Lance Loud From An American Family: My Exclusive Interview

It's a shame he died of AIDS but musto didn't. 

Dying at a young age 0f anything is sad !!!!!!!!!

Its never mentioned but Lance was a Hustler to supplement his income. He had many talents....God bless....let the real truth be told...hugs

Lance was representative of a great swath of umc (upper middle class) white gay boys of the era. Some of us were given great opportunities, which were ignored in the name of "art" or "drugs." It reminds me of the Lily Tomlin line: "I always wanted to be somebody when I grew up. I realize now I should've been more specific."

lance was wonderful in many ways, as someone who loves santa barbara beyond the limitations that were presented to my hometown within the constraints of rust belt visitors and incredibly starched pseudo new england attempting docu-something or other. it was an attempt at cinema verite that didn't touch anything as a desperate need to keep a "cuntess" title. r.i.p. lance loud and may your family lead a healthy life beyond this anniversary re-hash and iterations of creepy trolls.

I have been incredibly moved by Lance after seeing the documentary for the first time over the weekend. I was born in 1975, so had never seen or heard of it till a few days ago when the HBO film came out. Lance was incredible. He had more personality and charisma than anyone I can think of today. The time of the documentary was so wonderful too. I loved Pat and even Bill. Each of the Louds seemed to be genuinely enjoying life so much. They also were all so respectful and nice to one another. We could learn something today from that.

Today, I find myself in mourning for Lance, someone I never met. His presence is so real. I wish I had known him. It is clear, as Bill said in the documentary, that Lance brightened the lives of anyone who met him. What a beautiful gay soul who I wish were still around.

Ode of Remembrance

Veteran Canadian documentary maker Allan King, a pioneer of the cinema verite movement whose works included 'Warrandale,' 1967, a controversial portrait of 12 emotionally disturbed children in a treatment center followed over seven weeks and the equally controversial 1970 work 'A Married Couple,' a fly-on-the-wall portrait of an argumentive couple in the midst of divorcing, described by New York Times critic Clive Barnes as "quite simply one of the best films I have ever seen."

Another quote of his involved him wanting to be a sex object--"for anyone."

Sex, he added, "is the thing you do between inspiration and the Late Show."

Thanks for posting this, Michael - I was hoping you had an interview with Lance.I watched Cinema Verite on Sat - I had watched the original American Family, but didn't know anything about the making of it. I was surprised to find out that even in the ur-reality show, the participants were manipulated to punch up the drama.

I was a junior in high school when the show aired. I was fascinated by parts of it and bored by other others. But I was fascinated by Lance. He was so out there and good looking. I was very naive at the time but my friend David and I were out to each other and discussed everything. We both had crushes on him. Was very sorry to hear of his death back in 2001. Thanks, Michael for the interview bits.

Lance later became an escort under the name Brick. I didn't know his true identity until I saw pictures of his family on his mirror. I said, "Isn't that Bill Loud?" He said, no, and left it at that. He was a health freak and had a beautiful toned body.

I loved The Mumps so much. I think their single "Rock & Roll This, Rock & Roll That" b/w "Muscleboys" might have been the greatest in all of a new wave.

As kids growing up in the midwest and totally into glam rock, the Loud siblings let us know we weren't alone and it was not only okay to be different, it was fun! As soon as I was old enough, I packed up and moved to NYC.

He sounds so much smarter and realer than today's reality stars. At least he had a sense of humor and perspective.

PS: Lance sadly died of AIDS in 2001.