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Nathan Lane Was Told ‘I Was Too Gay’ for ‘Space Jam’ Role of Michael Jordan’s Assistant, but Lane Was Relieved: ‘Thank God I Didn’t Have to Do It’

Nathan Lane was up for a role in 'Space Jam' to star as Michael Jordan's assistant. He was told he was 'too gay to play the part.'

Apparently the director saw me hosting the Tony Awards and thought that suggested I was too gay to play the part. Lane thought his profile in Hollywood would be raised significantly after the success off 1996’s “The Birdcage,” directed by Mike Nichols and co-starring Rob Williams. Lane was nervous about doing an interview on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as “The Birdcage” was one of his first major film roles, and he did not want to come out publicly as gay at the time.

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