James 'Gypsy' Haake: The 82-Year-Old Drag Queen

James Gypsy Haake

PRESS RELEASE

Gypsy, as most people know him, is an 82-year-old drag queen who is extremely active and living in Palm Springs, California.

Gypsy became an household name in the Hollywood community, especially WeHo, in the 1980s. He was the star of the La Cage Aux Folles cabaret on La Cienega. Same location where Greystone Manor exists today, owned by SBE. It was a bright pink building when it was LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, and much smaller structure.

James Gypsy Hake To Be or Not To BeGypsy was discovered by Mel Brooks at that cabaret, and went on to co-star with Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft in the movie TO BE OR NOT TO BE. He also co-starred with Shelley Long in TROOP BEVERLY HILLS, Jane Fonda in THE MORNING AFTER, also seen in the movie CLIFFORD. He was a regular on tv show MARRIED WITH CHILDREN, playing Peg Bundy’s Uncle. All of this media fame was ignited by taking the stage nightly at La Cage Aux Folles which opened in 1980 and closed in 1993. He becomes great friends with many celebrities, including the legendary Lana Turner, was one of this best friends as well as Lucille Ball. This was a time way before DRAG RACE where Drag was becoming a trend amongst the Hollywood Elite, there were celebrities in the audience nightly at La Cage Aux Folles.

The reason the story is a good read today, is that GYPSY wants to return to the stage. He is 82 years old and is currently crowd funding. This crowd funding is just a small phase towards raising millions of dollars, but not the end all of his financing. However, it is important at this stage, to get us to the next stage. No pun intended.

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