Tab Hunter Net Worth

May 2024 · 12 minute read

Tab Hunter net worth is
$10 Million

Tab Hunter Wiki Biography

Arthur Andrew Kelm was born on 11 July 1931, in New York City, USA, of part-German and Jewish descent. As Tab Hunter, he was known as an actor, author and singer, who was one of the most popular Hollywood actors during the 1950s to 1960s. He appeared in over 40 films, and guest starred in numerous TV series, so all of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it was when he passed away in 2018.

So how rich was Tab Hunter? Aources estimate a net worth at over $10 million, mostly earned through a successful career in the entertainment industry, and from writing his autobiography. He won numerous awards over the course of his career, and all of his efforts ensured the position of his wealth.

Tab Hunter Net Worth $10 million

Tab’s father was abusive, and after his parents divorced, he and his mother would relocate to several cities. During his teenage years, he competed in figure skating both in pair and singles. At the age of 15, he joined the US Coast Guard, lying about his age to enlist – checks weren’t so thorough at that time, but when his real age was discovered he was discharged. While in the Coast Guard, he was given the nickname “Hollywood”, because he preferred to watch movies instead of going to bars.

His long interest in films and filming led him to sign with his first agent, Henry Wilson, who would give him the stage name “Tab Hunter”. His boyish good looks – maintained even until his passing – saw him make one of his  first appearances in the film “Island of Desire”, and he was then cast in the drama “Battle Cry”, which solidified his status as one of the top romantic leads of Hollywood. He would continue appearing in films including “The Pleasure of His Company” and “Gunman’s Walk”, and due to his increasing popularity, he was put under an exclusive studio contract by Warner Bros, along with other young stars James Dean and Natalie Wood. In 1957, he released the song “Young Love” which went on to top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks, and was certified gold; later on he would release “Ninety-Nine Ways”, which led to Warner Bros banning Dot Records from his contract, and establishing their own recording company.

In 1958, Hunter appeared in the musical “Damn Yankees”, which was based on the book entitled “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant”. Throughout the late 1950s, Hunter became the top grossing star of Warner Bros. In 1960, he starred in “The Tab Hunter Show”, but it was cancelled after just a season. In the late 1960s, he would appear in various productions, such as “Bye Bye Birdie” and “The Tender Trap”, before being cast in several westerns, including “Hostile Guns”. He had a supporting role in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean”, and would have a career revival in the 1980s in “Polyester”, with other later projects including “Grease 2” and “Cameron’s Closet”.

Most recently, in 2015 a documentary about his life was released called “Tab Hunter Confidential”, based on his own autobiography which he co-wrote, and is entitled “Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star”, which went on to get several writing nominations, and boosted his net worth somewhat.

For his personal life, it is known that Hunter was gay, a fact he stated through his autobiography. He faked romances with co-stars Natalie Wood and Debbie Reynolds to go along with Hollywood promoting him into being a heterosexual star of the screen and TV. He even contemplated marrying Etchika Choureau and Joan Perry, but never thought that he could maintain such a relationship.

It is known that he had long term relationships with actor Anthony Perkins and figure skater Ronnie Robertson. He eventually settled down with film producer Allan Glaser in the early 1980s, and they remained together until his death on 8 July 2018, in Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara California, from a blood clot which caused cardiac arrest – he was 86.


