Who

The "hardest working middle-aged man in show business," Hill is New York's most famous drag king.

Backstory

Born Betsey Gallagher, the nightclub emcee grew up a Connecticut tomboy before moving to New York to study photography at the School of Visual Arts. As a part of her MFA thesis, she took self-portraits in which she posed as a faux mayoral candidate, complete with a cheap polyester suit, simulated potbelly, and cheesy moustache. It was these shots, she says, which served as the inspiration for the act that would later become Murray Hill. In 1996, she started performing as Hill at Club Casanova; she's since become one of the most recognizable figures on the downtown nightlife scene.

Of note

Murray's kitschy act, which consists of sexist jokes, corny stories, and Borscht Belt humor, has made it to the stage at dozens of venues over the past decade. She emceed a long-running Saturday night burlesque show at Mo Pitkins; she now hosts a similar weekly event with Angie Pontani at Corio and also has regular gigs at Galapagos in Williamsburg. The host of the annual Miss Lez Pageant (and former host of Wigstock with Lady Bunny), Murray has made cameos in movies (like John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus) and music videos (Le Tigre and the Scissor Scissors), and has opened concerts for the likes of Antony and the Johnsons and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

As for Hill's gender identity issues, Murray protested to the New York Times in 2005 that she/he wasn't actually a drag king since he/she is in character 24 hours a day. That came as news to Hill's co-workers at the time who said Murray/Betsey arrived to work as a casually-dressed lesbian.

Vice

Murray has said she's struggled with alcohol over the years, finding it difficult to kick the habit since it's an integral part of her performance. She says she's been clean since September 2004.

Personal

Murray Hill does not, in fact, live in Murray Hill. She lives on Judge Street in Williamsburg.