this version, Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham play the roles of three gay men who decide to live together. The entire first season will be available this Friday, March 28.

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2025-03-25 17:03