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Harvey Fierstein Biography
Birth Name:
Harvey Forbes Fierstein
Birth Place:
Bensonhurst, New York, United States
Profession
Actor, playwright
Fast Facts
- Made his New York stage debut in the role of a cleaning lady in Andy Warhol's off-Broadway play Pork
- Wrote and starred in Torch Song Trilogy, an autobiographical play about a man struggling with his sexual identity
- Narrated a 1984 documentary about the life, career and murder of openly gay politician Harvey Milk
- Created the role of effusive plump matriarch Edna Turnblad in the Broadway musical Hairspray (a stage adaptation of John Waters' 1988 silver-screen satire of the 1960s)
- Returned to the role in 2008 for the show's final performances
- Is an outspoken activist for gay rights
Awards
- 1992Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 1989Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead: nominated
Relationships
- Ronald Fierstein -- Brother
- Bruce Bibby -- Ex-significant Other
- Irving Fierstein -- Father
- Jacqueline Harriet Fierstein -- Mother