EDGE Interview: Anthony Rapp Looks Back in 'Without You'

EDGE: There's a moment in the show when you talk about having something to say to Jonathan Larson, and you think you'll have a chance to catch up with him later, but he dies that night. Was the memoir, and this show, a way of having some resolution around that?

Anthony Rapp: Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, I had wanted to take him aside and say, "Jonathan, thank you for this opportunity you've given me." I mean, I wanted to have it be this meaningful moment between us, right? And I didn't get to do that.

I think he knew how I felt about him, and I think he knew how happy and excited and grateful I was, but I hadn't articulated it in the way that I would have wanted. Now, in many ways, I have given myself the opportunity to articulate it, and to have it be said and received is a meaningful thing I've gotten to do.

EDGE: Have you found that being out has affected your career for better or for worse?

Anthony Rapp: I really don't know if it's affected it in any kind of negative way. There may be roles that I didn't get because I was out. I may never know. But if it has, so be it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

One of the best things that ever happened to me was being cast as Paul Stamets on "Star Trek: Discovery." And one of the reasons that I was on the shortlist for being cast as Paul Stamets is that I have been out for all these years, and they wanted to cast the first openly gay character [on "Star Trek"] with someone who was openly gay themselves. Beyond that, I can't imagine living life any other way. It's been entirely a positive thing in my life.

EDGE: How do you feel about being the first openly gay character in a franchise that has spanned more than half a century? Not only that, but being presented as partnered?

Anthony Rapp: I'm very, very proud of that. Now that I'm a part of the "Star Trek" legacy, I've gotten to meet so many of the others who have come before me, and some of them have shared with me that in their iteration [of the franchise] there were efforts made to try to bring to bring the forefront queer stories or characters, and there was always some reason why it didn't happen. It was too long in coming in many ways, and at the same time, I couldn't be prouder to be the one who was given the chance to carry the mantle alongside Wilson Cruz, who is somebody who I really admire and who I've known for a long time as a friend and a colleague. We did "Rent" together; he was the first replacement of the original Angel on Broadway. So, to get to walk that journey with him has been an amazing honor, and it's brought us even closer as friends.

Watch Anthony Rapp in a scene from "Without You"