Holly Woodlawn: Transgender actress and Andy Warhol muse dies aged 69

Passed away: Transgender star Holly Woodlawn has died aged 69
Rex
Jennifer Ruby7 December 2015
The Weekender

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Transgender icon Holly Woodlawn has died at the age of 69.

The actress and model, who inspired Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side and became one of Andy Warhol’s ‘superstars’, passed away in LA on Sunday.

Woodlawn had been staying in a hospice during her battle with brain and liver cancer.

Former Trash co-star Joe Dallesandro confirmed the news in a Facebook post, writing:

“I arrived to the hospice and went to Holly’s room, #403. I was next to her talking and telling her all the love that was being sent her way from everyone. It was like she knew I was there.

“I am sorry to say at 3:06pm Los Angeles time, Holly Woodlawn passed away.”

Woodlawn, who was born in Puerto-Rico, adopted her name aged 15 when she left home and hitchhiked to New York City.

The lyrics to Reed’s 1972 song include: “Holly came from Miami FLA/ Hitchhiked her way across the USA/ Plucked her eyebrows on the way/ Shaved her legs and then he was a she.”

The actress starred in a number of films including 1972’s Women in Revolt and Twin Falls Idaho in 1999.

Speaking to The Guardian back in 2007 about her time with Warhol, she said: “I was very happy when I gradually became a Warhol superstar. I felt like Elizabeth Taylor.

"Little did I realise that not only would there be no money, but that your star would flicker for two seconds and that was it. But it was worth it, the drugs, the parties, it was fabulous."

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