British comedian and TV star Paul O’Grady dies at 67

Entertainer Paul O’Grady, who achieved fame as drag queen Lily Savage before becoming a much-loved comedian and host on British television, has died. He was 67.

Britain’s queen consort, who collaborated with O’Grady to raise funds for animal charities, led tributes to a performer who rose from the alternative homosexual comedy scene to become a national treasure.

Andre Portasio, O’Grady’s partner, said he passed “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday evening.

“He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humor, wit and compassion,” Portasio said in a statement.

Born in Birkenhead, near Liverpool, in 1955, O’Grady was working as a local-authority care worker when he began performing as Savage, a tart-tongued Liverpudlian drag queen.

Savage established himself as a stand-up comedian and talent-show host at London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a landmark gay establishment. O’Grady used his position to advocate for LGBT rights during the height of the AIDS crisis, when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government was enacting anti-gay legislation.

In the 1990s, Lily Savage made the transition to television, hosting the talk programme “The Lily Savage Show.”

Later, as Paul O’Grady, he presented talk shows and gameshows such as “The Paul O’Grady Show,” “Blind Date,” and “Blankety Blank,” as well as a BBC radio programme.

An animal lover, he also presented “For the Love of Dogs,” which profiled the work of the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, an animal rescue charity. Camilla, the queen consort, was a guest on the show last year.

The official royal family Twitter account posted a picture of O’Grady and Camilla with the message: “Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Paul O’Grady, who worked closely with Her Majesty in support of @Battersea_, providing lots of laughter and many waggy-tailed memories.”

Veteran gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said O’Grady “wasn’t just a brilliant comedian and broadcast personality but a much admired campaigner for LGBT+ equality and animal rights.”

“Paul was one of the loveliest people you could ever meet,” Tatchell said. “Everyone whose lives he touched will miss him greatly, as will those who enjoyed his wit and admired his compassion.”

O’Grady is survived by Portasio, whom he married in 2017, and by a daughter from a previous relationship.