Biography for
Julian Eltinge More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

14 May 1881, Newtonville, Massachusetts, USA

Date of Death

7 March 1941, New York City, New York, USA (cerebral hemorrhage)

Birth Name

William Dalton

Mini Biography

One of the greatest drag performers in the history of the American Theatre. First performed in drag at the age of 10 in an annual revue of the Boston Cadets. Subsequently appeared on Broadway in 1904 in a drag role in Mr. Wix of Wickham. Performed in the legitimate theatre and also in a number of films.

IMDb Mini Biography By: <mark@yellowkid.com>

Trivia

Stage and vaudeville actor.

Inurned at Forest Lawn Glendale, Great Mausoleum, Columbarium of Rest.

It took him two hours in the make-up room to ultimately create his illusion, aided by a male Japanese dresser.

A New York theatre on 42nd Street, built in 1912, was named after him. The Eltinge Theatre was shut down for moral reasons in 1942. Today, it has been converted into part of the AMC movie complex.

His shows were always the epitome of good taste but a moral crackdown in the 1930s led to his decline.

His on-stage "beauty" and gorgeous costumes caused him to be dubbed the Mr. Lillian Russell of his day.

A la Victor/Victoria, he would perform his singing vaudeville act billed simply as "Eltinge," completely deceiving his unsuspecting audience until well into the show when he would finally rip off his wig.

Personal Quotes

It depends on where you put the paint, not how much you splash on.