Cabaret star Joel Grey comes out at age 82

After a 24 year marriage to a woman and two children, Joel Grey has publicly spoken of his sexuality for the first time.

The Broadway legend - and father of Dirty Dancing actress Jennifer Grey - has revealed while he does not like labels he is finally able to say publicly he is homosexual.

Talking to People Magazine, the 82-year-old actor spoke of his struggle to accept himself and feel the world was safe enough to accept him.

Scroll down for video 

Came out: Joel Grey (pictured last month) has publicly spoken of his sexuality for the first time, revealing he is gay

He told the magazine: 'I don't like labels but if you have to put a label on it, I'm a gay man.'

The star - who is best known for his portrayal of the Master Of Ceremonies in Cabaret opposite Lizza Miinnelli which won him an Oscar - was married to Jo Wilder for 24 years.

He calls the time he was married to the actress the 'happiest of my life' and says he was not living a double life but was 'crazy in love' in love with a woman.

Signature role: The star  is best known for his portrayal of the Master Of Ceremonies in Cabaret opposite Lizza Miinnelli which won him an Oscar

During their two decades together - they divorced in 1982 - they had two children actress Jennifer and chef James.

Joel said however he 'slowly came to embrace that other part of who I am'.

'All the people close to me have known for years who I am.' 

'Happiest years of my life': The 82-year-old was married to Jo Wilder for 24 years and together they have daughter Jennifer Grey (pictured 1987) and son James

But for a long time the star knew he had to hide his true sexuality as the world would not accept an actor - or any man for that matter - as gay.

At nine-years-old the actor said he remembered adults talking about what would happen to someone who came out at the time.

Proud: The Dirty Dancing star (pictured 2013) said she is glad he father feels safe enough to come out

'They were talking derisively about ''fairies'' and men being dragged off to jail, and worse, for being homosexual, for being who they were.

'I remember knowing I wanted to make a family and be an actor but I'd come to realise, along with being attracted to girls, I had similar feelings for boys.

'I struggled mightily not to be that person, which would make my dreams an impossibility.'

While for years he felt it was 'too dangerous' to be gay, the stage legend says now thanks to political and social developments things have changed.

'[Sexuality] doesn't matter anymore.

'Neil Patrick Harris is a star in every way. And he's a dad. He's the most gifted, charming, talented actor, who is himself and that's it. There's no limits.'

His daughter Jennifer said she is proud if her father and glad he lives in a world where he feels he can come out.

The 54-year-old star told the magazine: 'I feel very happy for my Dad that he has come to a point in his life where he feels safe and comfortable enough to declare himself in a public way as a gay man.

'Mostly because the more people are free to own their true nature and can hopefully come closer to love and accept themselves as they really are, no matter what age, no matter how long it takes, to finally be free of the lies or half truths, it is freedom.'

Long career: The actor has starred on the stage since a child and continued to perform until recently (seen here in Wicked in 2003) but now works as a photographer 

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKymqLWww8GisWiZoqm2pLjEZmlya2BmgHJ7qGakZp%2BRrnqurc1mepqakaeytXnSrZirZXqksq15pqucsmWTpLqmv4yanp5laGd7qcDMpQ%3D%3D