Divine was a spoiled only child who's parents paid for his elaborate lifestyle. After high school Divine went to beauty school where he excelled creating "beehive" style up-do's. In 1964 his was at one time considered the chief suspect in the murder of a friend but was cleared when a serial killers was apprehended.
After high school Divine and John Waters would hang out in a Baltimore "beatnik" bar. It was during this time Divine started dressing in drag. He liked to dress as Elizabeth Taylor. Waters started making films and Divine became his star. Divine's first film was "Roman Candles" in this film he played a smoking nun. Waters' films used a group of actors called the "Dreamlanders" made up of Divine, Mink Stole, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce along with several others.
Divine along with the Dreamlanders performed on Sunday's in Waters' films Divine normally in drag played characters like Jackie Kennedy (Eat Your Make-up), Diane Linkletter (The Diane Linkletter Story) and Divine (Mondo Trasho).
Divine moved from Baltimore to Provencetown, MA in 1970 and opened a vintage clothing store. He didn't actually get a permit so he was shut down. When he shut down he sold off all of the stock as well as the furniture from his rented furnished apartment causing the land lady to obtain a warrant for his arrest. Divine escaped arrest by fleeing to San Francisco.
While he lived in San Francisco Divine starred in Waters' next film "Multiple Maniacs". This was the first of their films to get any significant recognition. This film was followed by "Pink Flamingos". Divine once again is the star playing Babs Johnson "The Filthiest Person Alive". "Pink Flamingos" found success in the underground late night film circuit. The final scene of the film depicts Divine eating dog feces. The scene made Divine famous but proved to be a torture to him for the rest of his life.
After filming of "Pink Flamingos" wrapped Divine and Mink Stole moved to San Francisco where they became involved with the legendary "Cockettes". Divine starred in several shows including "Divine Save the World" ad "The Heartbreak of Psoriasis". Divine returned to Baltimore in 1974 to star in "Female Trouble" as Dawn Davenport. This film gave Divine a chance to play two roles. He plays a character not in drag who picks up a hitch hiking Dawn Davenport and impregnates her. Divine literally fucks himself in this film. "Female Trouble" would always be Divine's favorite movie.
Divine was unable to star in the next John Waters film as he was the star of the play "Women Behind Bars" and was performing in New York and eventually in London. While in London Divine appeared in the film "Alternative Miss World" which went on to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Divine's success in "Women Behind Bars" led to another starring stage role this time it was playing Flash Storm, a Baltimore strip club owner in "The Neon Woman". The play was a success in both San Francisco and New York. Divine settled down in New York for a while where he was a frequently seen at Studio 54.
In the late 70's Divine started performing a nightclub act in gay clubs that involved singing and getting into fist fights on stage with other drag queens. He released a single "Born to be Cheap". After performing the club circuit Divine went back to film work with the role of Francine Fishpaw in "Polyester". Her love interest in this film was Tab Hunter and there was tabloid gossip that the two were an actual couple. Both denied the allegations. Divine and Hunter were reunited in the film "Lust in the Dust". This was Divine's first real film not directed by John Waters. Divine followed this a role in "Trouble in Mind" playing Hilly Blue a male character.
John Waters then cast Divine in "Hairspray". Divine again played two characters one male and one female, Arvin Hodgepile and Edna Turnblad. This would utimately be Divine's most successful and last film with John Waters. Divine's last film role was a cameo in a low budget horror/comedy "Out of the Dark". "Hairspray" is considered her last major role.
Three weeks after the release of "Hairspray" Divine was in Los Angeles working on an episode of "Married With Children" when he was discovered dead in his hotel room on March 7, 1988. He was 42 years old.
"I think I've always been respectable. What I do onstage is not what I do in my private life… It's an act… It's how I make my living. People laugh, and it's not hurting anyone." -Divine
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