Paul O’Grady, a British television host known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, died Tuesday. He was 67.
His husband, Andre Portasio, announced O’Grady’s death in a statement Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening,” Portasio, who wed the comedian in 2017, said in thestatement, per BBC.
The royal family shared astatementin the wake of O’Grady’s death, as the comedian had worked alongsideQueen Camillaat the Battersea Dog & Cats Home in London.
“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.”
A spokesperson for the Queen Consort said she will be “sharing her sympathies with Paul’s family privately in due course,” BBC reported.
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As Savage, he hosted British morning showThe Big Breakfastfrom 1995 to 1996 as well as the revival of famed British comedy game showBlankety Blankfrom 1997 to 1999.
His portrayal of the drag persona was groundbreaking in the U.K. at the time.RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s reigning winner Danny Beard described O’Grady as “the most important person in British culture for drag,” per BBC.
He stepped away from the drag persona in the early 2000s — retiring it in 2004 — and explored broadcast opportunities as himself, including his own daytime and late-night talk shows, as well as a 13-year stint hosting a Sunday afternoonBBC Radio 2show, which he left in August.
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O’Grady had suffered from two heart attacks, one in 2002 and the other in 2006, per BBC, but was reportedly in good health at the time of his death.
source: people.com
