Willam Belli
Willam Belli | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | June 30, 1982||||||
Occupations |
| ||||||
Musical career | |||||||
Genres | |||||||
Instrument | Vocals | ||||||
Labels | Self-released | ||||||
YouTube information |
|||||||
Channel | |||||||
Years active | 2002–present | ||||||
Subscribers | 931 thousand[1] | ||||||
Total views | 263.2 million[1] | ||||||
| |||||||
Last updated: August 11, 2024 | |||||||
Website | www |
Willam Belli (/ˈbɛlaɪ/, born June 30, 1982),[2] mononymously known as Willam, is an American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter, reality television personality, author, and YouTuber. Willam came to prominence as a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012, but was disqualified in the "Frenemies" challenge.
Before appearing on Drag Race, Willam worked as an actor, most notably playing the recurring role of transgender woman Cherry Peck in Ryan Murphy's medical drama Nip/Tuck. She has continued to perform in a variety of films, television series and web series, often in drag. In 2018, she appeared in the critically acclaimed film A Star Is Born. For her performance on the dark comedy web series EastSiders, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series.[3]
Since 2012, Willam has recorded three albums of comedy music, mostly consisting of parodies of popular songs. Her second album, Shartistry in Motion, debuted at number one on the Billboard Comedy Albums chart. Between 2012 and 2014, she recorded several songs as part of the group DWV (alongside drag queens Vicky Vox and Detox), including the parodies "Chow Down" and "Boy Is a Bottom", whose music videos were viral successes. Following the breakup of DWV, Willam formed another drag supergroup, the AAA Girls, with Courtney Act and Alaska Thunderfuck.
Early life
[edit]Willam Belli was born to Debbi Ruzic Belli[4] in Philadelphia. He is the younger of two children. He has a sister, Samantha.[4][5] Belli states he is of Yugoslav and Italian heritage.[6] He lived in Florida for middle school and high school.[7] Belli's father worked at the Kennedy Space Center. His aunt is television director Mary Lou Belli.
Growing up, Willam frequently illustrated dresses, to which many people assumed that he wanted to become a fashion designer, but he asserted that he designed the garments with the intent to wear them himself. He later worked in costume design in theatre, and, at the age of 13, he was put in drag for the first time at a closing night party. From there, he would dress in drag to watch performances of The Rocky Horror Show, and was paid for a drag performance for the first time at the age of 16.[8]
Belli was overweight when he was young but lost the extra pounds by becoming vegetarian before being emancipated at 16.[9] Belli met his husband, Bruce, at nineteen. They were married on September 9, 2008.[10]
Career
[edit]2000–2008: Beginnings
[edit]Belli's first acting credit was as the role of a street hustler named Bart Jaker on two episodes of The District (2002) and his first TV appearance was on an episode of the game show Street Smarts.[7][11] He later appeared in the TV series Boston Public, Cold Case, The Shield, My Name Is Earl and most notably Nip/Tuck as the transgender character Cherry Peck. Throughout the 2000s he would go on to play small roles in many television shows. He also had a small role in the film American Wedding.
In 2008, Belli was featured on the single artwork for the song "Breakin' Up" by Rilo Kiley.[12] He has also modeled as part of the Tranimal Master Class Workshop at the Machine Project, which was photographed by Austin Young.[13]
2009–2010: Drag career
[edit]Belli is a member of the band Tranzkuntinental, which made its debut at The Roxy in 2009. The band was started by Charlie Paulson and Xander Smith and features drag queens Detox, Kelly Mantle, Rhea Litré, and Vicky Vox.[14][15]
In January 2011, he was featured in Rihanna's music video "S&M" along with Detox and Morgan McMichaels as back-up dancers.[16]
2011–2012: RuPaul's Drag Race and further success
[edit]World of Wonder contacted Willam's management asking for her to audition for the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[7] She decided to apply after being rejected for an acting role in Don Johnson's pilot, A Mann's World, when the casting director of the pilot (which later went unaired), who had previously cast Willam in Cinema Verite, didn't cast her because she was not a "name". The role later went to Cara Cunningham.[8] In November 2011, Logo TV announced that Belli was among 13 contestants competing on the fourth season.[17] Fellow castmate Chad Michaels had competed with Belli in the California Entertainer of the Year Pageant in 2010.[18] Belli won the main challenges in the episodes "Float Your Boat" and "Frenemies", but was disqualified in the latter.[19] In the episode "Reunited", Belli stated that her disqualification was due to conjugal visits made by his husband in his hotel room.[20] By Belli's own account however, in the years since airing season 4, Willam has refuted the "official story" in multiple interviews.[21]
Belli's most recent reassertion about the circumstances of her disqualification is in an interview with YouTuber Joseph Shepherd in February 2019, where Belli claims that the 'so-called' official reason was just a fabrication by the show's creators for the purpose of portraying a more palatable scenario of Belli's departure from the show. In that interview, Willam claimed that the genuine reason for his removal was due to increasing hostilities and issues between the contestants and the crew, and that, whenever she had broken the rules, she would report it directly to production in hopes of being removed from the show. Willam claims that many members of the crew were rude and condescending towards the drag queens in general, with some of the crew members not even bothering to try to learn the contestant's names - sharing one example of a crew member repeatedly calling season 4 fellow contestant Latrice Royale "La-something", despite all the crew having cards with the photographs of the queens/contestants (in and out of drag) worn around their necks. At one point, Willam verbally barked at a production member for not knowing Latrice's name "just because (Willam) felt like it". Willam, along with cast members such as Royale and Chad Michaels, attempted to make a stand against the production members.[8]
