Danny La Rue - Revision history

Kurt at 15:31, 25 August 2024

2024-08-25T15:31:54Z

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	==Career==		==Career==
	Among his celebrity impersonations were [[Elizabeth Taylor]], [[Zsa Zsa Gabor]], [[Judy Garland]], [[Margot Fonteyn]], [[Marlene Dietrich]] and [[Margaret Thatcher]]. At one point he had his own nightclub in [[Hanover Square, Westminster\|Hanover Square]], and also performed on London's [[West End theatre\|West End]].~~{{cn\|date=March 2022}}~~ In the 1960s, he was among Britain's highest-paid entertainers. In the 1970s, he owned the Swan, a noted inn at [[Streatley, Berkshire\|Streatley]] on the [[River Thames]].~~{{cn\|date=March 2022}}~~		Among his celebrity impersonations were [[Elizabeth Taylor]], [[Zsa Zsa Gabor]], [[Judy Garland]], [[Margot Fonteyn]], [[Marlene Dietrich]] and [[Margaret Thatcher]]. At one point he had his own nightclub in [[Hanover Square, Westminster\|Hanover Square]], and also performed on London's [[West End theatre\|West End]]. In the 1960s, he was among Britain's highest-paid entertainers. In the 1970s, he owned the Swan, a noted inn at [[Streatley, Berkshire\|Streatley]] on the [[River Thames]].

	In 1982 he played Dolly Levi in the musical ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)\|Hello, Dolly!]]''. He also has the distinction of being the only man to take over a woman's role in the [[West End theatre]] when he replaced [[Avis Bunnage]] in ''[[Oh, What a Lovely War!]]''{{hsp}}<ref name="telegraph1"/> and he was until his death still a regular performer in traditional Christmas [[pantomime]] shows in Britain.		In 1982 he played Dolly Levi in the musical ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)\|Hello, Dolly!]]''. He also has the distinction of being the only man to take over a woman's role in the [[West End theatre]] when he replaced [[Avis Bunnage]] in ''[[Oh, What a Lovely War!]]''{{hsp}}<ref name="telegraph1"/> and he was until his death still a regular performer in traditional Christmas [[pantomime]] shows in Britain.

Kurt at 19:28, 11 March 2023

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	~~{{Short description\|Irish singer and entertainer}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=December 2020}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\|name = Danny La Rue		\|name = Danny La Rue
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	\|website =		\|website =
	}}		}}
	'''Danny La Rue''', {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|size=100%\|OBE}} (born '''Daniel Patrick Carroll''', 26 July 1927 – 31 May 2009) was an Irish singer and entertainer, best known for his on-stage [[w:drag queen\|drag persona]]. He performed in drag and also as himself in theatrical productions, television shows and film.		'''Danny La Rue''', {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|size=100%\|OBE}} (born '''Daniel Patrick Carroll''', 26 July 1927 – 31 May 2009) was an Irish singer and entertainer, best known for his on-stage [[drag queen\|drag persona]]. He performed in drag and also as himself in theatrical productions, television shows and film.

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Born Daniel Patrick Carroll in [[w:Cork (city)\|Cork City]],<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cork-born-danny-la-rue-dies-at-81-1.774878\|title=Cork-born Danny La Rue dies at 81\|first=Barry\|last=Roche\|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> Ireland, in 1927, La Rue was the youngest of five siblings. The family moved to England when he was six and he was brought up at Earnshaw Street in [[w:Soho\|Soho]], central London. When the family home was destroyed during [[w:the Blitz\|the Blitz]], his mother, a seamstress, moved her children to [[w:Kennford\|Kennford]], a [[w:Devon\|Devon]] village where young Daniel developed an interest in dramatics. "There weren't enough girls so I got the pick of the roles ... My [[w:Juliet\|Juliet]] was very convincing", La Rue recalled.<ref name="telegraph1">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/5422374/Danny-La-Rue.html\|title=Danny La Rue\|website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>		Born Daniel Patrick Carroll in [[Cork (city)\|Cork City]],<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cork-born-danny-la-rue-dies-at-81-1.774878\|title=Cork-born Danny La Rue dies at 81\|first=Barry\|last=Roche\|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> Ireland, in 1927, La Rue was the youngest of five siblings. The family moved to England when he was six and he was brought up at Earnshaw Street in [[Soho\|Soho]], central London. When the family home was destroyed during [[the Blitz\|the Blitz]], his mother, a seamstress, moved her children to [[Kennford\|Kennford]], a [[Devon\|Devon]] village where young Daniel developed an interest in dramatics. "There weren't enough girls so I got the pick of the roles ... My [[Juliet\|Juliet]] was very convincing", La Rue recalled.<ref name="telegraph1">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/5422374/Danny-La-Rue.html\|title=Danny La Rue\|website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

