Gay Igloo Recipient (March 2009)

Craig Russell (female impersonator) was born January 10, 1948 and passed away on October 30, 1990. He was born, Russell Craig Eadie. He was known for his impersonations of Carol Channing, Bette Davis, Mae West, Barbra Streisand, Tallulah Bankhead, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Midler, Anita Bryant, Peggy Lee, and especially Judy Garland. On stage he always spoke and sang in the voices of the celebrities he was impersonating. He worked as a hair dresser in Toronto while perfecting his stage act. He was a regular in Toronto gay clubs. He appeared in two films about his life and career, Outrageous and Too Outrageous.

He passed away in 1990 and is survived by a daughter, Susan Allison who was born January 6, 1973 in Toronto. He died due to a stroke related to complications from AIDS and was cremated and buried at Pine Grove in Port Perry. Albeit he identified as gay he was married many years to Lori Jenkins who died in 1980 and is buried beside him in Port Perry.