Willam also claimed that, outside of filming hours, the queens weren't being adequately fed, noting that $75 was all that was allocated to feed the 12 contestants- Willam claims that this necessitated visits to the store for food. Willam also revealed that she frequently got other contestants high and/or drunk, attempted to steal items from the set such as feather fans and RuPaul-branded Ironfist shoes, and had access to a computer in her hotel room, which was outlawed by production, in order to run her "go-go boy side hustle". She has additionally claimed to have had sex in the bathroom of Micky's Weho, a local club, with producer Steven Corfe, whom she had previously made apologize to her for asking her to leave Untucked after Willam spoke out about "emotional manipulation" being done to Jiggly Caliente over the one-year anniversary of her mother's death. As the two were being escorted out of the bathroom after being discovered having sex, Corfe is said to have thrown a cup at the performer on stage that night, fellow Drag Race alum Raven, getting the two ejected from the club. Outside of the club, the duo ran into more World of Wonder staff members, including Drag Race producer Chris McKim (claimed by Willam to be Corfe's best friend), who had to physically separate the two, as they were still "making out". Weeks later, Corfe allegedly contacted Willam again and invited her out to lunch with the intent to chat with her and "get (Willam) back in with World of Wonder", of which Willam obliged. According to Belli, the conjugal visit story was made up by producers and Willam agreed to "go along with the excuse" so that "everyone looked okay".[22][23] Belli used the publicity of his disqualification to release his single "Chow Down", which was a parody of Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" that addressed the 2012 Chick-fil-A same-sex marriage controversy. The song featured Detox and Vicky Vox.[24]
On March 12, 2012, she released her first single "Trouble", which was produced by RuPaul's Red Hot collaborator Tom Trujillo. The music video for the song was directed by porn director Chi Chi LaRue and premiered on Logo TV.[7][25] On March 21, Belli released "The Vagina Song", a parody of "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars as his third single, which had been previously uploaded to YouTube in 2010. The music video was directed by Michael Serrato,[26] who also directed Belli's music video for "Chow Down".[24]
Belli released "Love You Like a Big Schlong" on April 29, 2012, which became a viral hit being viewed more than a million times on YouTube alone. Produced by Uncle Slam, the song parodies "Love You Like a Love Song" by Selena Gomez & the Scene. The song was inspired by Belli's loss to 7-year-old Eden Wood in a lip syncing contest during a segment of the 2012 NewNowNext Awards.[27]
In November 2012, Belli was featured with country music artist Drake Jensen on a cover of Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man".[28] That same month, Belli self-released her debut album The Wreckoning via his website.[29]
Willam has claimed that she was originally cast on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2012, but was dropped from the cast two days before filming was scheduled to begin. The reason given to Willam by production was that they did not see her "having stakes or stories with any of the girls". Willam believes that she was dropped from the cast because of her appearance on RuPaul's Drag U a few months prior, which she had only appeared on because another queen, later claimed to be Phi Phi O'Hara, had allegedly failed her background check, and, as Willam believes that she would've had the "most stakes" with Phi Phi (who no longer could appear on the show), resulted in Willam being dropped from the cast. She has also stated that she believes her replacement in the cast was Mimi Imfurst. Phi Phi later appeared on the next season of All Stars.[8]
2012–2013: YouTube Career, "Boy Is a Bottom", and DWV success
[edit]Beginning in December 2012, Belli began a YouTube series associated with thestylishvids titled "Willam's Beatdown". A comedy segment involving insult humor and video reviews, the series would eventually be renewed for a second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth season that then premiered on Belli's self-titled channel. In January 2013, Belli would have his biggest viral hit with 20 million hits on YouTube alone, when he released "Boy Is a Bottom", featuring Detox and Vicky Vox, to coincide with the fifth season premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race.[30] Its timing and the use of social media made it a very well received release. The song is a parody of "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys and also features an altered version of the "breakdown" from "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" by En Vogue.[31] "Boy Is a Bottom" debuted at number six on Billboard's Comedy Digital Songs, selling 3,000 downloads in its first week.[32]
On August 14, 2013, Belli was featured along with Shangela, Detox, Raven, Morgan McMichaels, Landon Cider, Shannel, and Courtney Act, in Lady Gaga's lyric video for her single "Applause".
