Divine

Born: 1945-10-19

Divine (19 October 1945 – 7 March 1988), né Harris Glenn Milstead, was an American actor, singer and drag queen. Described by People magazine as the "Drag Queen of the Century", Divine often performed female roles in both cinema and theater and also appeared in women's clothing in musical performances. Even so, he considered himself to be a character actor and performed male roles in a number of his later films. He was often associated with independent filmmaker John Waters and starred in ten of Waters's films, usually in a leading role. Concurrent with his acting career, he also had a successful career as a disco singer during the 1980s, at one point being described as "the most successful and in-demand disco performer in the world." Born in Baltimore, Maryland, into a conservative, wealthy middle class family, he became involved with John Waters and his acting troupe, the Dreamlanders, in the mid-1960s and starred in a number of Waters's early films such as Mondo Trasho, Multiple Maniacs, Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble. These films have since become cult classics. In the 1970s, Milstead made the transition to theater and appeared in a number of productions, including Women Behind Bars and The Neon Woman, while continuing to star in such films as Polyester, Lust in the Dust and Hairspray. The New York Times said of Milstead's '80s films: "Those who could get past the unremitting weirdness of Divine's performance discovered that the actor/actress had genuine talent, including a natural sense of comic timing and an uncanny gift for slapstick." He was also described as "one of the few truly radical and essential artists of the century… was an audacious symbol of man's quest for liberty and freedom." Since his death, Divine has remained a cult figure, particularly with those in the LGBT community.


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Multiple Maniacs

as Lady Divine
Released: 1970-04-10

The Cavalcade of Perversion, a traveling freak show, acts as a front for Divine, who is out for...

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Disclosure

as Edna Turnblad (archive footage)
Released: 2020-06-19

An investigation of how Hollywood's fabled stories have deeply influenced how Americans feel...

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Hairspray

as Edna Turnblad / Arvin Hodgepile
Released: 1988-02-26

'Pleasantly plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny...

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Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2010-05-04

For decades, Freddy Krueger has slashed his way through the dreams of countless youngsters,...

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Pink Flamingos

as Divine / Babs Johnson
Released: 1972-03-17

Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against Connie & Raymond...

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Howard

as Dawn Davenport / Earl Peterson (archive footage)
Released: 2018-04-22

Though legendary lyricist Howard Ashman died far too young, his impact on Broadway, movies, and...

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I Am Divine

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2013-03-09

Harris Glenn Milstead, aka Divine (1945-1988) was the ultimate outsider turned underground hero....

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Female Trouble

as Dawn Davenport / Earl Peterson
Released: 1974-10-04

Dawn Davenport progresses from a teenage nightmare hell-bent on getting cha-cha heels for...

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Polyester

as Francine Fishpaw
Released: 1981-05-29

Blessed with a keen sense of smell and cursed with a philandering pornographer husband, a...

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Tab Hunter Confidential

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2015-03-15

Throughout the 1950s, Tab Hunter reigned as Hollywood’s ultimate male heartthrob. But throughout...

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Out of the Dark

as Det. Langella
Released: 1988-06-02

A deranged killer wearing a clown mask begins preying on a group of young women working at a...

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The Cockettes

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2002-01-16

Documentary about the gender-bending San Francisco performance group who became a pop culture...

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Studio 54

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2018-06-15

Studio 54 was the epicenter of 70s hedonism - a place that not only redefined the nightclub, but...

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Trouble in Mind

as Hilly Blue
Released: 1985-12-11

The lives of an ex-con, a coffee-shop owner, and a young couple looking to make it rich...

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Lust in the Dust

as Rosie Velez
Released: 1985-03-01

Assaulted by Third World outlaws, donkey-riding Rosie joins a silent drifter's search for gold.

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The Diane Linkletter Story

as Diane Linkletter
Released: 1970-04-10

This improvised film is based on the true-life suicide of TV personality Art Linkletter's...

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Mondo Trasho

as Divine / Greaser in Alley
Released: 1969-03-14

A day in the lives of a hit-and-run driver and her victim, and the bizarre things that happen to...