Full NameTab Hunter
Net Worth$10 Million
Date Of BirthJuly 11, 1931
Died8 July 2018
Place Of BirthNew York City, New York, United States
Height1.82 m
ProfessionActor
NationalityAmerican
SpouseAllan Glaser
ParentsCharles Kelm, Gertrude Gelien
SiblingsWalt Gelien
PartnerAllan Glaser, Allan Glaser
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/tabhunterconfidential
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002147/
NominationsLambda Literary Award for Belles Lettres
MoviesDamn Yankees, Lust in the Dust, Battle Cry, The Burning Hills, Saturday Island, The Girl He Left Behind, Gunman's Walk, That Kind of Woman, Ride the Wild Surf, Lafayette Escadrille, City Under the Sea, Grease 2, The Sea Chase, The Lawless, Polyester, The Pleasure of His Company, Track of the Cat, Th...
TV ShowsThe Tab Hunter Show, Sex: The Revolution, Forever Fernwood
#Quote
1When you're as young as I was and you're thrown into all of that and everyone's going [makes kissing sounds], it's really going to take your head and send you on a journey. You're not going to hate it, but you're just going to try to have the wherewithal to find your balance, hopefully. How could you not love being at home up in Lake Arrowhead with Kay Starr singing her hit song "Side by Side" and Judy Garland on the floor, and the two of them doing a duet? You'd be an idiot not to go for it and love it.
2It's all very important, but the real important thing is, I think, not labeling a person. The first line in my book is, "I hate labels." It's who we are as human beings. What kind of human being are you? Are you a contributor?
3When things stop happening, it is a shock. But you have to go with the flow of things. You have to understand, "This is happening. It can't be forever. This is the now. It's the way it is. Life is not the way you want it to be -- it's the way it is." "I want this," "I want that," "I want this," "I want that" -- there's too much of that.
4What you are as a human being inside is what's important. My mother told me, "Don't get concerned with the externals." Everyone today is concerned with how they look, how they're presented. Strip it away.
5I had a very grounded family. My mother was very structured. She used to say, "There is yes and there is no and there is no in between." Tell that to people today. And I had a brother that I looked up to that was terrific. When negative things happen, you just have to believe that somewhere under the pile of crap is a pony. You just gotta be positive, 'cause there's too much negativity around.
6I think marriage is just between two people and their maker, period. Doesn't concern any of us, whether it be a woman and a woman, a man and a man, or a man and a woman, I don't care.
7I still don't look at it as if I've come out. Coming out, what does that mean? What I'm concerned about is people as human beings. Are you a decent human being? What are you contributing? That's important.
8[on Gary Cooper] Coop was a lovely guy. His sense of humor was kind of within. He'd do something he knew was funny. He laughed inwardly. It was a delight! He's say things, then chuckle within himself. He was wonderful, low-key, like Fred Astaire, an absolute gentleman. These are quality, quality people. They have their own atmosphere about them. Coop's was very laid-back and easy.
9[about his love for Montecito, California] It's like the French Riveria without the French. I thank God every day I'm able to be there.
10[in a 1971 interview] The star thing is over. I've knocked around quite a bit in the past few years and now I'm just another actor looking for work. Acting is what I know and what I do best . . . I'm trying to find a new niche . . . something to help erase that bland image the studios gave me in the Fifties. I'm looking for roles that will establish me as a more mature actor.
#Fact
1He was the younger of two boys. His brother, Walter John Gelien (born August 18, 1930), was killed in Vietnam on October 28, 1965, leaving seven children.
2He was born Arthur Kelm in New York City. His mother, Gertrude (Gelien), was a German (Catholic) immigrant. His father, Charles Kelm, was Jewish. Tab was raised in California by his mother and maternal grandparents, Ida (Sonnenfleth) and John Henry Gelien.
3Was Warner Bros. Records' first signee.
4Hunter and his companion Allan Glaser met in 1983. The couple co-produced the films Lust in the Dust (1985) and Dark Horse (1992).
5He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6320 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
6On December 23, 1980, he suffered a heart attack at age 49 while skiing in Taos, New Mexico. In March 1991, he suffered a stroke. He recovered from both.
7Had a lifelong love for horses.
8The name "Tab Hunter" came from agent Henry Willson who wanted to "tab" the actor wannabe with a catchy new name. "Hunter" came from his skills as a horseman who rode hunters and jumpers.
9Was once arrested following an L.A. raid on a "pajama party" in Walnut Park in 1950. Tab was eventually fined $50 for a reduced "disorderly conduct" charge after originally being charged with "idle, lewd or dissolute conduct."
10Following the likes of Richard Chamberlain, Tab released his tell-all 2005 memoir revealing his homosexuality. The book entitled "Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star" outlines a late 1950s relationship with actor Anthony Perkins that lasted several years. Other briefer flings mentioned included dancer Rudolf Nureyev, actor Scott Marlowe and ice-skater Ronnie Robertson. The book was actually written in 2003 but held in release for two years.
11He co-executive produced and hosted the cable television series Hollywood on Horses (1989).
12His bare chest was chosen to adorn the cover of Donald Reuter's book: "Shirtless! The Hollywood Male Physique."
13Born at 3:00am EDT

