Already have an account?
Get back to the

Jeffrey Tambor Feels “Very Blessed” That Transparent Helped Bruce Jenner

Earning more than just awards. Amazon’s Transparent made its debut in February 2014, quickly scooping up critical acclaim and accolades at awards shows, but the series also had a much bigger impact on one talked-about individual.

Us Weekly caught up exclusively with Transparent stars Jeffrey Tambor and Amy Landecker at the 2015 Critics’ Choice Television Awards on Sunday, May 31, and the two spoke about the show’s relationship with Bruce Jenner. They mentioned Jenner’s groundbreaking 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer, in which he borrowed a line from the Golden Globe-winning show.

Related: PHOTOS: Bruce Jenner Through the Years

“I was blown away when Bruce said, ‘I’ve been dressing up like a man my whole life,’ which is a direct line of Maura’s, who plays my parent on Transparent,” Landecker, 45, told Us. She referenced Tambor’s character of Mort/Maura Pfefferman, a father of three who informs his family that he is transitioning into a woman. When Jenner, 65, made the same announcement in April, he took inspiration from the character’s line of “All my life, my whole life, I’ve been dressing up like a man.”

“We kinda knew, watching it, that we had had, I think we can safely say, an effect on Bruce’s ability to transition publicly and hopefully be more accepted and understood,” continued Landecker, who plays Maura’s daughter Sarah. “We were told that the Kardashians watched the show with Bruce and I think we helped, which is kind of exciting.”

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity LGBT Allies

jeffrey tambor and bruce jenner
Jeffrey Tambor and Bruce Jenner

Jenner’s expansive brood, whom he shares with first wife Chrystie Crownover, second wife Linda Thompson, and third wife Kris Jenner, has stood by him in the months since he went public with the news. 

“I think that’s remarkable,” Tambor told Us Weekly’s Sierra Marquina of Jenner finding comfort and common ground with Transparent. “I feel very blessed and very moved to hear that. I’m glad we could be part of that.” 

Related: PHOTOS: Critics' Choice Television Awards 2015 Red Carpet: What the Stars Wore!

“Bruce Jenner really hit it out of the park in terms of authenticity and beauty and love,” the Arrested Development alum, 70, continued. “I thought just the way that whole thing is breaking is gorgeous. I loved the last line, ‘This is my last interview as a man.’ That just killed me, and I think killed everybody who was watching it… Bruce Jenner has every right to come out any way — if it wants to be a documentary, if it wants to be a cover… I love the fact that we’re not all saying, ‘This is the way you come out.'”

Tambor went on to celebrate the support that Jenner has received from the Kardashian and Jenner girls, adding the advice that he has for family members of a transitioning individual.

Related: PHOTOS: Kardashian Family Album

“Listen, listen, listen, listen, speak honestly, and support authenticity — always support authenticity,” he said. “It may not be the shape that you want it, it may not look like you want it to look…  There’s so many ways of doing this, and this affects young and old. I’ve heard of a 9-year-old recently, who talked to his parents about not being a ‘boy-boy’ and then I’m playing a 70-year-old, so the spectrum is huge. These are people, not one thing that looks one way.”

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!