Jinkx Monsoon

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Jinkx Monsoon

Monsoon at the 2013 Capital Pride in Washington, D.C.
Born Jerick Hoffer
(1987-09-18) September 18, 1987
Portland, Oregon
Occupation Actor, drag performer
Known for RuPaul's Drag Race (season 5) winner

Jinkx Monsoon is an American drag performer, and winner of RuPaul's Drag Race season 5.

Biography

Monsoon was born Jerick Hoffer in Portland, Oregon. The oldest of four children, Hoffer attended daVinci Arts for middle school and graduated from Grant High School.[1] Hoffer came out as gay in middle school. He first performed in drag when he was 16 at the underage nightclub, Escape.[2][3]

Hoffer was raised Catholic. When he was eighteen, he found out that he was of Russian Jewish ancestry on his mother's side.[4] His drag character, Jinkx, identifies as Jewish.[5] Hoffer also suffers from narcolepsy, which he revealed in the season premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race.

He paid his way through college by working as a janitor and graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in theater from Cornish College of the Arts in 2010.[1][6][7] He has lived in Seattle, Washington, since 2006.[1][8]

Career

After moving to Seattle from Portland, Hoffer and his creative partner Nick Sahoyah wrote and starred in multiple Funny or Die webisodes titled Monsoon Season in which Hoffer played Jinkx Monsoon as an over-bearing, substance addled, near-psychotic mother to Nick Sahoya's character, Kamikaze Monsoon.[9]

In 2011, Monsoon appeared in Wes Hurley film Waxie Moon in Fallen Jewel.[10] On February 28, 2013, the first screening at Seattle's Central Cinema was hosted by Monsoon and Waxie Moon.[11]

In January 2012, Hoffer appeared as Moritz in the rock musical Spring Awakening at the Balagan Theater in Seattle. Controversy arose from The Seattle Times review by Misha Berson, who said that Hoffer was "overly flamboyant" for the role.[12][13] Dan Savage defended Hoffer's portrayal of Moritz.[14] From July 21 to August 19, Monsoon starred as Angel in the 5th Avenue Theatre's production of the musical RENT.[7][15]

In January 2013, Hoffer played Hedwig in the Moore Theatre's production of the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.[16]

In June 2013 Hoffer played Velma Von Tussle in the 5th Avenue Theatre's production of the musical Hairspray .[17]

Monsoon also performs in the cabaret duo the Vaudvillians under the name "Kitty Witless." He is accompanied by Richard Andriessen, who performs under the name "Dr. Dan Von Dandy." The Vaudevillians performed at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York City from July to November 2013.[2][18][19]

In 2013 Hoffer was chosen as one of the Artists of the Year by City Arts Magazine along with Megan Griffiths, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, and Wes Hurley.[20]

Monsoon played Tallulah/Dennis, the owner of Lipstick Lounge in Blue Bloods "Manhattan Queens", which aired on January 31, 2014.

Drag Becomes Him

In June 2011, Hoffer became subject to a YouTube docu-series by Alex Berry, a Seattle videographer. Named after Death Becomes Her, one of Jinkx's favorite movies, Drag Becomes Him explores Hoffer's life in and out of drag.[21] The series has continued since the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race and will offer insight into his life since the show.[22]

RuPaul's Drag Race

In November 2012, Logo announced that Jinkx Monsoon was among 14 drag queens who would be competing on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[23] He was inspired to audition after seeing Sharon Needles on the fourth season of the show.[3] Monsoon won the main-challenges for the episodes "Snatch Game" and "Drama Queens."[24][25] For the "Snatch Game," he impersonated Edith Bouvier Beale, who was known for appearing in the documentary Grey Gardens.[2][26] Monsoon also impersonated third season contestant Mimi Imfurst for the episode "Lip Synch Extravaganza Eleganza."[27] As part of RuPaul's Drag Race, Monsoon sang on the "We Are the World"-inspired song "Can I Get an Amen?" The song's proceeds helped benefit the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.[28] Monsoon also holds the record for most consecutive weeks being in the top, at 8 weeks. On May 10, 2013, Monsoon was named the Season 5 winner of RuPaul's Drag Race, winning the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar."