All pictures

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Dark Horse1992Perkins
Cameron's Closet1988Owen Lansing
Grotesque1988Rod
Out of the Dark1988Driver
Film '721985TV SeriesHimnself
Lust in the Dust1985Abel Wood
Masquerade1984TV SeriesWhitney
The Fall Guy1984TV SeriesAnthony Haley
And They Are Off1982Henry Barclay
Benson1982TV SeriesRoy Lucas
Grease 21982Mr. Stuart
Pandemonium1982Blue Grange
Strike Force1981TV SeriesVoorhees
Polyester1981Todd Tomorrow
Charlie's Angels1980TV SeriesBill Maddox
The Kid from Left Field1979TV MovieBill Lorant
$weepstake$1979TV SeriesChip
Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold1978TV MovieElliot Bender
Hawaii Five-O1978TV SeriesMel Burgess
Police Woman1978TV SeriesMartin Quinn
The Love Boat1977TV SeriesDave King
Forever Fernwood1977TV SeriesGeorge Schumway (post-plastic surgery)
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood1976David Hamilton
McMillan & Wife1976TV SeriesRoger Thornton
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman1976TV SeriesGeorge Shumway #2 (1977-1978)
Ellery Queen1976TV SeriesJohn Randall
Timber Tramps1975Big Swede
The Six Million Dollar Man1975TV SeriesArnold Blake
Circle of Fear1973TV SeriesBob Herrick
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law1972TV Series
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean1972Sam Dodd
Sweet Kill1972Eddie Collins
Cannon1972TV SeriesBob Neal
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color1971TV SeriesTim Andrews
Hacksaw1971TV MovieTim Andrews
San Francisco International Airport1970TV SeriesStayczek
The Virginian1970TV SeriesCart Banner
No importa morir1969Richard
The Last Chance1968Patrick Harris
Vengeance Is My Forgiveness1968Sheriff Durango
Hostile Guns1967Mike Reno
The Cups of San Sebastian1967Jerry
Birds Do It1966Lt. Porter
The Loved One1965Whispering Glades Tour Guide
City in the Sea1965Ben Harris
Man with Two Faces1964Alex Carswell
Ride the Wild Surf1964Steamer Lane
Burke's Law1964TV SeriesBarney Blake
Operation Bikini1963Lt. Morgan Hayes
Combat!1962TV SeriesDel Packer
Saints and Sinners1962TV SeriesSergeant Eddie Manzak
The Golden Arrow1962Hassan
The Pleasure of His Company1961Roger Henderson
The Tab Hunter Show1960-1961TV SeriesPaul Morgan
General Electric Theater1959TV SeriesDaniel
They Came to Cordura1959Lt. William Fowler
That Kind of Woman1959Red
Meet Me in St. Louis1959TV MovieJohn Truett
Damn Yankees!1958Joe Hardy
Gunman's Walk1958Ed Hackett
Lafayette Escadrille1958Thad Walker
Playhouse 901956-1958TV SeriesDonald Bashor / Stanley Smith
Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates1958TV MovieHans Brinker
Climax!1955-1957TV SeriesJimmy Piersall
Conflict1956TV SeriesDonald McQuade
The Girl He Left Behind1956Andy L. Shaeffer
The Burning Hills1956Trace Jordan
The Sea Chase1955Cadet Wesser
The Ford Television Theatre1955TV SeriesGig Spevvy
Battle Cry1955Pvt. / Cpl. Dan 'Danny' Forrester
Track of the Cat1954Harold Bridges
Return to Treasure Island1954Clive Stone
The Steel Lady1953Bill Larson
Gun Belt1953Chip Ringo
Island of Desire1952Marine Corporal Michael J. 'Chicken' Dugan
The Lawless1950Frank O'Brien

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Dark Horse1992producer
Hollywood on Horses1989Video documentary co-executive producer
Lust in the Dust1985producer
The Tab Hunter Show1960-1961TV Series producer - 31 episodes

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Tab Hunter Confidential2015Documentary performer: "I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time" lyrics by nm0281419 & music by nm0903117, "Moonlight Swim" lyrics by nm2004611 & music by nm0918840, "Ninety-Nine Ways" written by nm1478580 as Anthony September, "Young Love" written by Whaley T. Cartey as Ric Cartey & Carole Joyner / writer: "Don't Let It Get Around"
Mischief1985performer: "Young Love"
Losin' It1983performer: "Young Love"
Polyester1981performer: "POLYESTER"
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show1961TV Series performer - 1 episode
Damn Yankees!1958performer: "Goodbye, Old Girl", "Two Lost Souls"
Gunman's Walk1958performer: "I'm A Runaway"
The 30th Annual Academy Awards1958TV Special performer: "April Love"

