October 6, 2011 | Arts / Entertainment

FBI denies J Edgar Hoover was gay

Director Clint Eastwood and actor Leonardo DiCaprio both spoke with the FBI to determine whether or not J. Edgar Hoover was a homosexual. They were looking for information for their biopic on Hoover's life.

Assistant FBI Director Mike Kortan admitted to the meetings, and said both were told that "vague rumors and fabrications have cropped up from time to time, but there is no evidence in the historical record on this issue."

"We provided information so that their story could be accurate," he said. "What they did with it, as with any production, has been entirely in their hands."

He emphasized that the FBI did not approach Eastwood or DiCaprio first, and in no way would it ever attempt to influence the movie.

Former agents, however, have been more aggressive in defending Hoover's reputation.

"There is no basis in fact for such a portrayal of Mr. Hoover," William Branon, chairman of The J. Edgar Hoover Foundation, wrote to Eastwood. "It would be a grave injustice and monumental distortion to proceed with such a depiction based on a completely unfounded and spurious assertion."

And the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI wrote a second letter, declaring that the "rumored kissing scene ... caused us to reassess our tacit approval of your film."

Cartha "Deke" DeLoach, a former top aide to the FBI director, said he and DiCaprio also discussed Hoover's private life.

"When the subject of homosexuality came up, I made it very clear that I never saw any evidence of it whatsoever," said DeLoach, now 91. "I traveled with him, I ate in his home and he in mine. I knew Clyde Tolson to be Mr. Hoover's companion and best friend. When you are somebody like Mr. Hoover, I guess you need somebody to talk to."

How much of Hoover's sexuality, gay or otherwise, makes it into the film is being kept a secret. But if the FBI says something never happened, then of course it "never" happened.

FBI - Edgar Hoover Aides And Historians Concerned About Homosexual Storyline In Film [Contact Music]

FBI Tells DiCaprio, Eastwood There's No Evidence Hoover Was Gay [The Advocate]