Many celebrities are personalities, but Quentin Crisp distinguishes himself by having risen to fame on his remarkable life and radiant personality alone. He was born male, though grew to display an unshakeable effeminateness for which he was often ostracized or threatened with violence. He remained defiant in the face of persecution, obtaining a scholarship at a school in which he was bullied, and then moving on to pursue journalism and the arts.

Crisp found acceptance in his gender-fluidity and homosexuality among transsexual and queer prostitutes, although his association would lead to further violence. He resorted to transitioning more overtly to a decidedly female persona, wearing makeup, dresses, and painting his nails. He also began to work as a prostitute, and took it upon himself to make others understand the validity of his gender identity and orientation by simply continuing to live undisguised. He balanced odd jobs as a dance instructor, secretary, and nude model for sketch artists.

He authored several books, one of them a memoir that was adapted for television by Jack Gold (director), Philip Mackie (writer), and Verity Lambert (producer). The success of Crisp’s personal story raised awareness of queer representation, and interest. Crisp took to live performances, giving talks and monologues, then taking questions from audience members.

While he was influenced by the acceptance found in groups and rare individuals who became his close friends, Crisp staunchly advocated his own individualism. His commitment to representation moved him to challenge to the intolerance of the majority of the world, but by no means kept him from challenging the norms of niche and minority subcultures. His wry, deadpan, genteel wit combined with his unapologetically eye-catching persona made him a sought-after voice from which entertainment and news reports would take a quote or sound bite.

Quentin Crisp died at the age of ninety-one, of natural causes.