Wikipedia

Heklina

Stefan Grygelko (June 17, 1967 – April 3, 2023), best known by the name Heklina, was an American actor, drag queen, LGBT rights activist and entrepreneur based in San Francisco, California. Born in the Minneapolis area,[1] Grygelko's mother was Icelandic; he lived in the Nordic country for a period of three years in the 1980s,[2] with the name "Heklina" being created after an Icelandic volcano, Hekla.[3] Heklina founded the iconic San Francisco LGBT/drag nightclub and live show Trannyshack in 1996.[4]

Heklina
Heklina in 2012
Born
Stefan Grygelko

(1967-06-17)June 17, 1967
Hennepin, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedApril 3, 2023(2023-04-03) (aged 55)
London, England
Occupations

I think that drag queens are still the eunuch clown that's safe to laugh at. It's definitively not shocking anymore. So I don't know if America's really embraced it. The early 90s was when RuPaul [was becoming famous] and it was the first time any drag queen had mainstream exposure. I don't really see a drag queen breaking out like that [again].

— Heklina on Feast of Fools in 2006[5]

Career

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Mother (formerly Trannyshack)

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It has several meanings; the new "Mothership" of drag in SF, something warm and comforting, nurturing even. And it also ties into the "drag mother" thing. This will be a place for all drag mothers to bring their children, to hone their craft.

— Heklina in SFist article[4]

Heklina co-founded Trannyshack, and hosted the show from its inception in 1996 at the Stud bar, as well as an offshoot in Los Angeles, and continued to host special events throughout San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs, among other Californian cities.[6] Trannyshack was the longest-running drag event series in San Francisco.[7] On January 17, 2015, at The Oasis, Trannyshack was rebranded to Mother, evolving from a monthly to a weekly event series.

Heklina also co-produced and co-hosted the Miss Trannyshack Pageant, widely considered the premiere annual drag event in San Francisco, having sold-out every year since its debut.[8][9][10]

Theater and community activities

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Heklina acted in local theatre productions, most notably the S.F. Golden Girls productions (as Dorothy Zbornak), and emceed a variety of community and charitable events, including the Folsom Street Fair (along with Sister Roma) and San Francisco Pride.[11] She was voted Community Grand Marshal of the 2004 San Francisco GLBTQ Pride Parade,[12] and won the 2009 Pride Creativity Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the LGBT Community. She was sainted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.[13] Heklina co-starred in a series of short films called the Tran-ilogy of Terror, a series of drag horror spoofs written and directed by long-time collaborator Peaches Christ,[14] and also starred in the film Baby Jane?.

The Oasis

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The Oasis, a theatre and cabaret nightclub located in San Francisco's SoMa district,[15] hosted a grand opening event on New Year's Eve 2014; Heklina, along with three business partners (D'Arcy Drollinger, Geoff Benjamin, and Jason Beebout), signed a deal to purchase the former Oasis in October of that year. The nightclub's diverse programming features touring drag performers, cabaret and various performing artists, live musical acts, DJs and more.

Mommie Queerest

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In 2022, Heklina and Peaches Christ appeared in Mommie Queerest, a drag parody of Mommie Dearest (1981), in Palm Springs and Seattle.[16] In April 2023, Heklina and Peaches both traveled to England, where the duo was set to perform the show in London and Manchester.[17]

Death

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On April 3, 2023, Grygelko, aged 55, was discovered dead in his London hotel room by longtime collaborator and friend Peaches Christ.[18][19][20] The two had been in the UK preparing for a series of performances of their stage show Mommie Queerest. No foul play was suspected in his death.[21]

On her Instagram, Peaches Christ posted the following message that same day: "I am shocked and horrified to bring this news to you. I am living in a real-life nightmare so forgive me if I don’t have all the answers just now. This morning, in London, England I went to collect my dear friend Heklina, who is costarring with me in a Mommie Queerest show here, and found her dead. I do not know the cause of death yet. I know this is shocking news and I am beyond stunned, but I wanted to let folks know what has happened. Heklina is not just my best friend, but a beloved icon of our community. I am a mess. Given this crisis, please do not try to contact me as I am utterly heartbroken, stunned, and focusing on what needs to get done next. I shall be in touch."[22]