	He served in the [[Royal Navy]] as a young man following in his father's footsteps, and for a time worked delivering groceries. He became known as a [[drag queen\|female impersonator]], or "comic in a frock" as he preferred to be called, in the United Kingdom and was featured in theatre productions, and in film, television and records.		He served in the [[Royal Navy]] as a young man following in his father's footsteps, and for a time worked delivering groceries. He became known as a [[drag queen\|female impersonator]], or "comic in a frock" as he preferred to be called, in the United Kingdom and was featured in theatre productions, and in film, television and records.
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	==See also==		==See also==
	*[[w:Danny the Street\|Danny the Street]]—comic book character named after Danny La Rue ("la rue" in [[w:French language\|French]] translates into English as "the street")		*[[Danny the Street\|Danny the Street]]—comic book character named after Danny La Rue ("la rue" in [[French language\|French]] translates into English as "the street")

	==References==		==References==

Kurt: /* External links */

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External links

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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Commons category}}~~
	*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090608162559/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5422139/Danny-La-Rue-dies-at-81-after-battle-with-cancer.html Obit in the ''Daily Telegraph]		*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090608162559/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5422139/Danny-La-Rue-dies-at-81-after-battle-with-cancer.html Obit in the ''Daily Telegraph]
	*{{IMDb name\|0479005}}		*{{IMDb name\|0479005}}

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:La Rue, Danny}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:La Rue, Danny}}
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	[[Category:English drag queens]]		[[Category:English drag queens]]
	[[Category:Burials at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green]]		[[Category:Burials at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green]]
	~~[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]~~
	~~[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer]]~~
	[[Category:Gay entertainers]]		[[Category:Gay entertainers]]
	[[Category:Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom]]		[[Category:Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
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	[[Category:20th-century LGBT people]]		[[Category:20th-century LGBT people]]
	[[Category:21st-century LGBT people]]		[[Category:21st-century LGBT people]]
	~~[[Category: deaths from throat cancer]]~~
	[[Category:People from Cork (city)]]		[[Category:People from Cork (city)]]

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Kurt: /* Accolades */

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Accolades

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	He was appointed [[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] in the 2002 [[Elizabeth II\|Queen]]'s [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom\|Birthday Honours List]]. La Rue later stated in an interview that this was "the proudest day of his life".<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87366278.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025181552/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87366278.html \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=25 October 2012 \|title=QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST: The first dame; DANNY LA RUE OBE.(News) \|publisher=Highbeam.com \|access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref> Other accolades included [[Royal Variety Performance]] appearances in 1969, 1972 and 1978, Variety Club of Great Britain Showbiz Personality of the Year (1969), Theatre Personality of the Year (1970), Entertainer of the Decade (1979) and the Brinsworth Award from the [[Royal Variety Charity\|EABF]] for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment profession and the community.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/la_rue/3088304\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627111312/http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/la_rue/3088304\|url-status=dead\|title=Lasting Tribute website\|archivedate=27 June 2009}}</ref> In 1987, he was King Rat of the showbusiness charity the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]].		He was appointed [[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]] in the 2002 [[Elizabeth II\|Queen]]'s [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom\|Birthday Honours List]]. La Rue later stated in an interview that this was "the proudest day of his life".<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87366278.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025181552/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87366278.html \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=25 October 2012 \|title=QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST: The first dame; DANNY LA RUE OBE.(News) \|publisher=Highbeam.com \|access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref> Other accolades included [[Royal Variety Performance]] appearances in 1969, 1972 and 1978, Variety Club of Great Britain Showbiz Personality of the Year (1969), Theatre Personality of the Year (1970), Entertainer of the Decade (1979) and the Brinsworth Award from the [[Royal Variety Charity\|EABF]] for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment profession and the community.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/la_rue/3088304\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627111312/http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/la_rue/3088304\|url-status=dead\|title=Lasting Tribute website\|archivedate=27 June 2009}}</ref> In 1987, he was King Rat of the showbusiness charity the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]].

