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Murray Hill (performer)

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Murray Hill
Hill in 2023
Born1971 or 1972 (age 52–53)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Other namesBusby Murray Gallagher

Murray Hill (born c. 1972[2]) is a New York City based American comedian, drag king, actor, television host, and entertainer. He is the entertainer persona of Busby Murray Gallagher, although this persona is maintained even in private settings.[3][4][5][6] Murray Hill is the self-proclaimed "hardest-working middle-aged man in show business."[7]

In The Encyclopedia of Lesbian and Gay Histories and Cultures, Jack Halberstam praised Hill for "transforming masculinity and exposing its theatricality with profound results".[8] The New York Times called him "the current reigning patriarch of the downtown performance community"[5] and the Seattle Weekly called him a "pioneer" of drag kings.[9]

Early life, family and education

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Hill was raised in a religious, conservative home in New England. [10] He has characterized his childhood persona as being a tomboy.[10]

He attended college in Boston, Massachusetts.[10]

Career

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Hill started performing in 1996, when the cutting-edge chic of the East Village waned as the neighborhood gentrified, the art galleries moved for cheaper rent in Chelsea, and the music scene shifted to the Pacific Northwest. His celebrity impersonations include Elvis and John Travolta.[11] Hill was part of a 1990s wave of comedians and performers whose talent stood out in the Lower East Side and East Village scene, emblematic of the neighborhood as portrayed in the musical Rent.

Hill is a frequent event emcee in Lower Manhattan, including the annual "Ms. Lez" competition,[12] a bingo night with co-host drag queen Linda Simpson, and a variety of burlesque and theater performances.[13][14][15]

Hill was the opening act for a tour of the rock band Le Tigre[5] and has opened for The Gossip. He has performed at parties hosted by Joan Rivers and Liza Minnelli; and his acts incorporate homages to Joey Adams, Benny Hill, Sammy Davis Jr., and Henny Youngman.[5]

Hill made cameo appearances in the 2006 John Cameron Mitchell film Shortbus and a 2010 episode of the HBO series Bored to Death. He also appears with burlesque performer Dirty Martini in Dirty Martini and the New Burlesque. Hill and Michael Musto appeared in the video for TV on the Radio's song "No Future Shock."[16]

Hill is part of the cast of the 2022 comedy-drama Life & Beth[17] and the host of the 2023 Hulu comedy competition Drag Me to Dinner.[18] He was part of the main cast of the series Somebody Somewhere from 2022 to 2024.

In December 2024 it was announced that Hill would be the host of an upcoming drag reality competition series King of Drag, set to air in 2025. The series will be the first drag competition series focusing specifically on drag kings.[19]

Personal life

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Hill is transgender.[20]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Dirty Martini and the New Burlesque Himself Documentary
2024 Jackpot! Johnny Grand Cast
TBA The Man with the Bag Cast; filming[21]
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Bored to Death Himself 1 episode
2022 Life & Beth Murray Recurring; season 1
2022-2024 Somebody Somewhere Fred Rococo Main cast
2023 Drag Me to Dinner Himself Host
2025 King of Drag Himself Host
Elsbeth Henry 1 episode

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2022 Peabody Awards Entertainment Somebody Somewhere Nominated [22]
2025 Queerty Awards Trailblazer Himself Won [23]
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Berlind, William (June 19, 2024). "Is Murray Hill's Showbiz Dream Finally Coming True?". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Kacala, Alexander (March 29, 2022). "Murray Hill, New York City's 'best kept secret,' is ready for prime time". nbcnews.com. NBC News. Retrieved May 22, 2025. Hill, 50....
  3. ^ Halberstam, Judith (2000). Female Masculinity. Duke University Press. p. 246. ISBN 978-0-8223-2243-6.
  4. ^ "Murray Hill". cityfile.com. Cityfile New York. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14.
  5. ^ a b c d Calhoun, Ada (January 9, 2005). "Meet Downtown's New 'It' 'Boy'". The New York Times.
  6. ^ Brune, A. M. (28 March 2016). "Murray Hill: 'I'm more than a drag king. Why can't you just call me a comedian?'". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  7. ^ Snook, Raven (2004-05-10). "Girls, Girls, Girls: In the mood for something blue? The Second Annual New York Burlesque Festival is shakin' this weekend". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  8. ^ Halberstam, Judith. "Drag Kings", in Zimmerman, Bonnie; George E. Haggerty (1999). The Encyclopedia of Lesbian and Gay Histories and Cultures. Taylor & Francis. pp. 247–49. ISBN 978-0-8153-1920-7.
  9. ^ Massengill, David (October 9, 2006). "Long Live the Kings!". Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Hill, Murray (May 31, 2023). "Murray Hill on 'Somebody Somewhere' and His Decades-Long Career in Showbiz". autostraddle.com. Interviewed by Drew Burnett Gregory. The Excitant Group, LLC. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  11. ^ Halberstam, Judith (2005). Gelder, Ken (ed.). "Drag Queens: Masculinity and Performance". The Subcultures Reader. Routledge: 414. ISBN 978-0-415-34416-6.
  12. ^ "There She Is, Murray Hill and Ms. Lez". New York Magazine. June 8, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  13. ^ Burkett, Dia (2008-02-12). "Burlesque off Broadway". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  14. ^ Segal, David (2004-09-02). "N.Y. Expressionism: On the Streets and in Theaters, Political Protest Is a Multimedia Experience". Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  15. ^ Chute, Hillary. "Murray Hill at the Siren Music Festival". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2008-06-06. Retrieved July 23, 2002.
  16. ^ Thompson, Elizabeth (2011-04-12). "Amy Davis and Michael Musto on Making TV on the Radio's 'No Future Shock' Video". Paper. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  17. ^ "Life & Beth Cast List". IMDb.
  18. ^ Rice, Lynette (May 1, 2023). "'Drag Me To Dinner': Hulu Announces Premiere Date For Unscripted Series From Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  19. ^ Malkin, Marc (2024-12-16). "Drag King Reality Competition Show to Be Hosted by 'Somebody Somewhere' Actor Murray Hill (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  20. ^ Musto, Michael (May 5, 2016). "Michael Musto's Icons: Murray Hill". The Advocate. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  21. ^ Grobar, Matt (2025-01-31). "Kyle Mooney, Ken Jeong, Roger Bart & Jane Krakowski Among 12 Additions To Amazon MGM's Holiday Family Comedy 'The Man With The Bag'". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  22. ^ Voyles, Blake (September 20, 2023). "83rd Peabody Award Nominees". Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  23. ^ Filipski, Drew (March 12, 2025). "PHOTOS: All the winners & gag-worthy moments from the 2025 Queerties Awards". Queerty.
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