" 

 Noel Coward, Michael Redgrave, Rex Harrison, the Attenboroughs, Richard Burton, John Mills, Donald Sinden and many others knew full well that Dirk was gay. It was hardly a secret, he didn't even look hetrosexual. Gareth and Elizabeth have both confirmed Dirk was gay. And no, homosexulaity was only illegal until he was 46, he lived another 32 years after that. Rock Hudson, Liberace, Freddie Mercury, Denholm Elliott and many other obviously gay men never publicly announced they were gay either. If they hadn't died of AIDS we still wouldn't know. It was for younger stars like Elton John, George Michael and David Bowie to do that when it became fashionable in the 1970s. Remember, Dirk intended to retire after he filmed ""Death in Venice"" in 1970, and again after ""The Night Porter"". He virtually retired from acting after making ""Despair"" in 1977. He didn't even consider himself to be a celebrity any more. It seems that you have some kind of strange agenda here to deny the homosexuality of dead actors. I suggest you find a real hobby instead. ( )"