Inquest opened into death of RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne
James Lee Williams, who performed as the drag queen The Vivienne, was found dead
at their home in Cheshire in January. The star rose to fame on RuPaul’s Drag
Race.
Wednesday 12 February 2025 12:54, UK
Further investigation is needed into the death of RuPaul’s Drag Race star The
Vivienne, a coroner has said, after postmortem testing revealed an “unnatural”
cause.
The body of James Lee Williams, who performed as the drag queen, was found at
their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, on Sunday 5 January.
Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington opened an inquest at a short hearing on
Wednesday.
Williams, 32, was found in their bathroom, the court heard. Police attended and
confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.
Coroner’s officer Amanda Edgar said postmortem testing had taken place and
identified “an unnatural cause of death”.
Williams was identified by their father, the court heard.
Area coroner Victoria Davies said: “Given the unnatural cause of death
identified on postmortem testing it is appropriate for me to formally open the
inquest into the death of James Lee Williams.”
Further investigations are required, she said, and the case was adjourned for a
full inquest, set for 30 June.
Williams, who grew up in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, before moving to Liverpool,
won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race
[https://news.sky.com/topic/rupauls-drag-race-8826] UK and came third in the
2023 edition of Dancing On Ice.
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Their drag name came from their love of legendary British designer Vivienne
Westwood [https://news.sky.com/topic/vivienne-westwood-10526].
RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage was among those who paid tribute after
news of their death emerged, saying she was “utterly heartbroken” by the news.
RuPaul said the world had lost an “incredibly talented queen and a lovely human
being”.
Read more: The Vivienne – a ‘drag trailblazer’
[https://news.sky.com/story/the-vivienne-from-rupauls-drag-race-to-mainstream-star-their-rise-as-a-drag-trailblazer-13284542]
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Contestants from the show including Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz, and Cheryl, along with
Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, TV personality Kim Woodburn and Coronation Street
actress Claire Sweeney, were among those who attended their funeral in
Denbighshire, North Wales, in February.
Williams also performed as the Wicked Witch of the West in a tour of The Wizard
Of Oz musical across the UK and Ireland, and reprised the role in the West End
in 2024.
They were due to be back on stage this month as the Childcatcher in a tour of
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a role they first portrayed last year.
