divine performer better known stage divine october march american actor singer drag queen closely associated independent filmmaker divine character actor usually performing female roles cinematic theatrical appearances adopted female drag persona music career born baltimore maryland conservative middle class family developed early interest drag working women mid-1960s embraced city scene befriended waters gave divine tagline beautiful woman world friend divine joined waters acting troupe adopted female roles experimental short films story drag took lead role waters early length movies began attract press attention group divine starred waters pink proved hit midnight movie circuit cult classic established divine fame american starring lead role waters picture divine moved theater appearing avant garde performances alongside san_francisco drag collective followed performance tom play women bars sequel continuing cinematic work starred waters films represented breakthrough mainstream cinema independent waters appeared number films lust dust trouble mind seeking repertoire playing male roles divine embarked career disco industry producing number tracks written achieved global chart success hits like think man beautiful walk like man performed drag having struggled life died described people magazine drag queen century divine remained cult figure particularly lgbt community provided inspiration fictional characters artworks songs books documentary films devoted life produced including divine early life youth born october baltimore maryland father march named seven children born maryland worked divine mother née april march children born impoverished immigrant couple grown near today croatia moving united_states moved baltimore worked meeting harris regular customer entering relationship married gaining employment working black factory problems muscular harris required fight armed forces second world war instead worked war saw good jobs attempting conceive child suffered time divine birth relatively wealthy socially conservative baptist christianity later describing upbringing divine child guess upper middle class american family probably american parents wanted including food overweight condition lived rest life divine preferred use middle distinguish father referred parents friends age divine parents moved baltimore suburb attended graduating bullied weight perceived later wasn rough tough instead loved painting loved flowers things interest took time job local shop years later went diet enabled drop weight pounds giving new sense confidence parents sent psychiatrist realized sexual attraction men women taboo conventional american society helped parents day care business instance dressing entertain children christmas time began attending learned hair completing studies gained employment couple local specializing creation eventually gave job financially supported parents expensive taste clothes cars reluctantly paid bills ran financing lavish parties dress drag favourite celebrity actress divine films built large collection friends actor divine later films mid-1960s befriended mutual friend waters age neighborhood embraced baltimore underground elements friends like waters began hanging bar downtown baltimore named associated smoked marijuana bonding waters described family sorts waters gave friends new nicknames called divine waters later remarked borrowed character novel lady flowers controversial book living margins society waters homosexual reading time waters introduced divine beautiful woman world description widely repeated ensuing years waters aspiring filmmaker intent making motion pictures cinema history friends group came known included appeared low budget productions filmed sunday following production short film black leather jacket waters began production second work film influenced pop artist consisted millimeter movies played simultaneously film star divine instance drag smoking nun featured modeling clothes performing unrelated activities short film avant garde nature received widespread distribution instead holding premier annual baltimore popular elderly young course bunch waters went screen local venues alongside short film waters followed short film eat makeup divine wore drag time portray fictionalized version widow recently assassinated president film turns kidnapping models forcing eat makeup divine kept involvement waters early underground films secret conservative parents believing understand reason involvement controversial bad taste films find years divine parents bought beauty shop hoping financial responsibility help settle life stop spending agreeing work refused involved owning managing establishment leaving mother long summer moved parental home renting apartment story multiple divine appeared waters short film story initially designed test new sound camera black comedy carried waters tradition making bad taste films shock conventional american society story based true story daughter media personality committed suicide earlier year death led media interest speculation sources erroneously claiming influence psychedelic waters version starred divine leading role teenager rebels conservative parents try break relationship boyfriend jim consuming large quantity committing suicide screened baltimore film festival film publicly released time largely legal reasons soon production waters began filming length motion picture starring divine main characters unnamed blonde woman drives town runs scene actor required walk street naked crime state maryland time leading arrest waters actors associated film divine escaped having driven away police arrived carry arrests review film pound sex symbol divine undoubtedly sort discovery divine abandoned work opening vintage clothing store massachusetts parents money opening store sold items divine purchased stores markets garage sales original location failed obtain license local authorities realizing venture financially viable divine sold stock low prices hope raising extra money sold furniture rented furnished apartment leading warrant arrest evaded local police traveling san_francisco california city large gay attracted divine embracing homosexuality divine played role operator exhibit known turns murdering visitors waters film film contained controversial scenes notably involved sitting inside church kills boyfriend proceeds eat heart divine bit cow heart gone rotten left set day end film raped giant named act drives madness subsequently goes killing fell point shot national_guard controversial nature waters feared film banned confiscated avoided jurisdiction screening non commercial venues rented church premises waters films receive widespread attention divine remarked divine incredible start new trend films rise fame pink following san_francisco divine returned baltimore participated waters film designed waters exercise poor taste film featured divine woman claims person alive forced prove right title scene send box birthday present order enact scene divine box night filmed phoenix maryland cast members spent time smoking cigarettes marijuana taking scenes heavily rehearsed final scene film proved