Playwright remembers Darcelle XV, an 'amazing friend' and the world's oldest drag queen

As It Happens6:35Playwright remembers Darcelle XV, an ‘amazing friend’ and the world’s oldest drag queen

Walter Cole, who was crowned the world’s oldest working drag performer in 2016 by the Guinness Book of World Records, died last week at the age of 92.

Cole performed for more than five decades as Darcelle XV — decked out in sequins, outlandish wigs, and bombastic makeup.

He opened the Darcelle XV Showplace nightclub nearly 50 years ago, which became a Portland cultural institution. In 2020, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places — the first site in Oregon to be nominated specifically for its significance in LGBTQ+ history. 

Cole was