Many British personalities paid tribute on Wednesday to comedian Paul O'Grady, who died on Tuesday, whose famous character
"Lily Savage"
had become a symbol of drag culture in the United Kingdom.
Paul O'Grady, but especially 'Lily Savage',
who died at the age of 67
, was well known to Britons for his regular appearances on British television and radio.
Born in the north of England in 1955, he began to interpret
"Lily Savage"
in the 1970s, while working in parallel for the town hall of London.
Little by little, this hilarious drag queen with a platinum blonde wig is making a name for herself within the queer community of London.
The phenomenon took off and O'Grady became a well-known figure in the British audiovisual landscape.
For more than ten years (1995-2006), he hosted the popular entertainment show The Big Breakfast on Channel 4, helping to democratize drag culture among the general public.
"It is impossible to overestimate the pioneering role he played
," responded Richard Arnold, the show's presenter.
For Danny Beard, a very popular drag queen in the UK, Paul O'Grady was
"the most important person in British drag culture and for the queer community"
.
"I don't think there's anyone who does the same job as me who doesn't consider Paul an icon
," he told the BBC.
“Thank you for all the joy you have brought to the world, Paul”
, also reacted Elton John.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Paul O'Grady, who worked closely with Her Majesty"
Queen Consort Camilla, tweeted the British royal family, sharing a photo of Camilla and the star .
An animal lover, O'Grady presented the reality series
For the
Love
of Dogs
, in which the Queen Consort appeared in December.
He died
"unexpectedly but peacefully"
on Tuesday evening, his companion Andre Portasio said in a statement.
"He will be sorely missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all who appreciated his humor, wit and compassion."
During his life, Paul O'Grady received numerous awards, including a Bafta for television.
In 2008, he was decorated by Queen Elizabeth II for services to the world of entertainment.