Line #10 Creator/RuPaul


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3	%%Per Administrivia/CreatorPageGuidelines, only tropes associated to a creator's works are allowed on this wiki's pages, and tropes that only apply to the creator's personal life as if the creator is a fictional character are not allowed. Please do not apply tropes about the creator's personal life as if they are a fictional character.
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7	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screen_shot_2016_06_12_at_42434_pm.png]]
8	[[caption-width-right:350:''You. Better. Work.'']]
9
10	-> ''"We're all born naked, and the rest is drag."''
11	-->-- [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztQUcl2v-tU "Born Naked"]]
12
13	Rupaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960 in San Diego, California), known mononymously as [=RuPaul=], is an American actor, musician, writer, producer, supermodel, entrepreneur, and {{drag queen}}. By far ''[[TropeCodifier the]]'' preeminent living face of drag in North America and much of the Western world[[note]]The title, of course, being held by the late [[Creator/DivineActor Divine]][[/note]], he's been a pop culture fixture for much of the 90's and later became known as the creator and host of ''Series/RuPaulsDragRace'', which not only revived his own career, but has become partly responsible for bringing the art of drag into mainstream popular culture since its debut in 2009.
14
15	Ru was born in 1960 in San Diego, UsefulNotes/{{California}}. His affectionately-foulmouthed mother gave him his distinctive name to encourage him to become a star, because as she put it, "Ain't no motherfucker alive got a name like that!" At the age of 15, he moved with his older sister to UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, where he started his performing career, dabbling in drag, acting, and singing in his glam rock band Wee Wee Pole. And selling used cars by day. After nine years in Atlanta, Ru moved to New York City in 1984 with fellow drag queen Lady Bunny to go for the big time. In addition to taking the crowded NYC drag scene by storm, his first mainstream appearance was as a backup dancer in Music/TheB52s' video for "Love Shack". From there, he made several friends in the media and became known to the general public for his [[OneSceneWonder brief but memorable]] bit parts in films and TV.
16
17	As a recording artist, Ru has released fifteen studio albums as of 2023. His debut single [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw9LOrHU8JI "Supermodel (You Better Work)]]" was the theme song for MAC Cosmetics during his years as their spokesmodel, and became a minor US chart hit in 1992. He's also collaborated with the likes of Music/EltonJohn, Taylor Dayne, and Martha Wash.
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19	----
20	!! Selected filmography:[[note]]referred to as "herself" when in drag and "himself" when not[[/note]]
21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	[[folder:Film roles]]
24	* ''Film/{{Crooklyn}}'' (1994) as Connie
25	* ''[[Film/TheBradyBunch The Brady Bunch Movie]]'' (1995) as Mrs. Cummings
26	** ''A Very Brady Sequel'' (1996)
27	* ''Film/ToWongFooThanksForEverythingJulieNewmar'' (1995) as [[PunnyName Rachel Tensions]]
28	* ''Film/{{EDtv}}'' (1999) as Herself
29	* ''Film/ButImACheerleader'' (1999) as Counselor Mike
30	* ''Film/TheTruthAboutJane'' (2000) as Jimmy
31	* ''Film/WhoIsCletisTout'' (2001) as Ginger Markum
32	* ''Theatre/ZombieProm'' (2006) as Ms. Strict
33	* ''[=RuPaul=] Is: Starrbooty!'' (2007) as Starrbooty / Cupcake
34	* ''Film/HurricaneBianca'' (2016) as Weatherman
35	* ''Film/ShowDogs'' (2018) as Persephone (voice)
36	* ''Film/SomeoneGreat'' (2019) as Hype
37	* ''WesternAnimation/{{NIMONA\|2023}}'' (2023) as Nate Knight (voice)
38	* ''WesternAnimation/TrollsBandTogether'' (2023) as Miss Maxine (voice)
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Television roles]]
42	* ''Series/SisterSister'' (1 episode, 1995) as Marjé
43	* ''Series/{{Ellen}}'' (1 episode, 1996) as Herself
44	* ''The [=RuPaul=] Show'' (1996–98) as Herself
45	* ''Series/NashBridges'' (2 episodes, 1996–98) as Simone Dubois
46	* ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' (1 episode, 1998) as Witch Judge / Hairdresser