	La Rue was the subject of a specially extended edition of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1984 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the curtain call of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)\|Hello, Dolly!]]'' at London's [[Prince of Wales Theatre]].~~{{Citation needed\|date=September 2021}}~~		La Rue was the subject of a specially extended edition of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1984 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the curtain call of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)\|Hello, Dolly!]]'' at London's [[Prince of Wales Theatre]].

	He has also been described as "the grande dame of drag".<ref>{{cite book \|title=Paul O'Grady: The Biography \|last=Simpson \|first=Neil \|year=2008 \|publisher=John Blake Publishing \|location=London \|isbn=978-1-84454-417-2 \|page=106}}</ref>		He has also been described as "the grande dame of drag".<ref>{{cite book \|title=Paul O'Grady: The Biography \|last=Simpson \|first=Neil \|year=2008 \|publisher=John Blake Publishing \|location=London \|isbn=978-1-84454-417-2 \|page=106}}</ref>

Kurt at 00:41, 5 October 2022

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	\|website =		\|website =
	}}		}}
	'''Danny La Rue''', {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|size=100%\|OBE}} (born '''Daniel Patrick Carroll''', 26 July 1927 – 31 May 2009) was an Irish singer and entertainer, best known for his on-stage [[drag queen\|drag persona]]. He performed in drag and also as himself in theatrical productions, television shows and film.		'''Danny La Rue''', {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|size=100%\|OBE}} (born '''Daniel Patrick Carroll''', 26 July 1927 – 31 May 2009) was an Irish singer and entertainer, best known for his on-stage [[w:drag queen\|drag persona]]. He performed in drag and also as himself in theatrical productions, television shows and film.

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Born Daniel Patrick Carroll in [[Cork (city)\|Cork City]],<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cork-born-danny-la-rue-dies-at-81-1.774878\|title=Cork-born Danny La Rue dies at 81\|first=Barry\|last=Roche\|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> Ireland, in 1927, La Rue was the youngest of five siblings. The family moved to England when he was six and he was brought up at Earnshaw Street in [[Soho]], central London. When the family home was destroyed during [[the Blitz]], his mother, a seamstress, moved her children to [[Kennford]], a [[Devon]] village where young Daniel developed an interest in dramatics. "There weren't enough girls so I got the pick of the roles ... My [[Juliet]] was very convincing", La Rue recalled.<ref name="telegraph1">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/5422374/Danny-La-Rue.html\|title=Danny La Rue\|website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>		Born Daniel Patrick Carroll in [[w:Cork (city)\|Cork City]],<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cork-born-danny-la-rue-dies-at-81-1.774878\|title=Cork-born Danny La Rue dies at 81\|first=Barry\|last=Roche\|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> Ireland, in 1927, La Rue was the youngest of five siblings. The family moved to England when he was six and he was brought up at Earnshaw Street in [[w:Soho\|Soho]], central London. When the family home was destroyed during [[w:the Blitz\|the Blitz]], his mother, a seamstress, moved her children to [[w:Kennford\|Kennford]], a [[w:Devon\|Devon]] village where young Daniel developed an interest in dramatics. "There weren't enough girls so I got the pick of the roles ... My [[w:Juliet\|Juliet]] was very convincing", La Rue recalled.<ref name="telegraph1">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/5422374/Danny-La-Rue.html\|title=Danny La Rue\|website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

	He served in the [[Royal Navy]] as a young man following in his father's footsteps, and for a time worked delivering groceries. He became known as a [[drag queen\|female impersonator]], or "comic in a frock" as he preferred to be called, in the United Kingdom and was featured in theatre productions, and in film, television and records.		He served in the [[Royal Navy]] as a young man following in his father's footsteps, and for a time worked delivering groceries. He became known as a [[drag queen\|female impersonator]], or "comic in a frock" as he preferred to be called, in the United Kingdom and was featured in theatre productions, and in film, television and records.