Belli's trio, including Detox and Vicky Vox, called DWV, officially split in June 2014 due to a personal conflict between the members.[33]
2014–2017: American Apparel, Shartistry in Motion, first book, perfume, and talk show
[edit]Belli then became an American Apparel Ad Girl alongside Drag Race alumni Courtney Act and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 which they supported with a single entitled, "American Apparel Ad Girls".[34][35] They also released a second single together, "Dear Santa, Bring Me a Man" for the Christmas season.[36][37]
On January 13, 2017, he released a solo version of the DWV hit "Boy Is a Bottom", in Spanish, entitled, "Es Una Pasiva",[38] which went on to top the comedy iTunes chart.[39] Belli self-released his sophomore studio album, Shartistry in Motion, on June 2.[40][41]
Belli released his first book Suck Less: Where There's a Willam, There's a Way in October 2016 through Grand Central Publishing. In 2017, he released his first perfume collaboration with Xyrena, Scented by Willam.[42]
On May 18, 2017, it was revealed that Fullscreen had ordered a talk show to be hosted by Belli. Suck Less, billed as a weekly half-hour call-in show 'where Willam throws shade and shows how to slay the game of life in six-inch stilettos' is set to debut in the summer. Friends from Belli's everyday life, as well as some of his favorite drag queens are expected to put in guest appearances over the course of the 13-episode series.[43]
2018–present: A Star Is Born, West End Debut and other ventures
[edit]In 2018, Willam appeared in the critically acclaimed film A Star Is Born. Willam and fellow drag queen Shangela play queens working in a drag bar alongside Lady Gaga's character Ally when she's discovered by famous country singer Jackson Maine, played by Bradley Cooper. Willam's character, Emerald, is a Dolly Parton impersonator who flirts with Jackson. The dialogue in his scenes was mostly improvised, including a memorable moment in which his character has Jackson autograph her silicone breastplate. Bradley Cooper, who also directed the film, said that Willam and Shangela "blew his mind" with their ad-libbing.[44]
On July 18, 2018, the first episode of Belli's Drag Race-themed podcast co-hosted with Alaska Thunderfuck and entitled Race Chaser, was published on the Forever Dog Network.[45] In 2020 Alaska and Willam announced that they would be setting up their own podcast network in collaboration with Forever Dog, Moguls of Media (MOM), featuring a "star-studded roster of iconic drag queens and queer luminaries" to bridge "the past, present, and future of LGBTQ+ entertainment".[46] Podcasts established under the Moguls of Media brand and executive produced by Willam and Alaska include The Chop, hosted by Latrice Royale and Manila Luzon; Very That, hosted by Delta Work and Raja; Hi Jinkx!, hosted by Jinkx Monsoon; Famous This Week, hosted by Priyanka and formerly Brooke Lynn Hytes; Sloppy Seconds, hosted by Big Dipper and Meatball; Wanna Be On Top?, hosted by Shea Couleé; and Hall & Closet, hosted by Jaida Essence Hall and Heidi N Closet.[46]
In 2019, Belli launched his own makeup line, Suck Less Face & Body.[47] In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed her ninth on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former Drag Race contestants.[48]
In 2021, Belli was announced as the star of Iconic Justice, a courtroom show in which Belli will hear and rule on various legal and social disputes between LGBTQ people.[49]
In May 2021 Belli made their West End debut in the play Death Drop, an all-drag spoof on an Agatha Christie murder mystery billed as a "Dragatha Christie".[50] They reprised the performance on a tour across the UK[51] before returning to the West End in late 2022 to headline a sequel Death Drop: Back in the Habit again followed by a UK tour.[52] They reprised their performance in the original play when it premiered Off-Broadway in Summer 2023.[53]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | American Pie: The Wedding | Butch Queen | |
2004 | The Last Shot | Bus Stop Drag Queen | |
2005 | Screech of the Decapitated | Marta | |
2006 | Big Top | Renee | |
Unbeatable Harold | Anita Boner | ||
2007 | Because I Said So | Transsexual | |
2008 | Defying Gravity | Lola | |
Dog Tags | Alan | ||
Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! | Transamerican Stewardess Nancy Needatwat | ||
Crowded | Celeste | Short film | |
Tranny McGuyver | Officer Mac | Short film | |
2009 | Sex Drugs Guns | Candy | |