Vaudevillians

Artistry

Hoffer's drag persona is inspired by his mother and the comediennes Lucille Ball, Maria Bamford, Deven Green, and Sarah Silverman. His last name, Monsoon, is derived from the character Edina Monsoon from the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.[3] Hoffer also performs as the drag character Deirde A. Irwin, who is a Southern medium.[1][8]

Discography

Singles

Song Year Album
"Can I Get an Amen?" (RuPaul featuring the Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5) 2013 Non-album single
"Schizophrenic" (Two Dudes In Love featuring Jinkx Monsoon) Non-album single
"Bring It" (Manila Luzon featuring Jinkx Monsoon) Non-album single

Music videos

Song Year Director
"Jinkxalicious" 2011 Alex Berry

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Waxie Moon in Fallen Jewel Himself/Davey
2013 East of Adin Anthony Johnson Short Film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2013 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself Winner
2013 RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Himself
2013 NewNowNext Awards Himself
2014 Blue Bloods Tallulah/Dennis Episode: Manhattan Queens

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Monsoon Season Himself
2011 Drag Becomes Him Himself

Theatre

Year Title Role Theatre
2010 Red Ranger Came Calling Red Ranger Book-It Repertory Theatre
Henry V Alice Center House Theatre
2011 Turning Parlor Tricks Deirdre A. Irwin Theatre Off Jackson
The Threepenny Opera Filch Intiman Playhouse
2012 Rent Angel Dumott Schunard 5th Avenue Theatre
Spring Awakening Moritz Balagan Theatre
2013 Hedwig and the Angry Inch Hedwig Moore Theatre
Hairspray Velma Von Tussle 5th Avenue Theatre

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Normal, Abby (10 March 2013). "Jinkx Monsoon Will Not Put You to Sleep". Yahoo! Voices. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Scott, Aaron (18 April 2013). "Q&A: Jinkx Monsoon from ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Spencer, Aaron (30 January 2013). "Interview: Drag Queen Jinkx Monsoon". Willamette Week. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  4. ↑ http://forward.com/articles/177624/being-jinkx-monsoon-the-narcoleptic-jewish-drag-qu/?p=all
  5. ↑ Rachel Solomon (August 15, 2013). "Drag star’s got Jewish roots under that blonde hair". The Times of Israel. 
  6. ↑ Baltus, Leah (31 December 2012). "The Revolutionary: Jerick Hoffer aka Jinkx Monsoon". City Arts Magazine. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Cornish Graduette Monsoon Storms RuPaul’s Drag Race". Cornish College of the Arts. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ryan, Adrian (11 May 2011). "The Hardest Working Man in 'Mo Business by Adrian Ryan - Seattle Theater - The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper". The Stranger. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Monsoon Season". Funny or Die. June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Jerick Hoffer - IMDb". MDb. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  11. ↑ "Waxie Moon film to screen monthly at Central Cinema". Seattle Gay News. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  12. ↑ Kiley, Brendan (10 January 2012). "Gay Actors, Straight Parts, and the "Flamboyance" Factor". The Stranger. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  13. ↑ Berson, Misha (11 January 2012). "'Spring Awakening': powerful passion at Balagan". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  14. ↑ Savage, Dan (11 January 2012). "Who Says Moritz in Spring Awakening is a "Straight Part"?". The Stranger. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  15. ↑ "RENT - 5th Avenue". 5th Avenue Theatre. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  16. ↑ Sommerfeld, Seth (7 January 2013). "A Fiendish Conversation with Jerick Hoffer". Seattle Metropolitan. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  17. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (23 April 2013). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Contestant Jinkx Monsoon Will Star in Seattle Concert Staging of Hairspray". Playbill. Retrieved 23 April 2013. 
  18. ↑ Wolffe, J (19 April 2013). ""The Vaudevillains" (Starring Jinkx Monsoon) Sells Out 3x Over!". Lez Get Real. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  19. ↑ Adam, Adam. "The Vaudevillians, Starring "RuPaul's Drag Race" Winner Jinkx Monsoon, Extends for Fifth Time". Playbill. Retrieved 21 December 2013. 
  20. ↑ http://www.cityartsonline.com/articles/shine-2013-artists-year
  21. ↑ Rudolph, Christopher (13 May 2013). "Jinx Monsoon, 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Winner, Stars In 'Drag Becomes Him' YouTube Series (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 May 2013. 
  22. ↑ Avery, Dan (24 May 2013). "More From The Jinkx Monsoon Documentary "Drag Becomes Him"". New Now Next. Retrieved 29 May 2013. 
  23. ↑ Coughlan, Maggie (19 November 2012). "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 Contestants Announced". People. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  24. ↑ Sava, Oliver (26 February 2013). "Snatch Game". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  25. ↑ Sava, Oliver (2 April 2013). "Drama Queensl". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  26. ↑ Michael, Broder (1 March 2013). "Drag Queen Culture Divide: Breaking Down What Happened on This Week's RuPaul's Drag Race Snatch Game". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  27. ↑ Sava, Oliver (5 February 2013). "Lip Synch Eleganza Extravaganza". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  28. ↑ Parker, Lyndsey (5 March 2013). "Great Musical Moments In Reality TV: RuPaul’s "Can I Get An Amen"". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 

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Preceded by
Chad Michaels		 RuPaul's Drag Race winner
Season 5 (2013) 		Succeeded by
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