Remembering The Fabulous Candy Darling
Article By: Ginger Coyote, Lost and Found
Born eighty years ago, Miss Candy Darling (24 November 1944 – 21 March 1974) remains a striking figure in the history of transgender iconography, underground cinema, and the Warhol Superstars. Described as “a subculture Lana Turner” by the Village Voice’s Arthur Bell, Darling was a captivating blend of beauty, wit, and tragedy, someone who embodied the cultural ethos of New York’s avant-garde scene. Her legacy, while brief—she died at just 29 from cancer—continues to influence and inspire today.
Candy Darling is best known for her work with Andy Warhol, where she became an essential part of his experimental film collective. Her most notable performances include her roles in the Warhol-produced Flesh (1968) and the German filmmaker Werner Schroeter’s The Death of Maria Malibran (1972). Darling’s performances were delicate, ethereal, and hauntingly memorable, cementing her place in the subcultural pantheon of stars. Beyond her screen roles, Darling also gained recognition as a muse in the art world, most famously immortalized in Lou Reed’s iconic song Walk on the Wild Side (1972).
A highlight of Darling’s brief but colorful life is the story detailed in Cynthia Carr’s biography Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar, which presents a heartbreaking and intimate look at Darling’s tumultuous existence. One particularly memorable anecdote from the book is when Darling was sent to Toronto in 1971 to promote the film Women in Revolt. After staying at the posh Sutton Place Hotel, where she and her friend indulged in lavish meals and wine, Darling found herself crashing a rooftop champagne reception hosted by none other than Liberace. When Darling approached him, claiming they had “so much in common,” Liberace’s horrified reaction led to her eviction from the hotel.
Actress Jane Fonda became close friends with Candy and helped Candy get a role as a stripper in the film Klute so that Ms. Darling could join SAG and get medical benefits.
Her image—often platinum blonde like her idol Kim Novak, and glamorously feminine—has endured in pop culture, particularly as a pioneering figure for transgender visibility. Darling’s role in Warhol’s world, her beauty, and her fearlessness in challenging conventional gender roles made her a trailblazer for transgender representation in mainstream media. It has been rumored that she inspired the hit Lola after she met Ray Davies of The Kinks. Her performances and defiant attitude make her a beloved figure in the community