Willam Belli (/ˈbɛlaɪ/, born June 30, 1982),[2] mononymously known as Willam, is an American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter, reality television personality, author, and YouTuber. Willam came to prominence as a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012, but was disqualified in the "Frenemies" challenge.
Willam Belli | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Willam at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2019 | |||||||
| Born | June 30, 1982 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||
| Occupations |
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| Musical career | |||||||
| Genres | |||||||
| Instrument | Vocals | ||||||
| Labels | Self-released | ||||||
| Member of | The AAA Girls | ||||||
| Formerly of | DWV | ||||||
|
YouTube information | |||||||
| Channel | |||||||
| Years active | 2002–present | ||||||
| Subscribers | 931 thousand[1] | ||||||
| Total views | 263.2 million[1] | ||||||
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Last updated: August 11, 2024 | |||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Before appearing on Drag Race, Willam worked as an actor, most notably playing the recurring role of transgender woman Cherry Peck in Ryan Murphy's medical drama Nip/Tuck. She has continued to perform in a variety of films, television series and web series, often in drag. In 2018, she appeared in the critically acclaimed film A Star Is Born. For her performance on the dark comedy web series EastSiders, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series.[3]
Since 2012, Willam has recorded three albums of comedy music, mostly consisting of parodies of popular songs. Her second album, Shartistry in Motion, debuted at number one on the Billboard Comedy Albums chart. Between 2012 and 2014, she recorded several songs as part of the group DWV (alongside drag queens Vicky Vox and Detox), including the parodies "Chow Down" and "Boy Is a Bottom", whose music videos were viral successes. Following the breakup of DWV, Willam formed another drag supergroup, the AAA Girls, with Courtney Act and Alaska Thunderfuck.
Early life
editWillam Belli was born to Debbi Ruzic Belli[4] in Philadelphia. He is the younger of two children. He has a sister, Samantha.[4][5] Belli states he is of Yugoslav and Italian heritage.[6] He lived in Florida for middle school and high school.[7] Belli's father worked at the Kennedy Space Center. His aunt is television director Mary Lou Belli.
Growing up, Willam frequently illustrated dresses, to which many people assumed that he wanted to become a fashion designer, but he asserted that he designed the garments with the intent to wear them himself. He later worked in costume design in theatre, and, at the age of 13, he was put in drag for the first time at a closing night party. From there, he would dress in drag to watch performances of The Rocky Horror Show, and was paid for a drag performance for the first time at the age of 16.[8]
Belli was overweight when he was young but lost the extra pounds by becoming vegetarian before being emancipated at 16.[9] Belli met his husband, Bruce, at nineteen. They were married on September 9, 2008.[10]
Career
edit2000–2008: Beginnings
editBelli's first acting credit was as the role of a street hustler named Bart Jaker on two episodes of The District (2002) and his first TV appearance was on an episode of the game show Street Smarts.[7][11] He later appeared in the TV series Boston Public, Cold Case, The Shield, My Name Is Earl and most notably Nip/Tuck as the transgender character Cherry Peck. Throughout the 2000s he would go on to play small roles in many television shows. He also had a small role in the film American Wedding.
