Charles Pierce

By DOUG GALLOWAY

Female impersonator Charles Pierce, who gained fame for his characterizations of Hollywood stars including Mae West, Joan Crawford and most notably Bette Davis, died Monday night of cancer at his Toluca Lake home. He was 72.

The actor conjured up images of female celebs by using subtle facial expressions and vocal inflections. He was also a quick and witty improvisor, with a great deal of his success based on his improvised banter with audiences.

Pierce was not fond of the term "female impersonator" and said after shows he would get dressed in his street clothes as soon as possible. "I have no ambition to be the Liberace of the drag world," he remarked.

Instead, he wanted to be remembered as an actor who made his living doing "some really good impressions," Pierce once said.

He was born in Watertown, N.Y., and began thinking about heading to California to pursue an acting career during his teenage years. At 20, Pierce began his acting training at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Pierce did monologues and standup comedy in 1952 at the Cabaret Concert on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles and later at a venue in Altadena. He didn't perform in drag when he started out, but added gowns and heels to his act in the 1960s. He then took his show to San Francisco's Gilded Cage and to Miami. While it was illegal to cross-dress in Florida at the time, he got by using props or putting a gown over his pants.

Pierce also appeared on many TV shows, including "Designing Women," "Fame," "Laverne and Shirley," "Chico and the Man" and "Love, American Style." He guested on numerous talkshows, including those hosted by Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin.

His nightclub act covered "legendary ladies of the silver screen," but following the death of Davis, his most famous character, he revamped and dubbed his new incarnation "Fasten Your Seatbelts." His last show was at the Pasadena Playhouse Balcony Theater on Oct. 7, 1990. Pierce noted, "Now I have come full circle and it is time to hang up the dresses, take off the wigs and be myself for a while. I will not retire. I have just abdicated."

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on June 19 at Church of the Hills in Forest Lawn Memorial Hollywood Hills Park, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive.

Pierce had asked that donations be made to: Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS), 650 North Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069.