Divine
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.
Multiple Maniacs
as Lady DivineThe Cavalcade of Perversion, a traveling freak show, acts as a front for Divine, who is out for...
Movie pageDisclosure
as Edna Turnblad (archive footage)An investigation of how Hollywood's fabled stories have deeply influenced how Americans feel...
Movie pageHairspray
as Edna Turnblad / Arvin Hodgepile'Pleasantly plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny...
Movie pageNever Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
as Self (archive footage)For decades, Freddy Krueger has slashed his way through the dreams of countless youngsters,...
Movie pagePink Flamingos
as Divine / Babs JohnsonNotorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against Connie & Raymond...
Movie pageHoward
as Dawn Davenport / Earl Peterson (archive footage)Though legendary lyricist Howard Ashman died far too young, his impact on Broadway, movies, and...
Movie pageI Am Divine
as Self (archive footage)Harris Glenn Milstead, aka Divine (1945-1988) was the ultimate outsider turned underground hero....
Movie pageFemale Trouble
as Dawn Davenport / Earl PetersonDawn Davenport progresses from a teenage nightmare hell-bent on getting cha-cha heels for...
Movie pagePolyester
as Francine FishpawBlessed with a keen sense of smell and cursed with a philandering pornographer husband, a...
Movie pageTab Hunter Confidential
as Self (archive footage)Throughout the 1950s, Tab Hunter reigned as Hollywood’s ultimate male heartthrob. But throughout...
Movie pageOut of the Dark
as Det. LangellaA deranged killer wearing a clown mask begins preying on a group of young women working at a...
Movie pageThe Cockettes
as Self (archive footage)Documentary about the gender-bending San Francisco performance group who became a pop culture...
Movie pageStudio 54
as Self (archive footage)Studio 54 was the epicenter of 70s hedonism - a place that not only redefined the nightclub, but...
Movie pageTrouble in Mind
as Hilly BlueThe lives of an ex-con, a coffee-shop owner, and a young couple looking to make it rich...
Movie pageLust in the Dust
as Rosie VelezAssaulted by Third World outlaws, donkey-riding Rosie joins a silent drifter's search for gold.
Movie pageThe Diane Linkletter Story
as Diane LinkletterThis improvised film is based on the true-life suicide of TV personality Art Linkletter's...
Movie pageMondo Trasho
as Divine / Greaser in AlleyA day in the lives of a hit-and-run driver and her victim, and the bizarre things that happen to...
Movie pageIn Bad Taste
as Self (archive footage)A documentary on the career of filmmaker John Waters. Featuring interviews with actors and...
Movie pageThe British Guide to Showing Off
as Self (archive footage)Documentary about British artist Andrew Logan as he attempts to put on the 2009 edition of his...
Movie pageQueen: The Magic Years vol. 1
as SelfThis video is the first of a three volume documentary on the band.
Movie pageRhythm Divine - History of Disco Music
as Self (archive footage)The evolution of disco music through interviews and clips - Acid House, House, Disco, Funk,...
Movie pageEat Your Makeup
as Jacqueline KennedyJohn Waters' first sixteen-millimetre film, about a deranged nanny who kidnaps young girls and...
Movie pageDivine Trash
as SelfThe life and times of Baltimore film maker and midnight movie pioneer, John Waters.
Movie pageUncle Bob
as SelfRobert Oppel's documentary about the life and murder of his uncle and namesake, Robert Opel, the...
Movie pageBEAT. Contour. Snatched. How Drag Queens Shaped the Biggest Makeup Trends
as uncreditedHow drag queens sharing tips and tricks in dressing rooms shaped the face of today’s mainstream...
Movie pageUnderground and Emigrants
as SelfIn this film, outspokenly homosexual filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim has documented his encounters...
Movie pageDivine Waters
as SelfThis documentary focuses on the careers of influential partners in trash film, John Waters and...
Movie pageThe Alternative Miss World
as Self - Guest of HonourA filmed record of the 1978 "Alternative Miss World" beauty pageant held in a circus tent on...
Movie pageQueen: The Magic Years vol. 3
as SelfThis anthology chronicles Queen's 16 years. Footage includes "Live Aid" and the 1986 tour.
Movie pageSoul Ache
as Actriz cantante (Singer actress)Aitor is a director making a film about a lonely man looking for love, called “Soul Ache.” While...
Movie pageQueen: Magic Years - A Visual Anthology
as SelfThis video trilogy documents the music group Queen. Videos in this set are Magic Years Vol. 1...
Movie pageNight Flight: Born Again
as SelfDocumentary tribute to what VH1 called “the single greatest rock omnibus program ever aired” and...
Movie pageTally Brown, New York
as uncreditedTally Brown, New York is a 1979 documentary film directed, written and produced by Rosa von...
Movie pageDivine: Live at the Hacienda
as uncreditedOn 16 February 1983, Divine performs a seven-song set at the Hacienda Club in Manchester. His...
Movie pageDivine: Shoot Your Shot
as uncreditedThis show was filmed in Manchester, England in 1983, just as Divine's recording career was...
Movie pageThe Neon Woman
as Flash Storm (archive footage)Produced in 1978, The Neon Woman is an “outrageous murder mystery” set in a run-down Baltimore...
Movie pageDiscolocos
as Self (archive footage)The high energy movement in Mexico is visited without prejudice through its places and its...
Movie pageDivine: Shoot Your Shot & Live at the Hacienda
as Self (archive footage)This DVD combines two concerts filmed at the Hacienda in 1983. Both were previously available on...
Movie pageTales from the Darkside
as uncreditedTales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series created by George A. Romero, each...
TV Show pageCachitos de hierro y cromo
as Self (archive footage)Cachitos de hierro y cromo is a Spanish musical-themed documentary program, directed by Jero...
TV Show pageThe Incredibly Strange Film Show
as SelfA series of documentaries focusing on the world of psychotronic movies; focusing on the lives of...
TV Show pageSex 'n' Pop
as Self (archive footage)Looks at the overwhelming impact pop music has had since the 90s and how our media saturated...
TV Show page