particularly infamous involving eating fresh dog divine later told reporter followed dog hours waiting film scene scene notable moments divine acting career later complained people thinking run time received boxes dog shit plastic dog shit gone parties people sit talk dog shit think want talk reality remarked ate time script film premiered late annual baltimore film festival held campus sold tickets successive screenings film aroused particular interest underground cinema fans following success begun screened new_york_city philadelphia san_francisco picked small independent company distributed owner new_york_city promoting midnight movie scene primarily screening acid western film felt avant garde nature fit crowd screening midnight friday saturday nights film soon gained cult following theatre characterized early fans primarily downtown gay people hipper set noted group film popular working class kids new_jersey little cult cinema fans learned film lines reciting screenings phenomenon associated popular midnight movie era keeping involvement waters underground filmmaking secret parents divine continued relying financially charging expensive parties held writing bad checks charging major repair car parents confiscated told continue financially support manner retaliation came house following day collected pet dogs disappeared seeing speaking years instead sent world informing fine leave return address retired soon moved florida advice harris doctor prescribed southern state warmer weather beneficial harris muscular theater work female trouble filming finished divine returned san_francisco starred number small budget plays drag troupe including divine saves world vice palace journey center heartbreak met performer divine purchased house furnished expensive tastes visits washington early 1970s divine waters attended city balls frequented lgbt african americans waters encouraged divine drag persona outrageous exposing overweight stomach carrying weapons later commented wanted divine drag queens direct confrontation majority euro american drag queens wanted private life divine godfather son friends brook divine remained close divine death divine returned baltimore film waters motion picture played lead role divine character teenage idea crime art eventually executed electric chair violent behavior waters claimed character dawn partly based mutual friend introduced divine costumes designed create desired look film divine stunts including scene undertake number lessons divine played screen male role film waters included scene characters sexual intercourse joke fact characters played actor proved divine favorite films allowed develop character finally play male role felt important feared female divine responsible singing theme tune female trouble released single divine remained proud film received mixed critical reception divine starred revue alongside canadian rock band played hall toronto revue appeared manhattan divine manager said gigantic disaster divine large revue audience members expected divine unable appear waters feature despite fact role written returned working theater time taking role prison tom comedy women bars performed new_york_city truck play proved popular later taken london square containing new cast proved successful new_york city divine met group people come know london family fashion designer photographer sculptor partner london divine attended guest honour seventh annual alternative miss world mock event founded logan drag queens including men women children competed prize event filmed director subsequent film entitled alternative miss world premiered london leicester square featuring cannes film festival events attended divine impressed divine performance playwright decided write new play feature starring role result story set featuring divine female owner baltimore strip club played club new_york_city moving san_francisco divine remain proud work seeing evidence acting skills coming wider recognition performances attended celebrities elton_john new_york leg play tour divine befriended subsequently began renting apartment street city divine assembled group friends came known new_york family designer makeup artist frequented famous club studio having love club culture early disco work divine eventually decided abandon agent replace english friend jay suggested love clubs divine obtain work performing result divine appeared gay club florida act included shouting fuck repeatedly audience getting fight drag queen gimmick proved popular club subsequently saw commercial potential including disco songs act composer created born cheap divine appeared film starring unlike earlier roles strong female woman falls love dream lover played real life tabloid publications claimed romantic connection assertion denied film released accompanied scratch cards audience smell key points film soon divine auditioned male role upcoming science fiction film scott thought divine unsuitable claimed enthusiastic divine work interested including films ultimately came year divine decided contact estranged parents mother learned cinematic disco career reading article films life magazine gone female trouble cinema felt emotionally able contact son got friend hand divine note concerts leading divine telephone family subsequently reunited relationship divine bought lavish gifts informed wealthy fact according manager heavily debt extravagant spending joined forces young american composer wrote number singles divine including native love step step shoot shot love reaction help singles proved successful world divine went television shows like series tours combined musical performances comedic stunts routines played characters stereotype outrageous rest 1980s divine took musical performances tour world attaining particularly large following europe later life later disco work lust dust divine career disco singer continued records sold management felt receiving share profits went court orlando company successfully contract signing company divine released new disco records including think man beautiful produced coming production team united_kingdom divine sang hit think man song dedicated parents bbc television pops gained devout follower man declare divine number fan images idol eventually aiding setting divine onstage london divine befriended drag comedy act paul jay helping obtain divine film lust dust reunited divine film directed set nineteenth century movie sex comedy starred divine woman works singer competes love woman parody western duel sun film moderate critical success divine receiving praise number reviewers divine followed production different role gay male gangster trouble mind script written divine mind major character film divine eager play wished perform male roles leave stereotype simply female reviews film mixed divine performance finishing work trouble mind divine involved project film set baltimore 1960s revolved self proclaimed teenager pursues stardom dancer local television rallies racial segregation waters earlier film female trouble divine took roles film male female tracy loving mother divine later note character accurately described drag queen proclaiming