Tools 4 Fools | Blonde Drag Queen | Short film | |
2010 | Barry Munday | Felicia | Uncredited |
Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives | Rachel Slurr | ||
Silver Lake | Dario | Short film | |
Gaysharktank.com | Short film | ||
2011 | Blubberella | Vadge | also co-writer |
BloodRayne: The Third Reich | Vasyl Tishenko | ||
2nd Take | Bathroom Tranny | ||
Someplace Better Than Here | Travis | Short film | |
2012 | The Newest Pledge | Sailor | |
Fun Size | Qwerty | ||
Lost Angeles | Bob | also known as City of Jerks | |
The Watch | Olivia | Uncredited | |
Fake Fingernails, Cash and Viagra | Franklin | Short film | |
2013 | X-Rated | Geoffrey Gann/'Karen Dior' | |
Southern Baptist Sissies | Benny | Television film | |
2015 | Mouthpiece | Diva Bell | |
Hollywood | Champagne | ||
2016 | Kicking Zombie Ass for Jesus | Beth Ann-Fetterman | |
Hurricane Bianca | Bailey | ||
2018 | Joey Stefano | Geoffrey Gann/'Karen Dior' | |
A Star Is Born | Emerald | ||
Miss Arizona | Destiny | ||
2019 | Blue Call | Shineeda Drink | |
After Birth | Tammy | ||
Swipe Left | |||
A Very Sordid Wedding | Herself | ||
Girls Will Be Girls | Prosecutor | ||
Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts | Herself | Documentary | |
Dead Don't Die in Dallas | Beth-Anne Fetterman |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | The District | Darrin Jacobs | 2 episodes |
2003 | Boston Public | Mike | Episode: "Chapter Fifty-Eight" |
2004 | The Shield | Colt | Episode: "Posse Up" |
2004–06 | Nip/Tuck | Cherry Peck | 5 episodes |
2005 | My Name Is Earl | D.J. | Pilot |
2006 | Saved | Tippi | Episode: "Living Dead" |
2007 | Women's Murder Club | Sasha Simone | Episode: "To Drag & To Hold" |
CSI: NY | Candy Darling | Episode: "The Lying Game" | |
American Body Shop | Wanda | Episode: "Stretchy Face" | |
2009 | Criminal Minds | Walter Patterson | Episode: "To Hell... and Back" |
Southland | Shiela | Episode: "See the Woman" | |
2011 | Cinema Verite | Candy Darling | Television film |
2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 4) | Himself | Contestant (7th place) |
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | Himself | 10 episodes | |
RuPaul's Drag U | Professor | Episode: "Ex-Beauty Queens" | |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation[54] | Dahlia | Episode: "Code Blue Plate Special" | |
2013 | The New Normal | Nana Drag Queen | Episode: "The Goldie Rush" |
She's Living for This[55] | Herself | Season 2, Episode 1 | |
2015 | International Desk | Nassime | Episode: "Alps Plane Crash" Reenactment |
2016, 2018 | Hit the Floor | Herself | Season 3, Episode 6: "Carrying" Season 4, Episode 4: "Number's Up" |
2016–2018 | @midnight with Chris Hardwick | Herself | Season 4, Episode 27 |
2017 | When We Rise | Jason Snyder | Season 1, Episode 4 and 5 |
The Twins: Happily Ever After? | Herself/Landlord | Episodes: "Happily NEVER After?" and "Hoff and Running..." | |
Dragula | Guest Judge | Season 2, Episode 1 | |
Difficult People | Kashton | Episode: "The Silkwood" | |
2018 | Work Mom | Bob | Television film |
Super Drags | Lady Elza | Voice role | |
The Kominsky Method | Cherry | Episode: "Chapter 8. A Widow Approaches" | |
2021 | Iconic Justice | Judge Willam | 5 episodes |
2023 | Drag Me to Dinner | Herself | Hulu original[56] |
Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Guest[57] | |
Accused | Layla | Guest |
Stage
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Titanique | Victor Garber/Luigi | Off-Broadway production[58][59] |
Web
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Road to the Alter | Jamie | WorkingBug 2 episodes |
2011 | Good Job, Thanks! | Actress | Vimeo Episode: "We All Need a Meeting" |
A Series Of Unfortunate People | Cami | WorkingBug/Dailymotion Episode: "Bargain Birthday" | |
2012 | Squad 85 | Bar Attendee | YouTube/YOMYOMF Episode 4 |
2012–13 | Transfashionable[60] | Himself | YouTube/The Stylist 4 episodes |
2012–2019 | EastSiders | Douglas/Gomorrah Ray/Amber Alert | Vimeo/Logo TV/Netflix 13 episodes Indie Series Awards Best Guest Actor — Drama (2016)[61] |
2013 | Neil's Puppet Dreams[62] | Performer | YouTube Episode: Dream Bump |
Willam's Beatdown | Host | YouTube/The Stylist 19 episodes | |
30 Days of Willam | Host | Logo TV 30 episodes | |
Snore | Maid | Funny or Die Parody of Downton Abbey set to "Vogue" | |
The Fairfax File | Flame LaTouche | Funny or Die | |
Rambo, But Gay | Deputy Mitch | YouTube/Nerdist | |
2014 | Willam's This is not the Beatdown | Host | YouTube 26 episodes |
