Lady Chablis, Transgender 'Midnight' Star, Dies at Age 59
Source: NBC News
Sep 8 2016, 4:09 pm ET
SAVANNAH, Ga. The Lady Chablis, the transgender performer who became an unlikely celebrity for her role in the 1994 best-seller "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," died Thursday in Savannah, her family said. She was 59.
Chablis' sister, Cynthia Ponder, confirmed she died at Candler Hospital. A close friend, Cale Hall, said Chablis died from pneumonia and had been in the hospital for the past month.
A modern, nonfiction take on Southern Gothic storytelling, author John Berendt's "Midnight" thrust Savannah into the pop-culture spotlight. And the sassy, blunt-spoken Chablis rode the book's popularity to a level of fame that was rare for transgender performers at the time.
"The legacy that she wanted to leave was one of 'believe in who you are and never let the world change who you are,'" Ponder said. "Love yourself first and respect yourself first and others will love and respect you."
Chablis insisted on playing herself in 1997's "Midnight" movie directed by Clint Eastwood. That same year she published an autobiography, "Hiding My Candy."
Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/lady-chablis-transgender-midnight-star-dies-age-59-n645006
She was my friend!!
canetoad
(17,149 posts)And will re-watch to see her performance.
Sorry you lost your friend.
Person 2713
(3,263 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)Some assorted footage....
tonedevil
(3,022 posts)in a bucket...
Behind the Aegis
(53,944 posts)Did you actually meet her?! I still say that to this day when I am really trying to tell someone I DO NOT CARE. LOL!
Your comment made me smile!
deurbano
(2,894 posts)She was so memorable in the movie and has died much too young. RIP, Lady Chablis.
area51
(11,904 posts)Hulk
(6,699 posts)We're a better world for having had her with us. Shame the good have to die so young.
Granny M
(1,395 posts)Rest in peace, Lady Chablis.
jumptheshadow
(3,269 posts)If so, then I saw her performances at the beginning of her career. That was a fun place, with some memorable, creative performances.
Rest in peace, and thank you for the inspired moments.
NWCorona
(8,541 posts)That qoute is so on point
RIP
Number9Dream
(1,560 posts)In a movie with several memorable performances, Chablis' was terrific. The scene at the cotillion, and when they take Chablis to the hospital were both hilarious.
Chablis' mom said, "Two tears in a bucket..."
Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)I'm awfully sorry for the loss of your friend, Behind the Aegis . She was captivating, a class act, and you're so fortunate to have had her in your life. One day, I bet it will be nothing but joy when you remember her.
davsand
(13,421 posts)Lady Chablis was a Grande Dame if ever there was one! Pretty sure she will have everything nailed down exactly in its place in the afterlife! May her passing be effortless and full of joy!
Laura
JI7
(89,244 posts)jpak
(41,757 posts)and Savannah is NOLA East.
a strange and wonderful mix indeed
Solly Mack
(90,762 posts)m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)May she R.I.P. I rewatched the movie a few nights back in tribute to her.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,944 posts)When she lived in Columbia for a brief time, I was in college and I met her as I was coming out. She and I became friends. We weren't besties or anything, but we did see each other at places outside the bar, but we spent lots of time in her dressing room chatting and catching up. She was a down-to-earth person off stage, though still had a huge personality.