Kurt at 00:39, 5 October 2022

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	\|name = Danny La Rue		\|name = Danny La Rue
	\|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|size=100%\|OBE}}		\|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|size=100%\|OBE}}
	\|image = Danny La Rue ~~1975~~.jpg		\|image = Danny La Rue.jpg
	\|caption = ~~La Rue in his dressing room at the [[Prince of Wales Theatre]] in London in 1975~~		\|caption =
	\|birth_name = Daniel Patrick Carroll		\|birth_name = Daniel Patrick Carroll
	\|birth_date = {{Birth date\|1927\|7\|26\|df=yes}}		\|birth_date = {{Birth date\|1927\|7\|26\|df=yes}}

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en>Citation bot: Alter: template type. Add: newspaper. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Whoop whoop pull up | Category:Pantomime dames | #UCB_Category 39/45

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Alter: template type. Add: newspaper. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Whoop whoop pull up | Category:Pantomime dames | #UCB_Category 39/45

New page

{{Short description|Irish singer and entertainer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Danny La Rue
|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
|image = Danny La Rue 1975.jpg
|caption = La Rue in his dressing room at the [[Prince of Wales Theatre]] in London in 1975
|birth_name = Daniel Patrick Carroll
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|7|26|df=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Cork (city)|Cork]], Ireland<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20455648.html|title=Reminiscing on encounter with Cork-born entertainer Danny la Rue|date=26 July 2017|website=Irish Examiner}}</ref>
|death_date = {{death date and age|2009|5|31|1927|07|26|df=yes}}
|death_place = [[Royal Tunbridge Wells|Tunbridge Wells]], [[Kent]], England
|occupation = {{hlist|Singer|entertainer|theatre performer}}
|partner = Jack Hanson (1947–1984)
|years_active = 1944–2007
|website =
}}
'''Danny La Rue''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born '''Daniel Patrick Carroll''', 26 July 1927 – 31 May 2009) was an Irish singer and entertainer, best known for his on-stage [[drag queen|drag persona]]. He performed in drag and also as himself in theatrical productions, television shows and film.

==Early life==
Born Daniel Patrick Carroll in [[Cork (city)|Cork City]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/cork-born-danny-la-rue-dies-at-81-1.774878|title=Cork-born Danny La Rue dies at 81|first=Barry|last=Roche|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> Ireland, in 1927, La Rue was the youngest of five siblings. The family moved to England when he was six and he was brought up at Earnshaw Street in [[Soho]], central London. When the family home was destroyed during [[the Blitz]], his mother, a seamstress, moved her children to [[Kennford]], a [[Devon]] village where young Daniel developed an interest in dramatics. "There weren't enough girls so I got the pick of the roles ... My [[Juliet]] was very convincing", La Rue recalled.<ref name="telegraph1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/5422374/Danny-La-Rue.html|title=Danny La Rue|website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

He served in the [[Royal Navy]] as a young man following in his father's footsteps, and for a time worked delivering groceries. He became known as a [[drag queen|female impersonator]], or "comic in a frock" as he preferred to be called, in the United Kingdom and was featured in theatre productions, and in film, television and records.