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Dark Horse1992story

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
I Am Divine2013Documentary special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall1959TV SeriesHimself
The 30th Annual Academy Awards1958TV SpecialHimself - Performer
The Pat Boone-Chevy Showroom1958TV SeriesHimself
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show1957TV SeriesHimself
Screen Snapshots 1856: The Mocambo Party1957ShortHimself
What's My Line?1957TV SeriesHimself - Guest Panelist / Himself - Mystery Guest
The 28th Annual Academy Awards1956TV SpecialHimself - Audience Member
The Bob Cummings Show1956TV SeriesHimself
Lux Video Theatre1955TV SeriesHimself - Guest Host
The Jimmy Durante Show1955TV SeriesHimself
The Colgate Comedy Hour1955TV SeriesHimself
This Is Your Life1954TV SeriesHimself
Hollywood Opening Night1952TV SeriesHimself
Olympic Fund Telethon1952TV SpecialHimself
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age2016Documentary post-productionHimself
Red Eye w/Tom Shillue2015TV SeriesHimself - Guest Panelist
Going Deep with Tab Hunter2015Video documentary shortHimself
CTV National News2015TV SeriesHimself
Tab Hunter Confidential2015DocumentaryHimself
I Am Divine2013DocumentaryHimself
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical2009Video documentaryHimself
Sex: The Revolution2008TV Mini-Series documentaryHimself
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History2008Video documentaryHimself
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical Treasure2008TV Movie documentaryHimself
The Brothers Warner2007TV Movie documentaryHimself - Actor
The O'Reilly Factor2006TV SeriesHimself
Queer Edge with Jack E. Jett2005TV SeriesHimself
CBS News Sunday Morning2005TV Series documentaryHimself
Good Morning America2005TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Larry King Live2005TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Biography1997-2004TV Series documentaryHimself
Rita2003TV Movie documentaryHimself
Elvis Forever2002TV Movie documentaryHimself
More Lust, Less Dust2001Video shortHimself
E! True Hollywood Story1997-1999TV Series documentaryHimself
The Best of Hollywood1998TV Movie documentaryHimself - Host / Narrator (voice)
Ballyhoo: The Hollywood Sideshow!1996DocumentaryHimself
Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick1995DocumentaryHimself
The 8th Annual American Cinema Awards1991TV SpecialHimself
7th Annual American Cinema Awards1990TV SpecialHimself
Hollywood on Horses1989Video documentaryHimself - Presenter
James Stewart's Wonderful Life1988TV Movie documentaryHimself
The 4th Annual American Cinema Awards1987TV SpecialHimself
Our Time1985TV SeriesHimself
Just Our Luck1983TV SeriesHimself
The Fall Guy1983TV SeriesHimself
Madame's Place1982TV SeriesHimself
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady1982TV Movie documentaryHimself
Fridays1982TV SeriesHimself - Guest Host
Circus of the Stars #61981TV SpecialHimself
The Alan Thicke Show1981TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The Mike Douglas Show1963-1978TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Match Game 731978TV SeriesHimself
Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 21977TV MovieHimself
The Joey Bishop Show1969TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The David Frost Show1969TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1967TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The Hollywood Squares1967TV SeriesHimself
You Don't Say1964TV SeriesHimself
The Object Is1964TV SeriesHimself
Stump the Stars1962-1963TV SeriesHimself
The 20th Annual Golden Globes Awards1963TV SpecialHimself - Presenter: Best Foreign Film
Here's Hollywood1960-1961TV SeriesHimself
Summer on Ice1961TV MovieHimself
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show1960-1961TV SeriesHimself - Actor / Singer
Celebrity Talent Scouts1960TV SeriesHimself
The Dick Clark Show1959-1960TV SeriesHimself / Himself -
Startime1959TV SeriesHimself
The Arthur Murray Party1959TV SeriesHimself
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show1957-1959TV SeriesHimself - Singer / Himself - Guest
The Juke Box Jury1956-1959TV SeriesHimself
I've Got a Secret1957-1959TV SeriesHimself - Celebrity Guest
New American Bandstand 19651959TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2015Lifetime Achievement AwardCalifornia Independent Film Festival

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1959Golden LaurelLaurel AwardsTop Male Musical PerformanceDamn Yankees! (1958)

Known for movies


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