Edith Massey

About Edith Massey

Who is it?: Actress, Composer
Birth Day: May 28, 1918
Birth Place:  San Francisco, California, United States
Died On: October 24, 1984(1984-10-24) (aged 66)\nLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Birth Sign: Gemini
Cause of death: Lymphoma and diabetes
Resting place: Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupation: Actress, singer
Years active: 1970–1984
Spouse(s): Silvio Gigante (m. 1946; div. 1953)

Edith Massey Net Worth

Edith Massey was born on May 28, 1918 in  San Francisco, California, United States, is Actress, Composer. 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). She appeared in many of Water's earlier films leading up to Polyester (1981), as well as being the subject of a biographical short film, Love Letter to Edie (1975).After her role as Queen Carlotta in Desperate Living (1977), Massey embarked on a singing career which lead to a nationwide tour, usually performing cover songs including "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Punks, Get Off the Grass" Fellow Dreamlander Cookie Mueller occasionally performed as a backup singer. Sadly, Edith Massey passed away in October of 1984.
Edith Massey is a member of Actress

💰 Net worth: Under Review

Some Edith Massey images

Biography/Timeline

1946

In 1946, Massey married a soldier, Silvio Gigante, in Reno, leaving him about five years later because she got "restless". However, in Divine Waters, Massey said that the marriage lasted "about seven years. It was my fault; I left him for another man, so I blame myself for it."

1969

She worked in several odd jobs through the years, and she eventually relocated to Baltimore, Maryland where she worked as a barmaid at Pete's Hotel. Filmmaker John Waters met Massey while she was working at Pete's Hotel in 1969 and offered her a role as herself in the film Multiple Maniacs. In the early 1970s, she quit her job at Pete's and opened a thrift store called Edith's Shopping Bag in the Fell's Point area of Baltimore.

1970

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Massey capitalized on the infamy of Waters's films by touring as the lead singer of a punk band, Edie and the Eggs. She also posed for a series of greeting cards. Later, when the Baltimore winters became too much for her to endure, she moved to Venice, California, where she opened another thrift store with the money she earned from acting in Waters's films. In 1980, she was featured in John Mellencamp's music video for "This Time" and also appears on the cover of Mellencamp's album Nothin' Matters and What If It Did.

1975

Director Robert Maier made a documentary short about her in 1975 titled Love Letter to Edie. There is a director's authorized version re-mastered from his original 16mm color film footage.

1982

In 1982, Massey recorded a cover of The Four Seasons' "Big Girls Don't Cry" that was included on the compilation albums The Rhino Brothers Present the World's Worst Records and A Date With John Waters.

1984

Massey died of complications of lymphoma and diabetes on October 24, 1984 in Los Angeles. Her body was cremated, and her ashes were scattered in the Garden of Roses at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

1985

The year she died, Massey starred in her final film Mutants in Paradise. She read for a role in Paul Bartel's Western parody Lust in the Dust (1985) opposite longtime co-star Divine, but Actress Nedra Volz was cast instead.