Quentin Crisp

Date of Birth: December 25, 1908

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: November 21, 1999

Biography

Quentin Crisp was an English writer, raconteur, and actor noted for his distinctive wit, flamboyant personality, and his candid memoirs. Born Denis Charles Pratt, he changed his name to Quentin Crisp in his twenties. Crisp gained fame through his 1968 autobiography “The Naked Civil Servant,” which detailed his experiences as an openly gay man in London during the early 20th century, a time when homosexuality was illegal in the United Kingdom. The book was later adapted into a celebrated television film starring John Hurt. Crisp’s subsequent works and public appearances cemented his status as a cultural icon. He moved to New York City in 1981, where he continued to write, perform, and influence discussions on social norms, sexuality, and individualism until his death.

5 Interesting Facts about Quentin Crisp

1. Quentin Crisp was born Denis Charles Pratt but adopted the name Quentin Crisp in his twenties.

2. His autobiography, “The Naked Civil Servant,” was adapted into a television film that brought him international fame.

3. Crisp moved to New York City in 1981 and lived there until his death in 1999.

4. Known for his acerbic wit, Crisp performed one-man shows where he shared his views on a variety of subjects, including fashion, manners, and homosexuality.

5. Despite his flamboyant persona, Crisp claimed to live a relatively ascetic life, famously stating that he never dusted his apartment because “after the first four years the dirt doesn’t get any worse.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Quentin Crisp

1. “To live in a world where I am always right would be an easy way to go through life, but I would die of boredom.”

2. “Fashion is what you adopt when you don’t know who you are.”

3. “The consuming desire of most human beings is deliberately to plant their whole life in the hands of some other person.”

4. “The very purpose of existence is to reconcile the glowing opinion we have of ourselves with the appalling things that other people think about us.”

5. “My appearance is a statement of my individuality, my belief in personal freedom, and the importance of style over conformity.”