Exclusive: “It Gets Really Heated”

Matt Bomer and his family take their games of Uno very seriously. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Bomer shared how he, his husband Simon Halls, and their three teenage sons—Kit, Walker, and Henry—love to engage in card games, especially while on vacation.

“We play some card games,” the 46-year-old actor noted in this week’s issue. “Uno is always a classic. Uno gets really hot and heated in our family… There have been some heated moments in those games. I’m not going to lie.”

Bomer, known for his role in “Fellow Travelers,” is up for an Emmy this year for outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie. He married Halls in 2011. The couple welcomed Kit in 2005, and twins Henry and Walker in 2008.

Despite his success in front of the camera, Bomer would prefer his children stay out of show business for now. “I don’t want anybody out onstage any time soon,” he told PEOPLE in 2015. “I want them to have a nice, normal childhood.”

Nonetheless, there are occasions when Bomer puts a spotlight on his family. In 2012, he expressed gratitude to his husband and kids during his acceptance speech for the New Generation Arts and Activism Award at the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards. “I’d really especially like to thank my beautiful family: Simon, Kit, Walker, Henry,” he said. “Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is. You will always be my proudest accomplishment.”

The “White Collar” actor also shares glimpses of his family life on social media. On August 11, Bomer posted a heartfelt Instagram post featuring a photo of him and Kit enjoying a meal together, along with several photos of Kit relishing the great outdoors. “Last trip before college!” Bomer wrote in the caption. “We love you Kit, and we’re so proud of the young man that you have become!”

Balancing parenthood with the demands of his acting career can be challenging, but Bomer wouldn’t have it any other way. “I love [being a dad],” he told PEOPLE in 2014. “It’s the most profound gift and the most daunting challenge at times.”

When his kids aren’t around, Bomer enjoys playing Cards Against Humanity, a card game known for its mature content. “It’s definitely NC-17,” Bomer admits, adding that the game teaches him a lot about people he previously didn’t know. “You kind of learn about people’s sense of humor and their shadowier side when they play that game,” he explains. “Some people are just straight-up gamers who play to win. But it’s really fun.”

Bomer himself doesn’t consider himself particularly competitive. “I’m competitive with myself,” he says. “I think I’m more of a team sports guy. I was a swimmer growing up and the relay was always my favorite event. I loved playing on a football and track team; it always felt more like a team event for me. But when it comes to games or being on stage with somebody or being in a production with somebody, I’m much more ensemble-oriented.”

Source: PEOPLE