Harris Glenn Milstead (October 19, 1945 – March 7, 1988) was an American singer and actor best known by his drag persona Divine. He starred in many of John Waters' films, including Mondo Trasho, Multiple Maniacs, Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Polyester, and Hairspray, as part of Waters' regular troupe of actors known as Dreamlanders. The New York Times said of Milstead's films in the 1980s, "Those who could get past the unremitting weirdness of...
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Harris Glenn Milstead (October 19, 1945 – March 7, 1988) was an American singer and actor best known by his drag persona Divine. He starred in many of John Waters' films, including Mondo Trasho, Multiple Maniacs, Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Polyester, and Hairspray, as part of Waters' regular troupe of actors known as Dreamlanders. The New York Times said of Milstead's films in the 1980s, "Those who could get past the unremitting weirdness of Divine's performance discovered that the actor/actress had genuine talent, including a natural sense of comic timing and an uncanny gift for slapstick."
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 19, 1945, Milstead was the son of Harris Bernard Milstead (May 1, 1917 – March 4, 1993) and Frances Milstead, née Vukovich (April 12, 1920 – March 24, 2009). His mother Frances had suffered two previous miscarriages in 1940 and 1943, and Milstead was raised as an only child. She always fought for the rights of her son and after his death kept his legacy...
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