Kelly Mantle

Early life

Mantle was born in Oklahoma City but grew up in Cordell, Oklahoma.

Mantle's uncle was professional baseball player Mickey Mantle, who played for the New York Yankees. Mantle graduated with a BFA in Theatre from the University of Oklahoma.

Career

After college, Mantle went to Chicago to begin a career as an actor. He acted in plays such as The Convention and Royal Flush. Lone Star/Laundry & Bourbon was the first production by OKRA Theatre, a theater company started by Mantle and his friend Tracy Parks, who directed the play.

Mantle studied at Second City in Chicago. Mantle performed with many sketch comedy troupes in Chicago and Los Angeles including The Milk Carton Children and The Dusty Rhodes Show.

In 1998, Mantle starred in the Chicago production of Charles Busch's play Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. After two years of living in Chicago, he moved to Los Angeles. He later auditioned for the Los Angeles production of Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, where he were scouted and signed by a talent agent.

In Los Angeles, Mantle became a member of the band Sex with Lurch, which was formed by singer Robbie Quinne and guitarist Bernard Yin. As part of the group, Mantle used the stage name "Brandy Warhol". The group disbanded in December 2002. Mantle later joined Quinne's follow-up band, the Barbarellatones.

Mantle has made numerous television guest star appearances on such shows as NYPD Blue in the recurring role of Dan "Monika" Hofnagle, CSI, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Nip/Tuck, Southland, Judging Amy, Cold Case, Will & Grace, George Lopez, Cuts, Eve,10-8, The New Normal, Rizzoli & Isles, Eagleheart, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Mike & Molly. Mantle has also starred in several television pilots including Queens on the Road, and Three Strikes.

Mantle's film credits include The Convent, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Straight Eye: The Movie, True Rights, Buds for Life, Pop Kowboy, and The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down.

Mantle launched The Confusion Of My Illusion, which was produced at the Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center in Los Angeles. Other theatrical roles include Jo in the musical-play All This & Heaven Too, and Gash in the Laguna Playhouse's production of Last Easter. Mantle starred alongside musician Heather Reid in the world premiere of the musical Dear Bernard, winning a Maddy Award for Best Actor for their performance. Mantle also appeared in Tony and Tony's Wedding, the Chicago and Hollywood revivals of Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, and the all-male production of Lone Star/Laundry and Bourbon in which Mantle starred and co-produced, it was hailed as the best show of the year by The Chicago Tribune's Year-In-Review. As a stand-up comedian, Mantle was featured on LOGO's stand-up comedy special, "DragTastic NYC", in 2011.

Mantle was a featured model in photographer Steven Meisel's Night Clubbing, published in Italian Vogue Magazine. Other print credits include the poster boy for Pro-Tools and various Toyota ads.

Mantle is also a singer, songwriter, and musician. His debut album, Ever Changing, was a collection of songs written by Mantle and performed to an acoustic guitar. Chris Freeman from the band, Pansy Division, came on board as producer and recorded the songs with a full band. Mantle's second album was Rock N Glow. Mantle worked with Steven Phillips to record Satellite Baby. Since the release of the third album Mantle has recorded various covers including a rendition of Khia's "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" released in 2013.

Mantle was also a member of the band Tranzkuntinental. The band was started by Charlie Paulson and Xander Smith and features drag queens Detox, Rhea Litré, Vicky Vox, and Willam Belli.

Currently, Mantle is a member of the band the Rollz Royces with Tammie Brown and Michael Catti. Mantle and Catti have appeared in Tammie Brown's Christmas show Holiday Sparkle at Fubar in West Hollywood.

In 2014 Mantle starred in Confessions of a Womanizer with Gary Busey. The film was released in 2016. Mantle, who is genderfluid, made history when the film's producers sought both supporting actor and supporting actress consideration for his performance and The Academy granted the request.

RuPaul's Drag Race

In December 2013, Logo announced that Mantle was among fourteen drag queens who would be competing on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was eliminated in the first episode, lip-synching to Express Yourself against Vivacious.

Albums