Kept man

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A kept man is a man who is financially supported by a wealthy, usually older, person who is neither the man's spouse nor close relative. Men may be kept by either a woman or by another man. Being "kept" could be seen as a form of prostitution, especially if the relationship has a sexual dimension.

[edit] In popular culture

Kept Boy is a novel by noted gay author Robert Rodi.

Being a "kept man" was the theme of an episode from critically acclaimed sitcom "Ellen" originally aired on January 15, 1997 called "Joe's Kept Secret". In the episode, David Anthony Higgins' character, Joe, is kept by a significantly older woman, Madelaine, played by Florence Henderson.

VH1 in 2005 aired Kept, a reality television series featuring a dozen contestants seeking to become the kept man of supermodel Jerry Hall.

The character of Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard is a "kept man" who is being "kept" by Norma Desmond, a famous star.

In the movie version of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Paul Varjak is being kept by the character of Mrs. Failenson, whom Paul introduces to Holly as his decorator.

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