Is Paul O'Grady Living or Dead?

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Is British comedian, actor and television presenter (1955–2023) Paul O'Grady dead? Or ... still alive?

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By Andrew Droid Webber

Updated 13 April 2023

Image info

Artist	Flickr user Steve Punter
Credit	Cropped version of File:Paul O'Grady, April 2009.jpg. Original source image Paul O'Grady on Flickr
License	cc-by-sa-2.0
Desc	Paul O'Grady, English comedian and television presenter, outside City Hall in London.
Usage	Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0

Image info/credit

British comedian, actor and television presenter (1955–2023)

Paul O'Grady is ...

Dead

Born	14 June 1955 in Brighton
Died	28 March 2023
Age	67 years, 9 months

Sex or gender	male
Country of citizenship	United Kingdom
Occupation	comedian, television presenter, autobiographer, film actor, businessperson, television actor, television producer and drag queen
Residence	Aldington
Awards	Member of the Order of the British Empire
Educated at	Redcourt - St Anselm's and Wirral Metropolitan College

About Paul O'Grady

Paul O'Grady: The Unconventional Comedian Who Became a National Treasure

Paul O'Grady is a British comedian, actor, and television presenter who has become a household name in the UK. Born on 14 June 1955 in Birkenhead, Merseyside, O'Grady had a difficult childhood marked by poverty, illness, and family tragedy. However, he found solace in his love of animals and his talent for making people laugh.

O'Grady's career in show business began in the 1980s when he started performing as a drag queen under the stage name Lily Savage. His outrageous and irreverent comedy style quickly gained a cult following, and he became a regular fixture on the alternative comedy circuit. In 1995, O'Grady landed his own television show, The Lily Savage Show, which ran for four seasons and made him a mainstream star.

However, O'Grady's personal life was far from smooth sailing. He struggled with alcoholism and depression, and in 2001, he suffered a heart attack that nearly killed him. After recovering, O'Grady reinvented himself as a daytime television presenter, hosting the popular chat show The Paul O'Grady Show from 2004 to 2009. He also became a bestselling author, penning several memoirs and children's books.

Despite his success, O'Grady has never lost his edge or his sense of humor. He remains a champion of the underdog and a vocal critic of injustice and inequality. In recent years, he has used his platform to speak out against Brexit and to advocate for animal rights.

O'Grady's enduring popularity is a testament to his talent, his resilience, and his willingness to be himself, no matter what. As he once said, "I'm not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm somebody's shot of tequila." And for millions of fans, that shot of tequila is just what they need to get through the day.

References:

- "Paul O'Grady." IMDb, IMDb.com, www.imdb.com/name/nm0641923/.

- "Paul O'Grady: 'I'm Not Everyone's Cup of Tea, but I'm Somebody's Shot of Tequila'." The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 17 Sept. 2016, www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/sep/17/p

About Death

Paul O'Grady died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on 28 March 2023, at age 67. His death was announced by his husband, André Portasio, and tributes poured in from global figures and celebrities, including from Camilla, Queen Consort, television presenter Lorraine Kelly and LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. O'Grady has been branded by many as a national treasure. O'Grady's final performance was as Miss Hannigan in Annie at the Edinburgh Playhouse.