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| Stage legend La Rue dies at 81 | Stage legend La Rue dies at 81 |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Entertainer Danny La Rue has died at his home in Kent at the age of 81, according to reports. | Entertainer Danny La Rue has died at his home in Kent at the age of 81, according to reports. |
| La Rue's spokeswoman told the PA News Agency that the star had died after suffering from cancer. | La Rue's spokeswoman told the PA News Agency that the star had died after suffering from cancer. |
| "Danny died peacefully in his sleep just before midnight last night after a short illness," she said. | "Danny died peacefully in his sleep just before midnight last night after a short illness," she said. |
| "His beloved companion Annie Galbraith was with him at their home in Kent," she added. La Rue made a career out of his vaudeville drag act. | |
| But he disliked being called a drag artist, preferring the term "comic in a frock". | But he disliked being called a drag artist, preferring the term "comic in a frock". |
| Famous fan | Famous fan |
| La Rue made few appearances on television, but played a leading role in keeping the traditions of music hall and pantomime alive. | La Rue made few appearances on television, but played a leading role in keeping the traditions of music hall and pantomime alive. |
| In the 1970s and 1980s, La Rue was the most famous female impersonator in the world and was at one time the highest-paid entertainer in Britain, according to The Stage newspaper. | In the 1970s and 1980s, La Rue was the most famous female impersonator in the world and was at one time the highest-paid entertainer in Britain, according to The Stage newspaper. |
| He received an OBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2002 who admitted to being a long-time fan of the entertainer. | He received an OBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2002 who admitted to being a long-time fan of the entertainer. |
| La Rue, who was born Daniel Patrick Carroll in Cork, Ireland, moved to London with his mother when he was nine. | La Rue, who was born Daniel Patrick Carroll in Cork, Ireland, moved to London with his mother when he was nine. |
| He first donned his wig and eyelashes during a naval concert party, having been sent to Singapore as part of Lord Mountbatten's invasion task force towards the end of World War II. | He first donned his wig and eyelashes during a naval concert party, having been sent to Singapore as part of Lord Mountbatten's invasion task force towards the end of World War II. |