LONDON — Renowned San Francisco drag queen Heklina was found dead in London on Monday where she was performing in a touring show, according to reports on social media.
The death of Heklina — also known as actor Stefan Grygelko — was first reported in social media posts by fellow drag queen and acting partner Peaches Christ (aka Joshua Grannell), who was touring with Heklina in “Mommie Queerest,” a musical parody. of the 1981 Joan Crawford biopic “Mommie Dearest.”
“I am living in a real-life nightmare so forgive me if I don’t have all the answers just now,” read the post Grannell made on both Peaches Christ’s Facebook page and her page under her name . “This morning, in London, England, I went to see my dear friend Heklina, who I was with on a Mommie Queerest show here, and found her dead. I don’t know the cause of death yet. I know it’s shocking news it. and I’m very shocked, but I want to let people know what happened.”
The Soho Theater where the production of “Mommie Queerest” was held tweeted what Peaches Christ shared and said they were “shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Heklina’s passing.”
Supervisor Matt Haney also tweeted about the loss of Heklina, who he called “a drag legend, brilliant performer and trailblazing community icon.”
“My condolences and love go out to all of Heklina’s friends, family, and loved ones, and to the entire LGBTQ and drag communities,” he added.
Shocking and sad to hear about the loss of Heklina, a drag legend, brilliant performer and trailblazing community icon. My condolences and love go out to all of Heklina’s friends, family, and loved ones, and to the entire LGBTQ and drag communities.
— Matt Haney (@MattHaneySF) April 3, 2023
State Senator Scott Wiener released a statement after the news broke.
“I am absolutely devastated. Heklina was an icon in the truest sense — funny, caring, outrageous, and brave. I first saw Heklina perform when I was a child in the 1990s, new to San Francisco. Over the years, I met him and helped him find space for Oasis. I’ve rarely worked with someone as fierce, creative, and dedicated,” said Wiener. “Heklina created events and community spaces that stirred glitter and giant wigs and hilarious jokes into a sense of home. She was fiercely outspoken and always stood up for her friends and community. She was the soul of San Francisco, and it’s hard to imagine the city without him.”
“Heklina is also a staunch defender of drag – which is under severe attack today – and has created opportunities for young drag queens to find their space,” he added. “As we mourn, we must honor his memory by remembering the joy he brought us and the importance of the art form to which he dedicated his life.”
San Francisco Pride Board President Nguyen Pham released the following statement, calling the sudden passing “absolutely heartbreaking.”
“Personally, I am honored and grateful to have been in direct contact with Heklina, as well as to have attended her amazing and memorable productions, many times over the years. I know her unique brand of radically inclusive drag art has brought so much joy from countless community members and allies for generations. He is unstoppable and a master like no other.”
In addition to performing with Peaches Christ in various stage productions as well as appearing as Dorothy Zbornak in the San Francisco drag production of “The Golden Girls” which regularly holds sold-out runs of its annual holiday show, Heklina is best known. as one of the co-founders of the long-running drag show “Trannyshack” that started at the Stud in the mid-1990s.
Most recently, Heklina was part of the group of owners that relaunched the Oasis nightclub and theater in San Francisco’s SoMa District which had a grand re-opening in 2014. He also regularly appears as host and emcee for others’ t other community events.
No details have been released regarding the cause of death.