Was Chuck Connors Gay? [Why Is His Sexuality Doubtful]

Chuck Connors gained so much fame due to his role as Lucas McCain in the Television show, Rifleman. He took up this role at the end of his career as a professional baseball and basketball player.

Subsequently, Connors’ success in acting placed him on a pedestal for public scrutiny. This led to many discussions and debates regarding his relationships and sexuality.

Many of these debates and discussions attempt to answer the question, “was Chuck Connors gay?”

This article will provide all the vital information about Chuck Connors’s sexuality. It will also explain the reason why many people speculate that Chuck Connors might be gay.

Chuck Connors’ Background

Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors, popularly known as Chuck Connors, was born to Marcella and Alban Francis Connors on the 10th of April 1921 in Brooklyn.

Connors’s parents were both Irish immigrants from Newfoundland and Labrador. They were Catholics and raised Chuck and his sister Gloria as such.

In fact, Chuck served as an altar boy at Basilica Our Lady Perpetual Help Parish in Brooklyn.

Chuck Connors also grew up very athletic. His athleticism earned him a scholarship opportunity to the Adelphi Academy (a preparatory school).

Upon completion of his studies at this school, Connors got several athletic scholarships offers from various universities.

After careful consideration, he decided on Seton Hall University in New Jersey. There, he represented the school in various basketball and baseball competitions.

He also participated in track events.

It’s important to add that it was at Seton Hull University he changed his first name from Kelvin to Chuck. He made the change because he disliked the name.

However, Chuck Connors eventually didn’t complete his studies at Seton Hull University. He dropped out to sign a professional baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the team he had always dreamed of being a part of.

At the end of his contract, he joined the Norfolk Tars, where he played a total of 72 games.

Chuck Connors Playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers

In October 1942, Connors enlisted in the United States Army after America joined World War II. He served as a tank instructor for most of his service years until his discharge from military service in February 1946.

In no time after being discharged, Chuck Connors joined the Rochester Royals (presently known as Sacramento Kings). Connors also played for the Boston Celtics from 1947-1948.

Nevertheless, Chuck didn’t achieve so much success as a basketball player.

Chuck Connors as a Basketball Player for the Celtics

At the end of Chuck Connors’s athletic career, he delved into the world of acting. He quickly gained a lot of popularity after appearing in various television shows such as “Old Yeller,” “Rifleman,” and “Flipper.”

Chuck Connors Playing the Role of Lucas McCain in Rifleman

Why People Speculate that Chuck Connors Was Gay

More often than not, it was easy to find Chuck Connors hanging out with his male friends. To this effect, there were pictures of him laughing or even sharing a hug with some of those friends.

Chuck Connors with Bill Russell

This friendship dynamic made many wonder if Chuck Connors was gay, even though he never hinted at the very idea.

Some believed that he was gay but never came out to announce it because of how the public would react to the news of him being gay. Others assert that he was confused about his sexuality.

Chuck Connors Addressing His Sexuality

During his lifetime Chuck Connors never discussed anything about his sexuality. He neither affirmed nor denied the rumors of his being gay.

He was mainly focused on his acting career and avoided any kind of distraction. It’s, therefore, no surprise that he featured in about fifteen movies before his death.

At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated to be approximately $5 million.

Are the Speculations True? Was Chuck Connors Gay?

There is no evidence to prove that Chuck Connors was gay. On the contrary, his lifestyle portrays him as heterosexual.

For instance, it’s a well-known fact that he was married three times and all to women.

As such, we can only conclude his relationships with his male friends were purely platonic.

Chuck Connors’s First Wife and Children

Chuck Connors’s first wife was Elizabeth Jane Riddell Connors. Chuck and Elizabeth got married on the 1st of October 1948.

Following their marriage, Chuck and Elizabeth were eager to start a family.

Chuck and Elizabeth Connors

As such, they had their first child, Michael, in November 1950. Afterward, they welcomed their second child Jeffrey who was born in 1952.

In 1953, they had their third child Stephen and their fourth baby Kevin was born in 1956.

ck Connors with Elizabeth and their sons

Kevin and Elizabeth built a family house that had everything that their four male children may desire. The house had a big size swimming pool, a tree house, and even a shelter for some farm animals.

However, after 14 years of marriage, Chuck and Elizabeth got divorced.

Chuck Connors’s Second Wife

Chuck Connors’ second wife was Kamala Devi. They both became an item after co-starring in the movie “Geronimo.”

And in 1963, the pair tied the knot.

Kamala Devi and Chuck Connors on Set

Chuck Connors and Kamala Devi in the Movie “Branded”

Kamala Devi and Chuck Connors

After their marriage, they co-starred in other movies such as “Branded,” “Broken Sabre,” and “Cowboy in Africa.”

Unfortunately, after 10 years of marriage, Connors and Devi separated in 1973.

Chuck Connors’s Third Wife

During the production of the movie “Soylent Green,” Chuck Connors met actress Faith Quabius. They established a relationship and wedded in 1977.

Faith Quabius

The marriage was short-lived, as they divorced in 1979. Subsequently, Chuck Connors never remarried. However, before his death, he dated Rose Mary Grumley.

Chuck Connors died on November 10, 1992, at the age of 71, due to lung cancer. This was primarily a result of his longtime smoking habit.

Bottom Line

Chuck Connors was a man loved by almost everyone. He maintained a good relationship with everyone, irrespective of sex, race, or background.

His type of personality led to the generation and the spread of certain speculations regarding his sexuality. Nevertheless, his personal life and relationships establish the fact that Chuck Connors wasn’t gay.