==Career==
Among his celebrity impersonations were [[Elizabeth Taylor]], [[Zsa Zsa Gabor]], [[Judy Garland]], [[Margot Fonteyn]], [[Marlene Dietrich]] and [[Margaret Thatcher]]. At one point he had his own nightclub in [[Hanover Square, Westminster|Hanover Square]], and also performed on London's [[West End theatre|West End]].{{cn|date=March 2022}} In the 1960s, he was among Britain's highest-paid entertainers. In the 1970s, he owned the Swan, a noted inn at [[Streatley, Berkshire|Streatley]] on the [[River Thames]].{{cn|date=March 2022}}

In 1982 he played Dolly Levi in the musical ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]''. He also has the distinction of being the only man to take over a woman's role in the [[West End theatre]] when he replaced [[Avis Bunnage]] in ''[[Oh, What a Lovely War!]]''{{hsp}}<ref name="telegraph1"/> and he was until his death still a regular performer in traditional Christmas [[pantomime]] shows in Britain.

In 1968 his version of "On Mother Kelly's Doorstep" reached number 33 in the UK singles chart; La Rue later adopted the song as his theme tune.<ref>{{cite book |title=British Hit Singles |last=Rice |first=Tim |author2=Jo Rice |author3=Paul Gambaccini |author3-link=Paul Gambaccini |edition=10th |year=1995 |page=181 |publisher=Guinness Publishing |isbn=0-85112-633-2}}</ref>

He had a starring role in the film ''[[Our Miss Fred]]'' in 1972, and also appeared in ''Every Day's a Holiday'', ''The [[Frankie Howerd]] Show'', ''Twiggs'', ''Decidedly [[Dusty Springfield|Dusty]]'', ''Entertainment Express'', ''Blackpool Bonanza'' and the BBC's ''[[Play of the Month]]'' in a production of ''[[Charley's Aunt]]'' (1969). He made a guest appearance as himself in the ''[[Mr. Bean]]'' episode "[[Mr. Bean in Room 426]]" in 1993.

La Rue's final major public appearance was in ''Hello Danny'', a biographical show performed at the "Benidorm Palace", which opened on 11 November 2007. The part of the young La Rue was played by Jerry Lane, who also co-created and directed. La Rue appeared at the start of the show and then in an interview on stage in part of the second half. He also performed a number of songs.

==Personal life==
La Rue would often perform parts of his show in men's clothes, and was often seen out of costume on television. In later life, he was more candid about his private life, including his homosexuality. La Rue lived with his manager and life partner of 37 years, Jack Hanson, until Hanson's death in 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dannylarue.com/bio/index.htm |title=Biography |publisher=Dannylarue.com |access-date=14 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204091422/http://www.dannylarue.com/bio/index.htm |archive-date=4 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="telegraph1"/> They had met following [[World War II]] in 1947.<ref name="Rue 2010">The Unforgettable Danny La Rue (2010), director Mark Turnbull.</ref>

In 1970, La Rue bought The Swan Inn at Streatley in Berkshire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/pick-past-1970-danny-la-7466518|title=Pick of the Past 1970: Danny La Rue buys The Swan at Streatley|last=Bunce|first=Alan|date=21 July 2014|website=getreading|access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref> He was later forced by circumstances to sell it.

In the 1970s, La Rue spent more than £1 million on the purchase and restoration of a country house hotel, [[Walton Hall, Warwickshire|Walton Hall]], in Warwickshire, and signed it over in 1983, as he could not manage it and his career, to a pair of Canadian [[confidence trick|con men]].<ref name="Rue 2010"/> La Rue had given control of the hotel to the two Canadians with a promise of further investment with the retention of La Rue's name on the hotel itself. This eventually led to a police investigation where La Rue was cleared of any suspicion but discovered he had lost more than £1 million.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/> The con men had bankrupted La Rue but he insisted in continuing to work to pay off the debts incurred rather than retire.<ref name="Rue 2010"/>

==Illness and death==
La Rue suffered a mild [[stroke]] in January 2006 while in Spain on holiday: as a result, his final pantomime and all subsequent performances were cancelled. He had been suffering from [[prostate cancer]] for many years. He had several further strokes and developed [[oropharyngeal cancer|throat cancer]].

