Lea DeLaria (born May 23, 1958) is an American comedian, actress, and jazz singer. She portrayed Carrie "Big Boo" Black on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019) and Psychic Madame Delphina on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live from 1999 to 2011. She also starred in the Broadway productions POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive in 2022 and the 2000 revival of The Rocky Horror Show. In 2006, she played the role of Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, gaining good reviews. She was the first openly gay comic to appear on American television in a 1993 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show.
Early life DeLaria was born in Belleville, Illinois, the daughter of Jerry Jean (née Cox), a homemaker, and Robert George DeLaria, a jazz pianist and social worker. Her paternal grandparents were Italian. She attended kindergarten through eighth grade at St. Mary's Elementary School in Belleville and has referenced her Catholic upbringing in her performances.
Career
DeLaria's stand-up career began in 1982 when she moved to San Francisco and performed raunchy stand-up comedy in the Mission District."Lesbian Comic Delaria Is So Out That She's In", The Press of Atlantic City, March 7, 1994.Guthmann, Edward. "'The Parker Posey of Queer Cinema': Stand-up comic Lea DeLaria is all over the lesbian and gay film festival", The San Francisco Chronicle, June 14, 1998. Discussing her stand-up, Delaria says, "This is who I am, when I'm up there. This is it. I'm a big butch dyke. That's who I am. And I'm a friendly one. I'm a big butch dyke with a smile on my face."
In 1986, DeLaria directed Ten Percent Revue, a musical revue written by Tom Wilson Weinberg that celebrates gay and lesbian culture.Keating, Douglas J. "Musical Revue Looks at Gay Life". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 17, 1986. Ten Percent Revue was performed in Boston, San Francisco, Provincetown, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.Crouch, Paula. "It's a pickle's life in puppet comedy". The Atlanta Journal. November 14, 1986. Many shows were sold out.
From 1987 to 1989, DeLaria starred in Dos Lesbos, a musical comedy about two lesbians dealing with the issues of living together.Hicks, Bob. "Dos Lesbos". The Oregonian. January 8, 1988. The show received very favorable reviews nationwide.Hicks, Bob. "Talented Comedians Slightly Offbeat", The Oregonian, January 7, 1989.
DeLaria conceived, wrote, directed and starred in Girl Friday: We're Funny That Way, a musical comedy, in 1989.Valdespino, Anne. "A Latin American original brings her steps to OC". The Orange County Register, January 25, 1989.Hunt, Phil. "'Girl Friday' Provides a Gay Time for All", The Oregonian, January 12, 1990. The show won the 1989 Golden Gull for Best Comedy Group in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
When DeLaria appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1993, she was the first openly gay comic to appear on a late-night talk show. While appearing on the show, DeLaria said, "Hello everybody, my name is Lea DeLaria, and it's great to be here, because it's the 1990s! It's hip to be queer! I'm a big dyke."Holden, Stephen. "Left-leaning Singing Comic Caught a Ride on Rising Star". The Times Union (Albany, New York). DeLaria later said she had been told that she should not have used the term dyke on the air.Richmond, Dick. "Lea Delaria: She's Got Nothing to Hide". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 25, 1993. Hall later defended her, saying, "If she wants to call herself a dyke, that's her business."
In December 1993, DeLaria hosted Comedy Central's Out There, the first all-gay stand-up comedy special.
DeLaria has released two CD recordings of her comedy, Bulldyke in a China Shop (1994) and Box Lunch (1997). She has also written a humorous book entitled Lea's Book of Rules for the World.
DeLaria appeared as Jane in the 1998 Off Broadway production of Paul Rudnick's The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, "a gay retelling of the Bible." Entertainment Weekly said "a star is born with Lea DeLaria" of her "showstopping" performance as Hildy Esterhazy in the 1998 Broadway revival of On the Town.
DeLaria subsequently played Eddie and Dr. Scott in the 2000 Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show, and can be heard on the cast recording. DeLaria appeared in a number of films, including Edge of Seventeen and The First Wives Club.
