Kettelhack Guy - Quentin Crisp : the profession of being ; a biography

McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers

Jefferson, North Carolina, and London

Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Kelly, Nigel, 1963

Quentin Crisp : the profession of being. A biography / Nigel Kelly ; foreword by Guy Kettelhack. p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-7864-6475-3 10

softcover : 50# alkaline paper

1. Crisp, Quentin. 2. Gay men Great Britain Biography 3. Gay men United States Biography.

4. Authors, English 20th century Biography. I. Title. HQ75.8.C74K45 2011 306.76' 62092-dc23

[B] 2011038946

British Library cataloguing data are available 2011 Nigel Kelly. All rights reserved

No part of this hook may he reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

On the cover: Quentin Crisp portrait by Maurice Heerdink (www.mauriceheerdink .com)

Manufactured in the United States of America

McFarland dr Company, Inc., Publishers Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640 www. mcfarlandpub. com

To my wife Karen and sister Heather for all their love, support and encouragement down the years

When I think about how many people have helped me with this book I realize just how much of a collaborative effort it has been. Without them all it would be so much less, and I know how much I owe them.

So here they are:

Performance artist Penny Arcade knew Quentin for the last eighteen years of his life and was a constant support to him, especially during the last years. In 1992 he named her his anima figure. Penny created The Last Will and Testament of Quentin Crisp , which they performed together for many years until his death. They also appeared together in An Evening with Quentin Crisp and Penny Arcade. Penny is a significant figure in the biographical film about Quentin, An Englishman in New York.

Guy Kettelhack was a friend of Quentins throughout his time in America. Guys book The Wit and Wisdom of Quentin Crisp is a wonderful compendium of all things Crispian and he became known as a Crisp expert. Guy was an influential figure during Quentins years in America both professionally and as a friend. He was also Quentins executor for many years. I owe him a huge thank you for his wonderful foreword.

Phillip Ward knew Quentin during the last fourteen years of his life, and particularly during the last years was a constant practical and emotional support. I also owe him thanks for allowing me to use extracts from Quentins last as yet unpublished book, The Dusty Answers, and material from the Quentin Crisp Archives , and for giving me his permission to use the many quotes from Quentin which appear throughout the book. Phillip is Quentins executor and runs the Quentin Crisp Archives on the Internet.

Tom Steele first met Quentin shortly after his move to America and the two remained close friends until Quentins death. Tom was associate publisher and editor of Theatre Week, Christopher Street (for which Quentin wrote film reviews), Opera Monthly, and the New York Native (for which Quentin wrote a weekly diary). Tom was also one of Quentins most frequent cinema companions during his years in America. Tom is a major figure in the new film An Englishman in New York, in which, for dramatic reasons, his character is amalgamated with Phillip Ward (Quentins executor). Tom gave me some invaluable advice about publishing.

Richard Gollner knew Quentin for thirty years, from the late 1960s until his death. Richard was Quentins agent and later manager, and accompanied Quentin on his first visits to the United States and elsewhere. Richard worked with Quentin on creating his one-man show, An Evening with Quentin Crisp, in 1975, which he produced and directed. At this writing Richard works as a literary agent in London.

David Leddick, during an amazing life, has not only been a naval officer but a dancer at the New York Metropolitan Opera, worldwide creative director for Revlon and international creative director for LOreal, a novelist and biographer, an actor and cabaret entertainer. He knew Quentin for the last twenty years of his life and created Quentin and I: A Mini-Musical as a tribute to his late friend. He deserves thanks for allowing me to use material from his show Quentin and I.

Louis Colaianni knew Quentin for many years and ran a Web site called the Quentin Crisp Museum. He is a prominent voice and text coach in the professional theatre. He is an adjunct associate professor at Vassar College; teaches at The Actors Studio; and was associate professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

I am also indebted to the late film producer June Lang. June was one of the first of Quentins friends to make contact with me after I launched a Web site dedicated to him, Quentin Crips Info (www.quentincrisp.info). She was so supportive and encouraging. We remained in regular contact after that, talking about Quentin and her latest projects. She produced the short film My Lunch with Quentin Crisp as her tribute to her friend. Quentin also featured in her documentary Farewell to the Deuce. Sadly, she passed away in August 2008 from cancer. I am sorry she did not get to see the book in print; she would have been so pleased.

John W. Mills first met Quentin in 1947 and formed a friendship with him which would last for decades. I think you will find some of his memories very interesting.

My thanks to Quentins nieces, Denise Pratt-Renner, Elaine Pratt-Goycoolea and Frances Ramsay, his great-niece Michele Elaine Goycoolea Crawford and his great-nephew filmmaker Adrian Goycoolea for helping me fill out their family tree. Thanks also to Adrian for giving me a copy of his film about Quentin, Uncle Denis-, more on this at the end of the book.

Writer, actor and producer David-Elijah Nahmod produced the film Red Ribbons, which starred Quentin, and wrote and starred in the short film Aunt Fannie, in which Quentin played the title character. Writer and director Neil Ira Needleman produced the films Aunt Fannie, Red Ribbons and wrote and directed the film Famous Again in which Quentin also appeared. Georgina Spelvin starred with Quentin in the films Red Ribbons and Famous Again. Georgina has written the first volume of her autobiography, The Devil Made Me Do It, and is currently working on volume two. Sara Moore wrote and directed Homo Heights, in which Quentin gave his last feature-length acting performance.

David Hartnell has had a highly successful career as a makeup artist and has worked with many legends of the film world from Mae West to Joan Collins. In 1978 he was in New Zealand and did Quentins makeup for his tour, as well as helping out during the stage performances. I owe David a big thank you for his advance publicity for my book.

My gratitude is extended to the following people for their generous contributions to this work. Film actor and stage performer Stephen Sorrentino, who co-starred with Quentin in the film Homo, aka Happy Heights, gave me permission to retell his story of how Quentin got his name. Morgan Fisher told me about his experiences interviewing Quentin in London in 1980 and allowed me to use his photographs.

Michael Andersen-Andrade (Connie Clausens son) allowed me to use the photos of his mother. Character actor Richard Louis James allowed me to use a photo from his one-man show Tea N Crisp, in which he brings Quentin back to life in the format of An Evening with Quentin Crisp, updated for the twenty-first century. My thanks also to the photographer, John D. Kysela. Screen and stage actor Leon Acord permitted me to use the photo of him as Quentin in Jeffrey Hartgravess play Carved in Stone. Leon reprised his role in Los Angeles in the spring of 2009. My thanks go also to the photographer, Peter Solari, for giving me permission to use it.