Joey Arias

Joey Arias

  • Birthday: 1949-10-03
  • Place of birth: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA
  • Also know as: Joseph Arias

Biography

A fixture of New York City’s vibrant downtown performance scene for 30-plus years, Joey Arias is a bona fide NYC icon. Arias lived and worked with legendary musician Klaus Nomi until Nomi’s death in 1983. However, he has long since stepped out of Nomi’s shadow to gain fame in his own right as a performance artist, cabaret singer and drag artist. Arias has distinguished himself with scandalous wit, sleek style and an extraordinary voice... evocative of Billie Holiday yet uniquely his own. Arias has performed worldwide at venues including Carnegie Hall and the Freedom Theatre in London. Arias was tapped by Cirque du Soleil to originate the role of the emcee in their Las Vegas spectacular Zumanity. After 6 years in that role, Arias returned to New York where he became the star and co-creator of Arias With a Twist with master puppeteer Basil Twist. The show was a critical and commercial hit and extended repeatedly for a total of 8 months. On film, he has appeared in Mondo New York, Big Top Pee Wee, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Wigstock - The Movie, Flawless and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, among others.

Filmography

The Zanctuary

2016

As Dora Ramona del Pilar

Mondo New York

1988

As Fish Out Of Water / A Hard Days Night

Mermaids on Heroin

1985

As Meridian

Wig

2019

As Self

Arias With a Twist

2010

As Himself

The Nomi Song

2004

As Himself

After Louie

2017

As Jai the Chanteuse

Jobriath A.D.

2012

As Himself

Dragtime

1997

As Himself

Deadly Game

1991

As Ramirez

Wigstock: The Movie

1995

As Self

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark

1988

As Hitchhiker

Drunks

1997

As Ruby

Flawless

1999

As Stormy

Big Top Pee-wee

1988

As Shim

Naked in New York

1993

As Self

Production

Mermaids on Heroin

1985

As Director

Mermaids on Heroin

1985

As Writer

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