DeLaria integrates musical performance into her stand-up comedy, focusing on traditional and modern be-bop jazz. In 2001 she released a CD of jazz standards called Play It Cool. This was followed by the album Double Standards in 2003, and by The Very Best of Lea DeLaria in 2008.
In 2001, DeLaria was the voice of Helga Phugly on the short-lived animated sitcom The Oblongs. In 1996 DeLaria played the part of a woman friend of Carol and Susan in the Friends episode The One with the Lesbian Wedding. In 1999 DeLaria played the recurring role of Madame Delphina on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, returning in 2008 as both Delphina and Professor Delbert Fina. She continued to portray Delphina on a recurring basis until 2011.
In 2008, Warner Records released The Live Smoke Sessions, DeLaria's first recording focused on "timeless pop standards" such as "Down With Love", "Night and Day", "Love Me or Leave Me" and "Come Rain or Come Shine." She noted, "I styled this CD on the old school live recordings ... It is my hope that this CD will take you back to 1948 and the Village Vanguard. So please let me invite you to mix a cocktail and enjoy a smoke while you sit back and soak up the swing."
In November 2008, DeLaria completed a tour of Australia, playing Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. She also frequently collaborates with comedian Maggie Cassella, most notably on an annual Christmas cabaret show in Toronto which also sometimes tours to several other North American cities. In July 2010, her version of "All That Jazz" was used on So You Think You Can Dance. DeLaria performed in Prometheus Bound at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since 2013, she has appeared in the Netflix Original Orange Is the New Black as the recurring character prison inmate Carrie 'Big Boo' Black.
In December 2014, DeLaria voiced EJ Randell, the lesbian mother of Jeff in the Cartoon Network animated series Clarence.
On February 14, 2015, DeLaria received the Equality Illinois Freedom Award for her work as "a cutting-edge performer who has used her talent to entertain and enlighten millions of Americans," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. On receiving the award at the 2015 Equality Illinois Gala in Chicago, DeLaria said, "As an out performer for over 33 years who has made it her life's work to change peoples perception of butch, queer and LGBT, it is an honor for me to receive such recognition from my home state. I feel I'm doing Belleville proud. Go Maroons!".
In 2021, DeLaria starred in Wes Hurley's autobiographical dramedy Potato Dreams of America earning rave reviews, praise from John Waters and the Outstanding Supporting Performance Award from Tallgrass Film Festival.
In 2022, DeLaria returned to Broadway in the comic play POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive where she received positive acclaim from critics.
The U-Haul Joke DeLaria is the originator of the U-Haul Joke (see also U-Haul lesbian) which she began performing at comedy shows in 1989.
Question: "What does a lesbian bring on a second date?" Answer: "A U-Haul."
She performs the joke on her album Box Lunch (1997).
Personal life In January 2015, DeLaria became engaged to fashion editor Chelsea Fairless after two and a half years of dating. The two met through Fairless's friend, actress Emma Myles, who plays Leanne in Orange is the New Black.Corriston, Michele. "Orange Is the New Black Star Lea DeLaria Is Engaged". People. February 6, 2015. In January 2017, DeLaria confirmed she and Fairless had separated.Webber, Stephanie. "Orange Is the New Black's Lea DeLaria, Fiancee Chelsea Fairless Split, Call Off Engagement", Us Weekly, January 12, 2017.
