Divine

Who Is Divine (performer)? Age, Biography, and Wiki

Born on October 19, 1945, Divine, whose real name was Harris Glenn Milstead, became a cultural icon and a trailblazer in the world of drag performance. With a career that spanned over two decades, Divine is best known for her collaborations with director John Waters, particularly for her unforgettable roles in films like Pink Flamingos and Hairspray. Tragically, Divine passed away on March 7, 1988, at the age of 42, yet her impact on entertainment and LGBTQ+ culture continues to resonate worldwide.

Occupation	Pop Singer
Date of Birth	October 19, 1945
Age	42 Years
Birth Place	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Horoscope	Libra
Country	U.S
Date of death	7 March, 1988
Died Place	Los Angeles, California

Popularity

Height, Weight & Measurements

Divine was known for her striking appearance. She stood at approximately 6 feet tall (183 cm) and often weighed around 300 pounds (136 kg). Her bold makeup and extravagant costumes made her an unforgettable presence on stage and screen, setting trends in the drag community. Divine's unique body measurements contributed to her persona, enhancing her performances and the characters she portrayed.

Family, Dating & Relationship Status

Despite Divine's prominence as a performer, details about her personal life were relatively private. Divine was openly gay and had relationships with various partners throughout her life. Known for her flamboyant public persona, details on specific romantic relationships remain sparse. However, her contribution to the LGBTQ+ community and her fierce authenticity in life and love continue to inspire countless fans and performers alike.

His father, Harris Bernard Milstead (May 1, 1917 – March 4, 1993), after whom he was named, was one of seven children born in Towson, Maryland, to a plumber who worked for the Baltimore City Water Department.

Divine's mother, Frances Milstead (April 12, 1920 – March 24, 2009), was one of 15 children born to an impoverished Serb immigrant couple who had grown up near Zagreb (in today's Croatia) before moving to the United States in 1891.

When she was 16, she moved to Baltimore where she worked at a diner in Towson where she met Harris, a regular customer. After marrying in 1938, they were both hired at the Black & Decker factory in Towson. Due to muscular dystrophy, Harris was not required to join the U.S.

armed forces in the Second World War; instead, he and Frances worked through the war years in what they considered "good jobs." Frances suffered two miscarriages in 1940 and 1943.

Net Worth and Salary

At the time of her passing in 1988, Divine's net worth was estimated to be around $1 million. With her extensive career in film, music, and stage performances, her earnings reflected the success and recognition she garnered. Although exact figures for her salary during her time are not readily available, Divine's work in cult classics and her influence on drag performance have solidified her place in entertainment history and ensured her legacy remains financially significant through merchandise and rights management.

Divine's body was flown back to Maryland and taken to Ruck's Funeral Home in Towson, where a casket was obtained for him. The funeral took place at Prospect Hill Cemetery, where a crowd of hundreds had assembled to pay their respects.

The ceremony was conducted by Leland Higginbotham, who had baptized Divine into the Christian faith many years before. John Waters gave a speech and was one of the pallbearers who then carried the casket to its final resting place, next to the grave of Divine's grandmother.

Many flowers were left at the grave, including a wreath sent by actress Whoopi Goldberg, which bore the remark "See what happens when you get good reviews." Following the funeral, a tribute was held at the Baltimore Governor's Mansion.

In the ensuing weeks, the Internal Revenue Service confiscated many of Divine's possessions and auctioned them off, as restitution for unpaid taxes.

Career, Business, and Investments

Divine's career began in the 1960s, and she quickly became a prominent figure in the underground film scene thanks to her bold performances and association with John Waters. Besides acting, Divine was also a talented singer, releasing several albums and singles that showcased her unique voice. In addition to her film career, Divine performed in various stage productions, further expanding her repertoire.

Since her untimely death, Divine's estate has continued to profit from merchandise sales and film royalties. Her enduring popularity ensures regular cultural events and tributes, celebrating her significant contributions to drag culture and comedy.

Harris Glenn Milstead (October 19, 1945 – March 7, 1988), better known by the stage name Divine, was an American actor, singer and drag queen. Closely associated with independent filmmaker John Waters, Divine was a character actor, usually performing female roles in cinematic and theatrical productions, and adopted a female drag persona for his music career.

Social Network

Divine was not a part of the digital age as we know it today. However, her legacy thrives on modern social media platforms. Fans celebrate Divine's life through various channels, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. There are numerous fan pages dedicated to sharing her unforgettable performances, fashion, and societal impact, highlighting her as a timeless icon.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, to a conservative middle-class family, Milstead developed an early interest in drag while working as a women's hairdresser. By the mid-1960s he had embraced the city's countercultural scene and befriended Waters, who gave him the name "Divine" and the tagline of "the most beautiful woman in the world, almost".

Along with his friend David Lochary, Milstead joined Waters's acting troupe, the Dreamlanders, and adopted female roles for their experimental short films Roman Candles (1966), Eat Your Makeup (1968) and The Diane Linkletter Story (1969).

Again in drag, he took a lead role in both of Waters's early full-length movies, Mondo Trasho (1969) and Multiple Maniacs (1970), the latter of which attracted press attention for the group. Milstead next starred in Waters's Pink Flamingos (1972), which was a hit on the U.S.

midnight movie circuit, became a cult classic and established Milstead's fame in the American counterculture.

Education

Divine's educational background included studying at Towson University, where she pursued a degree in music. Despite not completing a formal education, Divine's artistic vision and talent propelled her into a successful career in entertainment. Her journey reflects the notion that passion and creativity can shape one's destiny beyond traditional pathways.

In conclusion, as we remember Divine in 2025, we celebrate her life, her unforgettable contributions to entertainment, and her indelible mark on drag culture. Divine's legacy remains strong, inspiring new generations of artists and fans, and ensuring that her spirit continues to live on in the vibrant world of performance art.

Waters was an aspiring filmmaker, intent on making "the trashiest motion pictures in cinema history." Many of his friends, a group which came to be known as "the Dreamlanders" (and who included Divine, Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce and Mink Stole), appeared in some of his low-budget productions, filmed on Sunday afternoons.

Following the production of his first short film, Hag in a Black Leather Jacket (1964), Waters began production of a second work, Roman Candles (1966). This film was influenced by the pop artist Andy Warhol's Chelsea Girls (1966), and consisted of three 8-millimeter movies played simultaneously side by side.

Roman Candles was the first film to star Divine, in this instance in drag as a smoking nun. It featured the Dreamlanders modeling shoplifted clothes and performing various unrelated activities. Being both a short film and of an avant-garde nature, Roman Candles never received widespread distribution, instead holding its premiere at the annual Mt.

Vernon Flower Mart in Baltimore, which had become popular with "elderly dames, young faggots and hustlers, and of course, a whole bunch of hippies." Waters went on to screen it at several local venues alongside Kenneth Anger's short film Eaux d'Artifice (1953).