drag queen allow look like look like half women baltimore second character film racist television station owner interview divine admitted hoped play role mother daughter producers bit chose role instead divine went state opinion lake jokingly telling interviewer nineteen delightful hate reality good friends working set reviews film predominantly positive divine particular singled praise commentators expressed opinion film marked divine breakthrough mainstream cinema subsequently took mother film premier miami film festival accompanied baltimore premier time relatives screening party held granted impromptu interview english film critic friend fan divine divine final film role low budget comedy horror dark produced crew lust dust appearing scene film played character policeman investigating murders killer clown dark released year divine death divine originally cast airplane passenger film dead died film production divine known celebrity 1980s appearing american television chat shows late night david_letterman night promote music film appearances divine themed merchandise produced including cards portraits divine painted famous artists including known works dealt popular culture death march weeks released nationwide divine staying regency plaza hotel los_angeles scheduled film guest appearance following day fox network television series married children second season wrap episode spending day sunset studios rehearsals divine returned hotel evening friends hotel restaurant returning room shortly midnight died sleep age enlarged heart corpse discovered following morning sat body hours alongside divine friends contacted chief arranged removal body divine friends able prevent press taking photographs body carried hotel divine body flown maryland taken funeral home coffin obtained funeral took place prospect hill cemetery crowd hundreds assembled pay respects ceremony conducted reverend baptized divine christian faith years gave speech carried coffin final resting place grave divine grandmother flowers left grave including sent actress bore remark happens good reviews following funeral tribute held baltimore governor mansion ensuing weeks confiscated divine possessions auctioned unpaid taxes drag persona performance developing female known behavior early films divine capitalized image appearing musical performances drag persona role described manager displaying trash bucket loads divine described stage performances good dirty fun find offensive honey don join performance constantly swore audience signature line fuck times got audience members come onstage breasts divine stage act proved particularly popular gay audiences appeared world biggest gay clubs heaven according divine manager divine gay gay community openly identified determination female character divine divine increasingly known stunts onstage time trying performance london coinciding divine rose floor hydraulic lift american flag declared representing freedom liberty family values fucking american way life performed london gay pride parade sang roof hired pleasure boat floated thames past performance divine gave year life appeared onstage riding infant elephant hired occasion divine happy known primarily drag act told interviewer favorite drag getting drag work clothes pays view echoed friends personal life childhood divine called friends family adult stage divine personal telling interviewer divine names brought divine past years guess divine mean character divine person divine gets complicated divine talking character divine living doesn exist point divine officially recognized appeared passport keeping personal use close friends nicknamed divine considered male gay 1980s extended relationship married man named lee accompanied went later separated divine went brief affair gay porn star widely reported gay press according manager divine regularly engaged sexual activities young men meet tour case met young man israel wanted bring united_states prevented jay image disputed friend claimed divine exhibited behavior tour divine initially avoided informing media sexuality questioned hint bisexual 1980s changed attitude began open homosexuality nonetheless avoided discussing gay rights partially advice manager realizing negative effect career divine mother remarked divine blessed talents abilities moody demanding noted incredibly kind generous wanted things way wanted tune displeased noted interviews came shy private person divine dutch friends gave early 1980s naming husband prince netherlands numerous occasions photograph taken use images record covers posters divine suffered problems childhood caused love food later life hunger increased daily use marijuana addiction publicly admitted according divine final years disco career coming end struggling find acting jobs felt threatened kill occasions legacy influence new_york_times said 1980s films past divine performance discovered actor actress genuine talent including natural sense comic timing gift letter newspaper described truly radical essential artists century symbol man quest liberty freedom people magazine described goddess gross big bad mama midnight movies miss following death fans divine visited pay respects tradition fans known leave makeup food graffiti grave waters claims fans sexual intercourse grave believes divine love divine left influence number musicians mid-1980s performer decorated powder room san_francisco home divine memorabilia band wrote song divine included group self titled debut album released song titled divine ode actor lifelong heroes admiration expressed lines self determined guru turn think walked way pain holds mirror irish electronic singer paid homage divine music video song movie star attack divine inspiration villain disney animated film little divine portrayal original comedy film version later musical adaptations commonly placed male actors role including broadway musical musical film foot tall statue likeness divine seen permanent display divine hometown baltimore divine feature documentary life divine premiered south southwest film festival baltimore premiere maryland film festival produced directed los_angeles based production company august play based final day divine life performed publications divine manager friend wrote book titled simply divine published admitting immensely proud divine cause jay noted book introduction wrote work felt divine deserved memorial act record insisted simply divine bitter revenge manager eager share praise equally homage designed paint divine legendary expressed hope book shines light shades grey man female persona portraying picture book criticized divine mother accused jay writing mean spirited work provided incorrect image son simply divine criticised divine friend remarked hostility way divine portrayed book degrees subsequently book divine entitled son divine published mother continued relationship gay community later documented film mother divine directed quinn divine book composed divine sent parents traveling world released divine estate november divine includes quotes stories friends colleagues including waters stole filmography discography albums singles
Divine (performer)