Discography Comedy albums 1992: Bulldyke in a Chinashop 1997: Box Lunch (Rising Star)
Jazz albums 2001: Play It Cool (Warner/WEA) 2005: Double Standards (Telarc) 2006: The Very Best of Lea DeLaria (Rhino/WEA UK) 2008: Lea DeLaria – The Live Smoke Sessions (Ghostlight Records) 2015: House of David (Ghostlight Records)
Guest vocalist 2005: Din and Tonic – Janette Mason (Fireball Records) 2006: Drawn to All Things – Ian Shaw Sings the Songs of Joni Mitchell – Ian Shaw (Linn Records) 2009: Alien Left Hand – Janette Mason (Fireball Records)
Theatre and film 1998: On the Town – Broadway Revival Cast 1999: Edge of Seventeen – Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack – Blue Skies (Razor and Tie) 2001: The Rocky Horror Show – 2000 Broadway Revival Cast (RCA Victor Broadway) 2005: Hair – Actors' Fund of America Benefit Recording (Ghostlight) 2017: Cars 3 – "Freeway of Love"
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1996Rescuing DesireSadieThe First Wives ClubElise's fanNational Board of Review Award: Best Acting by an Ensemble1997Plump FictionMr. Purple 1998Homo HeightsClementineEdge of SeventeenAngie2006Fat Rose and SqueakyFat RoseCo-starring Cicely Tyson as "Squeaky"2013Ass BackwardsDeb2016Bear with UsChief Ranger Stewart (voice)2017Cars 3Miss Fritter (voice)2018Support the GirlsBobo2020Ahead of the CurveHerselfDocumentary2021Potato Dreams of AmericaTamara 2025TowJocelynOuterlandsDenise TBAC-SideFilmingStephanie, Bride to BeFilming
Television Year Title Role Notes 1993Out ThereHerselfTV filmCamp ChristmasHerselfTV filmIn the LifeHerself/Guest host1 episode1994MatlockDet. Pat Jordan2 episodes1994–95The John Larroquette ShowLorelei2 episodes 1995Tom Clancy's Op CenterCapt. WhiteTV filmSaved by the Bell: The New ClassMiss HearstEpisode: "Ryan's Worst Nightmare"Out There in HollywoodHerselfSequel to the 1993 TV movie Out There1996FriendsWomanEpisode: "The One with the Lesbian Wedding"1997The Drew Carey ShowJewelEpisode: "Drewstock" 1998In Thru the Out DoorVarious characters (also writer)TV filmWe're Funny That Way!HerselfDocumentary1999Great PerformancesHerself/PerformerTV series1999–2011One Life to LiveMadame Delphina31 episodes2000The BeatKathyUnknown episodes 2001Further Tales of the CityWillie OmiakTV mini-seriesThe OblongsHelga Phugly, Grammy Oblong (voices)Recurring roleCabaret Live!Herself/Performer 2002The JobKikiEpisode: "Gina"Just for LaughsHerself/PerformerTV movie 2003Will & GraceNurse CarverEpisode: "Swimming from Cambodia"The Award Show Awards ShowHerselfTV special 2004Mercury in RetrogradeBetsy BrickTV short2006Outlaugh!Herself/PerformerTV special 2009Ptown DiariesDeLariaTV movieLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitFrankieEpisode: "Transitions" 2012CalifornicationDebbieEpisode: "Raw"Submissions OnlyAuditioner #4Episode: "Another Interruption"2013Dear Dumb DiaryMs. BruntfordTV film2013–2019Orange Is the New BlackCarrie "Big Boo" BlackRecurring season 1–3, regular season 4–5, guest season 6-7 (63 episodes)2014AwkwardTattooistEpisode: "After Hours"2014–2017ClarenceEJ / various characters (voice)9 episodes2014Tellement Gay! Homosexualité et pop cultureHerselfDocumentary2015The Jim Gaffigan ShowHerselfEpisode: "The Bible Story" 2017Broad CityDebEpisode: "Bedbugs"ShamelessBarbEpisode: "Frank's Northern Southern Express"2017–2018Baroness von Sketch ShowBrina / Butch Shaman2 episodes 2019 The CodeMarti DimonteEpisode: "1st Civ Div"ReprisalQueenie9 episodes 2020Close Enough(voice)Episode: "Prank War/Cool Moms"Kipo and the Age of WonderbeastsMolly Yarnchopper (voice)5 episodes2021PhysicalProfessor MendelsonEpisode: "Let's Get Political"2022The BlacklistNurse BinstockEpisode: "Eva Mason (No. 181)" 2023East New YorkFire Marshal Nicky GreenvilleEpisode: "We Didn't Start the Fire"Awkwafina Is Nora from QueensAlfur the Elf2 episodes2024Girls5evaBevEpisode: "New York"
Theatre