James 'Gypsy' Haake
wikitextI am creating an article about James 'Gypsy' Haake, whom I knew personally. I pledge to maintain a neutral point of view and abide by Wikipedia rules.
| James 'Gypsy' Haake | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 15, 1932 Morristown, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 💀Died | September 13, 2026 (aged 94) Los Angeles, California, U.S.September 13, 2026 (aged 94) |
| 💼 Occupation | Actor, female impersonator, dancer, nightclub manager |
| 📆 Years active | 1951–2026 |
| Known for | Guinness World Record as oldest performing female impersonator; host of La Cage Aux Folles |
James "Gypsy" Haake (February 15, 1932 – September 13, 2026) was an American actor, dancer, nightclub manager, and pioneering female impersonator.[1] He achieved widespread recognition as the original host of the legendary Beverly Hills cabaret La Cage Aux Folles and was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living performing female impersonator.[1]
Early life and career
Haake was born in Morristown, New Jersey.[1] He began his entertainment career in 1951 at the age of 19 as a Broadway chorus dancer. Dancers who traveled from show to show were colloquially known as "gypsies," and while on tour, Broadway icon Chita Rivera affectionately bestowed the nickname "Gypsy" upon him, which he used for the rest of his life.[1] In New York City, he also managed the well-known "Gypsy's" nightclub and cabaret.[1]
Following a shift in nightlife trends as disco eclipsed traditional cabaret, Haake relocated to West Hollywood, California.[1] In the early 1980s, he became the original host and Master of Ceremonies for La Cage Aux Folles, a prominent celebrity drag cabaret in Beverly Hills, California.[1][2] Anchoring the production for over a decade, his quick wit and stage presence attracted Hollywood's elite and led to the expansion of franchise sister shows in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, New Jersey.[1][3]
Film and television
While emceeing at La Cage Aux Folles, Haake was discovered by filmmaker Mel Brooks and actress Anne Bancroft.[1] At age 51, this led to his casting in his first major feature film, To Be or Not to Be (1983).[1][4] His subsequent film credits included a featured role in the comedy Troop Beverly Hills (1989) and an appearance in The Morning After (1986).[1][5] On television, he guest-starred in series such as Dynasty and Hollywood Wives.[1] In 1988, following the sudden passing of the actor Divine during the production of Married... with Children, Haake stepped in to portray the character of "Uncle Otto."[6]
Later years and legacy
Longtime producer Dan Gore brought Haake out of retirement to host Carnival Cabaret in Lake Tahoe for six years.[1] From 2014 to 2018, at age 82, Haake returned to the stage to host a revived edition of Carnival Cabaret at Oscar's Cafe & Bar in downtown Palm Springs, California.[1] For his enduring contributions to the local entertainment community, he was honored with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 2015.[7]
In 2017, Haake starred alongside Miley Cyrus in her "Younger Now" music video and joined her for a live performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.[1][8] He was featured in the 2022 photography book Legends of Drag and appeared in the LGBTQ+ history documentary films Studio 1 Forever (2023) and Radical Age.[1][9] He served as the Grand Marshal of the Palm Springs Pride Parade in 2023.
Haake retired permanently to Los Angeles in 2018, where he lived with his family until his death on September 13, 2026, at the age of 94.[1][7]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 "James Haake Obituary". The Desert Sun. September 16, 2026. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
- ↑ Original La Cage Aux Folles - Beverly Hills. Retrieved September 16, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Gypsy moves onto another stage: retirement". Lake Tahoe News. December 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
- ↑ "James Gypsy Haake". IMDb. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedIMDb - ↑ "James Gypsy Haake - Married with Children Credit". Instagram. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Palm Springs Mourns James "Gypsy" Haake". NBC Palm Springs. September 16, 2026. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
- ↑ Miley Cyrus - Younger Now (Official Video). Retrieved September 16, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Watch Studio One Forever (2023)". Tubi. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
External links
Category:1932 births Category:2026 deaths Category:American male dancers Category:American drag queens Category:People from Morristown, New Jersey Category:People from Palm Springs, California Category:People from Los Angeles
This article "James "Gypsy" Haake" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:James "Gypsy" Haake. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
