The wonderfully eccentric, snaggle-toothed Edith Massey met director John Waters while working as a barmaid and as the owner of a thrift shop, Edith's Shopping Bag at Fells Point, Baltimore. Captured by her effervescent charm, Waters cast Massey in Multiple Maniacs (1970) as Jesus's mother. Her next role was as Mama Edie in Pink Flamingos (1972). ...
Embarked on singing career - released a track titled "Big Girls Don't Cry", which can be found on "The World's Worst Records" Vol. 1 (a various artists compilation from Rhino Records).
2
Was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
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Appeared on the cover of John Mellencamp's 1980 album "Nothin' Matters and What If It Did."
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On 6 September 1981, performed live at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., in a sequined evening dress, backed by The Evidence.
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After she became rich, she had a special set of false teeth made, with her trademark gaps.
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Moved her shop from Baltimore, Maryland to Venice, California about a year before she died.
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Owned "Edith's Shopping Bag", a thrift shop on Broadway in Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland.
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John Waters said that she often had trouble remembering her lines in his films. To help herself remember them, she would often write out her lines hundreds of times.
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Initially hated the tight, black, lace-up dominatrix outfit that was custom-made for her for Female Trouble (1974), but years later had a new one made when she couldn't fit into the original.
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She had a speech impediment caused by dental work.
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Former chorus girl and tap dancer.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mutants in Paradise
1984
Dr. Durchfall
Polyester
1981
Cuddles Kovinsky
Desperate Living
1977
Queen Carlotta
Female Trouble
1974
Aunt Ida
Pink Flamingos
1972
Edie
Multiple Maniacs
1970
Edith / Virgin Mary
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Divine Waters
1985
Documentary
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
My Breakfast with Blassie
1983
Herself (uncredited)
Edith's Shopping Bag
1976
Documentary
Herself
Love Letter to Edie
1975
Short documentary
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
I Am Divine
2013
Documentary
Herself
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream
$700,000
