Charles Pierce (July 14, 1926 â€" May 31, 1999) was one of the 20th
century's foremost female impersonators, particularly noted for his
impersonation of Bette Davis.Born in Watertown, New York, he began his
show business career playing the organ and acting in radio dramas at
station WWNY. He branched out into a comedy routine, attired in
tuxedo, yet managing to evoke eerily convincing imitations of popular
movie actresses. Eschewing the term drag queen, which he hated, he
billed himself as a male actress.Initially playing in small gay clubs,
his fame spread. He took up residence in San Francisco, where his act
became well known to Hollywood stars. As he toured, his costuming
became more elaborate, initially adding small props, later full
costume and makeup changes. His imitations were imitated by other
female impersonators, and his roles included Bette Davis, Mae West,
Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Carol Channing, Katharine Hepburn,
and Joan Crawford, and these roles became the drag queen canon. His
act was centered on wit rather than mimicry; however, it often was
said that he looked more like Joan Collins than Joan Collins
herself.Carol Channing was one of two Hollywood celebrities Pierce
"impersonated" who actually saw his act. She went backstage after a
show at Gold Street in San Francisco (c. 1972) and said "Cheee-yarles:
you do me better than I do!" The other star was Bette Davis who was
snuck into the Studio One Backlot to see his show in the late 1970s.
According to Pierce's longtime stage manager and dresser Kirk
Frederick in his 2016 authorized Pierce biography, Davis was
unimpressed with Pierce's portrayal and refused to go backstage after
the show to greet Charles, saying "There is only one female
impersonator who does me right, and his name is Arthur Blake." Pierce
was never told Davis had attended the show. Shortly after the
incident, Pierce was introduced to Davis at a private event through
Geraldine Fitzgerald, a mutual friend. Frederick reports that Davis
brushed off Pierce with the same reference to Blake but didn't mention
attending the show.
century's foremost female impersonators, particularly noted for his
impersonation of Bette Davis.Born in Watertown, New York, he began his
show business career playing the organ and acting in radio dramas at
station WWNY. He branched out into a comedy routine, attired in
tuxedo, yet managing to evoke eerily convincing imitations of popular
movie actresses. Eschewing the term drag queen, which he hated, he
billed himself as a male actress.Initially playing in small gay clubs,
his fame spread. He took up residence in San Francisco, where his act
became well known to Hollywood stars. As he toured, his costuming
became more elaborate, initially adding small props, later full
costume and makeup changes. His imitations were imitated by other
female impersonators, and his roles included Bette Davis, Mae West,
Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Carol Channing, Katharine Hepburn,
and Joan Crawford, and these roles became the drag queen canon. His
act was centered on wit rather than mimicry; however, it often was
said that he looked more like Joan Collins than Joan Collins
herself.Carol Channing was one of two Hollywood celebrities Pierce
"impersonated" who actually saw his act. She went backstage after a
show at Gold Street in San Francisco (c. 1972) and said "Cheee-yarles:
you do me better than I do!" The other star was Bette Davis who was
snuck into the Studio One Backlot to see his show in the late 1970s.
According to Pierce's longtime stage manager and dresser Kirk
Frederick in his 2016 authorized Pierce biography, Davis was
unimpressed with Pierce's portrayal and refused to go backstage after
the show to greet Charles, saying "There is only one female
impersonator who does me right, and his name is Arthur Blake." Pierce
was never told Davis had attended the show. Shortly after the
incident, Pierce was introduced to Davis at a private event through
Geraldine Fitzgerald, a mutual friend. Frederick reports that Davis
brushed off Pierce with the same reference to Blake but didn't mention
attending the show.
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