Joey Arias
A fixture of New York City’s vibrant downtown performance scene for 30-plus years, Joey Arias is a bona fide NYC icon. Arias lived and worked with legendary musician Klaus Nomi until Nomi’s death in 1983. However, he has long since stepped out of Nomi’s shadow to gain fame in his own right as a performance artist, cabaret singer and drag artist. Arias has distinguished himself with scandalous wit, sleek style and an extraordinary voice... evocative of Billie Holiday yet uniquely his own. Arias has performed worldwide at venues including Carnegie Hall and the Freedom Theatre in London. Arias was tapped by Cirque du Soleil to originate the role of the emcee in their Las Vegas spectacular Zumanity. After 6 years in that role, Arias returned to New York where he became the star and co-creator of Arias With a Twist with master puppeteer Basil Twist. The show was a critical and commercial hit and extended repeatedly for a total of 8 months. On film, he has appeared in Mondo New York, Big Top Pee Wee, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Wigstock - The Movie, Flawless and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, among others.
Acting
Movie
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
as Justine
1995
Movie
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
as Hitchhiker
1988
TV
Saturday Night Live
as Self - David Bowie Backup Singer (uncredited)
1975
Movie
Flawless
as Stormy
1999
Movie
Big Top Pee-wee
as Shim
1988
Movie
The Nomi Song
as Self
2004
Movie
Naked in New York
as Self
1993
Movie
After Louie
as Jai the Chanteuse
2017
Movie
Wig
as Self
2019
Movie
Wigstock: The Movie
as Self
1995
Movie
Jobriath A.D.
as Himself
2012
Movie
Mondo New York
as Fish Out Of Water / A Hard Days Night
1988
Movie
Drunks
as Ruby
1997
Movie
Deadly Game
as Ramirez
1991
Movie
Cirque du Soleil: LoveSick
as Himself
2008
Movie
The Zanctuary
as Dora Ramona del Pilar
2016
Movie
Arias With a Twist
as Himself
2010
Movie
The Long Island Four
1980
Movie
Vandemonium Plus
1987
Movie
God Save the Queens
1995
Movie
Dragtime
as Self
1997
Movie
Mermaids on Heroin
as Meridian
1985
TV
She's Living for This
as Joey Arias / Various Characters
2012