In 2008, Belli was featured on the single artwork for the song "Breakin' Up" by Rilo Kiley.[12] He has also modeled as part of the Tranimal Master Class Workshop at the Machine Project, which was photographed by Austin Young.[13]
2009–2010: Drag career
edit.jpg)
Belli is a member of the band Tranzkuntinental, which made its debut at The Roxy in 2009. The band was started by Charlie Paulson and Xander Smith and features drag queens Detox, Kelly Mantle, Rhea Litré, and Vicky Vox.[14][15]
In January 2011, he was featured in Rihanna's music video "S&M" along with Detox and Morgan McMichaels as back-up dancers.[16]
2011–2012: RuPaul's Drag Race and further success
editWorld of Wonder contacted Willam's management asking for her to audition for the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[7] She decided to apply after being rejected for an acting role in Don Johnson's pilot, A Mann's World, when the casting director of the pilot (which later went unaired), who had previously cast Willam in Cinema Verite, didn't cast her because she was not a "name". The role later went to Cara Cunningham.[8] In November 2011, Logo TV announced that Belli was among 13 contestants competing on the fourth season.[17] Fellow castmate Chad Michaels had competed with Belli in the California Entertainer of the Year Pageant in 2010.[18] Belli won the main challenges in the episodes "Float Your Boat" and "Frenemies", but was disqualified in the latter.[19] In the episode "Reunited", Belli stated that her disqualification was due to conjugal visits made by his husband in his hotel room.[20] By Belli's own account however, in the years since airing season 4, Willam has refuted the "official story" in multiple interviews.[21]
Belli's most recent reassertion about the circumstances of her disqualification is in an interview with YouTuber Joseph Shepherd in February 2019, where Belli claims that the 'so-called' official reason was just a fabrication by the show's creators for the purpose of portraying a more palatable scenario of Belli's departure from the show. In that interview, Willam claimed that the genuine reason for his removal was due to increasing hostilities and issues between the contestants and the crew, and that, whenever she had broken the rules, she would report it directly to production in hopes of being removed from the show. Willam claims that many members of the crew were rude and condescending towards the drag queens in general, with some of the crew members not even bothering to try to learn the contestant's names - sharing one example of a crew member repeatedly calling season 4 fellow contestant Latrice Royale "La-something", despite all the crew having cards with the photographs of the queens/contestants (in and out of drag) worn around their necks. At one point, Willam verbally barked at a production member for not knowing Latrice's name "just because (Willam) felt like it". Willam, along with cast members such as Royale and Chad Michaels, attempted to make a stand against the production members.[8]
Willam also claimed that, outside of filming hours, the queens weren't being adequately fed, noting that $75 was all that was allocated to feed the 12 contestants- Willam claims that this necessitated visits to the store for food. Willam also revealed that she frequently got other contestants high and/or drunk, attempted to steal items from the set such as feather fans and RuPaul-branded Ironfist shoes, and had access to a computer in her hotel room, which was outlawed by production, in order to run her "go-go boy side hustle". She has additionally claimed to have had sex in the bathroom of Micky's Weho, a local club, with producer Steven Corfe, whom she had previously made apologize to her for asking her to leave Untucked after Willam spoke out about "emotional manipulation" being done to Jiggly Caliente over the one-year anniversary of her mother's death. As the two were being escorted out of the bathroom after being discovered having sex, Corfe is said to have thrown a cup at the performer on stage that night, fellow Drag Race alum Raven, getting the two ejected from the club. Outside of the club, the duo ran into more World of Wonder staff members, including Drag Race producer Chris McKim (claimed by Willam to be Corfe's best friend), who had to physically separate the two, as they were still "making out". Weeks later, Corfe allegedly contacted Willam again and invited her out to lunch with the intent to chat with her and "get (Willam) back in with World of Wonder", of which Willam obliged. According to Belli, the conjugal visit story was made up by producers and Willam agreed to "go along with the excuse" so that "everyone looked okay".