Meet Darcelle XV, who real name is Walter W. Cole, he a drag queen and entertainer who owned and operated a cabaret in Portland, Oregon, USA. He passed away on March 23, 2023, at the age of 92.
In 2016, he was recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest drag queen performer, with a career in entertainment that lasted 57 years. Let’s read his full biography and net worth below.
Darcelle XV Biography
Walter W. Cole was an American drag queen, entertainer, night club owner, and author who was born on November 16, 1930, in Portland, Oregon, and passed away on March 23, 2023, at the age of 92 in the same city.
He was well-known for being the oldest female impersonator on the West Coast of the United States from 2016 to 2023 and for operating the drag cabaret venue Darcelle XV Showplace.
Cole’s autobiography, Just Call Me Darcelle, chronicled his life and career as a drag performer, and he was honored with the Spirit of Portland Award for his contributions to the local community. He was survived by his two children and his partner Roxy Neuhardt, who passed away in 2017.
He had a shy personality and was called names by other kids. After serving in the United States Armed Forces during the Korean War, he settled down with his wife and children in southeast Portland, where he worked at a store.
Age | Date of Birth
Darcelle XV, also known as Walter Cole, was born on November 16, 1930 ((oregonlive.com)). As of November 2021, Darcelle XV turned 91 years old. She died at the age of 93 years old this year 2023.
Nationality | Ethnicity
According to the sources, Darcelle XV, whose real name was Walter W. Cole, was an American drag queen, entertainer, and cabaret owner and operator in Portland, Oregon ((en.wikipedia.org)).
Therefore, Darcelle XV’s nationality is American. Ethnicity is a term for a group of people who share a unique culture, religion, or language. However, the ethnicity of Darcelle XV is not mentioned on the internet.
Education Background
The internetdidn’t say anything about where Darcelle XV, whose real name was Walter W. Cole, went to school. But it is said that he worked at a Fred Meyer store in Portland, Oregon, after he got out of the military. ((oregonencyclopedia.org))
Net Worth
Under review.
Children | Wife | Family
Walter Cole, who was also known as Darcelle XV, was married and had two children, according to the sources. ((oregonencyclopedia.org)) But the sources don’t talk about his wife or children. They don’t say who they are or what they look like.
The cast and crew of Darcelle XV, as well as his family, told everyone about his death and asked for privacy and time to grieve in their own way and at their own pace. ((ngnews247.com))
Business Ventures
Cole used military funds to start his own businesses. He bought a coffeehouse called Caffe Espresso that later expanded to include a jazz club called Studio A. He also purchased a tavern in northwest Portland that became Darcelle XV Showplace.
Reception
Cole liked acting and had worked in a theater. He made up a character named Darcelle, based on a French actress. Darcelle was known for wearing jewelry, fake eyelashes, and clothes that stood out.
In Oregon, it is against the law to use more than one instrument during a performance, so Darcelle had to lip-sync. Darcelle became well-known in Portland and went to many parties and other events.
Darcelle was the grand marshal of the Starlight Parade at the Portland Rose Festival in 2011. She also won the Spirit of Portland Award.
Cole and Sharon Knorr wrote about Cole’s life, including his time in the military and as Darcelle, in a book that came out in 2011.
The documentary “Maisie,” which came out in 2021, was about an English drag artist named David Raven, whose stage name is Maisie Trollette.
Raven met Darcelle at the Brighton Hotel, and they saw each other again at Legends in Brighton. Darcelle is known as a leader in the drag community and for his work on the LGBTQ+ scene in Portland.
Becoming Darcelle XV
At 37 years old, Cole dressed up in a woman’s dress for the first time, and the alter ego Darcelle XV was born. In 1969, he revealed that he was gay and left his wife for Roxy Neuhardt, who became his partner and worked with him at the Showplace.
Cole and Neuhardt were together until Neuhardt’s passing in 2017. On March 23, 2023, Cole passed away at his home in Portland. Cole, who was interested in acting and had worked in a theater, created a persona named Darcelle, which was inspired by a French actress.
Darcelle was known for wearing flashy clothes, false eyelashes, and jewelry. Darcelle’s performances involved lip-synching, as a law in Oregon prohibited the use of more than one instrument during performances.
Darcelle became a popular figure in Portland and attended many social events. In 2011, Darcelle was the grand marshal of the Portland Rose Festival’s Starlight Parade and received the Spirit of Portland Award.
Cole and Sharon Knorr published a memoir in 2011 about Cole’s life, including his experiences in the military and as Darcelle. In 2021, a documentary called “Maisie” was released, featuring an English drag artist named David Raven, who goes by the name Maisie Trollette.
Raven met Darcelle at the Brighton Hotel, and they later met again at Legends in Brighton. Darcelle is known for being a trailblazer in the drag community and for his contributions to Portland’s LGBTQ+ scene. ((en.wikipedia.org))
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