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NY Post
New York Post
4 Apr 2023


NextImg:Legendary San Francisco drag queen Heklina, 54, found dead in London

Heklina, an iconic San Francisco drag queen, born Stefan Grygelko, was found dead in London Monday, according to a friend who made the grim discovery.

Heklina was 54.

Fellow drag performer Peaches Christ said she was “shocked and horrified” when she discovered Heklina dead before a performance of their drag show “Mommie Queerest.”

“I am living in a real-life nightmare so forgive me if I don’t have all the answers just now,” Peaches Christ wrote Monday.

According to the veteran drag queen, also known as Joshua Grannell, earlier that morning she went to pick up Heklina, a longtime friend and costar, in London and “found her dead.”

“I do not know the cause of death yet,” Peaches Christ added. “I know this is shocking news and I am beyond stunned, but I wanted to let folks know what has happened.”

Drag queen Heklina, born Stefan Grygelko, was found dead by a friend Monday morning in London.
Getty Images

Heklina and Peaches Christ were starring together in “Mommy Queerest,” a drag parody based on the 1981 drama “Mommie Dearest.”

Officials with The SoHo Theater in London, where the show was scheduled to have a two-week run, confirmed Heklina’s death, saying it has left everyone associated with the production “in shock and incredibly saddened.”

“Our thoughts are with Peaches and the Mommie Queerest company, Heklina’s family, friends and their wider community at this time,” read a statement released by the venue to Variety.

There was no immediate word on Heklina’s cause or manner of death.

Drag Queen Peaches Christ's Instagram post

Drag performer Peaches Christ, who was starring with Heklina in a drag parody in London, revealed that she made the tragic discovery.
Arellano, Juan

Matt Haney, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, went on Twitter to mourn Heklina, whom he described as a “drag legend, brilliant performer and trailblazing community icon.”

State Sen. Scott Wiener hailed the late performer “the soul of San Francisco,” adding that “it’s hard to imagine the city without her.”

Born in Minneapolis in 1968, Heklina moved to California in the 1990s after spending some time in her mother’s native country of Iceland. The drag moniker “Heklina” is inspired by the Icelandic volcano Hekla.

After settling in San Francisco, Heklina founded a popular weekly drag show, now known as “Mother,” which has been staged in nightlife hotspots around the city and has featured such A-listers as Lady Gaga and Charro.

Peaches Christ, born Joshua Grannell

Peaches Christ said she had no information on Heklina’s cause of death.
Arellano, Juan

Heklina was also renowned for playing the role of Dorothy in “The Golden Girls Live” drag show, which has been a mainstay in the Mission District.

In 2015, Heklina co-founded the drag and cabaret venue Oasis, which mourned the performer’s death on social media.

“She created a drag movement that really changed what we see as drag performance, not only in San Francisco and the US, but around the world,” said Oasis owner D’Arcy Drollinger.

Heklina, aka Stefan Grygelko, had been a mainstay of San Francisco's nightlife since the 1990

Heklina had been a mainstay of San Francisco’s nightlife since the 1990s, hosting a popular weekly drag show and co-founding a nightclub.

The iconic Castro Theater in San Francisco changed its marquee Tuesday to read: “Rest in Power Heklina! 1968-2023.”