During his career on stage and screen, the late actor Cliff Gorman learned lightening never strikes twice. After winning an Obie award for portraying Emory in the play The Boys in the Band (1968), the sexy thespian repeated his role for the 1970 film version of the same name. Although he didn’t receive a prize for reprising the part, the movie immortalized his hairy chest! In 1972, Cliff won a Tony for portraying comedian Lenny Bruce in the play Lenny. Yet when he was cast as a similar character in Bob Fosse’s biopic All That Jazz (1979) he didn’t receive any of the film’s nine Oscar nominations. Still, that doesn’t mean Cliff’s performances aren’t worth seeing. After making his movie debut in the George Cukor drama Justine (1969), Cliff appeared in Otto Preminger’s thriller Rosebud (1975) alongside Peter O’Toole and Peter Lawford. Alas, they were the only peters on camera. In 1992, the Queens native exposed his tough side in the crime flicks Night and the City starring Robert De Niro and Hoffa starring Jack Nicholson. Next came Jim Jarmusch’s mafia movie Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999). But Mr. Man was more turned on by Mr. Gorman’s shirtless turn in An Unmarried Woman (1978). Paul Mazursky’s R rated drama features Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates, Michael Murphy, and Cliff’s fab flesh! In fact, the skintastic stud nearly bulges out of his slinky underpants! Sadly, Cliff succumbed to Leukemia in 2002, but we’re glad he shared his body… of work with us!
