Just like Buddy, Leo (Brad William Henke) exists primarily in support of Diane Lane’s Sarah. Still, at the time it was refreshing to have ‘one of the guys’ be gay and for that not to be a big deal. Charles Grodin’s gay character Buddy doesn’t exist outside of a supporting role for the lead man, Teddy (Gene Wilder). It likely has to do with the fact that this is the oldest film on the list, coming out in 1984, because it definitely feels the most dated. For the purpose of including more characters, I’m using a much looser interpretation of a rom com. Note: This list includes characters from movies that aren’t actually rom coms, but are usually discussed in the same breath (simply having teens and comedy does not a rom com make). It takes the trope of the gay best friend and flips it on its head - but before you head out to the theater, why not look back on some gay best friends in rom com history? Isn’t It Romantic? is a new rom com, out tomorrow (13 February), and continuing the trend of the rom com renaissance. One of those tropes often seen is the gay best friend (GBF), there to support the lead character (typically the female lead), provide comedy, and not much else. Romantic comedies are some of the best trope-filled movies in Hollywood.