[22][23] Belli used the publicity of his disqualification to release his single "Chow Down", which was a parody of Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" that addressed the 2012 Chick-fil-A same-sex marriage controversy. The song featured Detox and Vicky Vox.[24]
On March 12, 2012, she released her first single "Trouble", which was produced by RuPaul's Red Hot collaborator Tom Trujillo. The music video for the song was directed by porn director Chi Chi LaRue and premiered on Logo TV.[7][25] On March 21, Belli released "The Vagina Song", a parody of "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars as his third single, which had been previously uploaded to YouTube in 2010. The music video was directed by Michael Serrato,[26] who also directed Belli's music video for "Chow Down".[24]
Belli released "Love You Like a Big Schlong" on April 29, 2012, which became a viral hit being viewed more than a million times on YouTube alone. Produced by Uncle Slam, the song parodies "Love You Like a Love Song" by Selena Gomez & the Scene. The song was inspired by Belli's loss to 7-year-old Eden Wood in a lip syncing contest during a segment of the 2012 NewNowNext Awards.[27]
In November 2012, Belli was featured with country music artist Drake Jensen on a cover of Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man".[28] That same month, Belli self-released her debut album The Wreckoning via his website.[29]
Willam has claimed that she was originally cast on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2012, but was dropped from the cast two days before filming was scheduled to begin. The reason given to Willam by production was that they did not see her "having stakes or stories with any of the girls". Willam believes that she was dropped from the cast because of her appearance on RuPaul's Drag U a few months prior, which she had only appeared on because another queen, later claimed to be Phi Phi O'Hara, had allegedly failed her background check, and, as Willam believes that she would've had the "most stakes" with Phi Phi (who no longer could appear on the show), resulted in Willam being dropped from the cast. She has also stated that she believes her replacement in the cast was Mimi Imfurst. Phi Phi later appeared on the next season of All Stars.[8]
2012–2013: YouTube Career, "Boy Is a Bottom", and DWV success
editBeginning in December 2012, Belli began a YouTube series associated with thestylishvids titled "Willam's Beatdown". A comedy segment involving insult humor and video reviews, the series would eventually be renewed for a second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth season that then premiered on Belli's self-titled channel. In January 2013, Belli would have his biggest viral hit with 20 million hits on YouTube alone, when he released "Boy Is a Bottom", featuring Detox and Vicky Vox, to coincide with the fifth season premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race.[30] Its timing and the use of social media made it a very well received release. The song is a parody of "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys and also features an altered version of the "breakdown" from "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" by En Vogue.[31] "Boy Is a Bottom" debuted at number six on Billboard's Comedy Digital Songs, selling 3,000 downloads in its first week.[32]
On August 14, 2013, Belli was featured along with Shangela, Detox, Raven, Morgan McMichaels, Landon Cider, Shannel, and Courtney Act, in Lady Gaga's lyric video for her single "Applause".
Belli's trio, including Detox and Vicky Vox, called DWV, officially split in June 2014 due to a personal conflict between the members.[33]
