Gale Harold
An actor with a smoldering, dangerous presence who broke ground as television's first openly gay leading man in a major dramatic series.
Born 1969 (age 57)·American actor·Birthday: July 10·Generation X
Biography
Gale Harold arrived on screen with the force of a natural event. With little formal training, he landed the role that would define his early career: Brian Kinney on Showtime's 'Queer as Folk.' As the unapologetically hedonistic and fiercely independent ad executive, Harold didn't just play a part; he embodied a cultural lightning rod. His performance was raw, charismatic, and uncompromising, making Brian an icon for a generation of viewers seeking complex LGBTQ+ representation. The role could have typecast him, but Harold deliberately pivoted, seeking out characters that subverted his heartthrob image. He embraced the brutal world of 'Deadwood' as the tragic cowboy Wyatt Earp, brought a slick menace to 'Desperate Housewives,' and played a range of morally ambiguous figures on shows like 'The Secret Circle' and 'Defiance.' His career path reflects a deliberate choice to work against expectation, valuing interesting roles over mainstream fame.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Gale was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gale Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Gale's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He played Brian Kinney, the groundbreaking lead character on the American adaptation of 'Queer as Folk' for its entire five-season run.
- He earned a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his work on 'Queer as Folk'.
- He portrayed the historical figure Wyatt Earp in the acclaimed HBO Western series 'Deadwood'.
- He has had recurring roles on major network series including 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'The Secret Circle,' and 'The CW's 'Hellcats'.
Did You Know?
Before acting, he worked as a carpenter, a motorcycle courier, and a nightclub manager.
He is a dedicated motorcycle enthusiast and has owned and restored several vintage bikes.
He studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts but left before graduating to pursue work.
He is an accomplished soccer player and was offered a sports scholarship to university.
“Brian Kinney is not a role model. He's a character. And characters are supposed to be flawed.”
