Portland's famous drag queen Darcelle dies at 92

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s famous drag queen Walter Cole, better known as Darcelle, has died, according to a post from his nightclub on Facebook.

He was 92.

"The family of Darcelle XV along with her cast and crew are heartbroken to announce that our beloved Darcelle (Walter W. Cole, Sr.) has died at age 92 from natural causes," the Facebook post said. "We ask for privacy and patience as everyone processes and grieves in their own way and at their own pace."

The nightclub said details for a public memorial will be announced soon. It said all shows at Darcelle XV will go on as scheduled.

Cole, a Portland native, was born in 1930.

Cole was awarded the Guinness world record in 2016 for being the world’s oldest working drag queen, and his persona, Darcelle, became part of Portland’s history.

The world record title wasn't Cole's only accolade. The Darcelle XV nightclub and Cole's home in North Portland both joined the Oregon National Register of Historic places in 2020.

“Darcelle XV (Walter Cole) was not just an artist, a business owner and fighter for the rights of all but a symbol of the spirit of Portland. Their passing is incredibly sad, but their legacy will live on," U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who helped get Cole's nightclub on that register, said in a statement Thursday night.

Darcelle XV was the first LGBTQ establishment to earn the designation in Oregon, and the 11th nationwide.

Cole bought the club in 1967 and renamed it after his stage name.

Cole’s home was built in 1896 and, as a KATU reporter noted during a 2019 tour of his house, it was full of shiny things.

Cole was also knighted by the Royal Rosarians.

His longtime partner Roc “Roxy” Neuhardt died in 2017.

In 2016, Darcelle told KATU's Helen Raptis about when Roxy convinced him to do drag for the very first time in 1967.

"Gracie Hansen had a party. And he said, we're going to go, and you are going to go dressed up," Cole as Darcelle said. "And two hours of makeup and getting ready, I was insane. And he borrowed a costume from Gracie's wardrobe, which of course is a big no-no. I had it on, and I walked in and had a double-take from her. ... Every time I passed a mirror, I was like, what the heck have I done? What is this?"

For more than 50 years, Cole put on his jewelry, a dress and a wig to perform at his club.

“I have this theory, you know, when you think you're finished getting dressed and ready and pretty for stage, you add more," he said in 2019.