TV Celebrity. Lance Loud was the first reality TV star. He was the eldest son in a family whose conflicts were laid bare in a landmark 1973 Public Broadcasting Service documentary series. Loud emerged as a protagonist in "An American Family," the controversial PBS series that was a progenitor of today's unscripted programming. The real-life soap opera examined the Louds of Santa Barbara, who allowed documentarians to trail them in their daily lives for seven months in 1971. Loud's avowal of his homosexuality made him a hero to the gay community, and according to PBS, he was the first openly gay person to appear on television. After the series, he went to New York City, becoming a member of a band, The Mumps. The band had a following, but never got a contract with a recording studio, thus disbanded in 1980. He returned to California and began his 20-year writing career. He was a regular contributor to periodicals such as "Advocate," "Interview" and "Details." He died from liver failure. His obituaries were published in "The New York Times," "The Los Angeles Times," and in a full-page "People" magazine "Farewell" piece.
TV Celebrity. Lance Loud was the first reality TV star. He was the eldest son in a family whose conflicts were laid bare in a landmark 1973 Public Broadcasting Service documentary series. Loud emerged as a protagonist in "An American Family," the controversial PBS series that was a progenitor of today's unscripted programming. The real-life soap opera examined the Louds of Santa Barbara, who allowed documentarians to trail them in their daily lives for seven months in 1971. Loud's avowal of his homosexuality made him a hero to the gay community, and according to PBS, he was the first openly gay person to appear on television. After the series, he went to New York City, becoming a member of a band, The Mumps. The band had a following, but never got a contract with a recording studio, thus disbanded in 1980. He returned to California and began his 20-year writing career. He was a regular contributor to periodicals such as "Advocate," "Interview" and "Details." He died from liver failure. His obituaries were published in "The New York Times," "The Los Angeles Times," and in a full-page "People" magazine "Farewell" piece.
Bio by: Oliver
Family Members
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