For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Holly Woodlawn, the transgender actress, Andy Warhol muse and the inspiration behind Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ , has died aged 69.
Woodlawn’s former caretaker and friend Mariela Huerta announced that she died on Sunday after a battle with brain and liver cancer.
Woodlawn was born Harold Dankhal in Puerto Rico. She ran away from home aged 15 and hitchhiked to New York City.
Her back-story formed the first few lines of Reed’s 1972 classic: “Holly came from Miami, F.L.A. Hitchhiked her way across the USA. Plucked her eyebrows on the way. Shaved her legs and then she was a she. She says, ‘Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side.” She later admitted she didn't get to know Reed until after the song was released.
Show all 28 1 /28Notable deaths in 2015 Notable deaths in 2015 Lemmy The Motorhead lead singer and bass player (real name Ian Kilmister) died at home in Los Angeles on 28 December, age 70. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer only two days before.
Notable deaths in 2015 Wayne Rogers Actor and comedy performer best known for his portrayal as Trapper John McIntyre in the TV spin-off of Robert Altman’s Korean war black comedy M*A*S*H. He died on New Year’s Eve, age 82, from complications due to pneumonia.
Associated Press
Czech goalkeeper who played for Newcastle United between 1991 and 1998. He died on 29 December, aged 47, after suffering a cardiac arrest nine days earlier while jogging in Ostrava.
Getty Images
Notable deaths in 2015 Brooke McCarter American actor, best known for the role of Paul in the 1987 vampire film The Lost Boys, died on 22 December in Tampa, Florida from a respiratory condition. He was 52.
REX Features
Notable deaths in 2015 Shirley Stelfox English actress, best known as Emmerdale’s village gossip Edna Birch. Died on 7 December from cancer. She was 74.
REX
Notable deaths in 2015 Holly Woodlawn Puerto Rican-born transgender actress and cabaret artiste most famous for being name checked in the opening lines of Lou Reed’s 1972 classic Walk on the Wild Side. Died on 6 December from cancer. She was 69.
REX
Notable deaths in 2015 Scott Weiland American former Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver lead singer. Died on his tour bus from an accidental drug overdose on 3 December, aged 48.
AP
Notable deaths in 2015 Nathaniel Marston Nathaniel Marston, an American actor best known for his role in the soap opera One Life to Live, has died on 11 November, days after being involved in a serious car crash. He was 40 years old.
Notable deaths in 2015 Helmut Schmidt Helmut Schmidt, the former West German chancellor, passed away on 10 November at the age of 96. He served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982.
Notable deaths in 2015 Andy White Glasgow-born session drummer who sat in for Beatles drummer Ringo Starr on the Fab Four’s debut single Love Me Do. Also played on Tom Jones’s It’s Not Unusual and Lulu’s Shout. Died in New Jersey of a stroke. He was 85.
Notable deaths in 2015 Sam Sarpong British model and presenter jumped to his death on 6 October from a bridge near his home in Pasadena, California. He was 40.
AP
Notable deaths in 2015 Howard Kendall British former footballer and manager widely regarded as the most successful boss in the history of Everton Football Club. He died on 17 October, age 69.
Getty Images
Sue Lloyd Roberts died of cancer on 13 October, aged 63. She was a British television journalist who contributed reports to BBC programmes and, earlier in her career, worked for ITN
Rex
Notable deaths in 2015 Carey Lander Carey Lander, the musician and member of the Scottish indie pop band Camera Obscura, died of cancer on 11 October, aged 33.
Notable deaths in 2015 Lord Geoffrey Howe The former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Geoffrey Howe died aged 88 following a suspected heart attack on 9 October. Howe was Margaret Thatcher's longest-serving Cabinet minister, successively holding the posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, and finally Leader of the House of Commons, Deputy Prime Minister and Lord President of the Council
Getty Images
Notable deaths in 2015 Gordon Honeycombe Broadcaster Gordon Honeycombe died aged 79. His death was announced on 9 October. Along with being a newscaster, he was also an author, playwright and stage actor
PA
Notable deaths in 2015 Jim Diamond Glasgow-born singer Jim Diamond died on 8 October, aged 63. The songwriter was best known for his hits 'I Won't Let You Down', 'I Should Have Known Better', 'Hi Ho Silver'
Notable deaths in 2015 Brian Friel Brian Friel, the celebrated Irish playwright, died on 2 October, after a long illness aged 86
Getty Images
Notable deaths in 2015 Jackie Collins Jackie Collins, the best-selling author, died from breast cancer on 19 September, aged 77. She wrote 32 books, all of which were best-sellers.
Reuters
Notable deaths in 2015 Brian Close Brian Close, the former England, Yorkshire and Somerset cricket captain, passed away on 13 September, aged 84
Getty Images
Notable deaths in 2015 Oliver Sacks Oliver Sacks, the British-born neurologist and acclaimed writer, died on 30 August at the age of 82
Getty Images
Notable deaths in 2015 Ralph Milne Ralph Milne, the former Dundee United and Manchester United player died on 6 September, aged 54
Getty Images
Notable deaths in 2015 Wes Craven Wes Craven, the king of low-budget horror films, director, writer, producer, and actor, died on 30 August, aged 76
Getty Images
Notable deaths in 2015 Colin Fry The TV medium and spiritualist, who appeared on Most Haunted, Psychic Private Eyes and 6ixth Sense With Colin Fry, died of lung cancer on 25 August, aged 53
PA
Notable deaths in 2015 Yvonne Craig, The actress, who played Batgirl in Batman TV series, died on 17 August, aged 78
Rex
Notable deaths in 2015 Justin Wilson, The former Formula One driver Justin Wilson died on 24 August a day after suffering serious head injuries when struck by debris during an IndyCar race. He was 37.
AP
Notable deaths in 2015 Kitty McGeever The Emmerdale actress passed away on 16 August, aged 48
Rex
Notable deaths in 2015 E’Dena Hines The actress and granddaughter to Morgan Freeman, was stabbed to death on 16 August. She was 33
Once in New York, she met Warhol and rose to notability as one of his ‘superstars’ – the eclectic group of New Yorkers who were promoted by the artist in the 1960s and 1970s.
She told the Guardian
Woodlawn received critical acclaim for her film roles, in particular Trash (1970) and Women in Revolt (1971), both directed by Paul Morrissey.
Woodlawn in Miami in 2011 (Marc Serota/Getty Images for Joe Fresh) She also starred in the independent films Twin Falls Idaho and Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss in the 1990s.
More recently she appeared as a guest character in the Emmy-winning comedy-drama Transparent in 2014.
According to Ms Huerta, Woodlawn has no survivor.
Additional reporting by Associated Press.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies