In Righteous Gemstones Episode 3.4, the Sex Toy Guy (Nick Vardakas) attends Keefe's Ice Cream and Wieners Party with his Dad (Nick Arapoglou). Biker Clarence happens to be there, and tells them that Keefe bought out his adult store's entire inventory of "butt-buzzers." Afraid of being outed, Keefe says "that's just something we used to do with the kids." Great idea, buddy. Now they don't think you're gay, they think you're into kids.
Later, the parents meet with Kelvin to complain that Keefe is "weird" and not qualified to be a youth leader. Dad continues: "With all the rumors swirling around you, can't you see how strange this all looks?"
Jack: And then Kelvin said...he said...
Karen: That no one knows he's gay!
The real-life Nick Arapoglou (a gay ally) was born in Huntington, New York, but moved to Atlanta as a child. He was a Drama Club Kid in high school, appearing in an al-fresco production of Midsummer Night's Dream (in a real forest).
He received a B.A. in drama from Indiana University in 2007, then returned to Atlanta, where he became a mainstay of the theater scene.
A closeted gay guy in Speech & Debate (2009)
The Toxic Avenger (2016), based on the 1984 movie about a slime-covered superhero.
Nick's theatrical performances include:
A closeted gay guy in Speech & Debate (2009)
A straight guy in the queer-themed Spring Awakening (2011).
My Name is Asher Lev (2012), based on the classic coming-of-age novel by Chaim Potok, about a Hasidic Jewish boy torn between his religion and his art.
The Gifts of the Magi (2012), based on the O. Henry story, where Nick met his future wife Caroline.
Bobby Strong in Urinetown: The Musical (2013).
Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (2015)
The Toxic Avenger (2016), based on the 1984 movie about a slime-covered superhero.
A straight Elvis impersonator turned drag performer in The Legend of Georgia McBride (2017).
Straight Muppet Princeton and gay Muppet Rod in Avenue Q (2023), which won him the Suzi Bass Award for best actor in a musical.