Real World S#!t Show! | Host | MTV 12 episodes | |
Jiz | Spooge | Episode: "Jiz is Dead" Episode: "Jiz Makes a CUMback" | |
Mean Boyz | Teacher | YouTube Parody trailer of Mean Girls | |
Hollywoodland | Dinner Guest | YouTube Episode 1 | |
Hey Qween! | Guest | YouTube | |
2014–present | Beatdown[63] | Host | YouTube 70 episodes |
Paint Me Bitch | YouTube 28 episodes | ||
2015 | The Dinner Bash | Himself | Episode 5: "Cocktails & Hens" Episode 6: "Tranimal Cookies" |
Gay of Everything | Himself | YouTube 1 episode | |
2015–16 | Shane and Friends | Guest | Season 3, Episode 6 Season 4, Episode 7 |
2015–17 | The WeHoans | Himself | YouTube/City of West Hollywood Parody of The Californians 7 episodes |
Billium's Wheatdown | Himself | YouTube 11 episodes | |
2016 | Straight Outta Oz | Himself | YouTube Music video: "Expensive" |
Go-Go Boy Interrupted | Club Pantherwarmth Manager | YouTube 2 episodes | |
2017 | Suck Less | Host | Fullscreen 13 episodes |
UNHhhh | Guest | YouTube Episode 55 | |
Not Too Deep with Grace Helbig | Guest | Podcast | |
2018–present | ¿Cómo Se Dice? | Host | YouTube co-hosted with Rhea Litré 13 episodes |
Race Chaser | Host | Podcast co-hosted with Alaska Thunderfuck | |
2019 | Exposed | Guest | YouTube Hosted by Joseph Shepherd |
2020 | The X Change Rate | Guest | YouTube Hosted by Monet X Change |
2023 | Tea Time with Attitude | Guest | YouTube With Crystal[64] |
2023 | Sissy That Talk Show with Joseph Shepherd | Podcast; Guest | YouTube[65] |
Music videos
[edit]Year | Title | Artist(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | "S&M" | Rihanna | [66] |
2013 | "Applause" Lyric video | Lady Gaga | [67] |
2016 | "Expensive" | Todrick Hall | [68] |
2017 | "Power" | Little Mix | [69] |
2018 | "Girly" | John Duff | [70] |
2019 | "Star Maps" | Aly & AJ | [71] |
2023 | "True Colors" | Kylie Sonique Love | [72] |
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]Title | Details | Chart peaks | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Comedy [73] | |||||||||||||
The Wreckoning |
|
— | |||||||||||
Shartistry in Motion |
|
1 | |||||||||||
Now That's What I Call Drag Music, Vol. 1[74] (alternatively known as Songs in the Key of Nope) |
|
4 | |||||||||||
"—" denotes a recording that failed to chart or was not released in that territory. |
Singles
[edit]Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Comedy Digital [75] | |||||||||||||
"Trouble" | 2012 | — | The Wreckoning | ||||||||||
"Chow Down" (featuring Detox & Vicky Vox) |
12 | ||||||||||||
"The Vagina Song" | — | ||||||||||||
"Love You Like a Big Schlong" | 25 | ||||||||||||
"She Doesn't Know" | — | ||||||||||||
"Let's Have a KaiKai" (featuring Rhea Litré) |
— | ||||||||||||
"Stand by Your Man" (featuring Drake Jensen) |
— | ||||||||||||
"RuPaulogize" (featuring Sharon Needles) |
2013 | 14 | |||||||||||
"Potential New Boyfriend" | — | ||||||||||||
"Boy Is a Bottom" (with DWV) |
6 | Non-album singles | |||||||||||
"Silicone" (with DWV) |
— | ||||||||||||
"Blurred Bynes" (with DWV) |
5 | ||||||||||||
"That Christmas Song" (with DWV) |
— | ||||||||||||
"Gaycation!" (with DWV) |
2014 | — | |||||||||||
"Hole Pic" | — | ||||||||||||
"Only Anally" | — | Shartistry in Motion | |||||||||||
"American Apparel Ad Girls" (with Courtney and Alaska) |
10 | ||||||||||||
"Dear Santa, Bring Me a Man" (with Courtney and Alaska) |
— | Non-album single | |||||||||||
"Es Una Pasiva" | 2015 | — | Shartistry in Motion | ||||||||||
"Ride for AIDS" (featuring Alaska) |
12 | ||||||||||||
"Thick Thighs" (featuring Latrice Royale) |
3 | ||||||||||||
"I'm Not a Pearl" | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||||
"Uck Foff" | 2016 | 12 | |||||||||||
"AAA" (with Courtney and Alaska) |
2017 | 2 | Access All Areas | ||||||||||
"—" denotes a recording that failed to chart or was not released in that territory. |
Tours
[edit]- Access All Areas Tour (2017)[76]
Bibliography
[edit]- Suck Less: Where There's a Willam, There's a Way. Grand Central Publishing. 2016. ISBN 978-1455566198.
Awards and nominations
[edit]Daytime Emmy Awards
[edit]Belli was nominated for his performance on the Netflix dark comedy web series EastSiders at the 47th Daytime Emmy Awards.[3]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | EastSiders | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series | Nominated |
Outstanding Makeup | Nominated |
NewNowNext Awards
