Michael Alig, the flamboyantly costumed “King of the Club Kids” in late 1980s and early ’90s Manhattan whose involvement in the sordid murder and dismemberment of his drug dealer was chronicled in the 2003 feature film Party Monster, died early this morning of a suspected heroin overdose. He was 54.
Alig was found unconscious at his Washington Heights apartment in Upper Manhattan by a friend shortly before 3 a.m. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene. The death was first reported by the New York Daily News.
Alig, who reigned over the Manhattan club scene as a party promoter for Peter Gatien’s immensely popular Limelight and Palladium dance clubs, was already infamous outside the city’s lushly attired demimonde even before the murder, having made frequent designed-to-shock Club Kid appearances on daytime talk shows such as The Joan Rivers Show and Geraldo.
The seemingly all-for-fun facade of the Club Kid scene...
Alig was found unconscious at his Washington Heights apartment in Upper Manhattan by a friend shortly before 3 a.m. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene. The death was first reported by the New York Daily News.
Alig, who reigned over the Manhattan club scene as a party promoter for Peter Gatien’s immensely popular Limelight and Palladium dance clubs, was already infamous outside the city’s lushly attired demimonde even before the murder, having made frequent designed-to-shock Club Kid appearances on daytime talk shows such as The Joan Rivers Show and Geraldo.
The seemingly all-for-fun facade of the Club Kid scene...
- 12/25/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Alig — the infamous nightlife legend, “King of the Club Kids,” and murderer — has died by apparent overdose in his Upper Manhattan home on Christmas Day, the New York Daily News reports from official sources. He was 54.
According to reports, Alig was doing heroin shortly before he lost consciousness around 3 a.m., his boyfriend told police, and medics found him dead at the scene.
In the Nineties, Alig was a notorious impresario of Peter Gatien’s nightclub empire (which included Limelight, the Palladium, and the Tunnel) and a “Pied Piper to young clubbies,...
According to reports, Alig was doing heroin shortly before he lost consciousness around 3 a.m., his boyfriend told police, and medics found him dead at the scene.
In the Nineties, Alig was a notorious impresario of Peter Gatien’s nightclub empire (which included Limelight, the Palladium, and the Tunnel) and a “Pied Piper to young clubbies,...
- 12/25/2020
- by Jerry Portwood
- Rollingstone.com
To mark the release of Freak Show on 25th February, we’ve been given 2 copies to give away on Blu-ray.
Based on the critically acclaimed novel by James St. James, ‘Freak Show’ is the tale of Billy Bloom (Alex Lawther), a one-of-a-kind, fabulous, glitter-bedecked, gender-fluid teenager whose razor- sharp wit is matched only by his outrageous, anything-goes fashion sense. But when he’s forced to live with his straight-laced father, Billy finds himself a diva-out-of-water at his new ultra-conservative high school. Undaunted by the bullies who refuse to understand him, the fearless Billy sets out to make a big statement in his own inimitable way: challenging the school’s reigning mean girl for the title of homecoming queen!
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Small Print
Open to UK residents only The competition will close 25th February 2019 at 23.59 GMT The winner will...
Based on the critically acclaimed novel by James St. James, ‘Freak Show’ is the tale of Billy Bloom (Alex Lawther), a one-of-a-kind, fabulous, glitter-bedecked, gender-fluid teenager whose razor- sharp wit is matched only by his outrageous, anything-goes fashion sense. But when he’s forced to live with his straight-laced father, Billy finds himself a diva-out-of-water at his new ultra-conservative high school. Undaunted by the bullies who refuse to understand him, the fearless Billy sets out to make a big statement in his own inimitable way: challenging the school’s reigning mean girl for the title of homecoming queen!
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Small Print
Open to UK residents only The competition will close 25th February 2019 at 23.59 GMT The winner will...
- 2/11/2019
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
As Timothée Chalamet fever sweeps the country, and “Call Me By Your Name” envelops audiences in the golden hue of Italian summer romance, the future of queer cinema looks bright indeed. Beyond our Adonis-adorned Oscar contender, 2017 delivered an array of satisfying gay storylines; including the breathtaking French epic “Bpm (Beats Per Minute),” the underrated Billie Jean King biopic “Battle of the Sexes,” and Sebastian Lelio’s bittersweet romance “A Fantastic Woman.”
Gone are the days when queer cinephiles counted their lucky stars for one gay-related film a year, a trend that films like “Moonlight” and “Carol” seem to have nipped in the bud once and for all.
