William Haines

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William Haines

Hollywood's Rebel With A Cause

Clint Collide

Jan 30, 2025

Transcript

“I can truly tell you this—I would rather have taste than either love or money.”
WILLIAM HAINES
(January 2, 1900 – December 26, 1973)

William Haines was Hollywood’s original rebel with a cause—a sharp-witted leading man of silent films and early talkies who refused to play by the industry's rules. When MGM boss Louie B. Mayer gave him an ultimatum—his career or his openly gay relationship with partner Jimmy Shields—he chose love over fame.

Banished from the silver screen, Haines reinvented himself as one of the most sought-after interior designers of the 20th century, reimagining the homes of Hollywood’s elite—including close friends Joan Crawford, Gloria Swanson, and George Cukor—into timeless expressions of glamour. His impeccable taste and modern aesthetic made "a Haines room" the ultimate status symbol among studio moguls and socialites alike.

Despite facing discrimination and surviving a violent attack, Haines and Shields stood their ground, proving that style, integrity, and love could outshine even the brightest marquee lights.