RG Beefcake and Boyfriends: Tom Berklund: Bodybuilder and "Modern Family" cop stars in gay tragedies, poses nude, but what's with all the lady friends?

We've finished Modern Family, but I forgot to research a bodybuilder who appeared in Episode 10.5, "Good Grief" (2018): as the family gathers for Halloween, Jay gets the word that his ex-wife DeeDee (Shelly Long) has died. Dressed in wacky costumes, the children and grandchildren try to process their grief in different ways. Phil and Cam drive into West Hollywood for a convoluted reason, and get stuck in the Halloween parade. As they are honking, a cop tells them to give the horn a rest. The parade will be over soon. Then he swishes off in his very tight chaps.

Phil: "I don't get to this part of town often. That's not a real cop, right?"

I was annoyed that Phil says "this part of town": West Hollywood is a separate city. But I wanted to see more of the hot cop, Tom Berklund, and his tight chaps.

I checked his Instagram first: "Real estate developer, bodybuilder, spiritual growth." That's not an occupation, buddy.

Some nice muscle shots, but the mixed signals made it impossible to tell if he is gay or not.

"Had a great time with Sarah and Teddy," a lady and a dog. You're dating a lady, got it.

"Dinner and theater night out with my famous friend" Ryan Hadad, a queer disabled playwright. Is it a date or a friend hang?

"Ali, Joey, and me." Ali and Joey are a woman and a baby. So is this your wife and son?

"Post dinner sunset stroll with the one and only Tucker Breder," an actor whose Instagram is private, but he poses with a woman on Soundcloud. Now you're dating a straight guy?

"Charlie got the lead in Once Upon a High School." Posing with a woman and teenage boy. But if this is your wife and son, who's Ali and the baby?

Heck with it. Let's look at his biceps and body bulge, and see if he's been in any gay-themed movies.

Tom was born in Middleton, Wisconsin, 15 minutes from Madison, and got his BFA from the University of Michigan. He then moved to New York, where he won the part of Gregory Gardner in the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line.

In his monologue, Gregory talks about getting an erection in class, and realizing that he was gay. Not a bad start.

Tom has 25 acting credits, but mostly parts like Dancer, Gym Attendant, Spin Instructor, and Sexy Santa (above, on Ray Donovan). I found a few gay roles:

More after the break

Breaking Fast (2015): on the last night of Ramadan, Mo (Ryan Shrime) runs into Cal (Tom), who discusses his last boyfriend committing suicide. Not the best topic for a first date, buddy.

Looking, the remake about gay men living (and looking) in San Francisco. Tom plays a party guest Episode 2.10: Video game designer Patrick questions his relationship with boss/boyfriend Kevin (Russell Tovey, left); sommelier Dom tries to reconcile with his roommate Doris; and artist Agustín and his boyfriend Eddie attend the unveiling of the mural at the homeless shelter for LGBT youth. With all that going on, I'm surprised that they had time for a party.

Flirting with Possibilities (2022), a short which appears on Tom's demo reel: In a restaurant, waiter Tom approaches Jason Tam, and speaks to him in American Sign Language and comic book speech balloons. Jason runs away in horror. Tom returns in a superhero costume and asks another restaurant guest if it looks ok. He says it's fine, so Tom catches up to Jason, who offers him his suitcase. I'm not sure what is happening; maybe Tom is inviting Jason to move in with him?

But Tom also has a very graphic heterosexual sex scene in a 2025 episode of Dead Ringers. I'm still not sure.

Let's check his theatrical credits:

Cabaret (2009): Max, the bi guy.

Leviticus in Love (2011): Staged reading of the play about the gay grandson of televangelist Oral Roberts.

The Normal Heart (2012): Craig, a gay man who dies of AIDS in this agony-piece about the early days of the pandemic.

Bent (2015): Wolf, whom a gay couple in Nazi Germany invites home for a three-way. He shows his cock, but I'm not sure it should count, since he's about to be killed, and his hosts sent to a concentration camp.

Next Fall (2016): The atheist Adam (Jay Ayers) is partnered with Luke (Tom), a born-again Christian who believes that he is going for hell (for being unsaved, not for being gay). It's not a comedy.

Oklahoma (2017): Will Parker, who romances Ado Annie, "the girl who cain't say no."

The Full Monte (2023): Keno, a stripper and lady's man.