On the iconic TV series Dynasty, Gordon Thomson played Adam Carrington, the rebellious black sheep of the Carrington family, giving Joan Collins' iconic character Alexis a run for her money. Over his seven-year run on the primetime soap opera, Adam's antics were legendary—he raped his future wife, tried to poison his brother-in-law, and routinely tormented his gay brother. But when the show first cast Gordon, Joan wasn’t thrilled. She thought he was too old to play her long-lost son. Yet, it wasn’t long before Gordon became a fan favorite—and won Joan over, too. “By the end of Dynasty, Joan told me, ‘Gordon, darling, I have feelings for you that are far from maternal,’” Gordon, now 78, revealed exclusively to Closer Weekly. “I was flattered. I mean, this is the woman who had Warren Beatty, for crying out loud!”
Remembering Adam Carrington: The Villain Fans Loved to Hate
Did fans ever confuse you with the villainous Adam Carrington?
“Oh, absolutely. People were genuinely scared of me. I remember meeting a fan years after the show ended who was completely shocked to discover that I wasn’t anything like Adam. I even played a little prank once. When someone asked if I was Adam, I said, ‘Do you want to see him?’ Then I summoned my best Adam Carrington, and the guy backed away like I was about to attack him. It’s all in the eyes, you know?”
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Good Looks: A Blessing or a Curse?
Did your good looks help your career, or did it make it harder for people to take you seriously?
“To be honest, it didn’t help as much as you’d think. Sure, I got to model instead of waiting tables to pay the rent, but it also put some people off. They assumed I wasn’t a serious actor. And there was this one British gay director who took an inappropriate shine to me when I was living with a wonderful girlfriend. He made accepting his advances a condition of employment. I told him, ‘I can’t. I want to keep my self-respect.’"
From Drama to Comedy: A Versatile Career
People might not realize you’ve always been more than just a dramatic actor.
“Back in 1973, I was part of a six-month production of Godspell in Toronto, alongside an incredible group of comedians: Gilda Radner, Marty Short, Eugene Levy, and Andrea Martin. Gilda was a brilliant comedian, but she was also just the most delightful person. She and Linda Evans are the only two actors I’ve ever met that you instantly love. Linda is like the sun coming up—she lights up every room she enters.”
Working with Kermit the Frog: A Magical Day on Set
You also had the chance to work with Kermit the Frog!
“That was probably the happiest day I’ve ever spent on a set. I was playing Sir Robin the Brave in The Frog Prince back in 1971. Jim Henson was right there, operating Kermit just to my left, and I couldn’t help but stroke Kermit’s little head like he was my new best friend. It was truly magical. Working with puppets like that—it’s an experience you never forget.”
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Meeting Royalty and Hollywood Legends
At the peak of Dynasty’s global success, you met Prince Charles. What do you remember about that?
“I believe it was in London in 1985. He said, ‘I don’t watch the show, but my wife, Princess Diana, does.’ And you know what? The people in the background were staring at me instead of him because I was the exotic Hollywood visitor. It was quite something.”
What was it like meeting Barbara Stanwyck when she guest-starred on Dynasty?
“She was absolutely heaven. A true golden-age Hollywood star. When I gave her a kiss, she held her cheek and said, ‘Mmm, nice kiss.’ I thought, ‘Sweetheart, you were married to Robert Taylor. Come on, a kiss from me is nothing.’ But she was gracious, and it was an honor to work with her.”
Were there any stars who didn’t live up to the hype?
“Charlton Heston, whom I affectionately called Chuckles, was definitely overrated. I was performing an intense fight scene on The Colbys, and Chuckles was standing behind the set. As I exited, he said, ‘When in doubt, we all shout, don’t we?’ I thought, ‘How dare you be so condescending.’ It left a sour taste in my mouth.”
Personal Life and Reflections
In 2017, you were outed as gay by a journalist. How did that feel?
“The very first words out of this reporter’s mouth were, ‘Well, Gordon, as one gay man to another…’ I had a quick internal debate: Do I hang up or continue? He took away my right to come out on my own terms, unlike Richard Chamberlain, who did it with such grace in his 70s. And then, at the end of the interview, the reporter admitted he had a crush on me and asked me out. Talk about awkward.”
Have you ever experienced true love?
“I don’t think I’ve ever had that perfect, reciprocal love. For a long time, I lacked self-esteem and put up with things no one should. I had a turning point about 13 years ago when I realized the person I was with was selfish and not worth my time. The best relationship I ever had was with an actress when I was 21. Maureen and I were a wonderful couple, and we remained friends until she passed away.”
What wisdom do you wish you’d had when you were younger?
“Joan Collins once told me, ‘Gordon, darling, I haven’t had the sun on my face since I was 24.’ When I moved to California, my first car was a convertible, and I should have kept the top up. Protect your skin—slather on that SPF 50.”
How have you adapted to aging?
“I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, but it’s been easy to manage. I don’t have a sweet tooth, so the biggest adjustment has been avoiding all-purpose white flour, which means giving up regular pasta. Now, I eat pasta made from chickpea flour, and it’s actually pretty good for you.”
When are you happiest?
“I’m happiest surrounded by stacks of books. I read