47	* ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries'' (1 episode, 1998) as Rock Guardian (voice)
48	* ''Series/WalkerTexasRanger'' (1 episode, 1998) as Bob
49	* ''Series/VeronicasCloset'' (1 episode, 1999) as Brett
50	* ''Series/AnyDayNow'' (1 episode, 2000) as Jerry / Sheri Walters
51	* ''Series/{{VIP}}'' (1 episode, 2001) as Pepe Dutille
52	* ''Series/{{Popular}}'' (1 episode, 2001) as Sweet Honey Chile
53	* ''Series/PortCharles'' (2 episodes, 2001) as Madame Alicia
54	* ''Series/SonOfTheBeach'' (1 episode, 2002) as Heinous Anus
55	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGroovenians'' (2002) as Champagne Courvoisier (voice)
56	* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndSteveTheHappiestGayCoupleInAllTheWorld'' (1 episode, 2009) as Tyler (voice)
57	* The ''Series/DragRace'' franchise:
58	** ''Series/RupaulsDragRace'' (2009–present) as Himself / Herself
59	** ''[[Series/RuPaulsDragU RuPaul's Drag U]]'' (2010–12)
60	** ''Series/RuPaulsDragRaceAllStars'' (2012–present)
61	** ''Series/RuPaulsDragRaceUK'' (2019)
62	** ''Series/RuPaulsDragRaceUKVsTheWorld'' (2022–present)
63	** ''Series/RuPaulsDragRaceDownUnder''
64	* ''Series/UglyBetty'' (1 episode, 2010) as Randolph
65	* ''Series/TheComeback'' (1 episode, 2014) as Himself
66	* ''Series/SkinWars'' (2014–present) as Himself
67	** ''Skin Wars: Fresh Paint'' (2015–present)
68	* ''WesternAnimation/BubbleGuppies'' (1 episode, 2015) as [=RuPearl=] (voice)
69	* ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBeaks'' (2015–17) as Jackie Slitherstein (voice)
70	* ''Series/TheMuppets'' (1 episode, 2016) as Himself
71	* ''Series/TheRealONeals'' (1 episode, 2016) as Himself
72	* ''Gay for Play Game Show Starring [=RuPaul=]'' (2016–present) as Himself
73	* ''Series/TwoBrokeGirls'' (1 episode, 2017) as Himself
74	* ''Series/{{Girlboss}}'' (7 episodes, 2017) as Lionel
75	* ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfChamberlainHeights'' (1 episode, 2017) as Andre (voice)
76	* ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'' (1 episode, 2017) as Queen Antonia (voice)
77	* ''Series/BroadCity'' (3 epiodes, 2017) as Marcel
78	* ''Series/AdamRuinsEverything'' (2 episodes, 2017) as Gil
79	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animals\|2016}}'' (1 episode, 2018) as Dr. Labcoat (voice)
80	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' (1 episode, 2018) as Queen Chante (voice)
81	* ''Series/GraceAndFrankie'' (2 episodes, 2019) as Benjamin Le Day
82	* ''WesternAnimation/ArchibaldsNextBigThing'' (1 episode, 2019) as Jagger (voice)
83	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBravestKnight'' (2 episodes, 2019) as Stanley the Big Bad Wolf (voice)
84	* ''Series/AJAndTheQueen'' (10 episodes, 2019) as Robert Lee / Ruby Red (also co-creator & executive producer)
85	* ''Series/MuppetsNow'' (1 episode, 2020) as Himself
86	* ''[[Series/Reno911 Reno 911: The Hunt for QAnon'' (2021) as Q
87	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'' (4 episodes, 2021–22) as Mr. X (voice)
88	* ''WesternAnimation/ChicagoPartyAunt'' (2021–present) as Gideon (voice)
89	* ''Series/{{Lingo}}'' (US 2023–present) as Himself
90	** ''Celebrity Lingo'' (UK 2022–present)
91	[[/folder]]
92
93
94	----
95	!!Discography:
96
97	[[folder:Studio albums]]
98	* ''Supermodel of The World'' (1993)
99	* ''Foxy Lady'' (1996)
100	* ''Red Hot'' (2004)
101	* ''Champion'' (2009)
102	* ''Glamazon'' (2011)
103	* ''Born Naked'' (2014)
104	* ''Realness'' (2015)
105	* ''Butch Queen'' (2016)
106	* ''American'' (2017)
107	* ''You're a Winner, Baby'' (2020)
108	* ''Mamaru'' (2022)
109	* ''Black Butta'' (2023)
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:Christmas albums]]
113	* ''[[PunBasedTitle Ho, Ho, Ho]]'' (1997)
114	* ''Slay Belles'' (2015)
115	* ''Christmas Party'' (2018)
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Compilations]]
119	* ''[=RuPaul=] Presents: The [=CoverGurlz=]'' (2014)
120	* ''[=RuPaul=] Presents: [=CoverGurlz=] 2'' (2015)
121	* ''Remember Me: Essential, Vol. 1'' (2017)
122	* ''Essential, Vol. 2'' (2017)
123	* ''Queen of Queens'' (2019)
124	[[/folder]]
125
126	----
127	!! [=RuPaul=]'s works provides examples of:
128	* AsHimself: Many of his film and television credits consist of him playing himself (and/or herself) in bit parts.