[edit]Belli was nominated for his role on RuPaul's Drag Race at the fifth annual NewNowNext Awards which aired on Logo network on April 9, 2012. He lost to Nadia G. of Bitchin' Kitchen which airs on the Food Network Canada and the Cooking Channel.[77]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Willam Belli | Most Addictive Reality Star | Nominated |
Queerty Awards
[edit]Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Race Chaser | Podcast[78] | Won |
2020 | Podcast[79] | Won | |
2021 | Podcast[80] | Runner-up | |
2022 | Willam Belli | Drag Royalty[81] | Nominated |
Race Chaser | Podcast[82] | Won | |
2023 | Access All Areas: The AAA Girls Tour | Documentary[83] | Won |
2024 | Race Chaser | Podcast[84] | Pending |
Webby Awards
[edit]Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Race Chaser | Podcasts - Television & Film[85] | Honored |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "About willam belli". YouTube.
- ^ Gay Times (June 29, 2016). "Happy birthday, Willam!". Gay Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
- ^ a b "NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 47TH ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS" (PDF). theemmys.tv. National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ a b @willam (May 10, 2020). "Soon after taking this photo, my mother confiscated my tweezers" – via Instagram.
- ^ @bellidebbi (August 8, 2023). "This is my first born!" – via Instagram.
- ^ "Is Willam Belli your given name?". Tumblr. October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Smith, Brian Bowen (2012). "Willam Belli: How to Break the Rules". Dirty. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "WILLAM: EXPOSED (The Full Interview) - Part 1". YouTube. February 27, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ "Do you talk to your family know after getting emancipated?". Tumblr. February 22, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ Sources pertaining to Belli's husband:
- "Q&A: CATCHING UP WITH WILLAM (PART II)". Drag Official. February 2, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- "Willam & his husband Bruce :')". Tumblr. May 11, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- "I'm curious, you say your husband but are you married?..." Tumblr. December 30, 2015. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ "Willam Belli – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Belli, Willam (December 6, 2012). "Twitter / @willambelli: @KidsGoSplat yes I love Jenny ..." Twitter. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ "Tranimal Master Class Workshop on Vimeo". Vimeo. February 28, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ Lecaro, Lina (May 2, 2011). "L.A.'s A Drag: The Reign of Raja, Tranzkuntinental (and Adam Lambert) On Stage and the Dance Floor". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ Horbelt, Stephan (October 13, 2011). "Scream Queens: Meet the Ghouls of Tranzkuntinental". Frontiers. Archived from the original on October 24, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ Belli, Willam (January 27, 2012). "Season 2's Morgan McMichaels and season 4's Willam Belli with Rihanna for the "S&M" music video". Tumblr. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Jones, Arnold Wayne (November 15, 2011). "Logo announces cast for Season 4 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Dallas Voice. Voice Publishing Company, Inc. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Addams, Calpernia. "California EOY 2010 – The Recap". Calpernia.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ Sava, Oliver (March 6, 2012). "Float Your Boat". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Stransky, Tanner (May 1, 2012). "Controversial 'RuPaul's Drag Race' queen Willam explains disqualification: 'My husband was coming to bang me out' – UPDATED". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Dommu, Rose (June 8, 2018). "Willam Finally Spills the Tea On His Drag Race Disqualification". Out (magazine). Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ Willam, Belli (February 27, 2019). "WILLAM: EXPOSED (The Full Interview) - Part 1". Youtube. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
- ^ Bruno, Paul (May 2012). "Willam Belli: How to Break the Rules". dirty-mag.com. Dirty Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
I was doing a show off-broadway by that point! It was called Jersey Shoresical. In fact, two days after I got kicked off of drag race I was in Jersey Shoresical in New York, pretty convenient, huh? And we won the Fringe Fest Audience Award. It's almost like it was planned...
