Paul O’Grady, the renowned British TV presenter best known as drag queen Lily Savage, died at 67. According to his husband, Andre Portasio, the comic died abruptly but peacefully.
O’Grady had suffered several heart attacks in the early 2000s, and his passing devastated his loved ones.
Those who admired his sense of humor, intelligence, and compassion, according to Portasio, will remember him warmly.
Paul O’Grady, born in 1955, rose to prominence as the legendary character Lily Savage.
Lily quickly became famous as a stand-up comedian, especially at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, thanks to her beautiful platinum blonde hairpiece, dramatic eye makeup, and ruby red lipstick.
Lily was utilized to campaign for homosexual rights and raise awareness about the AIDS pandemic, in addition to being a quick wit and foul-mouthed jokester.
In the 1990s, O’Grady brought his talents to television with “The Lily Savage Show,” which featured notable guests such as Elton John. Elton paid tribute to Paul’s work with a poignant Instagram statement.
On Wednesday, John paid poignant homage to the late Paul O’Grady, expressing gratitude for his joy in people’s lives.
O’Grady was a renowned figure in the entertainment world, hosting several successful game shows like “The Paul O’Grady Show,” “Blind Date,” and “Blankety Blank,” for which he received a BAFTA Award for entertaining performance in 2005.
In addition, his self-titled talk program generated waves in the media. O’Grady also devoted much time to philanthropy, notably animal welfare.
In September 2012, he began hosting ITV’s “Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs” to raise awareness for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. This animal rescue organization works tirelessly to assist animals in finding new homes.
His love of animals was well known; he always showed his admiration whenever asked about them.
In a candid interview with the Guardian published in November 2021, John O’Grady revealed his most joyful moment, his worst nightmare (which he described as watching a rat taking a dip in the loo), and how often he had come near death.
When asked how he wished to be remembered, O’Grady humbly stated that it didn’t matter because he would no longer be present. Portasio, his better half, and their daughter from a previous relationship survive him.