129	* BeYourself: The message behind "Born Naked".
130	* BeamMeUpScotty: Ru has never said "No one will love you if you don't love yourself." His proverb is "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?"
131	* {{Camp}}: His brand of humor bounces between this and RefugeInAudacity, such his cameo in ''To Wong Foo'' where he's wearing a Confederate flag dress, and announced as [[PunnyName "Rachel Tensions"]]. The fact that he's doing it as a black man in drag makes it all so over-the-top that it's almost impossible to be offended. He and Creator/JohnWaters are often referred to as "Camp's Favorite Sons".
132	* CharacterTitle: His short-lived 2019 talk show was simply titled ''[=RuPaul=]''
133	* DragQueen: As a drag performer, he's dabbled in all three of the broadest drag categories (campy, fishy, genderfuck), but is most commonly associated as a campy queen.
134	* DoNotCallMePaul: Averted; he fully embraces his birth name, and used it for his drag persona.
135	* GenderBlenderName: [=RuPaul=] isn't a very common name, so it's not associated as being either masculine or feminine.
136	* IAmNotSpock[[invoked]]: Averted; [=RuPaul=] is ''actually'' his given name, and not just a pseudonym he uses. On the other hand, this can be seen as being played straight as far as his drag persona goes; in recent years the only time he dresses in drag regularly is for his main show ''Drag Race'' (and even then, only for the last third of an episode), Otherwise, in all of his other shows (''Drag U'', ''Gay for Play'', ''Skin Wars'') he appears exclusively out of drag.
137	* ICallItVera: He refers to his drag persona as "The Monster". Also, he names each of his wigs. Additionally, his hats all have names.
138	* InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt: If [=RuPaul=] is hosting a show in the ''Series/DragRace'' franchise then not only will he be very prominent in the promo images, it'll also have his name in the title.
139	* MainstreamObscurity[[invoked]]: Has gone on record as stating that despite the great leaps and bounds drag has taken towards acceptance in popular culture, that it'll never become truly "mainstream". A large part of this is due to the fact he says no matter how popular his show ''Drag Race'' or drag in general may become, it will never be taken seriously by the masses, and will always be seen in some aspect in a humorous light.
140	* MoneyDearBoy[[invoked]]: Despite being one of the most well-known drag queens in the business (maybe the world), he says he only does drag because he's paid for it, not because he has a passion for it:
141	--> '''[=RuPaul=]:''' "It's not my passion. The only time you will ever see me in drag is when I am ... what? Getting paid. It is my job."
142	* OnlyOneName: Almost exclusively known by his first name.
143	* PronounTrouble: Subverted; while he identifies as male outside of drag, Ru has gone on record as saying he answers to both masculine ''and'' feminine pronouns:
144	--> '''[=RuPaul=]:''' You can call me "he." You can call me "she." You can call me Regis & Kathy Lee; I don't care! Just as long as you call me.
145	* PungeonMaster: Puns are pretty much a second language for Ru.
146	* ReligionRantSong: "Devil Made Me Do It" addresses religion in relation to homosexuality.
147	* ShamelessSelfPromoter: Infamous for this. The full title of ''Drag Race'' [[InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt includes his name]], and he's always promoting whatever his newest project is -- usually on ''Drag Race'' itself, [[ItsAllAboutMe which has featured challenges based on his music and films]].
148	* ShortRunner: His 2019 talk show (simply titled ''[=RuPaul=]''), which was cancelled after a three-week test run.
149	* StarmakingRole: While Ru himself had no definite moment that unambiguously shot him to the top, ''[=RuPaul's=] Drag Race'' has become this for many of his contestants, many of whom went from only being known in their hometown's drag scenes to becoming international stars.
150	* TropeCodifier: Even before ''Drag Race'', Ru has been ''the'' face of Drag in North America. He's basically the [[TransAtlanticEquivalent American equivalent]] of Creator/DameEdna.
151	* YouCantGoHomeAgain: The song "Never Go Home Again" is about how queer people often escape unaccepting home lives and create new families within the LGBT community.
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Context Creator / RuPaul