Simon Callow - Personal Life

Personal Life

Callow is one of the most prominent gay actors in Britain, listed 28th in the Independent's 2007 listing of the most influential gay men and women in the UK. In 1999 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to acting. For some time Callow lived with director Daniel Kramer. They shared a house in Camden, North London, but have now ended their relationship. He was one of the first actors publicly to declare his homosexuality, doing so in his 1984 book Being An Actor. (In another he revealed his platonic relationship with the theatrical agent Peggy Ramsay who was 40 years his senior.)

'I'm not really an activist, although I am aware that there are some political acts one can do that actually make a difference and I think my coming out as a gay man was probably one of the most valuable things I've done in my life. I don't think any actor had done so voluntarily and I think it helped to change the culture.'

Simon Callow: Laughter in the dark, interview The Independent 2004

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