David Raven, who was extra generally generally known as Maisie Trollette and was considered the oldest pricey performer within the UK, died Wednesday in Brighton, England. He was 91.
His demise was confirmed by a good friend Scott St. Martin, who stated Mr. Raven lived in a nursing dwelling.
Mr. Raven carried out himself as Maisie Trollette for greater than half a century, wearing blond wig, a thick layer of make-up and lengthy sequins whereas singing previous present tunes and caught naughty jokes. It has turn out to be the premise of the British drag chain, the common presence of the occasion in Brighton and Hove Satisfaction, and the mentor of the youthful deck queens.
He got here out as a homosexual of his 20s, at a time when the “gay acts” had been nonetheless unlawful within the UK. . Danny La Ryu, a famous British dear performance (Who in keeping with G -n St. Martin was an enormous fan of Mr. Raven).
In the beginning of her profession, Raven described himself as a “pantomime girl,” says G -n St. Martin, an actor who grew to become buddies with G -Rvenven within the Nineteen Eighties, stated in an interview. “He has at all times tried to legitimize him by being an expert actor.”
Mr. Raven rose to glory within the Nineteen Sixties, as half of the Drag duo trolls together with Jimmy Courtroom, who carried out as Jimmy Trolert.
“They had been a type of comedians for slaps,” says Dave Lin, a longtime good friend of Mr. Raven, who launched himself with him within the Nineteen Eighties and 90s. “You by no means knew what would come from them, most of it was Advert-Lib.”
Ultimately, Raven branched like an impartial act, performing as Maisie in charity exhibitions and locations all through the UK and appeared within the introductory parade for Brighton and Hove Satisfaction, the biggest pleasure competition within the UK, in 1973.
“Maisey was such a significant,” says Christopher Dennis, extra generally known as his pricey Alter Ego, La Wox, who met with Mr. Raven within the early 2000s. “Everybody knew about him, even in case you did not see him. You simply knew the identify. “
Though Mr. Raven was well-known to the dragging chain and in Brighton, the place he lived, he was little recognized about his youth and childhood. Even buddies who had recognized him for many years stated he had by no means talked about his previous.
David Raven was born on August 15, 1933 in Cornwall, England, and was raised by adoptive dad and mom in Norfolk. He had no rapid survivors; His companion Don Kul, whom he calls his “idol” and his “different half” in “Maisey”, a documentary of 2021, died of issues of AIDS about twenty years in the past.
Whereas Mr. Raven was an plain pillar of British dragging, he was significantly concerned within the separation of his alter ego from his day by day id, reprimanding anybody who referred to as him Maisi when he was not in character.
“He got here of very chilly origin,” stated Mr. Lynn. “He could not be a full -time queen.”
Mr. Raven continued to carry out effectively in his 80s, finally utilizing a cane on stage. “I can not consider I have been doing this for 50 years,” he stated within the 2021 documentary.
Whereas Raven was the one determine within the UK, he had an American counterpart: Walter Cole, also referred to as Darzel XV, a US Drag Queen, who gained a Guinness World Document because the world’s most dragging artist. (S)Mr. Cole died at 92 in 2023))
Within the documentary “Maisie”, the 2 Octogenarian performers have meals collectively and are making ready for a efficiency in Brighton. Standing aspect by aspect, they pose for images and change quips and (typically soiled) jokes.
Mr. Raven had a depraved humorousness and his buddies described him as “naughty” and “joker”. Throughout touring with buddies, he would conceal in closets or below beds to scare them. In his spare time, he appreciated to wager, particularly racing horses. Even later in his life, when he was too unwell to depart the home, Raven will ask folks to make it bets, stated G -n St. Martin.
His longevity impressed the youthful performers, and he provided a deep encouragement of the youthful actions in an try to assist the British drag scene thrive, stated G -L Lyn.
“There’s a feeling within the arts that there’s a date of expiration,” stated Dennis. “And David confirmed us that there is no such thing as a expiration date, that it’s fabulous.”
