Friday, February 13, 2009

Out in Film: RuPaul

Idol worship: RuPaul, singer/songwriter/actor/model/ TV host.

- The Supermodel of the World burst onto the scene with his hit dance single "Supermodel (You Better Work)" from his debut album, making "sashay, shante" household words. His other chart hits include "Back to My Roots", "A Shade Shady (Now Prance)" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", a duet with Elton John. He also released a Christmas album, titled Ho Ho Ho.

- Previously, he was a fixture in the drag clubs and cabarets of his home state, Georgia, as well as New York City. He also appeared in the classic music video for the B-52's "Love Shack" and the "dragumentary" Wigstock: The Movie and, as a "MAC girl", was the first real drag queen supermodel. As well as his autobiography, Lettin' It All Hang Out, he even had his own series of fashion dolls.

- Other film roles include narrating the documentary The Eyes of Tammy Faye and playing Jan Brady's guidance counselor in The Brady Bunch movies, drag diva Rachel Tensions in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, the title character in Starrbooty (which he also produced) and, most recently, Tyrell Tyrelle in Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild. Out of drag, he co-starred in But I'm a Cheerleader under his full name, RuPaul Charles.

- In addition to a controversial appearance on the 1993 MTV Video Music with Milton Berle, he had his own VH-1 talk show and has guest starred on such gay-themed programs as Ellen and Rick & Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, the soap operas All My Children and Passions and the game shows The Weakest Link and Hollywood Squares.

- Borrowing a page from Project Runway (on which he has guest judged), he is now the host of RuPaul's Drag Race, currently airing on Logo. The typically outrageous reality competition pits drag queen against drag queen for the title of the next "Supermodel of the World".

2 comments:

Ray's Cowboy said...

Love RuPaul.

by the way guys. Happy Valentine's Day to each of you. may this blog have many years running
Hugs
Ray

Kirby Holt said...

And a happy heart day to you too!

- kch