Colton Haynes was told his being gay caused his father's suicide

Colton Haynes was told his father killed himself after finding out his son was gay. Photo / Splash News

Colton Haynes' homosexuality was blamed for his father's suicide.

The Arrow actor was bullied when he came out as gay at the age of 14, but ran away from his Kansas home after he was bullied by his classmates, and his mother Dana - who was divorced from his dad William - wouldn't accept his sexuality.

While staying with a friend, he learned his father, who he wasn't close to, had committed suicide.

He recalled to OUT magazine: "I'm the last person in the world who would say, 'Oh, my dad- pity me'.

"But I was told that my dad killed himself because he found out I was gay. So of course, I lost it and was like, 'How could you say something like that?' And no one will ever really know the truth.

"But my brother and my mom went to pick up my dad's stuff, and the only picture on his fridge was my eighth-grade graduation picture. So I was just like, F***."

The 28-year-old actor eventually moved to Los Angeles and was advised by his management to conceal his sexuality as he was told it would hinder his career if people knew he was gay.

He said: "I feel really bad that I had to lie for so long. But I was told that was the only way I was going to be successful.

"When you're young in this industry, people take advantage of you, and they literally tell you that your dreams are going to come true. If you believe that, you'll do anything. And you do believe it, especially if you're from Kansas."

Colton had previously posed with his boyfriend for XY magazine in 2006, but his management tried to get rid of the photoshoot, and the Teen Wolf star admitted the interference with his image made it look like he "hated" himself and other gay people.

He said: "I looked like I was f***ing gay-bashing. Like I hated myself or I hated the gays, which was never the intention at all.

"I was just young and trying to make it in this town and doing what these people were telling me to do."

But these days, Colton - who officially came out in public in May this year - is much more comfortable with himself and looking for a guy who is a combination of Idris Elba, Ryan Reynolds and John Cena to have his "happy ending" with.

He said: "Someone who just descended from a mountain and said, 'I don't have any friends. Would you like to come live with me?' I'd love that. I want to somehow have a happy ending. Or a happy beginning."