- ^ a b Lady Bunny (July 24, 2012). "Willam Belli, RuPaul's Drag Race Star, Chats About Chick-fil-A and More". The Huffington Post. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ Spargo, Chris (November 25, 2012). "Willam Returns To Logo With 'Trouble'". New Now Next. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Debord, Matt (October 27, 2010). "WATCH: What Willam Belli Would Do If He Was A Lady Down 'There'". Queerty. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ Spargo, Chris (May 1, 2012). "VIDEO: Willam, 'Love You Like A Big Schlong'". New Now Next. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "Video: Willam Goes Country With Help From Gay Artist Drake Jensen In "Stand By Your Man"". Instinct. November 9, 2012. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Spargo, Chris (November 18, 2012). "Go Buy Willam's Album, 'The Wreckoning'". New Now Next. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "This Boy Is A Bottom: Willam, Detox & Vicky Vox Return To Tackle Alicia Keys' 'Girl On Fire'". Instinct. January 28, 2013. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "'Boy Is A Bottom' Music Video Parody From Drag Queens Of 'Chow Down (At Chick-Fil-A)' (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. January 28, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Caulfied, Keith (February 8, 2013). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Divas Debut in Top 10 on Billboard Dance Charts". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
- ^ Johnson, Liam (June 15, 2014). "US drag supergroup DWV split up". gaystarnews.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ^ "Exclusive: Alaska, Courtney Act, and Willam Belli Team Up With American Apparel". September 11, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ willam belli (September 30, 2014). "American Apparel Ad Girls with Courtney Act, Alaska 5000 and Willam #AAAgirls". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ "These Three Queens Have Just One Wish For Santa". Huffington Post. December 9, 2014.
- ^ Courtney Act (December 8, 2014). "Dear Santa, Bring Me A Man – Alaska, Courtney Act & Willam". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Willam". www.facebook.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "Willam". www.facebook.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "Willam Belli Wants To Get Thrown Out of Her Own Show". April 17, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ ""Shartistry in Motion" by Willam on iTunes". iTunes. June 2, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "Willam's New Perfume Smells Like Sandalwood And Sex". Logo TV. February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ^ "Drag Queen Star Willam Belli to Host Fullscreen Talk Show as Part of Gay-Pride Content Lineup". Variety. May 18, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ^ "How Shangela and Willam Dragged Up A Star Is Born". Vulture. October 5, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ "Race Chaser - A Drag Race Podcast with Alaska & Willam". Forever Dog Podcasts. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ a b "MOM Moguls of Media Podcasts". Forever Dog Podcasts. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ "Drag Race Star Willam Belli Launched His Own Makeup Brand, and the Sparkle Is Absurd". Allure. September 14, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ "The Most Powerful Drag Queens in America: Ranking the new establishment". New York. June 10, 2019. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ^ Joey Nolfi, "Willam is now an official Judgey Judy in new court show Iconic Justice". Entertainment Weekly, August 20, 2021.
- ^ "Latrice Royale and Willam to Make West End Debut in Death Drop Reopening". Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ "Death Drop 2021 tour tickets, dates, venues and cast". August 28, 2021.
- ^ "Drag Race icons Willam and Cheryl Hole are starring in drag murder mystery show Death Drop". September 22, 2022.
- ^ "'Death Drop' with 'Drag Race' Stars Jujubee, Willam and Shuga Cain Heads to New York (EXCLUSIVE)". April 20, 2023.
