A pioneering transgender actress and author, known for her Warhol superstar status and memoir "A Low Life in High Heels," which chronicled her experiences as a trans woman in the 1960s and 1970s.
Holly Woodlawn, a trailblazing transgender American actress, is best known for her appearances in Andy Warhol's films Trash (1970) and Women in Revolt (1971). She's also immortalized in Lou Reed's hit glam rock song "Walk on the Wild Side," which tells the story of her journey from Puerto Rico to the streets of New York City.
Born on October 26, 1946, in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, Woodlawn was the child of a German-American father and a Puerto Rican mother. She grew up in Miami Beach, where she came out at a young age and adopted the name Holly, inspired by Audrey Hepburn's character in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
At 15, Woodlawn ran away from home and began her journey north, eventually arriving in New York City. She recalled in her memoir, A Low Life in High Heels, "At the age of 16, when most kids were cramming for trigonometry exams, I was turning tricks, living off the streets, and wondering when my next meal was coming."
In 1969, Woodlawn met Andy Warhol at the Factory, a legendary art studio and gathering place for artists, musicians, and misfits. It was there that she met Jackie Curtis, who cast her in her play Heaven Grand in Amber Orbit. Warhol was impressed by Woodlawn's charisma and spontaneity, which led to her breakout role in Trash.
Woodlawn's improvisational skills shone in Trash, where she played a transgender girlfriend to Joe Dallesandro's heroin addict. Her ad-libbed lines became some of the film's most memorable moments.
As a Warhol superstar, Woodlawn became a fixture of the Factory scene, alongside other notable figures like Edie Sedgwick and Lou Reed. Her star rose with Women in Revolt, a film that critiqued the women's liberation movement and showcased Woodlawn's unique blend of humor and vulnerability.
Holly Woodlawn's influence extends far beyond her film career. She's an icon for the LGBTQ+ community, a symbol of resilience, and a testament to the power of creative expression.
Woodlawn passed away on December 6, 2015, but her spirit lives on in the art, music, and fashion of generations inspired by her bravery and talent.
As Lou Reed sang, "Holly came from Miami, F.L.A., hitchhiked her way across the U.S.A., plucked her eyebrows on the way, shaved her legs, and then he was a she, she says, 'Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side'."
Holly Woodlawn took that walk, and we're forever grateful for the trail she blazed.
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