William (Billy) Haines

Born in Virginia in 1900, William (Billy) Haines became one of Hollywood's most famous male film stars of the 1920s. The first openly gay film star, Haines refused to hide his sexuality and his life with his partner and was forced out of the film world. Faced with finding a new career, Haines used his talent in interior decorating to begin anew. His dear friend Joan Crawford was one of his first clients, establishing Haines as THE designer for Hollywood royalty to turn to for the design of their houses. Haines died in 1973 but his work lives on through the recent attention received for the work he did for Goetze's and the Annenberg's, both of whom have Haines designed interiors that have been written about in magazines and books during the last few years.