X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

RuPaul Biography

Birth Name:RuPaul Andre Charles

Birth Place:San Diego, California, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer, Writer, Music department, Camera department

Fast Facts

  • Became the first drag queen supermodel when he was invited to be a spokesperson for M․A․C․ Cosmetics in 1996, and has since helped raise more than $22 million for the M․A․C․ AIDS Fund
  • The Most Beautiful Transsexuals in the World Association recognized his outreach and support to the LGBT community with their lifetime achievement award in 2002
  • Was named Entertainer of the Year at the GLAAD Media Awards in 1999
  • Began his career as a bar dancer and singer in Atlanta before moving to New York, where he became popular in the Manhattan nightclub scene
  • Quote: "I do not impersonate females! How many women do you know who wear seven inch heels, four foot wigs and skintight dresses?"
  • Quote: "Doing drag in a male-dominant culture is an act of treason․ It's the most punk-rock thing you can do․"
  • Best known as a drag queen, model and singer who is the host of "RuPaul's Drag Race․"
  • Has released several hit dance songs, including "Supermodel (You Better Work)," "Back to My Roots" and "House of Love․"
  • Performed at a gay rights rally in Washington, D․C․, on the same spot that Martin Luther King Jr․ stood when he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech
  • A wax statue of him was added to Madame Tussaud's wax museum in New York City in 2000 on his 40th birthday

Awards

  • 2012Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Reality Show Host: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: nominated
  • 2013Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Reality Host: nominated
  • 2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Reality Host: nominated
  • 2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Reality Show Host: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Individual Host or Panelist in a Reality or Non-Fiction Program: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: winner
  • 2017Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: winner
  • 2017MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Host: nominated
  • 2017OFTA Television Award-Best Individual Host or Panelist in a Reality or Non-Fiction Program: winner
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: winner
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality Competition Program: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
  • 2018Critics Choice Award-Best Reality Show Host: winner
  • 2018Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: winner
  • 2018OFTA Television Award-Best Individual Host or Panelist in a Reality or Non-Fiction Program: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: winner
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: winner
  • 2019Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host of the Decade: winner
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: winner
  • 2019MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Host: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Individual Host or Panelist in a Reality or Non-Fiction Program: winner
  • 2019PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Competition Television: winner
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: winner
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: winner
  • 2020Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: winner
  • 2020OFTA Television Award-Best Individual Host or Panelist in a Reality or Non-Fiction Program: nominated
  • 2020PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television: winner
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Competition Program: winner
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: winner
  • 2021Real TV Award-Male Star of the Year: nominated
  • 2021Real TV Award-Best Show Host: nominated
  • 2021Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: winner
  • 2021Image Award-Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) - Individual or Ensemble: nominated
  • 2021MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Host: winner
  • 2021OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Individual Performance in A Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program: nominated
  • 2021PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television: winner
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: winner
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: winner
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Competition Program: winner
  • 2022AACTA Award-Best Entertainment Program: nominated
  • 2022BAFTA TV Award-Reality & Constructed Factual: nominated
  • 2022Canadian Screen Award-Best Reality/Competition Program or Series: winner
  • 2022Canadian Screen Award-Best Performance, Animation: winner
  • 2022Real TV Award-Male Star of the Year: nominated
  • 2022Real TV Award-Best Show Host: nominated
  • 2022Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: winner
  • 2022MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Host: nominated
  • 2022OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Individual Performance in A Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program: nominated
  • 2022PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television: winner
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Competition Program: nominated
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program: winner
  • 2023BAFTA TV Award-Reality & Constructed Factual: nominated
  • 2023Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: winner
  • 2023MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Reality On-Screen Team: nominated
  • 2023MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Host: nominated
  • 2023OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Individual Performance in A Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program: nominated
  • 2023PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television: nominated
  • 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality Competition Program: winner
  • 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
  • 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program: winner
  • 2024Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: nominated
  • 2024Image Award-Outstanding Host in a Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) - Individual or Ensemble: nominated
  • 2024OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Individual Performance in A Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program: nominated
  • 2024PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television: winner
  • 2024People's Choice Award-The Host of the Year: nominated
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program: nominated
  • 2025Canadian Screen Award-Best Reality/Competition Program or Series: winner
  • 2025Gold Derby TV Award-Reality Host: winner
  • 2025OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Individual Performance in A Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program: nominated
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program: nominated
  • 2026PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television: nominated