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LONDON — Entertainer Paul O’Grady, who achieved fame as drag queen Lily Savage earlier than turning into a much-loved comic and host on British tv, has died. He was 67.

Britain’s queen consort, who labored with O’Grady to assist animal charities, led tributes to a performer who emerged from the choice homosexual comedy scene and have become a nationwide treasure.

O’Grady’s associate Andre Portasio stated he died “unexpectedly however peacefully” on Tuesday night.

“He shall be drastically missed by his family members, associates, household, animals and all those that loved his humor, wit and compassion,” Portasio stated in an announcement.

Born in Birkenhead, close to Liverpool, in 1955, O’Grady was working as a local-authority care employee when he started performing as Savage, a tart-tongued Liverpudlian drag queen.

Savage turned a fixture as a standup and talent-show host at London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a landmark homosexual venue. O’Grady used his platform to talk out about LGBT rights on the top of the AIDS disaster, a time when the Conservative authorities of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was passing anti-gay legal guidelines.

Lily Savage moved into tv within the Nineties, together with a stint internet hosting discuss present “The Lily Savage Present.”

Later, as Paul O’Grady, he hosted discuss reveals and gameshows together with “The Paul O’Grady Present,” “Blind Date” and “Blankety Clean,” in addition to a long-running program on BBC radio.

An animal lover, he additionally introduced “For the Love of Canines,” which profiled the work of the Battersea Canines and Cats House, an animal rescue charity. Camilla, the queen consort, was a visitor on the present final yr.

The official royal household Twitter account posted an image of O’Grady and Camilla with the message: “Deeply saddened to listen to of the demise of Paul O’Grady, who labored carefully with Her Majesty in assist of @Battersea_, offering numerous laughter and plenty of waggy-tailed recollections.”

Veteran gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell stated O’Grady “wasn’t only a good comic and broadcast persona however a a lot admired campaigner for LGBT+ equality and animal rights.”

“Paul was one of many loveliest folks you can ever meet,” Tatchell stated. “Everybody whose lives he touched will miss him drastically, as will those that loved his wit and admired his compassion.”

O’Grady is survived by Portasio, whom he married in 2017, and by a daughter from a earlier relationship.

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