Read More:The 10 Best Lgbtq Films of 2017, From ‘Call Me by Your Name’ to ‘Bpm’
As 2018 begins with “Call Me By Your Name” braced to earn a few Oscar nominations, the month of January alone saw three queer-related indies open in theaters. Though all saw limited releases,...
Gone are the days when queer cinephiles counted their lucky stars for one gay-related film a year, a trend that films like “Moonlight” and “Carol” seem to have nipped in the bud once and for all.
Read More:The 10 Best Lgbtq Films of 2017, From ‘Call Me by Your Name’ to ‘Bpm’
As 2018 begins with “Call Me By Your Name” braced to earn a few Oscar nominations, the month of January alone saw three queer-related indies open in theaters. Though all saw limited releases,...
- 1/18/2018
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Notorious club kid James St. James was canonized in the 2003 film “Party Monster,” which saw an adult Macaulay Culkin return to the screen for the first time since 1994’s “Richie Rich.” In his controversial comeback, based on St. James’ memoir and directed by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” producers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, Culkin played a drug-addled party promoter who becomes embroiled in a murder. Fifteen years later comes “Freak Show,” which is based on the eponymous novel by St. James. “Freak Show” has a lighter take on a similar character, although not one without his demons.
From first-time feature director Trudie Styler, “Freak Show” releases its flashy first trailer today.
Read More:Beanie Feldstein’s Family Values: The ‘Lady Bird’ Breakout on Lessons from ‘Big Sister’ Greta Gerwig and Brother Jonah Hill
Alex Lawther (“The Imitation Game”) plays Billy Bloom, a teenaged version of Culkin’s Michael Alig. The...
From first-time feature director Trudie Styler, “Freak Show” releases its flashy first trailer today.
Read More:Beanie Feldstein’s Family Values: The ‘Lady Bird’ Breakout on Lessons from ‘Big Sister’ Greta Gerwig and Brother Jonah Hill
Alex Lawther (“The Imitation Game”) plays Billy Bloom, a teenaged version of Culkin’s Michael Alig. The...
- 12/22/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Michael Alig, the subject of Party Monster who murdered his roommate Angel Melendez in 1996, was one of the last people that former Limelight owner Peter Gatien would have imagined killing and butchering someone.
Peter Gatien On Michael Alig
“When I heard about it, if someone came up to me and was like listen Peter one of your staff killed somebody in their apartment last night, who do you think it is? Michael Alig might have been the 995th person on my list,” Gatien, who employed about 1000 people at the time, told uInterview exclusively in 2011. “I mean he was small, non violent. It's not like he carried a knife or a gun, or ever gotten into a fight.”
When Alig killed Melendez, who had been hitting him up for drug debts, with the help of fellow scenester Robert “Freeze” Riggs, he was at the height of his drug use. By his own account,...
Peter Gatien On Michael Alig
“When I heard about it, if someone came up to me and was like listen Peter one of your staff killed somebody in their apartment last night, who do you think it is? Michael Alig might have been the 995th person on my list,” Gatien, who employed about 1000 people at the time, told uInterview exclusively in 2011. “I mean he was small, non violent. It's not like he carried a knife or a gun, or ever gotten into a fight.”
When Alig killed Melendez, who had been hitting him up for drug debts, with the help of fellow scenester Robert “Freeze” Riggs, he was at the height of his drug use. By his own account,...
- 5/14/2014
- Uinterview
Infamous club kid Michael Alig is a free man. The 48-year-old spent the past 17 years in prison for killing his roommate Andre "Angel" Melendez. In 2007, the former New York City party promoter was granted parole, but was denied his conditional release until May 5, 2014, reports USA Today. Alig first became known for cofounding the Club Kids, a group of eccentric partiers popular in NYC's '90s club scene for their outlandish outfits and behavior. In 1997, he gained national attention after pleading guilty to murdering and dismembering Melendez and dumping him in the Hudson River over a bad drug deal. Alig was...
- 5/6/2014
- by Kelli Bender
- PEOPLE.com
Michael Alig, the infamous Club Kids killer, was released from prison on Monday, May 5, after serving 17 years behind bars for manslaughter.
Michael Alig Released From Prison After 17 Years
Alig, 47, plead guilty to the manslaughter of Andre “Angel” Melendez in 1997. Angel had been a regular at Alig’s famous New York City parties – Alig worked as a party promoter for nightclubs, attracting thousands to the New York City nightlife. His drug fueled lifestyle made him a legend. Alig was convicted of Melendez’s murder alongside Robert Riggs, who was released from prison in 2010, and the two of them admitted to killing Melendez during an argument and then chopping up the body and throwing it into the Hudson River.