Filmography

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Year Title Genre Role Notes
2023 Drag Me to Dinner Television Herself Competed on a team with Peaches Christ (Episode 10)
2022 Judge Steve Harvey Television Herself Guest (Season 1, episode 5)
2021 The Sherry Vine Variety Show Television Herself Guest (Season 1, episode 2)
2020–21 Drag Time with Heklina Podcast series Host 35 episodes
2020 Shit & Champagne Film Hooker in jail Uncredited
2019 State of Pride Documentary film Herself
2017 The Boulet Brothers' Dragula Television Herself Guest judge (Season 1, episode 5; season 2, episode 4)
2016 Hey Qween! Web series Herself Guest (1 episode)
2015 Hush Up Sweet Charlotte Film Mrs. Bates
2015 Club King Documentary film Herself
2010 Baby Jane? Film Mrs. Bates
2009 Trauma Television Liza Minnelli Guest star (1 episode)
2008 The Cho Show Television Herself Guest (1 episode)
2005 Spin the Bottle Documentary short film Herself
2005 Filthy Gorgeous: The Trannyshack Story Documentary film Herself
2004 Playing It Straight Television
2004 Whatever Happened to Peaches Christ? Short film Heklina
2002 A Nightmare on Castro Street Short film Heklina
2001 Season of the Troll Short film Heklina
  • Heklina (short) (2013)
  • Drag: Not Just Men in Heels (2007) [23]
  • The House of Venus Show (2006)
  • Blood, Sweat and Glitter (2004)
  • Helot Revolt: The World's Greatest F*gg*t Heavy Metal Band or they were out of Bette Davis so I got this (1993) [24]
  • The Daily Show
  • The Ricki Lake Show
  • Jerry Springer

References

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  1. ^ Moen, Matt (April 4, 2023). "Drag Legend Heklina Dead at 55". PAPER Magazine. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "Coco Thoughts While In Solitude #50 with Heklina". YouTube. May 22, 2020. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Swan, Rachel, "Kiss That Stud Goodbye", East Bay Express, August 13, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Barmann, Jay (December 16, 2014). "Heklina Talks About Mother, The New Incarnation Of Trannyshack At The Oasis". SFist. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015.
  5. ^ "FOF #419 – Tricks, Treats and Trannies – 10.31.06", Feast of Fools, October 31, 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  6. ^ Del Mar, Pollo, "Reigning Miss Trannyshack Reflects on Legendary Club", San Francisco Bay Times, August 14, 2008. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
  7. ^ Wilkey, Robin (June 21, 2012). "Heklina, Trannyshack Founder, On Movies, Bar Fights And San Francisco Pride". HuffPost.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  8. ^ Buck, Jenn, "Queens vie for the Trannyshack crown: Miss Trannyshack Pageant 2005 is set for this Saturday night", Bay Area Reporter, November 17, 2005. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  9. ^ "The MISS TRANNYSHACK PAGEANT 2006" announcement, 2006. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  10. ^ Eccentric California: The Bradt Travel Guide (2005) ; Jan Friedman, ISBN 1-84162-126-9, ISBN 978-1-84162-126-5.
  11. ^ Vaziri, Aidin, "On the Town with Heklina: All the city's a stage for this drag queen", SFGate (part of San Francisco Chronicle), October 22, 2006. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  12. ^ San Francisco Pride 2003 Event List Archived February 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, from the SFPride website. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  13. ^ Sister Dana Van Iquity, "Saints Alive! Heklina and Peaches Christ Join Mother Teresa" (interview), San Francisco Bay Times, July 26, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  14. ^ Sister Dana Van Iquity, "Peaches Christ Puts Out Fierce DVD" Archived November 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, San Francisco Bay Times, July 13, 2006. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  15. ^ "SF Oasis : The Club". SF Oasis. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  16. ^ Thomas, Kevin M. (March 28, 2022). "Peaches Christ and Heklina's Mommie Queerest hits the road". Queer Forty. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  17. ^ "Mommie Queerest, Soho Theatre: Wild drag parody of the dreadful 1981 film Mommie Dearest". Time Out London. March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  18. ^ "SF drag legend Heklina reportedly has passed away". 48hills. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  19. ^ "Report: SF Drag Icon Heklina Dies While On Tour In London". SFist – San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports. April 3, 2023. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  20. ^ @sohotheatre (April 3, 2023). "Soho Theatre, @HOME_mcr and Tim Whitehead are in shock and incredibly saddened with news of Heklina's passing. Our thoughts are with Peaches, Mommie Queerest company, Heklina's family, friends + their wider community. Together with HOME we'll be in contact with audiences tomorrow" (Tweet). Retrieved April 3, 2023 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Laird, Cynthia (April 11, 2023). "Heklina to be inducted on LGBTQ Wall of Honor". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  22. ^ "Peaches Christ | I am shocked and horrified to bring…". Instagram. @thepeacheschrist. April 3, 2023.
  23. ^ "Drag: Not Just Men in Heels (2007) – IMDb". IMDb.
  24. ^ "Helot Revolt rockumentary (1993)". YouTube. May 15, 2023.
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