Billy Douglas is a fictional character on the American soap opera One
Life to Live. Newcomer actor Ryan Phillippe played the role from April
1992 until May 1993. The character is the first openly gay teenager
featured in a television series, and Phillippe's breakthrough role is
considered groundbreaking in daytime television.In 1992, One Life to
Live executive producer Linda Gottlieb hired a fresh-faced 17-year-old
Ryan Phillippe to play the newly created role. Phillippe said he was
warned against playing the "risky" role at the height of the AIDS
crisis in the United States. Phillippe said that when he auditioned to
play the character, he "had no idea Billy was gay." He initially
expressed reservation to pursue the opportunity, telling Entertainment
Weekly in 1992, "I thought, 'What is my family going to think? What
about my friends?' But I realized that for [the character] Billy, the
torment is a hundred times that."In 1992, One Life to Live executive
producer Linda Gottlieb hired a fresh-faced 17-year-old Ryan Phillippe
to play the newly created role. Phillippe said he was warned against
playing the "risky" role at the height of the AIDS crisis in the
United States. Phillippe said that when he auditioned to play the
character, he "had no idea Billy was gay." He initially expressed
reservation to pursue the opportunity, telling Entertainment Weekly in
1992, "I thought, 'What is my family going to think? What about my
friends?' But I realized that for [the character] Billy, the torment
is a hundred times that."Show head writer Michael Malone developed
Billy Douglas as a popular but closeted high school junior who is a
jock that becomes class president. At the time, the role was regarded
as "one of the longest and complex narratives to deal with a lesbian
or gay character."When playing the role, Phillippe said that he hoped
to leave a positive impact, saying, "Maybe some kids will see that
there are ways to deal with this positively." Years after leaving soap
operas and starting his film career, Phillippe said of playing the
character, "I felt lucky playing the first gay teenager on
televisionnot just daytime, but television, period."
Life to Live. Newcomer actor Ryan Phillippe played the role from April
1992 until May 1993. The character is the first openly gay teenager
featured in a television series, and Phillippe's breakthrough role is
considered groundbreaking in daytime television.In 1992, One Life to
Live executive producer Linda Gottlieb hired a fresh-faced 17-year-old
Ryan Phillippe to play the newly created role. Phillippe said he was
warned against playing the "risky" role at the height of the AIDS
crisis in the United States. Phillippe said that when he auditioned to
play the character, he "had no idea Billy was gay." He initially
expressed reservation to pursue the opportunity, telling Entertainment
Weekly in 1992, "I thought, 'What is my family going to think? What
about my friends?' But I realized that for [the character] Billy, the
torment is a hundred times that."In 1992, One Life to Live executive
producer Linda Gottlieb hired a fresh-faced 17-year-old Ryan Phillippe
to play the newly created role. Phillippe said he was warned against
playing the "risky" role at the height of the AIDS crisis in the
United States. Phillippe said that when he auditioned to play the
character, he "had no idea Billy was gay." He initially expressed
reservation to pursue the opportunity, telling Entertainment Weekly in
1992, "I thought, 'What is my family going to think? What about my
friends?' But I realized that for [the character] Billy, the torment
is a hundred times that."Show head writer Michael Malone developed
Billy Douglas as a popular but closeted high school junior who is a
jock that becomes class president. At the time, the role was regarded
as "one of the longest and complex narratives to deal with a lesbian
or gay character."When playing the role, Phillippe said that he hoped
to leave a positive impact, saying, "Maybe some kids will see that
there are ways to deal with this positively." Years after leaving soap
operas and starting his film career, Phillippe said of playing the
character, "I felt lucky playing the first gay teenager on
televisionnot just daytime, but television, period."
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