Lance Loud(1951-2001)

Lance Loud was part of the cast of the first reality TV show, An American Family, which followed the Louds, father Bill, and mother Pat, their five teenage kids and two poodles. The "typical" American family, living in California, agreed to have their lives filmed, edited, and broadcast. Enormously popular, enormously controversial, and, once over, almost immediately forgotten. Lance came out as gay on the show in 1973. Members of the family tried to spin their celebrity into careers, none found much success.

In 1970, television ate my family. The Andy Warhol prophecy of 15 minutes of fame for any and everyone blew up on our doorstep.