- ^ ""CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" Code Blue Plate Special (TV Episode 2012) - IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ "**She's Living For This**". here TV. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (May 1, 2023). "'Drag Me To Dinner': Hulu Announces Premiere Date For Unscripted Series From Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "Willam, Manila, Symone, Ben, & Bianca will be on Celebrity Family Feud". www.reddit.com. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Masserson, Meg; Gans, Andrew. "Comedian Drew Droege and RuPaul's Drag Race Star Willam to Join Titanique Off-Broadway". playbill.com. Playbill Inc. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ @willam (August 25, 2023). "🛥️ @titaniquemusical asked me to come aboard as a maritime consultant for the show due to the fact that you already know my boat is pretty (my boat is the best)" – via Instagram.
- ^ Anderson-Minshall, Diane (October 14, 2012). "WATCH: RuPaul's Willam Belli on Transfashionable Drag Makeover". The Advocate. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Christian, Aymar Jean (January 24, 2015). "The Best of Indie TV 2014: 25 Networks, Series and Creatives Worth 5 Minutes of Your Time". IndieWire. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ "Joe Manganiello, Willam, Detox & David Burtka Appear In The Latest Webisode Of Neil's Puppet Dreams". Instinct. January 8, 2013. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Beatdown Episode 01 with Willam, YouTube, willam belli (user), July 25, 2014, archived from the original on December 19, 2021, retrieved July 29, 2014
- ^ "Drag Race's Willam roasts British drag queens, RuPaul and her last shag". YouTube. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ WILLAM | Sissy That Talk Show with Joseph Shepherd | Episode 4. Moguls of Media. February 14, 2023. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ Lamour; Joseph (August 31, 2015). "MEET ALL 30 OF MILEY'S DAY-GLO DANCERS FROM HER INSANE VMA PERFORMANCE". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on August 31, 2015. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ Stanley; Rebecca (January 10, 2018). "RuPaul's Drag Race star Shangela set to bring one-woman show to Birmingham". Shropshire Star. MNA Media. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ Brown, Jonathan (March 22, 2017). "Todrick Hall Revisits 'Straight Outta Oz' With A Semi-Unnecessary Deluxe Edit". Inquisitr. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ Salandra, Anam (June 6, 2017). "Alaska, Courtney Act, Willam Will Have The "Power" In New Little Mix Video". NewNowNext. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ Wong, Curtis M. (September 12, 2018). "In 'Girly,' Singer John Duff Strikes Pop Diva Poses To Challenge Gender Norms". HuffPost. Oath Inc. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ Huff, Lauren (June 12, 2019). "Watch Aly & AJ's 'Star Maps' music video featuring stars from Shameless, Drag Race, Silicon Valley, The Goldbergs, and more". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ "Kylie Sonique Love - True Colors ( Official Video)". YouTube. May 18, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Chart Archive" (To access, type "Willam" in the artist bar, then select "Comedy Albums" in the chart name bar). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ "Now That's What I Call Drag Music, Vol .1 by Willam on iTunes". Apple Music. October 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ "Billboard Chart Archive" (To access, type "Willam" in the artist bar, then select "Comedy Digital Tracks" in the chart name bar). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Gutelle, Sam (August 21, 2017). "Drag Queens Willam, Alaska, Courtney Act Hit The Road For Fullscreen-Produced Tour". Tubefilter. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
- ^ "2012 NewNowNext Awards". Logo TV. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "And the winners of the 2019 Queerties are..." Queerty. February 27, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ "Podcast Winners 2020". The Queerties. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ "Podcast Winners". The Queerties. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ "'The 2022 Queerties". Cheat Sheet. February 24, 2022. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ "'The 2022 Queerties". Cheat Sheet. February 24, 2022. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ "Documentary Winners". The Queerties. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ "@Queerty: "The #Queerties are here! Congrats to @Alaska5000 & @willam , nominees for PODCAST OF THE YEAR for @racechaserpod . Vote for all your #LGBTQ+ favorites once a day until voting closes on February 22nd!"". Twitter. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ "Race Chaser". The Webby Awards. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
External links
[edit]- 1982 births
- 20th-century American LGBTQ people
- 21st-century American LGBTQ people
- American bloggers
- American drag queens
- American gay actors
- American gay musicians
- American LGBTQ singers
- American male bloggers
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American people of Italian descent
- American people of Yugoslav descent
- American film and television podcasters
- American comedy YouTubers
- Drag performers from Los Angeles
- LGBTQ people from Pennsylvania
- LGBTQ YouTubers
- Living people
- Male actors from Philadelphia
- RuPaul's Drag Race contestants
- YouTubers from Philadelphia