#37: Nate Berkus

Year They Came Out of the Closet: openly gay

Nathan Jay Berkus, born September 17, 1971, is an acclaimed American interior designer, author, and TV personality known for being unapologetically himself. Openly gay on and off-screen, Berkus’s authenticity shines through his shows. Since 2017, he and his husband, Jeremiah Brent, have co-hosted the TLC design series Nate & Jeremiah by Design.

But before reaching immense success, Berkus endured a devastating loss. In 2004, while vacationing in Sri Lanka, he and his partner, photographer Fernando Bengoechea, were caught in the Indian Ocean tsunami. Berkus survived, but Bengoechea was presumed dead. Berkus shared his heartbreaking story on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2005, demonstrating remarkable resilience and strength.