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Jackie CurtisJohn Holder Jr. (February 19, 1947-May 15, 1985), better known as Jackie Curtis, was a famous transgendered film star and model. Curtis was born in New York City and later died there of a drug overdose. He spent part of his life living and performing as a man (sometimes adopting a James Dean persona) and sometimes as a woman. While living and performing in drag, he would typically wear a woman's dress (no falsies), lipstick, glitter around the eyes, and a wig. He would rip his stockings and dress for effect. This was a unique style for its time (late sixties - early seventies). Curtis was a friend of painter Andy Warhol, who helped the drag queen become famous. Mostly a stage actor, Curtis made friendships with other famous drag queens, such as Candy Darling and Holly Woodlawn. With the help of Warhol and Paul Morrissey, this group of stars also made various films including "Flesh" (1968) and "Women in Revolt" (1971) - a hilarious spoof of the women's liberation movement in which all the female leads are played by men in drag. Warhol films directed by Morrissey were made in a completely innovative way - without a script. Morrissey gave the actors the basic idea of the scene and line suggestions and then simply let the camera roll as the actors improvised. Apart from acting, Curtis also showed talent in poetry and singing. In 1974 Curtis and Woodlawn appeared in the successful and critically acclaimed Cabaret in the Sky at the New York Cultural Center. A CD of songs by Paul Serrato from the Curtis musicals "Lucky Wonderful" and "Vain Victory", including the love ballad "Who Are You" which Curtis sang (as a man) to transvestite Candy Darling, was released in 2004. Curtis' poem, B-Girls, much of which is based on Curtis' observations of people who visited Curtis' grandmother's bar (Slugger Anns) led to Curtis' inclusion in the 1979 book, The Poet's Encyclopedia. It was the longest poem on that book, spanning a total of eight pages. Jackie Curtis made three movies during the 1980s. Drug addiction, however, had taken control of Curtis' life, eventually leading to Curtis' death. In 2004, a film based on Curtis' life, Superstar in a Housedress, brought Jackie Curtis back to the limelight, exposing some little known facts about the drag queen to the public. Curtis was known for enjoying Halston dresses which he ripped up for his signature artistic effect. Curtis was also the "Jackie" in Lou Reed's song "Walk on the Wild Side" which was about the characters Reed knew from Andy Warhol's studio, The Factory. The verse speaks of his drug addiction and tendency to adopt a James Dean persona. Curtis, Jackie Curtis, Jackie Curtis, Jackie Curtis, Jackie
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