In 1976, a "People" magazine article on Lynde included text about Stan Finesmith, who was described as Lynde's "suite mate" and "chauffeur-bodyguard." The magazine included one photograph of Lynde with Finesmith for which they had posed inoffensively. During Lynde's lifetime, this was as close as the media came to hinting at his homosexuality. Cathy Rudolph, a friend of Lynde's who published a 2013 book entitled "Paul Lynde: A Biography – His Life, His Love(s) and His Laughter", stated in a 2018 interview that "being gay and having to hide it frustrated him."