He died shortly before midnight on 31 May 2009 at the age of 81.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-theatre-favourite-danny-la-3080778|title=Coventry Theatre favourite Danny La Rue dies, 81|work=[[Coventry Telegraph]]|first=Duncan|last=Gibbons|date=2 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5422776/Danny-La-Rue-dies-aged-81.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605173205/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5422776/Danny-La-Rue-dies-aged-81.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 June 2009 |title=Danny La Rue dies aged 81 |date=2 June 2009 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|first=Anita|last=Singh}}</ref> His friend and costume designer, Annie Galbraith, was with him (he was living at her home in [[Royal Tunbridge Wells|Tunbridge Wells]]) when he died.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8077329.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|title=Stage legend La Rue dies at 81|date=1 June 2009}}</ref> La Rue was laid to rest with his partner, Jack Hanson, in [[St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green]], west London.

==Accolades==
He was appointed [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] in the 2002 [[Elizabeth II|Queen]]'s [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|Birthday Honours List]]. La Rue later stated in an interview that this was "the proudest day of his life".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87366278.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025181552/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87366278.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2012 |title=QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST: The first dame; DANNY LA RUE OBE.(News) |publisher=Highbeam.com |access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref> Other accolades included [[Royal Variety Performance]] appearances in 1969, 1972 and 1978, Variety Club of Great Britain Showbiz Personality of the Year (1969), Theatre Personality of the Year (1970), Entertainer of the Decade (1979) and the Brinsworth Award from the [[Royal Variety Charity|EABF]] for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment profession and the community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/la_rue/3088304|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627111312/http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/la_rue/3088304|url-status=dead|title=Lasting Tribute website|archivedate=27 June 2009}}</ref> In 1987, he was King Rat of the showbusiness charity the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]].

La Rue was the subject of a specially extended edition of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1984 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the curtain call of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' at London's [[Prince of Wales Theatre]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

He has also been described as "the grande dame of drag".<ref>{{cite book |title=Paul O'Grady: The Biography |last=Simpson |first=Neil |year=2008 |publisher=John Blake Publishing |location=London |isbn=978-1-84454-417-2 |page=106}}</ref>

==Selected filmography==
*''[[Our Miss Fred]]'' (1972)
*''Come Spy with Me'' (TV film) (1977)
*''[[The Good Old Days (British TV series)|The Good Old Days]]'' (Christmas Eve, 1983)
*''[[Mr. Bean]]'' episode, "[[Mr. Bean in Room 426]]" (1993)

==Bibliography==
*La Rue, Danny (1987) ''From Drags to Riches: my autobiography'', Harmondsworth: Viking, {{ISBN|0-670-81557-8}}
*Underwood, Peter (1974) ''Life's a drag : Danny la Rue & the drag scene'', London: Frewin, {{ISBN|0-85632-081-1}}
*Baker, Roger (1968) ''Drag: A History of female impersonation on the stage'', Triton: {{ISBN|0-363-00014-3}}

==See also==
*[[Danny the Street]]—comic book character named after Danny La Rue ("la rue" in [[French language|French]] translates into English as "the street")

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090608162559/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5422139/Danny-La-Rue-dies-at-81-after-battle-with-cancer.html Obit in the ''Daily Telegraph]
*{{IMDb name|0479005}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:La Rue, Danny}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:British hoteliers]]
[[Category:British autobiographers]]
[[Category:English drag queens]]
[[Category:Burials at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer]]
[[Category:Gay entertainers]]
[[Category:Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:LGBT entertainers from Ireland]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Pantomime dames]]
[[Category:People from Soho]]
[[Category:People from Teignbridge (district)]]
[[Category:Royal Navy sailors]]
[[Category:20th-century British businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century British male singers]]
[[Category:English Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:20th-century LGBT people]]
[[Category:21st-century LGBT people]]
[[Category: deaths from throat cancer]]
[[Category:People from Cork (city)]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 18 January 2023
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	==See also==		==See also==
	*[[Danny the Street]]—comic book character named after Danny La Rue ("la rue" in [[French language\|French]] translates into English as "the street")		*[[w:Danny the Street\|Danny the Street]]—comic book character named after Danny La Rue ("la rue" in [[w:French language\|French]] translates into English as "the street")

	==References==		==References==