News
April 4, 2023 | 3:03 p.m
Heklina, the famous San Francisco drag queen born Stefan Grigelko, was found dead in London on Monday, according to a friend who made the grim discovery.
Heklina was 54 years old.
fellow drag performer Christ said the peaches were She is “shocked and horrified” when she discovers Mitt Hicklina before performing on the “Mommie Queerest” drag show.
“I’m living through a real nightmare, so forgive me if I don’t have all the answers right now,” Peaches Christ wrote Monday.
According to the veteran cyclist queen, also known as Joshua Granell, earlier that morning she went to pick up Hicklina, an old friend and actress, in London and “found her dead.”
Christ Peach added: “I do not yet know the cause of death.” “I know this is shocking news and I am so devastated, but I wanted to tell people what happened.”
Hicklina and Peaches Christ starred together in “Mommy Querest,” a spoof based on the 1981 drama “Mommie Dearest.”
Officials at London’s Soho Theatre, where the show was scheduled to run for two weeks, confirmed Hecklina’s death, saying it left everyone involved with the production “shocked and deeply saddened”.
“Our thoughts are with The Peaches Company, The Mommie Queerest Company, Heklina’s family and friends, and their wider community at this time,” a statement read. Released by Venue to Variety.
There was no immediate word on the cause of Heklina’s death or the manner of his death.
Matt Haney is a member of the San Francisco Board of SupervisorsHe went on Twitter to mourn our lookswho called him a “drag legend, brilliant performer and groundbreaking community icon”.
Senator Scott Weiner hailed the late singer as “the soul of San Francisco,” adding that “it’s hard to imagine the city without her.”
Born in Minneapolis in 1968, Heklina moved to California in the 1990s after spending some time in her mother’s native Iceland.
The nickname of the clouds, “Heklina,” was inspired by the Icelandic volcano Hekla.
After settling in San Francisco, Hicklina founded a popular weekly drag show, now known as “The Mother,” which staged in nightlife hot spots around the city and featured A-listers such as Lady Gaga and Charo.
Hicklina is also known for playing Dorothy on the drag show “The Golden Girls Live,” which has been a Mission District mainstay.
In 2015, Heklina co-founded the drag and drop-off venue Oasis, which mourned the artist’s death on social media.
“She created a drag movement that really changed what we see as drag performance, not just in San Francisco and the US, but all around the world,” said Oasis owner Darcy Drollinger.
San Francisco’s iconic Castro Theater changed its banner on Tuesday to read: “Rest in power structure us! 1968-2023.”
“Freelance entrepreneur. Communicator. Gamer. Explorer. Pop culture practitioner.”
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