Larry Edwards (entertainer)

Larry Edwards, also known by his drag persona Hot Chocolate, is an American entertainer. Known for his performances in Las Vegas, primarily as a Tina Turner female impersonator. Edwards has also competed in national pageants, being crowned as Miss Gay America in 1980.[1][2]

Larry Edwards
Edwards (right) with Frank Marino, 2018
Born
Larry Edwards

Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Occupationfemale impersonator
Websitehttp://www.larryedwardslive.com/

Edwards has made numerous appearances on film and in television, including Miss Congeniality 2, What's Love Got to Do with It, the documentary Pageant, and the competition series The Next Best Thing.

Edwards studied Fashion Merchandising at Massey Business College in Atlanta, Georgia.[3]

Edwards performed in Frank Marino's Las Vegas drag-revue show Divas as Tina Turner and previously performed in the long-running hit show La Cage at the Riviera Hotel and Casino.[4] Edwards met Tina Turner at a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show.[5][6]

Edwards was the Celebrity Grand Marshall of the Las Vegas Pride Parade in 2010.[7] Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman awarded Edwards the Keys to the city for his work in promoting the hospitality industry of the area.[8]

In 2019, when Celine Dion announced her 2019/2020 Courage World Tour, she released a video titled "Ciao for now Las Vegas", in which she leaves Las Vegas in a car full of drag queens.[9] Impersonator Steven Wayne stood in for Dion, alongside drag queens; Bryan Watkins, Crystal Woods and Hot Chocolate as Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross and Tina Turner.[10][11]

He released a music video in 2020 featuring the remixed version of "What's Love Got to Do with It" by Kygo.[12]

Filmography
Film / Television
Year Title Role Notes
1993 What's Love Got to Do with It Tina Turner Impersonator (uncredited) (Film)
1995 Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Female impersonator (Video Game)
2005 Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Patti LaBelle Impersonator / Tina Turner Impersonator #2 (Film)
2007 The Next Best Thing: Who Is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator? Tina Turner (TV Series), 1 episode: "Las Vegas Auditions"
2008 Get Happy Self (Short film)
Pageant Self as Pageant Judge / Miss Gay America 1980 (Documentary Film)
2010 360° Around the World Self (Documentary film)
2013 Celebrity Page Self / Tina Turner (TV Series), 2 episodes: "22 September 2013" and "4 December 2013"
Toddlers & Tiaras Celebrity Judge / Tina Turner (TV Series), 1 episode: "Las Vegas: LalapaZOOza"
2014 Long Island Medium Tina Turner (TV Series documentary), 1 episode: "On The Road: Las Vegas Part II"
Travelator Tina Turner (Film)
2015 You Have to Believe Tina Turner (Video short)
2016 Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens Background extra (Film)
2017 Caraoke Showdown Proud Mary / Tina (TV Series), 1 episode: "Proud Mary, Tina, Britney and Cher"
2018 Last Laugh in Vegas Pamela Manderson and Tina Turner (TV Series documentary), 2 episodes: "Episode #1.3" and "Episode #1.4"
2019 The Talk Himself (TV Series), 1 episode: "Episode #10.39"

References
  1. Meet Three Las Vegas Stars 08/2018
  2. The WOW Report
  3. Beyond the Rope Las Vegas Weekly 05/2006
  4. Larry Edwards bio Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas
  5. Houston LGBT History
  6. Hot Chocolate Drag Con 2018
  7. Las Vegas Pride 9/2020
  8. Larry Edwards Interview
  9. "Ciao for now Las Vegas". YouTube. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  10. Suzannah Showler (28 August 2019). "Céline Dion is Everywhere". The Walrus. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  11. "Steven Wayne". Retrieved 2 September 2019 – via Facebook.
  12. Edwards Interview, ReviewJournal.Com
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