The Vivienne’s cause of death as the first RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner dies at 32
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne dies at 32: Tributes flood in for beloved star
The Vivienne, who won RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019 and later appeared on Dancing On Ice, has died at the age of 32, with their publicist confirming the sad news on Sunday evening
Tributes have been pouring in for RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne following their unexpected death being announced over the weekend.
The Vivienne, birth name James Lee Williams, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and came third on the 2023 edition of Dancing On Ice. Their publicist, Simon Jones, announced the news on Sunday [January 5] evening, writing that The Vivienne was an “incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person”.
In a post on Instagram, the PR guru added: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend. James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career.”
How did The Vivienne die?
The Vivienne, who was born in Wales and later moved to Liverpool, was just 32-years-old at the time of their death. Their passing comes just days after appearing on TV over the festive season, starring on a Christmas special of the beloved BBC classic Blankety Blank.
The drag icon’s cause of death is yet to be announced publicly and minimal details about their tragic passing have been shared. “We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve,” Simon Jones wrote as he announced his client’s death on social media.
On Tuesday, it was reported that The Vivienne’s body was discovered by their devastated father and stepmother. Police previously confirmed they were called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death.
The Vivienne was becoming a regular face on British television (
PA)
The late star appeared on the BBC just days before their passing (
Getty Images)
“Their devastated dad raised the alarm and believed they had passed away a day or two before being found,” a source told the Sun. “James was due to move to a £400,000 house next week, and had a holiday lined up. They were planning a tour and really had everything to live for.”
Shortly after sharing the news of The Vivienne’s death, Simon shared an additional tribute to his late client. “These are words I never ever wanted to write. Viv was a close friend. a client and someone I loved very much,” the PR expert penned in a post on his Instagram page.
“From the moment I met them in 2019 I knew we could create magic together and I became their manager. Their talent was immense and the light they brought to every room was astonishing. No-one has ever made me laugh in my life as much as Viv did. Their comic genius and quick wit was like no other.”
The tribute continued saying: “I’m so proud and lucky that Viv was such a big part of my life every day for the last five years. It’s tragic that their career was only just beginning. In musical theatre Viv had found a space and career they loved, excelled and thrived in. I am heartbroken and devastated at this news. RIP my wonderful friend. You left us way too soon.”
Who was The Vivienne?
Born James Lee Williams, the first RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner revealed the meaning behind their stage name and how they chose their alter-ego’s title before winning the BBC Three show in 2020. The Vivienne also competed on an all-winners season of the RuPaul franchise in the US in 2022, the only UK contestant for that series.
Speaking in 2019 ahead of competing in the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, The Vivienne explained their name saying: “I love Vivienne Westwood and when I moved to Liverpool everyone used to call me Vivienne as I was head to toe in Westwood. So when I started doing drag it was a natural progression, but I didn’t want one of those cheap, nasty, slutty drag names so I thought of ‘The Vivienne’ and here she is, there’s only one of them.”
The Vivienne said of their drag style: “My style is like a Scouse wife who has come into money, she moved to LA and blew it all and then she’s had to move back to Liverpool. I like to have a really fierce look, but I like to be hilarious on stage so I’m kind of an old school and the new school put together which I think works. Comedy is definitely my trump card. My favourite trick in drag is my vocal impersonations so I do everyone from Kim Woodburn, Cilla Black, Donald Trump – you name it, I’ll do it – for the right price.”
The Vivienne landed in the finale alongside Baga Chipz and Divina De Campo, with judge Graham Norton saying in the final critique ahead of the winner being named that The Vivienne had “it all”. After their breakthrough in 2020, they went on to appear on a number of UK shows, including Dancing On Ice, Emmerdale, Celebrity Hunted and The Weakest Link.
The late star was also a rising star in the world of theatre and performed as the Wicked Witch of the West in a UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical, reprising the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year. They were due to be back on tour next month performing in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical in the role of the Childcatcher.
