Iconic Drag Queen Heklina Dies in London
Drag legend Heklina has died while in London for a show, social media reports and news outlets say.
The 54-year-old performer was "also known as actor Stefan Grygelko," CBS News detailed, and "was first reported in social media posts by fellow drag queen and performing partner Peaches Christ (a.k.a. Joshua Grannell), who Heklina was touring with in 'Mommie Queerest,' a musical parody of the 1981 Joan Crawford biopic 'Mommie Dearest.'"
Peaches Christ sent out a tweet on April 3, saying she was "shocked and horrified" to announce the death of her show partner. "I am living in a real-life nightmare so forgive me if I don't have all the answers just now."
"This morning in London, England I went to collect my dear friend Heklina," the tweet related, before going on to say that she "found her dead."
"I do not know the cause of death yet," the tweet continued. "I know this is shocking news, and I am beyond stunned, but I wanted to let folks know what has happened."
Peaches Christ asked that her followers "not try to contact me as I am utterly heartbroken, stunned, and focusing on what needs to get done next. I shall be in touch."
"The Soho Theatre where the production of 'Mommie Queerest' was being held tweeted what Peaches Christ had shared and said they were 'in shock and incredibly saddened with news of Heklina's passing,'" CBS News relayed.
"Supervisor Matt Haney also tweeted about the loss of Heklina, who he called 'a drag legend, brilliant performer and trailblazing community icon.'"
Variety called Heklina "a pillar of the San Francisco drag community," and recalled that her drag name "was derived from the volcano Hekla" in Iceland, where the performing artist had lived before relocating to San Francisco.
"Heklina became a fixture of the San Francisco drag community in 1996 hosting the popular weekly series now known as 'Mother,' which has hosted figures such as Lady Gaga and Charro," Variety recalled. "The institution launched many local drag careers and has served as a major source of creative inspiration in the community, including to 'RuPaul's Drag Race: All-Stars' winner Alaska Thunderfuck."
Of the "Mother" shows, local news source the Bay Area Reporter recalled, "the performances were more than just boys in dresses lip-synching to pop ballads or camp classics. The weekly shenanigans often masked what in reality was a uniquely queer riff on the political, social, racial, and gender controversies of the day."
The Bay Area Reporter noted that Heklina had been an entrepreneur as well as a drag artist. "In 2015, along with D'Arcy Drollinger and other investors, Heklina opened Oasis in South of Market; the same building that once housed the original Oasis. The new nightclub has become popular for not only drag shows and DJed dance nights, but comic plays and musicals, cabaret concerts and community fundraisers."
"Heklina later sold her share of Oasis ownership and moved to Palm Springs, while still keeping a foothold in the Bay Area's nightlife scene," the BAR article added.
The drag icon's passing elicited an outpouring of appreciation for Heklina's life and career. In San Francisco, "the Castro Theatre paid tribute to Heklina on its marquee," local newspaper the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
At a San Francisco Supervisor's meeting on April 3, "former supervisor, state assemblyman and San Francisco mayoral candidate Tom Ammiano took a moment to acknowledge Heklina's passing, echoing the movie palace's marquee: 'Rest in power,'" the Chronicle detailed.
Bevan Dufty, commissioner of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, tweeted, "She was an Ambassador for Queer and Drag culture and artistry. She will always be a San Francisco Icon."
Fellow drag artists also sent out their tributes.
"Rest well, old gal. 💔," Juanita More! posted on Instagram.
Drag artist Fauxnique posted on Instagram that Heklina "loved moms & cats & cute boys. I am shocked & heartbroken.💔"
The Chronicle relayed that "San Francisco performer and politician Honey Mahogany said in a Facebook post" that Heklina was "Truly a legend who has changed the landscape of drag forever."
News outlets discussed Heklina's long-running role in staged presentations of episodes of the beloved sitcom "The Golden Girls," with BAR recalling that Heklina "was known for her deadpan line delivery as Dorothy (Bea Arthur's character)."
As of yet, "No details regarding the cause of death have been released," CBS News said.