Actor once outed by tabloid publicly bids farewell to acting career after 30-plus years
Chad Allen was regular on TV’s Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman and went on to play many gay roles
When Chad Allen was in the middle of a six-year run playing Jane Seymour’s son on the TV series Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman, he was cruelly outed when photos of him kissing a guy were sold to a tabloid in 1996.
But instead of going away, Allen spent nearly two more decades working on television, in movies and on the stage as an openly gay actor.
This week, Allen publicly said goodbye to that part of his life – on his terms.
Allen, 40, posted a YouTube video commemorating the end of his fansite and said he has been studying the past two years to be a clinical psychologist.
‘It’s been an incredible journey … working on the incredible shows that I’ve been able to work on over the years,’ he said in the video. ‘I’m incredibly grateful and always will be.’
His most recent acting credit was the 2011 film Fright Flick and a 2010 episode of Dexter.
‘My life has taken me on a very different trajectory and after 30-plus years as an actor. I made a decision a couple of years ago to let go of that side of my life go and I’ve been focusing on my education.’
A child star who had a recurring roles on St. Elsewhere, Webster, My Two Dads and Our House, Allen’s biggest success was on Dr. Quinn in the role of Matthew Cooper.
After the end of Dr. Quinn in 1998, Allen went on to become a high-profile LGBTI activist.
He also took on several gay roles on stage in The Little Dog Laughed, in the feature films Save Me and Hollywood, je t’aime, and on television on General Hospital: Night Shift and in a series of TV movies as private eye Donald Strachey.
Last fall, Allen raised more than $13,000 for people living with HiV/AIDS by running a marathon in Australia.
‘That work won’t end,’ he says of his HIV-AIDS fundraising. ‘I promise you.’
Further reading:
But instead of going away, Allen spent nearly two more decades working on television, in movies and on the stage as an openly gay actor.
This week, Allen publicly said goodbye to that part of his life – on his terms.
Allen, 40, posted a YouTube video commemorating the end of his fansite and said he has been studying the past two years to be a clinical psychologist.
‘It’s been an incredible journey … working on the incredible shows that I’ve been able to work on over the years,’ he said in the video. ‘I’m incredibly grateful and always will be.’
His most recent acting credit was the 2011 film Fright Flick and a 2010 episode of Dexter.
‘My life has taken me on a very different trajectory and after 30-plus years as an actor. I made a decision a couple of years ago to let go of that side of my life go and I’ve been focusing on my education.’
A child star who had a recurring roles on St. Elsewhere, Webster, My Two Dads and Our House, Allen’s biggest success was on Dr. Quinn in the role of Matthew Cooper.
After the end of Dr. Quinn in 1998, Allen went on to become a high-profile LGBTI activist.
He also took on several gay roles on stage in The Little Dog Laughed, in the feature films Save Me and Hollywood, je t’aime, and on television on General Hospital: Night Shift and in a series of TV movies as private eye Donald Strachey.
Last fall, Allen raised more than $13,000 for people living with HiV/AIDS by running a marathon in Australia.
‘That work won’t end,’ he says of his HIV-AIDS fundraising. ‘I promise you.’
Further reading: