Jim Bailey, who helped introduce American television audiences to drag with his frequent appearances on classic series such Here’s Lucy, The Carol Burnett Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, has died at age 77. A message posted to the entertainer’s official website on May 30 reads: “Heaven is getting a fabulous show tonight with standing room only! Rest in Peace Our Sweet Prince.”
Bailey’s manager Stephen Campbell told The Hollywood Reporter that his client died of cardiac arrest from pneumonia complications.
While there were many male comics such as Milton Berle who dressed in drag for easy laughs, wearing a gown was serious business for Bailey, who had studied opera at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music. He first gained renown for his transformation into pioneering female comic Phyllis Diller, and eventually added other popular entertainers including Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee and Judy Garland into his act. Bailey even performed as Garland opposite Liza Minnelli at The Flamingo in Las Vegas in 1973, recreating a famous mid-’60s concert by Garland’s daughter and her late mother in London. Bailey and Minnelli became close friends.
Bailey, who considered himself a “character actor,” performed around the globe at many prestigious venues during his career, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, London’s Palladium, and even at the 1978 Super Bowl. Besides numerous appearances on variety series and talk shows, Bailey also appeared as one of TV’s first transgender characters in 1988 during a guest spot on the sitcom Night Court.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Watch a clip from the episode below then scroll down to see Bailey run through his repertoire on The Carol Burnett Show in 1972.
Robear
Wow! Truly one of the greatest! As a child I would see him on television and was always mesmerized! Flip Wilson’s Geraldine was fabulous and campy– but Bailey’s women were breathtaking.
DDstar1me
R.I.P sista girl!
MacAdvisor
I saw him once live in San Francisco and he was beyond amazing. My friend and I stayed after the show to to meet him and he was so kind and gracious to two young guys new to town. We’d only been in SF about two weeks — just long enough to get about half the boxes unpacked — and we gave ourselves the treat of two tickets to his show. I simply will never forget him or the wonderful performance. God bless him, the world is a lesser place today.
Christopher Trombley
Ricky Wayne Phillips
Oh wow, so sad
sfbeast
Fabulous talent. I too saw him with a friend here in San Francisco and the show was amazing.
Johnny Jaqua
Jere Ring I thought you would like to know.
Chris Johnson
Sad news, such a brilliant talent.
Ron-Paul Henry
Saw him perform on several occasions. Brilliant
Joe Hovey
RIP to one of the legends of Drag …. I remember as a young man – recently OUT and catching one of his shows – Judy Garland was amazing!!!
tricky ricky
my dad was a fan of his. for some reason my oh so very straight very catholic father just loves female impersonators and liberace.
Jere Ring
Thank you Johnny Jaqua. I learned of the news earlier today. Sweet of you to bring it to my attention. Jim and I were very close for a long time.
winemaker
Oo sad to hear of Jim Bailey’s passing. I recall going to The Backlot Theatre at Studio One Disco in West Hollywood in 1977 along with a friend of mine to see his show. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Studio One Disco, it was the West Hollywood version of New York’s Studio 54. Unfortunately its owner passed away several years ago and it closed up and was shuttered for quite awhile. Te building, is now the “Abbey”, a gay bar and dance club. His show was great. He was so real that you thought you were actually seeing the personalities he was impersonating. Sad to hear this news. He along with Wayland Flowers and his puppet “Madam’, along with the late Great Charles Pierce were the penultimate ‘Drag” performers.
Kangol
RIP. He was a true pioneer.
cflekken
Is it ironic that in the black and white pic of him above, Bailey could pass as Bruce, now Caitlyn, Jenner’s brother? They have very similar features. And now that Caitlyn has been introduced to the world, Mr. Bailey has passed? As if he passed the torch….
AndYouWillDeal
She was so amazingly talented!
He BGB
I too saw Jim perform in SF, first at an AIDS fundraiser as Phyllis Diller and then as Barbra. Had seen him on Carol Burnett and Here’s Lucy as a teen and had bought his 2 albums in the early 70s (no DVD or even VHS Then). I was so impressed and wanted to be him! Nobody else was doing that on a national TV level. His Judy was more reliable to perform and show thanbthe real Judy Garland, someone once wrote, lol. Surprised to hear she helped him do her nuances etc. just before she died. I had read Barbra at first didn’t like him but grew to be friends (you know how controlling she can be). Surprised that he died so young but I’m getting on up there myself, I check the obituaries every day now. You’re at peace now, Jim.
reallygoodthings
He was the greatest. He sang the songs, no lip synching – sometimes as good as the real thing and sometimes better! What a voice. And he was a comedian. His Barbra character was hilarious and his Phyllis Diller was as funny as Phyllis herself.
Redtbird
About three days ago I learned of the passing of one of my favorite performers, Jim Bailey. I could remember seeing on television back in the 70s and marveled at his art. The world has lost someone very special.
I wonder if someone can help me with some info about one of Jim’s performances. I have a signed and framed poster for one of his shows at the York Hotel, in the Plush Room, starting on December 3rd. A portion of the profits was to go to AIDS Health Project-UCSF.
Unfortunately, there is no year listed on the poster. I have been searching the ‘Net with no luck. One of the commenters above mentioned seeing him in SF in the 80s. Do you, or anyone, remember the year of the December 3rd show in question?
Thanks for any info you can provide!
Gerri