Entertainer Paul O’Grady, who achieved fame as drag queen Lily Savage earlier than changing into a much-loved comic and host on British tv, has died. He was 67.
Britain’s queen consort, who labored with O’Grady to assist animal charities, led tributes to a performer who emerged from the choice homosexual comedy scene and have become a nationwide treasure.
O’Grady’s companion Andre Portasio mentioned he died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday night.
“He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humor, wit and compassion,” Portasio mentioned in a press release.
Born in Birkenhead, close to Liverpool, in 1955, O’Grady was working as a local-authority care employee when he started performing as Savage, a tart-tongued Liverpudlian drag queen.
Savage turned a fixture as a standup and talent-show host at London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a landmark homosexual venue. O’Grady used his platform to talk out about LGBT rights on the top of the AIDS disaster, a time when the Conservative authorities of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was passing anti-gay legal guidelines.
Lily Savage moved into tv within the Nineties, together with a stint internet hosting speak present “The Lily Savage Show.”
Later, as Paul O’Grady, he hosted speak reveals and gameshows together with “The Paul O’Grady Show,” “Blind Date” and “Blankety Blank,” in addition to a long-running program on BBC radio.
An animal lover, he additionally offered “For the Love of Dogs,” which profiled the work of the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, an animal rescue charity. Camilla, the queen consort, was a visitor on the present final 12 months.
The official royal household Twitter account posted an image of O’Grady and Camilla with the message: “Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Paul O’Grady, who worked closely with Her Majesty in support of @Battersea_, providing lots of laughter and many waggy-tailed memories.”
Veteran gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell mentioned O’Grady “wasn’t just a brilliant comedian and broadcast personality but a much admired campaigner for LGBT+ equality and animal rights.”
“Paul was one of the loveliest people you could ever meet,” Tatchell mentioned. “Everyone whose lives he touched will miss him greatly, as will those who enjoyed his wit and admired his compassion.”
O’Grady is survived by Portasio, whom he married in 2017, and by a daughter from a earlier relationship.
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