British pioneering female impersonator, stage legend and gay icon Danny La Rue has died at his home in Kent, aged 81, after a battle with prostate cancer. Danny La Rue (1927-2009) Irish-born La Rue was one of the biggest stars on the cabaret circuit in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As a celebrity impersonator, he imitated Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Marlene Dietrich, Margaret Thatcher and many more. "With his dazzling coiffures, extravagant costumes, immaculate make-up, fitted eyelashes, blonde peek-a-boo wig and high heels… La Rue in his heyday would don specially-designed creations of beaded pink lace and tulle with trains of ostrich feathers up to 20ft long. Thus glorified, he became one of the best-loved professional cross-dressers of his time," says the UK's Telegraph newspaper today. La Rue's most famous role came in 1982 as Dolly Levi in the musical Hello, Dolly!, and in 2002 was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. La Rue lived for many years with his partner and manager, Jack Hanson, until Hanson's death in Australia in 1985, following a stroke. He would never mention his gay sexuality during the height of his fame, but in later years he became more candid about being gay. A video tribute to Danny La Rue appears below.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 2nd June 2009 - 11:26am