Zachary Quinto Calls Gay Doctor Role in 'Brilliant Minds' a 'Significant Honor'

Zachary Quinto said it's a "significant honor" to play an openly gay doctor in NBC's new medical drama "Brilliant Minds."

As reported by NBC, the was inspired by the life and writings of British neurologist and author Dr. Oliver Sacks (1933-2015) and his journey to demystify rare and unusual neurological disorders.

As the fictional Dr. Oliver Wolf, Quinto adapts many aspects of the real Sacks, including being gay, which Sacks revealed in his 2015 autobiography "On the Move: A Life."

"To play an openly gay character on a primetime network show is an incredibly significant honor for me," said Quinto. "I'm deeply grateful for this experience to tell these stories and to use Oliver Sacks' life as the origin point for those stories."

Quinto explained that Sacks was someone "deeply influenced" by the times in which he was raised. "So he didn't come out until very much later in life. He ended up meeting a partner and having a really happy relationship until the end of his life," he explained.

He added, "So, to play a character who is embracing that aspect of himself in the modern world, and in a way that is vital and contemporary and forward-looking, is really special."

Quinto also gave a shoutout to NBC for "for telling these stories." He added, "Not only the stories from an LGBTQ perspective, but from a perspective of diversity in all the characters that we meet at Bronx General."

"Brilliant Minds" hits NBC at 10 p.m. on Sept. 23, 2024. Will you be watching?