2014–2017: American Apparel, Shartistry in Motion, first book, perfume, and talk show
editBelli then became an American Apparel Ad Girl alongside Drag Race alumni Courtney Act and Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 which they supported with a single entitled, "American Apparel Ad Girls".[34][35] They also released a second single together, "Dear Santa, Bring Me a Man" for the Christmas season.[36][37]
On January 13, 2017, he released a solo version of the DWV hit "Boy Is a Bottom", in Spanish, entitled, "Es Una Pasiva",[38] which went on to top the comedy iTunes chart.[39] Belli self-released his sophomore studio album, Shartistry in Motion, on June 2.[40][41]
Belli released his first book Suck Less: Where There's a Willam, There's a Way in October 2016 through Grand Central Publishing. In 2017, he released his first perfume collaboration with Xyrena, Scented by Willam.[42]
On May 18, 2017, it was revealed that Fullscreen had ordered a talk show to be hosted by Belli. Suck Less, billed as a weekly half-hour call-in show 'where Willam throws shade and shows how to slay the game of life in six-inch stilettos' is set to debut in the summer. Friends from Belli's everyday life, as well as some of his favorite drag queens are expected to put in guest appearances over the course of the 13-episode series.[43]
2018–present: A Star Is Born, West End Debut and other ventures
editIn 2018, Willam appeared in the critically acclaimed film A Star Is Born. Willam and fellow drag queen Shangela play queens working in a drag bar alongside Lady Gaga's character Ally when she's discovered by famous country singer Jackson Maine, played by Bradley Cooper. Willam's character, Emerald, is a Dolly Parton impersonator who flirts with Jackson. The dialogue in his scenes was mostly improvised, including a memorable moment in which his character has Jackson autograph her silicone breastplate. Bradley Cooper, who also directed the film, said that Willam and Shangela "blew his mind" with their ad-libbing.[44]
On July 18, 2018, the first episode of Belli's Drag Race-themed podcast co-hosted with Alaska Thunderfuck and entitled Race Chaser, was published on the Forever Dog Network.[45] In 2020 Alaska and Willam announced that they would be setting up their own podcast network in collaboration with Forever Dog, Moguls of Media (MOM), featuring a "star-studded roster of iconic drag queens and queer luminaries" to bridge "the past, present, and future of LGBTQ+ entertainment".[46] Podcasts established under the Moguls of Media brand and executive produced by Willam and Alaska include The Chop, hosted by Latrice Royale and Manila Luzon; Very That, hosted by Delta Work and Raja; Hi Jinkx!, hosted by Jinkx Monsoon; Famous This Week, hosted by Priyanka and formerly Brooke Lynn Hytes; Sloppy Seconds, hosted by Big Dipper and Meatball; Wanna Be On Top?, hosted by Shea Couleé; and Hall & Closet, hosted by Jaida Essence Hall and Heidi N Closet.[46]
In 2019, Belli launched his own makeup line, Suck Less Face & Body.[47] In June 2019, a panel of judges from New York magazine placed her ninth on their list of "the most powerful drag queens in America", a ranking of 100 former Drag Race contestants.[48]
In 2021, Belli was announced as the star of Iconic Justice, a courtroom show in which Belli will hear and rule on various legal and social disputes between LGBTQ people.[49]
In May 2021 Belli made their West End debut in the play Death Drop, an all-drag spoof on an Agatha Christie murder mystery billed as a "Dragatha Christie".[50] They reprised the performance on a tour across the UK[51] before returning to the West End in late 2022 to headline a sequel Death Drop: Back in the Habit again followed by a UK tour.[52] They reprised their performance in the original play when it premiered Off-Broadway in Summer 2023.[53]
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Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | American Pie: The Wedding | Butch Queen | |
| 2004 | The Last Shot | Bus Stop Drag Queen | |
| 2005 | Screech of the Decapitated | Marta | |
| 2006 | Big Top | Renee | |