Alig was sentenced to 10-20 years in prison and has reportedly been up for parole since 2007. During his time in prison, Alig kept up his cultural presence with a blog and an active...
Michael Alig Released From Prison After 17 Years
Alig, 47, plead guilty to the manslaughter of Andre “Angel” Melendez in 1997. Angel had been a regular at Alig’s famous New York City parties – Alig worked as a party promoter for nightclubs, attracting thousands to the New York City nightlife. His drug fueled lifestyle made him a legend. Alig was convicted of Melendez’s murder alongside Robert Riggs, who was released from prison in 2010, and the two of them admitted to killing Melendez during an argument and then chopping up the body and throwing it into the Hudson River.
Alig was sentenced to 10-20 years in prison and has reportedly been up for parole since 2007. During his time in prison, Alig kept up his cultural presence with a blog and an active...
- 5/6/2014
- Uinterview
Netflix has revolutionized the home movie experience for fans of film with its instant streaming technology. Netflix Nuggets is my way of spreading the word about independent, classic and foreign films being made available by Netflix for instant streaming. Important Note: There may be some films that do not become available on the specified dates. This is merely a report of the most accurate release dates I can find, but is not directly confirmed by Netflix themselves.
American: The Bill Hicks Story (2010)
Streaming Available: 06/29/2011
Synopsis: Since his tragic death from cancer at age 32, comedian Bill Hicks’s legend and stature have only grown, and this unique documentary tells his story, blending live footage, interviews and animation to fill in the details of a life cut short. A comic’s comic and unflagging critic of hypocrisy and cultural emptiness, Hicks was one of a kind, a Lenny Bruce for the late 20th century,...
American: The Bill Hicks Story (2010)
Streaming Available: 06/29/2011
Synopsis: Since his tragic death from cancer at age 32, comedian Bill Hicks’s legend and stature have only grown, and this unique documentary tells his story, blending live footage, interviews and animation to fill in the details of a life cut short. A comic’s comic and unflagging critic of hypocrisy and cultural emptiness, Hicks was one of a kind, a Lenny Bruce for the late 20th century,...
- 6/28/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
*Note: This list originally ran on July 9th, 2007
For a straight actor to successfully play a gay character is not as easy as one might think. Not everyone can pull a Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain, a River Phoenix in Private Idaho, or even a Robin Williams in The Birdcage. When I see a movie about gays with a straight lead and director and it fails, I often wonder how the voice would have been different with a gay director or gay actor. Would Cruising be the same film if the director were gay? Here are just a few gay characters played by straight actors that we all could’ve lived without.
Will Smith in Six Degrees of Separation
Will Smith wasn't a terrible actor in the 1993 film Six Degrees of Separation; however, it was obvious he was a little green for the role. Smith played the role of Paul,...
For a straight actor to successfully play a gay character is not as easy as one might think. Not everyone can pull a Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain, a River Phoenix in Private Idaho, or even a Robin Williams in The Birdcage. When I see a movie about gays with a straight lead and director and it fails, I often wonder how the voice would have been different with a gay director or gay actor. Would Cruising be the same film if the director were gay? Here are just a few gay characters played by straight actors that we all could’ve lived without.
Will Smith in Six Degrees of Separation
Will Smith wasn't a terrible actor in the 1993 film Six Degrees of Separation; however, it was obvious he was a little green for the role. Smith played the role of Paul,...
- 5/13/2009
- by claycane
- The Backlot
If most episodes of America's Next Top Model are like being trapped in a constantly spinning gravitron of ridiculousness, tonight's episode was like being trapped in a gravitron of ridiculousness as it's bouncing on a trampoline in the back of a clown car that's barreling down a waterslide. Was there a fire sale on eccentricity? Did the CW demand that Tyra squeeze all of her menagerie of weirdos into one hour, or never use them again? How else can we explain tonight's episode, which featured the Aswirl twins, James St. James, an invisi-model green screen technology cabaret fashion show, a designer who looks like a "Crazy Cat Lady w/ Pink Wig" Halloween costume, Cover Girl commercials-which are always hilarious, and a solid 90 seconds of the going-to-Amsterdam circus (with windmill dancers). Do kids still run away and join the circus, or has that idea been completely overtaken by...
- 10/23/2008
- avclub.com
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