Famed Drag Performer Heklina Found Dead in London
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Famed drag performer Heklina has died.
Fellow drag star Peaches Christ posted on Twitter and Facebook about finding Heklina, known as Stefan Grygelko outside of drag, dead in a hotel in London. The two were performing in Mommie Queerest, a musical parody of Mommie Dearest, at the Soho Theatre in that city.
“I do not know the cause of death yet. I know this is shocking news and I am beyond stunned, but I wanted to let folks know what has happened,” Peaches Christ wrote. “Heklina is not just my best friend, but a beloved icon of our community. I am a mess. Given this crisis, please do 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.”
\u201chttps://t.co/UoyC4wDYHV\u201d
— Peaches Christ (@Peaches Christ) 1680552796
The theater also sent a tweet of sympathy.
\u201cSoho Theatre, @HOME_mcr and Tim Whitehead are in shock and incredibly saddened with news of Heklina's passing. Our thoughts are with Peaches, Mommie Queerest company, Heklina's family, friends + their wider community. Together with HOME we\u2019ll be in contact with audiences tomorrow\u201d
— Soho Theatre (@Soho Theatre) 1680554122
Heklina was a veteran of the San Francisco drag scene. She first became famous with the show Trannyshack (which was eventually renamed Mother), premiering in 1996 at the city’s Stud bar and later moving to the larger DNA Lounge. The performance offered “a uniquely queer riff on the political, social, racial, and gender controversies of the day,” according to The Bay Area Reporter.
The show featured female performers, known as “faux queens,” and drag kings in addition to drag queens. “Heklina threw out the rulebook on what it meant to be a drag performer,” the Reporter notes.
In 2015, Heklina, with others, opened another San Francisco bar, Oasis. She later sold her interest in the bar and moved to Palm Springs, Calif., in 2019. She often returned to San Francisco, hosting a monthly party, “Daytime Realness,” at the city’s El Rio bar. She opened the season there March 18, The San Francisco Standard reports.
She was also famed for her appearances as Dorothy Zbornak in onstage re-creations of episodes of the sitcom The Golden Girls. “The long-running show became an annual holiday tradition in San Francisco,” the Reporter relates.
Tributes are pouring in.
\u201cIcon! Heklina was punk rock and made drag what it is today. Legend. \u2764\ufe0f\u201d
— Trixie Mattel\u2122 (@Trixie Mattel\u2122) 1680563643
\u201cHeklina was more than just a friend. She was legend in my eyes. That I got to befriend someone so spectacularly talented and equal parts funny and caring is one of the best gifts I\u2019ve ever had in my life. Heckles: I\u2019ll miss you so fucking much.\u201d
— Christopher R. Vasquez (@Christopher R. Vasquez) 1680556540
\u201cBeloved SF drag legend Heklina is gone. Knowing Peaches, I assumed this was an April Fool\u2019s thing. I\u2019ll miss that funny bitch!\u201d
— LADY BUNNY (@LADY BUNNY) 1680555083
\u201cI\u2019m absolutely gutted right now. Heklina was a drag legend and I adored her. She was a blast to work with. I will cherish the memories I have of her. Sending love out to all of her family and friends in this tragic time. You will be missed by many. \ud83d\ude22\ud83d\udc94\u201d
— Pandora Boxx (@Pandora Boxx) 1680559600
“I’m absolutely gutted right now. Heklina was a drag legend and I adored her. She was a blast to work with. I will cherish the memories I have of her. Sending love out to all of her family and friends in this tragic time. You will be missed by many. 😢💔”
