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Holly Woodlawn Dies: Transgender Star Who Inspired Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” Passes Away at 69

Holly Woodlawn has died at 69
Holly Woodlawn has died at 69

Holly Woodlawn, the transgender trailblazer who became Andy Warhol's muse and who starred in Paul Morrissey's 1970 movie Trash, has died at the age of 69.

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According to the Associated Press, Woodlawn lost her long battle against cancer on Sunday, Dec. 6.

Woodlawn, who grew up in Miami, rose to fame in the early 1970s through her work with Warhol and Morrissey. Her story famously inspired the first verse of Lou Reed's 1972 hit "Walk on the Wild Side": "Holly came from Miami, F.L.A. Hitchhiked her way across the U.S.A. Plucked her eyebrows on the way. Shaved her legs and then he was a she. She says, 'Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side.'"

In 1992, she published her memoir, A Low Life in High Heels, and saw a career revival in the late '90s, appearing in independent films such as Billy's Big Hollywood Kiss and Night Owl.

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More recently, she appeared as Vivian in the first season of Transparent.

Woodlawn's friend and Trash costar, Joe Dallesandro, announced her death via Facebook.

"I arrived to the hospice and went to Holly's room, #403," he wrote. "I was next to her talking and telling her all the love that was being sent her way from everyone. It was like she knew I was there. I am sorry to say at 3:06pm Los Angeles time, Holly Woodlawn passed away."

Woodlawn was remembered at Sunday night's the Trevor Project's TrevorLive event in Los Angeles by NCIS actress Pauley Perrette.

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"Pauley went off script [during her presenting duties] to honor Holly Woodlawn," an audience member tells Us. "She said she was informed about her passing in the car on the way over to the event. She got teary eyed and was clearly emotional."

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