1988-03-07

Harris Glenn Milstead, aka DIVINE, American actor, died on this date (b. 1945); An actor and singer, best known for his drag persona, Divine, especially in the role of “Edna Turnblad” in the 1988 comedy film Hairspray. 

The New York Times said of Milstead’s films in the 1980s, “Those who could get past the unremitting weirdness of Divine’s performance discovered that the actor/actress had genuine talent, including a natural sense of comic timing and an uncanny gift for slapstick.” In 1988, Milstead was chosen to play Peggy’s mother on the FOX series Married…With Children. However, he died in Los Angeles from an enlarged heart. He was 42 years old.