Dec 08, 2015 11:40 AM EST
Holly Woodlawn, Transgender Actress & Subject of "Walk on the Wild Side," Dies at 69

Holly Woodlawn died, Sunday, December 6, in Los Angeles, after battling brain and liver cancer. She was 69.

Woodlawn fell seriously ill in June 2015 and was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Holly health was improved and advised to continued her treatment and received in-home healthcare at home.

In October, She was forced to vacate her West Hollywood, California, apartment due to flooding, and entered an assisted living facility.

Holly was one of the most iconic of the misfits who made up Andy’s Starmaker machine in the late 60s and 70s New York City.

Woodlawn was even on the famous Warhol roll call track “Walk On The Wild Side” - a 1972 song by Lou Reed from his second solo album, Transformer.

Woodlawn, who was one of Andy Warhol's “superstars” in the early '70s, was the “Holly” that Lou Reed sang according to Hollywood reporter.

“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 she. She says, ‘Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side.'”

Born as Haroldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez Danhakl on October 26, 1946, and raised in Miami Beach, Woodlawn decided at very young age that she wanted to live her life as a woman.

Her first film was Morrissey’s 1970 “Trash,” starring Joe Dallesandro. She then appeared in Warhol’s “Women in Revolt.”

Woodlawn received critical recognition for her film roles, but she couldn't find mainstream success.

Her faith status helped her make a comeback in such 1990s independent films as Twin Falls Idaho - the film portrays the lives of shy conjoined twins Blake and Francis Falls, who take residence in a rundown hotel to hopefully reunite with their estranged birth mother.

And Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss - a 1998 American independent, gay-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Tommy O'Haver.

 PREVIOUS POST
NEXT POST