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In Bad Taste

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1999-09-03

A documentary on the career of filmmaker John Waters. Featuring interviews with actors and...

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The British Guide to Showing Off

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2011-11-11

Documentary about British artist Andrew Logan as he attempts to put on the 2009 edition of his...

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Queen: The Magic Years vol. 1

as Self
Released: 1987-11-30

This video is the first of a three volume documentary on the band.

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Rhythm Divine - History of Disco Music

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1992-09-20

The evolution of disco music through interviews and clips - Acid House, House, Disco, Funk,...

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Eat Your Makeup

as Jacqueline Kennedy
Released: 1968-02-23

John Waters' first sixteen-millimetre film, about a deranged nanny who kidnaps young girls and...

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Divine Trash

as Self
Released: 2000-03-31

The life and times of Baltimore film maker and midnight movie pioneer, John Waters.

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Uncle Bob

as Self
Released: 2010-06-26

Robert Oppel's documentary about the life and murder of his uncle and namesake, Robert Opel, the...

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BEAT. Contour. Snatched. How Drag Queens Shaped the Biggest Makeup Trends

as uncredited
Released: 2018-12-11

How drag queens sharing tips and tricks in dressing rooms shaped the face of today’s mainstream...

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Underground and Emigrants

as Self
Released: 1976-10-25

In this film, outspokenly homosexual filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim has documented his encounters...

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Divine Waters

as Self
Released: 1985-01-01

This documentary focuses on the careers of influential partners in trash film, John Waters and...

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The Alternative Miss World

as Self - Guest of Honour
Released: 1980-09-18

A filmed record of the 1978 "Alternative Miss World" beauty pageant held in a circus tent on...

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Queen: The Magic Years vol. 3

as Self
Released: 1987-11-30

This anthology chronicles Queen's 16 years. Footage includes "Live Aid" and the 1986 tour.

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Soul Ache

as Actriz cantante (Singer actress)
Released: 1998-08-14

Aitor is a director making a film about a lonely man looking for love, called “Soul Ache.” While...

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Queen: Magic Years - A Visual Anthology

as Self
Released: 1987-11-30

This video trilogy documents the music group Queen. Videos in this set are Magic Years Vol. 1...

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Night Flight: Born Again

as Self
Released: 2016-04-10

Documentary tribute to what VH1 called “the single greatest rock omnibus program ever aired” and...

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Tally Brown, New York

as uncredited
Released: 1979-05-04

Tally Brown, New York is a 1979 documentary film directed, written and produced by Rosa von...

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DIVINE R.I.P.

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2007-08-09

Drag Queen Divine Tribute

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Divine: Live at the Hacienda

as uncredited
Released: 1994-01-01

On 16 February 1983, Divine performs a seven-song set at the Hacienda Club in Manchester. His...

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Divine: Shoot Your Shot

as uncredited
Released: 1995-01-01

This show was filmed in Manchester, England in 1983, just as Divine's recording career was...

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The Neon Woman

as Flash Storm (archive footage)
Released: 1990-01-01

Produced in 1978, The Neon Woman is an “outrageous murder mystery” set in a run-down Baltimore...

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Discolocos

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2016-12-31

The high energy movement in Mexico is visited without prejudice through its places and its...

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Divine: Shoot Your Shot & Live at the Hacienda

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2000-01-01

This DVD combines two concerts filmed at the Hacienda in 1983. Both were previously available on...

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Tales from the Darkside

as uncredited
First aired: 1984-09-30

Tales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series created by George A. Romero, each...

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Cachitos de hierro y cromo

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 2013-10-27

Cachitos de hierro y cromo is a Spanish musical-themed documentary program, directed by Jero...

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The Incredibly Strange Film Show

as Self
First aired: 1988-08-05

A series of documentaries focusing on the world of psychotronic movies; focusing on the lives of...

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Sex 'n' Pop

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 2004-07-15

Looks at the overwhelming impact pop music has had since the 90s and how our media saturated...

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