| Unbeatable Harold | Anita Boner | ||
| 2007 | Because I Said So | Transsexual | |
| 2008 | Defying Gravity | Lola | |
| Dog Tags | Alan | ||
| Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! | Transamerican Stewardess Nancy Needatwat | ||
| Crowded | Celeste | Short film | |
| Tranny McGuyver | Officer Mac | Short film | |
| 2009 | Sex Drugs Guns | Candy | |
| Tools 4 Fools | Blonde Drag Queen | Short film | |
| 2010 | Barry Munday | Felicia | Uncredited |
| Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives | Rachel Slurr | ||
| Silver Lake | Dario | Short film | |
| Gaysharktank.com | Short film | ||
| 2011 | Blubberella | Vadge | also co-writer |
| BloodRayne: The Third Reich | Vasyl Tishenko | ||
| 2nd Take | Bathroom Tranny | ||
| Someplace Better Than Here | Travis | Short film | |
| 2012 | The Newest Pledge | Sailor | |
| Fun Size | Qwerty | ||
| Lost Angeles | Bob | also known as City of Jerks | |
| The Watch | Olivia | Uncredited | |
| Fake Fingernails, Cash and Viagra | Franklin | Short film | |
| 2013 | X-Rated | Geoffrey Gann/'Karen Dior' | |
| Southern Baptist Sissies | Benny | Television film | |
| 2015 | Mouthpiece | Diva Bell | |
| Hollywood | Champagne | ||
| 2016 | Kicking Zombie Ass for Jesus | Beth Ann-Fetterman | |
| Hurricane Bianca | Bailey | ||
| 2018 | Joey Stefano | Geoffrey Gann/'Karen Dior' | |
| A Star Is Born | Emerald | ||
| Miss Arizona | Destiny | ||
| 2019 | Blue Call | Shineeda Drink | |
| After Birth | Tammy | ||
| Swipe Left | |||
| A Very Sordid Wedding | Herself | ||
| Girls Will Be Girls | Prosecutor | ||
| Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts | Herself | Documentary | |
| Dead Don't Die in Dallas | Beth-Anne Fetterman |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The District | Darrin Jacobs | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Boston Public | Mike | Episode: "Chapter Fifty-Eight" |
| 2004 | The Shield | Colt | Episode: "Posse Up" |
| 2004–06 | Nip/Tuck | Cherry Peck | 5 episodes |
| 2005 | My Name Is Earl | D.J. | Pilot |
| 2006 | Saved | Tippi | Episode: "Living Dead" |
| 2007 | Women's Murder Club | Sasha Simone | Episode: "To Drag & To Hold" |
| CSI: NY | Candy Darling | Episode: "The Lying Game" | |
| American Body Shop | Wanda | Episode: "Stretchy Face" | |
| 2009 | Criminal Minds | Walter Patterson | Episode: "To Hell... and Back" |
| Southland | Shiela | Episode: "See the Woman" | |
| 2011 | Cinema Verite | Candy Darling | Television film |
| 2012 | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 4) | Himself | Contestant (7th place) |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | Himself | 10 episodes | |
| RuPaul's Drag U | Professor | Episode: "Ex-Beauty Queens" | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation[54] | Dahlia | Episode: "Code Blue Plate Special" | |
| 2013 | The New Normal | Nana Drag Queen | Episode: "The Goldie Rush" |
| She's Living for This[55] | Herself | Season 2, Episode 1 | |
| 2015 | International Desk | Nassime | Episode: "Alps Plane Crash" Reenactment |
| 2016, 2018 | Hit the Floor | Herself | Season 3, Episode 6: "Carrying" Season 4, Episode 4: "Number's Up" |
| 2016–2018 | @midnight with Chris Hardwick | Herself | Season 4, Episode 27 |
| 2017 | When We Rise | Jason Snyder | Season 1, Episode 4 and 5 |
| The Twins: Happily Ever After? | Herself/Landlord | Episodes: "Happily NEVER After?" and "Hoff and Running..." | |
| Dragula | Guest Judge | Season 2, Episode 1 | |
| Difficult People | Kashton | Episode: "The Silkwood" | |
| 2018 | Work Mom | Bob | Television film |
| Super Drags | Lady Elza | Voice role | |
| The Kominsky Method | Cherry | Episode: "Chapter 8. A Widow Approaches" | |
| 2021 | Iconic Justice | Judge Willam | 5 episodes |
| 2023 | Drag Me to Dinner | Herself | Hulu original[56] |
| Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Guest[57] | |
| Accused | Layla | Guest |
Stage
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Titanique | Victor Garber/Luigi | Off-Broadway production[58][59] |
Web
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Road to the Alter | Jamie | WorkingBug 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Good Job, Thanks! | Actress | Vimeo Episode: "We All Need a Meeting" |
