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Joel Grey, the Broadway star who won an Oscar for his stellar performance in 'Cabaret' has recently admitted to being gay. This is the first time that the actor would let his sexual orientation come under the public eye.

In an interview with People magazine, the 82-year old theater actor discussed his childhood, his marriage with his wife, and that 'he didn't like labels'.

"I don't like labels," Grey said, "but if you have to put a label on it, I'm a gay man."

The 82-year old revealed that he didn't keep his sexuality a secret from his friends or family members. It was only recently that Grey decided to let his sexuality out in the open.

"All the people close to me have known for years who I am," Grey would continue. "It took time to embrace that other part of who I always was."

Grey would admit that his childhood upbringing was very much defined by homophobia. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, his parents would openly ridicule gay people.

When it comes to sexual attraction, Grey admitted that he was attracted to both men and women. "I came to realise, along with being attracted to girls, I had similar feelings for boys." he said.

The Oscar winner would also describe his 24-year marriage to actress Jo Wilder, "the happiest time of my life."

His daughter, Jennifer Grey of 'Dirty Dancing' has shown solidarity for her father and tells People magazine that she is "proud of her father."

"I feel very happy for my dad that he has come to a point in his life where he feels safe and comfortable enough to declare himself in a public way as a gay man." she said.

"Mostly because the more people are free to own their true nature and can hopefully come closer to love and accept themselves as they really are, no matter what age, no matter how long it takes, to finally be free of the lies or half truths, it is freedom." she continued.

Joel Grey had most recently played The Wizard in Wicked in 2003. He now works as a photographer.

What do you think of Joel's admirable coming out story? Let us know in the comments below.