RuPaul 1960–

(RuPaul Charles)

PERSONAL

Full name, RuPaul Andre Charles; born November 17, 1960, in San Diego, CA; son of Irving Andrew (an electrician) and Ernestine (a college clerk; maiden name, Fontenette) Charles. Education: Attended North-side School of the Performing Arts.

Career: Actor, singer, talk show host, and radio personality. RuPaul Morning Show, WKTU 103.5 (New York City), host; worked as nightclub performer; appeared in advertising for Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur, 1996, and WebEx; appeared in an Old Navy television commercial, 1999; serves as spokesperson for MAC cosmetics company. Previously worked as a used car salesman.

Awards, Honors: Vito Russo Entertainer Award, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards, 1999; Lifetime Achievement Award, The Most Beautiful Transsexuals in the World Association, 2002.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Bodega woman, Crooklyn, 1994.

Mrs. Cummings, The Brady Bunch Movie, United International Pictures, 1995.

Himself, Wigstock: The Movie, Hallmark Home Entertainment, 1995.

A dancer, Smoke, Miramax, 1995.

Dancer, Blue in the Face (also known as Brooklyn Boogie), Miramax, 1995.

Miss Rachel Tensions, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Universal, 1995.

Duke, Red Ribbon Blues, 1995.

Himself, Catwalk, Arrow, 1995.

Title role, Shantay, 1995.

Himself, Fled, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1996.

Mrs. Cummings, A Very Brady Sequel, Paramount, 1996.

Himself, Alma, Life Size Releasing, 1997.

Himself, Edtv (also known as Ed TV), Universal, 1999.

(As RuPaul Charles) Mike, But I'm a Cheerleader (also known as Make Me Over), Lions Gate Films, 1999.

(As RuPaul Charles) Daryl.com, Rick & Steve the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, 1999.

Narrator, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Lions Gate Films, 2000.

(As RuPaul Charles) For the Love of May, 2000.

Ginger Markum, Who Is Cletis Tout?, Paramount Classics, 2001.

Himself, Sylvester: Mighty Real, 2002.

(As RuPaul Charles) Don Williams, Arrested Soul (also known as Louisiana Son; short), 2002.

(As RuPaul Charles) Skin Walker, 2004.

Himself, Dangerous Liaisons, 2005.

Himself, Disco: Spinning the Story (documentary), Koch Vision, 2005.

Himself, The Making of Michael Lucas' "Dangerous Liaisons" (documentary), Lucas Entertainment, 2006.

Radio Kissin', Whitepaddy, Big Six Film, 2006.

Ms. Strict, Zombie Prom, 2006.

Film Work:

Director, Lucas Encounters: The Heat of the Moment, Lucas Entertainment, 2006.

Television Appearances; Series:

(As RuPaul Charles) Host, The RuPaul Show, VH1, 1996–99.

Hollywood Squares, 1998.

(As RuPaul Charles) Guest host, In the Life, PBS, 2001.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Deacon "Dede," A Mother's Prayer, USA Network, 1995.

Charles, An Unexpected Life, USA Network, 1998.

(As RuPaul Charles) Jimmy, The Truth about Jane, Lifetime, 2000.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Presenter, The 1993 MTV Music Video Awards, MTV, 1993.

(Uncredited) The 1993 Billboard Music Awards, Fox, 1993.

The CLIO Awards, Fox, 1995.

The State's 43rd Annual Halloween Special, CBS, 1995.

Presenter, VH1 '97 Fashion Awards, VH1, 1997.

Presenter, The 24th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1997.

(Uncredited) Himself, This Is My Life, BBC, 1998.

Motown 40: The Music Is Forever, ABC, 1998.

Narrator, Shock Video 2001: A Sex Odyssey, HBO, 2000.

The Sixth Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, ABC, 2000.

VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross (also known as VH1 Divas 2000), VH1, 2000.

(As RuPaul Charles) 100 Greatest Dance Songs of Rock & Roll, VH1, 2000.

Video Killed the Radio Star, VH1, 2000.

RuPaul: Fairest of Them All, Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

(As RuPaul Charles) Heroes of Black Comedy, Comedy Central, 2002.

Voice of champagne courvoisier, The Goovenians (animated), Cartoon Network, 2002.

The Evolution Will Be Televised, 2005.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

(Uncredited) Danielle, Saturday Night Live (also known as SNL), NBC, 1993.

The Word, Channel 4, 1993.

Marje, "Put to the Test," Sister, Sister, The WB, 1995.

Himself, "Extremities," The Crew, Fox, 1995.

Himself, Mad TV, Fox, 1995.

Kevin, "Boyz II Men II Women," In the House, UPN, 1995.

Simone Dubois, "Javelin Catcher," Nash Bridges (also known as Bridges), CBS, 1996.

The Rodman World Tour, MTV, 1996.

Himself, "Ellen: With Child," Ellen, ABC, 1996.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1996.

Witch judge, "Sabrina's Choice," Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (also known as Sabrina), ABC, 1998.

Simone Dubois, "Cuda Grace," Nash Bridges (also known as Bridges), CBS, 1998.

Voice, Disney's "Hercules" (animated), ABC and syndicated, 1998.

Bob, "Royal Heist," Walker, Texas Ranger, CBS, 1998.

Brett, "Veronica Plays House," Veronica's Closet, NBC, 1999.

(As RuPaul Charles) William Landford, choreographer, "The Time She Came to New York," Time of Your Life, Fox, 1999.

Jerry/Sheri Walters, "Who Abandoned Who?," Any Day Now, 2000.

Himself, "Television Hosts," Weakest Link (also known as The Weakest Link USA), NBC, 2001.

Pepe Dutille, "Val in Space," V.I.P. (also known as V.I.P.—Die Bodyguards), syndicated, 2001.

Sweet Honey Chile, "Problems," Popular, The WB, 2001.

Madame Alicia, Port Charles, ABC, 2001.

Heinous Anus, "Gay Team," Son of the Beach, FX Channel, 2002.

Voice, Queer Duck, Showtime, 2002.

Himself, The Graham Norton Effect, Comedy Central, 2004.

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Supermodel of the World, Tommy Boy, 1993.

Foxy Lady, Rhino, 1996.

Ho, Ho, Ho, Rhino, 1997.

RuPaul's Go-Go Box Classics, Rhino, c. 1999.

RedHot, RuCo Records, 2004.

RuPaul. ReWorked, RuCo Records, 2006.

Music Videos:

Appeared in B52's "Love Shack"; RuPaul's "Free to Be"; and Diana Ross's "I Will Survive."

WRITINGS

Film Segments:

"Therapist Session," Lucas Encounters: The Heat of the Moment, Lucas Entertainment, 2006.

Autobiography:

Lettin' It All Hang Out, Hyperion, 1995.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Contemporary Black Biography, Vol. 17, Gale Group, 1998.

Periodicals:

The Advocate, August 23, 1994, p. 64.

Billboard, June 5, 1993, p. 1; December 25, 1993, p. 46.

GQ, June, 1997, p. 198.

Interview, January, 1997, p. 33.

People Weekly, July 26, 1993, p. 147.

Rolling Stone, August 5, 1993, p. 24.

Electronic:

RuPaul official site, http://www.rupaul.com, October 2, 2006.