Cain: From Superman to Gay Stud

ByABC News
October 4, 2000, 7:58 PM

October 3 -- Dean Cain hopes that his turn as a narcissistic, not-so-bright gay actor-on-the-make in the new indie comedy The Broken Hearts Club will let you forget he was once Superman. At least for a few seconds.

But if you're not thinking "Superman" while watching the film, you might be wondering who the guy Cain is romancing is supposed to be.

Cain's character, one of a group of self-involved West Hollywood gays, lands a small role in a married superstar's movie and has a secret affair with the guy. Since Hollywood loves showbiz dish, Club has prompted speculation that the plot is based on a real person.

"A lot of people have said to me they think it's Tom Cruise," Cain admitted while promoting the independent comedy. "I don't see that at all." Neither would Cruise, who has always denied those pesky rumors that his marriage isn't on the up and up.

On Being Mistaken for GayFor Cain, who, for the record, is straight and an unmarried dad, one question that keeps popping up now is "Do gay men hit on you?"

"Not really," he says. "Because a gay man looks at me and says, 'You're like an arrow, you're so straight.' But I do have so many gay friends that I don't even think about it."

Cain says that the real issue of Broken Hearts Club has nothing to do with art imitating life and everything to do with extending his range as an actor. "They didn't want me at first," he admits. But he's happy now when people ask him if he is gay: "Then I did my job if people are asking that question. That's beautiful."

Kissing Scene Not FakedAs for his passionate on-screen mashing with another guy, Cain admits it wasn't easy. "It's one thing to read it on paper and it's another thing to get in there and do it," he says. "That goes for guys or girls.

"Love scenes are notoriously difficult to do anyway, because half the time you've just met and you'll be kissing in the next scene. It's an uncomfortable thing for anyone. Being the character, it was fine. It wasn't about the sex. It was very important that the Andrew Keegan character [Kevin] and myself were kissing. So, when we got there Andrew is also straight we're like, 'OK,' and we try to fake it a couple of times and it was 'Cut! We can see you're faking.' We finally said, 'F--k it! Let's just do it.' And we did. It was not really uncomfortable. It was no big deal."