RIP Drag Icon and TV Host, Lily Savage (aka: Paul O’Grady)

The world lost another great this week with the passing of Paul O'Grady, better known to many as one of the great drag queens of all time, Lily Savage. Announced by his husband Andre Portasio, O'Grady died unexpectedly on Tuesday evening, March 28, at the early age of 67, saying, "It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening."

O'Grady first came on to the drag scene in 1978 with the creation of his persona Lily Savage, which was based on a number of his female relatives. He toured the country as part of a drag/mime duo The Playgirls, before becoming a standup comedian in the '80s. Through his years of performing at the iconic Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London, it was his vocal fight for LGBTQ+ rights that solidified him as an absolute badass. But it wasn't until 1992 that O'Grady gained widespread and mainstream acclaim. In '92 he was nominated for the prestigious Perrier Award, which lead to numerous TV, radio, and theatrical stints. As Lily Savage, O'Grady hosted the TV shows The Big Breakfast (1995–1996), Blankety Blank (1997–2002), and Lily Live! (2000–2001), all to great acclaim, success, and award-winning.

 

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Outside of his TV hosting and drag performances, tons of Brits knew O'Grady for his work on the stage. He made his London theatre breakout in 1981 when he starred as one of the Ugly Sisters in a drag pantomime of Cinderella. He also appeared in If They’d Asked for a Lion Tamer, Oliver!, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, just to name a few. One of his most well-known roles, though, is one of the great comedy characters of all-time: Miss Hannigan in Annie. O'Grady starred as Miss Hannigan in London in 1998 before going on tour with the role, and then reprising it again last year in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Southampton, Liverpool, Dublin and Bristol.

O'Grady also became a stalwart of animal rights activism. He was the ambassador for the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and once said that given the choice between more sex or money, he would choose a mongoose; he and Portasio shared their Kent farmhouse with four dogs, goats, sheep, chickens, and barn owls. It was through his work with animal rights activism that his friendship with Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles developed.

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. pic.twitter.com/N13aBuBYCm

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 29, 2023

Right now around the country, Queer lives are under attack from numerous angles. But in the center of all the mayhem recently there has decidedly been an attack on drag queens. So to lose a great like Lily Savage stings just a bit more. But looking back at her career also offers us a needed reminder of just how ingrained in our society and history drag is as an art form. Drag artists have been entertaining the masses for centuries, and have been in mainstream culture since the advent of TV. Think Flip Wilson; think Dame Edna... think Paul O'Grady.

Drag Queens around the world - and more importantly those who love and support them - are rallying around the world in support of these artists, and of Queer lives. And without trailblazers like Paul O'Grady/Lily Savage, drag as a truly mainstream medium would not be a thing. So with grateful hearts, we say Rest In Power, you absolute Queen of Queens. Thank you for bringing Queer joy and love to the world for half a century.

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