QUEER AS FOLK ACTOR CRITICAL

Actor Gale Harold, best known for playing gay playboy Brian Kinney in the Queer as Folk US television series, is in a critical condition after a motorcycle accident.

Harold (39), who identifies as heterosexual, was reportedly involved in the crash on Tuesday. He is said to be in intensive care with shoulder and head injuries at the L.A. County USC Medical Center.

Marc Cherry, the creator and executive producer of Desperate Housewives – the most recent television show in which Harold has appeared – told the Associated Press that the star had swelling on the brain but was expected to recover.

“We’re hearing he’s going to be fine, but he’s going to be recovering for a couple of weeks,” said Cherry.

Scenes in which the actor was scheduled to perform in the coming weeks would reportedly be re-written to account for his absence.

A representative for Harold released a statement saying: “Everyone is hopeful for a full recovery.”

Harold is well-loved by gay audiences for his breakthrough portrayal of Brian Kinney in the controversial Queer as Folk, which ran for five years between 2000 and 2005. The show was both commended and criticised for its honest, and at times explicit, portrayal of gay relationships.