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Divine Biography (1945-1988)

Born Harris Glenn Milstead, October 19, 1945, in Baltimore, MD; died of a heart attack, May 7, 1988, in Los Angeles, CA; son of Harris and Frances Milstead.

Divine gained a cult following for his transvestite roles in films made withhis high school friend, director John Waters. The actor's trademark elaboratewigs and outlandish make-up were somewhat toned down for his appearance as ahousewife in Waters's Hairspray, a film that crossed over to attract mainstream audiences.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Birth Details

October 19, 1945

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Death Details

May 7, 1988

Los Angeles, California, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; PRINCIPAL STAGE APPEARANCES
• Matron, Women Behind Bars, Truck and Warehouse Theatre, New York City, 1976, then Whitehall Theatre, London, 1977.
• Flash Storm, The Neon Woman, Hurrah Theatre, New York City, 1978.
• Also appeared in Rites of Spring, La Mama Experimental Theatre Company, New York City, 1975; The Alternative Miss World (concert event), Hippodrome, London; Neon Frame (concert event); Restless Underwear (concert event); and ina revue in San Francisco, CA.
• Credits; MAJOR TOURS
• Flash Storm, The Neon Woman, U.S. and Canadian cities.
• FILM DEBUT--Divine, Roman Candles, 1966.
• Credits; PRINCIPAL FILM APPEARANCES
• Hit and run driver, Mondo Trasho, Film Makers, 1970.
• Lady Divine, Multiple Maniacs, New Line Cinema, 1971.
• Babs Johnson and Divine, Pink Flamingos, New Line Cinema, 1972.
• Dawn Davenport and Earl Peterson, Female Trouble, New Line Cinema, 1975.
• guest of honor, The Alternative Miss World (documentary), Tigon, 1980.
• Francine Fishpaw, Polyester, New Line Cinema, 1981.
• Rosie Velez, Lust in the Dust, New World, 1984.
• Hilly Blue, Trouble in Mind, Alive, 1985.
• Edna Turnblad and Arvin Hodgepile, Hairspray, New Line Cinema, 1988.
• Also appeared in Underground and Emigrants (documentary), Rosa Von Praunheim/Berliner Festwochen/Sender Freies Berlin, 1976; Tally Brown, N.Y. (documentary), Filmwelt Verleigh, 1979; as detective, Out of the Dark; and in Eat Your Makeup.
• Credits; PRINCIPAL TELEVISION APPEARANCES; EPISODIC
• "Seymourlama," Tales from the Darkside, syndicated, 1987.
• Born to Be Cheap, T-Shirts and Tight Blue Jeans, Jungle Jezebel, You Think You're a Man, Walk Like a Man, and Little Baby.
• Credits; VIDEOS
• Appeared in six music videos, including Divine--Live at the Hippodrome.

Further Reference

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

• [New York] Daily News, March 8, 1988, March 9, 1988.
• New York Times, March 8, 1988.
• Variety, March 9, 1988.
• Village Voice, March 15, 1988.