Hollywood LGBTQ Madam Kenneth Marlowe (Portrayed by Broadway Actor Wade McCollum)

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Wade McCollum’s Early Life and Stage Career

• Wade McCollum’s Transition to TV and Film

• Wade McCollum’s Musical Pursuits

• Wade McCollum’s Academic Goals in Neuroscience

• Make Me Gorgeous! and the connection from Wade to Kenneth

• Darius Rose aka Jackie Cox Brings their Star Power to Make Me Gorgeous

• Kenneth Marlowe’s Early Life and Military Service

• Kenneth Marlowe, Hollywood's "Madam" and Author

• Kenneth Marlowe’s Transitioning to Kate

• Kate Marlowe’s Continued Activism and Legacy

Introduction

Amber LeMay recently spoke with Broadway star Wade McCollum about his role in the Off-Broadway show Make Me Gorgeous! (see the video above) The show chronicles the incredible life of Mr. Madam, Kenneth Marlowe, who ran a notorious Hollywood gay prostitution ring! Below we will take a look at the lives and careers of Wade McCollum and Kenneth Marlowe.

Wade McCollum’s Early Life and Stage Career

Wade McCollum was born into a nomadic family, living on the road in a 1978 Dodge van. As a child, McCollum was immersed in rock and roll music which sparked his creative spirit.

After settling down, McCollum discovered theater in high school, showing natural talent as an actor and singer. He went on to hone his skills across prestigious stages around the country like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Off-Broadway.

McCollum won critical praise in shows like "Ernest Shackleton Loves Me," garnering awards such as the Elliot Norton Award for Best Actor and a Lucille Lortel nomination. Other stage credits include productions with Classic Stage Company and Insight Out Theater Collective.

Wade McCollum

Wade McCollum’s Transition to TV and Film

More recently, McCollum has pivoted to on-screen work. He's landed roles in multiple TV shows like "The Knick," "FBI: Most Wanted," "Madam Secretary," and "Nightcap" working opposite high-profile actors like Clive Owen and Julianna Margulies.

McCollum also stays connected to theater through filmed stage productions. His show "Ernest Shackleton Loves Me" was taped live in front of an audience and is now available to stream.

Wade McCollum’s Musical Pursuits

As a musician, McCollum writes his own compositions and serves as a guest composer for theater groups across the country. He's created musical scores for Oregon Shakespeare Festival and had his work showcased by companies like Sonnet Repertory Theatre.

McCollum is also a founder of a neuroscience music startup through Cornell Tech, exploring innovations at the intersection of science and art.

Wade McCollum’s Academic Goals in Neuroscience

Currently, Wade McCollum is working towards a degree in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. He has a lifelong passion for learning how the brain and music connect.

McCollum stands out as a multi-faceted entertainer building an acting career while also chasing intellectual curiosity in the classroom. Whether performing Shakespearean soliloquies or publishing lab research - he throws himself fully into each endeavor with creativity and momentum.

Wade McCollum with a copy of Kenneth Marlowe’s book, Mr. Madam

Make Me Gorgeous! and the connection from Wade to Kenneth

triangle productions! will present the new York premiere of Make Me Gorgeous!, The True Story of Kenneth "Mr. Madam" Marlowe, written and directed by Donnie, and starring Wade McCollum, who also contributed additional material. 

Make Me Gorgeous! is the fabulous and incredible true story of Kenneth Marlowe, an oft-overlooked trailblazer in LGBTQ+ history. Described as one of mid-Century America’s gayest and most openly homosexual personalities, Marlowe took on many roles in life. Kenneth was a private hairdresser to the stars; the madam of a notorious gay prostitution ring in Hollywood; an author; a hustler; a female impersonator; a private in the U.S. Army; a call boy; a Christian missionary; a mortuary cosmetologist; a newspaper columnist … and for the final decade of an incredibly lived life, Marlowe was a woman, having transitioned to become Kate Marlowe.

