Trivia

Michael Douglas turned 68 during filming, making him a few months older than Liberace was when he died. Although played by 42-year-old Matt Damon, Scott Thorson was only 18 when he met Liberace, and 23 when their relationship ended in April 1982. He was still only in his twenties when Liberace died. Played by 30-year-old Boyd Holbrook, Cary-James was also only 18 when he met Liberace.

Robin Williams was originally set to play Liberace.

In reality, Liberace was forty years older than Scott Thorson.

In Scott Thorson's book Behind the Candelabra, he notes that "in celebrity-saturated Palm Springs only two stars...took the trouble to pay their last respects" at the memorial service for Liberace. One was actress Charlene Tilton, and the other was Kirk Douglas, father of Michael Douglas.

According to an interview with Michael Douglas at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, Debbie Reynolds, who plays Liberace's mother in this film, was personally acquainted with the real Liberace and appeared as a guest on his variety show. Douglas also said that when he was younger, his father, Kirk Douglas, had a Palm Springs home down the street from one of Liberace's homes, and although Michael Douglas never met Liberace, he did occasionally see him in the neighborhood.