Portal:LGBT/Selected biography/6

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Candy Darling (November 24, 1944 - March 21, 1974) was a pre-op transsexual Warhol superstar who starred in Andy Warhol's films Flesh (1968) and Women in Revolt (1971). Candy Darling was born James Lawrence Slattery in New York to Theresa Phelan, a bookkeeper at Manhattan's Jockey Club and Jim Slattery, who was described as a violent alcoholic.

Early years - as a male - were spent in Massapequa Park, Long Island, New York where he and his mother had moved after his parents divorced. His step-brother Warren left home for the service, leaving Jimmy as the only child, and later denied his connection to Candy/Jimmy.

Jimmy spent much of his childhood absorbing the influences of US television and old Hollywood movies, from which he learned to impersonate his favorite actresses - his favorite being Kim Novak. He claimed to have "learned about the mysteries of sex from a salesman in a local children's shoe store" and finally revealed his inclination towards transvestism when his mother confronted him about local rumours which described him dressed as a girl frequenting a local gay bar called The Hayloft. In response Jimmy left the room and reappeared in full drag. His mother later said that "I knew then... that I couldn't stop Jimmy. Candy was just too beautiful and talented."   (MORE...)