| A Series Of Unfortunate People | Cami | WorkingBug/Dailymotion Episode: "Bargain Birthday" | |
| 2012 | Squad 85 | Bar Attendee | YouTube/YOMYOMF Episode 4 |
| 2012–13 | Transfashionable[60] | Himself | YouTube/The Stylist 4 episodes |
| 2012–2019 | EastSiders | Douglas/Gomorrah Ray/Amber Alert | Vimeo/Logo TV/Netflix 13 episodes Indie Series Awards Best Guest Actor — Drama (2016)[61] |
| 2013 | Neil's Puppet Dreams[62] | Performer | YouTube Episode: Dream Bump |
| Willam's Beatdown | Host | YouTube/The Stylist 19 episodes | |
| 30 Days of Willam | Host | Logo TV 30 episodes | |
| Snore | Maid | Funny or Die Parody of Downton Abbey set to "Vogue" | |
| The Fairfax File | Flame LaTouche | Funny or Die | |
| Rambo, But Gay | Deputy Mitch | YouTube/Nerdist | |
| 2014 | Willam's This is not the Beatdown | Host | YouTube 26 episodes |
| Real World S#!t Show! | Host | MTV 12 episodes | |
| Jiz | Spooge | Episode: "Jiz is Dead" Episode: "Jiz Makes a CUMback" | |
| Mean Boyz | Teacher | YouTube Parody trailer of Mean Girls | |
| Hollywoodland | Dinner Guest | YouTube Episode 1 | |
| Hey Qween! | Guest | YouTube | |
| 2014–present | Beatdown[63] | Host | YouTube 70 episodes |
| Paint Me Bitch | YouTube 28 episodes | ||
| 2015 | The Dinner Bash | Himself | Episode 5: "Cocktails & Hens" Episode 6: "Tranimal Cookies" |
| Gay of Everything | Himself | YouTube 1 episode | |
| 2015–16 | Shane and Friends | Guest | Season 3, Episode 6 Season 4, Episode 7 |
| 2015–17 | The WeHoans | Himself | YouTube/City of West Hollywood Parody of The Californians 7 episodes |
| Billium's Wheatdown | Himself | YouTube 11 episodes | |
| 2016 | Straight Outta Oz | Himself | YouTube Music video: "Expensive" |
| Go-Go Boy Interrupted | Club Pantherwarmth Manager | YouTube 2 episodes | |
| 2017 | Suck Less | Host | Fullscreen 13 episodes |
| UNHhhh | Guest | YouTube Episode 55 | |
| Not Too Deep with Grace Helbig | Guest | Podcast | |
| 2018–present | ¿Cómo Se Dice? | Host | YouTube co-hosted with Rhea Litré 13 episodes |
| Race Chaser | Host | Podcast co-hosted with Alaska Thunderfuck | |
| 2019 | Exposed | Guest | YouTube Hosted by Joseph Shepherd |
| 2020 | The X Change Rate | Guest | YouTube Hosted by Monet X Change |
| 2023 | Tea Time with Attitude | Guest | YouTube With Crystal[64] |
| 2023 | Sissy That Talk Show with Joseph Shepherd | Podcast; Guest | YouTube[65] |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "S&M" | Rihanna | [66] |
| 2013 | "Applause" Lyric video | Lady Gaga | [67] |
| 2016 | "Expensive" | Todrick Hall | [68] |
| 2017 | "Power" | Little Mix | [69] |
| 2018 | "Girly" | John Duff | [70] |
| 2019 | "Star Maps" | Aly & AJ | [71] |
| 2023 | "True Colors" | Kylie Sonique Love | [72] |
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Title | Details | Chart peaks | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Comedy [73] | |||||||||||||
| The Wreckoning |
|
— | |||||||||||
| Shartistry in Motion |
|
1 | |||||||||||
| Now That's What I Call Drag Music, Vol. 1[74] (alternatively known as Songs in the Key of Nope) |
|
4 | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that failed to chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Comedy Digital [75] | |||||||||||||
| "Trouble" | 2012 | — | The Wreckoning | ||||||||||
| "Chow Down" (featuring Detox & Vicky Vox) |
12 | ||||||||||||
| "The Vagina Song" | — | ||||||||||||
| "Love You Like a Big Schlong" | 25 | ||||||||||||
| "She Doesn't Know" | — | ||||||||||||
| "Let's Have a KaiKai" (featuring Rhea Litré) |
— | ||||||||||||
| "Stand by Your Man" (featuring Drake Jensen) |
— | ||||||||||||
| "RuPaulogize" (featuring Sharon Needles) |
2013 | 14 | |||||||||||
| "Potential New Boyfriend" | — | ||||||||||||
| "Boy Is a Bottom" (with DWV) |
6 | Non-album singles | |||||||||||
| "Silicone" (with DWV) |
— | ||||||||||||
| "Blurred Bynes" (with DWV) |
5 | ||||||||||||
| "That Christmas Song" (with DWV) |
— | ||||||||||||
| "Gaycation!" (with DWV) |
2014 | — | |||||||||||
| "Hole Pic" | — | ||||||||||||
| "Only Anally" | — | Shartistry in Motion | |||||||||||
| "American Apparel Ad Girls" (with Courtney and Alaska) |