Make Me Gorgeous! is adapted from Donnie’s book, Mr. Madam: The Life and Times of Kenneth/Kate Marlowe, the culmination of years of research and interviews and establishing Donnie as one of the foremost historians to chronicle Kenneth/Kate Marlowe’s life. A new edition of the book, retitled Us, further explores the life of Kenneth/Kate Marlowe.

Darius Rose aka Jackie Cox Brings their Star Power to Make Me Gorgeous

The hit play Make Me Gorgeous is getting an injection of star power as acclaimed performer Darius Rose takes over the role of Kenneth Marlow. Rose is best known for their drag persona Jackie Cox, one of the standout stars from Season 12 of RuPaul's Drag Race, where they made history as the first contestant of Iranian descent to appear on the show.

As Jackie Cox, Rose has been a fixture on the theatrical cabaret circuit in their hometown of New York City. They recently wrapped up a worldwide tour of their acclaimed one-woman show JackieVision and appeared in the world premiere of Drag The Musical in Hollywood. No stranger to the stage, Rose's previous theater credits include iconic roles like Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Jesus in Godspell.

In addition to their prolific stage work, Rose has appeared on television shows like Days of Our Lives, as well as specials for Disney+, ABC, Bravo, and others. Up next, they will be seen in the upcoming streaming series The Struggle and the short film Identiteaze.

With their undeniable talent and groundbreaking presence, Darius Rose as Kenneth Marlow is sure to bring fresh energy and perspective to Make Me Gorgeous. Theater fans won't want to miss this opportunity to see a true star utterly command the stage.

Kenneth Marlowe’s Early Life and Military Service

Kenneth Marlowe grew up in humble beginnings but went on to live an incredible, boundary-pushing life. After a stint in the U.S. Army as a private, Kenneth settled in Hollywood in the late 1940s.

Even in the post-war era, Kenneth openly embraced his identity as a gay man. He worked as a hairdresser and makeup artist to the stars while also performing in drag shows at local clubs.

Kenneth Marlowe, Hollywood's "Madam" and Author

Never one to shy away from controversy, Kenneth soon began facilitating high-end prostitution services connecting closeted Hollywood elite. As the legendary "madam" of these operations, Kenneth acquired wealth, notoriety, celebrity connections, and most importantly, stories.

Kenneth channeled these tales into writing several scandalous books that were surprisingly well-received. Titles like "Make Me Gorgeous!" and "Miss Memory Lane" captivated readers with dramatic recountings of Kenneth's sexual escapades alongside A-listers.

While certainly taboo, Kenneth viewed writing as both business and activism - putting authentic queer voices front and center for the world to see.

Kenneth Marlowe’s Transitioning to Kate

In the late 1960s near the age of 50, Kenneth began transitioning to become Kate Marlowe. She fearlessly publicized details of her gender confirmation therapies while advocating for transgender rights.

Kate's groundbreaking 1969 autobiography "Mr. Madam: My Life As a Woman" chronicled intimate aspects of her transition journey. It was hailed as an important record of trans experience in a time when few such stories reached the mainstream.

Kenneth Marlowe’s Continued Activism and Legacy

In Kate's later years she continued using her platform to further LGBTQ+ visibility, even marrying a man while he was in prison to raise awareness of conjugal rights for queer couples.

Kate transitioned in 1974/75 and passed away in 1990. Kate's unabashed life paved the way for future generations. Her willingness to transparently share stories at great personal risk made space for positive change across gender and sexuality.

Recently Kate's remarkable history has been revived, bringing long overdue attention to this forgotten icon. Her fearless persistence in just existing as herself serves as an inspiration - proof that living authentically can change the world.

—This article was written, restructured, or adapted by Russell with information gathered from sources around the internet. Russell is the producer of Amber Live and is greatly overworked to pull it all together.  If it’s on the internet, it must be true. (We’re kidding.) BUT, if you find any errors or omissions in the article, please let us know so that we may correct the issue. Thanks for your support!