You have probably heard about the death of Don Knotts.
I watched a lot of Andy Griffith when I was a kid. One repeating theme of the show was Andy's kindness to Barney. Barney was annoying, difficult and emotionally overwrought -- but always Andy watched out for him and was kind to him even when any rational person would have been far less forgiving. It's not that Barney was bad, to the contrary he could be very sweet, but he was difficult.
These two TV characters have always meant a lot to me since I have always wished I had the kind and decent character qualities of Sherriff Andy while privately fearing my inner Deputy Barney tendencies.
They were gay.