10 | ||||||||||||
| "Dear Santa, Bring Me a Man" (with Courtney and Alaska) |
— | Non-album single | |||||||||||
| "Es Una Pasiva" | 2015 | — | Shartistry in Motion | ||||||||||
| "Ride for AIDS" (featuring Alaska) |
12 | ||||||||||||
| "Thick Thighs" (featuring Latrice Royale) |
3 | ||||||||||||
| "I'm Not a Pearl" | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||||
| "Uck Foff" | 2016 | 12 | |||||||||||
| "AAA" (with Courtney and Alaska) |
2017 | 2 | Access All Areas | ||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that failed to chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Tours
edit- Access All Areas Tour (2017)[76]
Bibliography
edit- Suck Less: Where There's a Willam, There's a Way. Grand Central Publishing. 2016. ISBN 978-1455566198.
Awards and nominations
editDaytime Emmy Awards
editBelli was nominated for his performance on the Netflix dark comedy web series EastSiders at the 47th Daytime Emmy Awards.[3]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | EastSiders | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series | Nominated |
| Outstanding Makeup | Nominated |
NewNowNext Awards
editBelli was nominated for his role on RuPaul's Drag Race at the fifth annual NewNowNext Awards which aired on Logo network on April 9, 2012. He lost to Nadia G. of Bitchin' Kitchen which airs on the Food Network Canada and the Cooking Channel.[77]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Willam Belli | Most Addictive Reality Star | Nominated |
Queerty Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Race Chaser | Podcast[78] | Won |
| 2020 | Podcast[79] | Won | |
| 2021 | Podcast[80] | Runner-up | |
| 2022 | Willam Belli | Drag Royalty[81] | Nominated |
| Race Chaser | Podcast[82] | Won | |
| 2023 | Access All Areas: The AAA Girls Tour | Documentary[83] | Won |
| 2024 | Race Chaser | Podcast[84] | Pending |
Webby Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Race Chaser | Podcasts - Television & Film[85] | Honored |
References
edit- ^ a b "About willam belli". YouTube.
- ^ Gay Times (June 29, 2016). "Happy birthday, Willam!". Gay Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
- ^ a b "NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 47TH ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS" (PDF). theemmys.tv. National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ a b @willam (May 10, 2020). "Soon after taking this photo, my mother confiscated my tweezers" – via Instagram.
- ^ @bellidebbi (August 8, 2023). "This is my first born!" – via Instagram.
- ^ "Is Willam Belli your given name?". Tumblr. October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Smith, Brian Bowen (2012). "Willam Belli: How to Break the Rules". Dirty. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "WILLAM: EXPOSED (The Full Interview) - Part 1". YouTube. February 27, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ "Do you talk to your family know after getting emancipated?". Tumblr. February 22, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ Sources pertaining to Belli's husband:
- "Q&A: CATCHING UP WITH WILLAM (PART II)". Drag Official. February 2, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- "Willam & his husband Bruce :')". Tumblr. May 11, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- "I'm curious, you say your husband but are you married?..." Tumblr. December 30, 2015. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ "Willam Belli – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ Belli, Willam (December 6, 2012). "Twitter / @willambelli: @KidsGoSplat yes I love Jenny ..." Twitter. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ "Tranimal Master Class Workshop on Vimeo". Vimeo. February 28, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
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I was doing a show off-broadway by that point! It was called Jersey Shoresical. In fact, two days after I got kicked off of drag race I was in Jersey Shoresical in New York, pretty convenient, huh? And we won the Fringe Fest Audience Award. It's almost like it was planned...
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