Wentworth Miller's former co-star is "very proud" of him for coming out as a gay man.

Dominic Purcell, who played the 41-year-old actor's brother in Prison Break from 2005 until 2009, has praised the British-born star for opening up about his sexuality for the first time this week as he took a stand against Russia's recent anti-gay legislation by refusing to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival.

"As a friend and someone I care for deeply, I am very proud of Wentworth. I wish him much happiness and peace. I applaud his courage and his stance against a wrongful, archaic ideology," the 43-year-old actor told UsMagazine.com.

A number of celebrities, including Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen DeGeneres, also took to Twitter to show their support for Wentworth after he wrote a letter on Wednesday to the organizers of the film festival stating he could not "in good conscience" attend the event because of the country's stance.

"Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes. However, as a gay man, I must decline. I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly. Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve. I'll be free to make a different choice. Until then," he wrote.