Chad Michaels
{{Short description|American drag performer and Cher impersonator}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chad Michaels
| image = Rupaul Dragcon 2018-148 (41356433034) (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Michaels at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018
| birth_name = Chad Michael Storbeck{{cite news |author= |date=March 24, 1971 |title=Birth Announcement |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/iowa/aurelia/aurelia-sentinel/1971/03-24/ |work=Aurelia Sentinel |location=Aurelia, Iowa |access-date=}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|3|20}}
| birth_place = Arcadia, California, U.S.
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| restingplace =
| other_names =
| spouse(s) = Adam Magee (m. 2015)
| occupation = Drag performer, Cher impersonator
| years_active = 1995 – present
| known_for = RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars winner; runner-up on season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race
}}
Chad Michael Storbeck, known professionally as Chad Michaels (born March 20, 1971), is an American drag performer and professional Cher impersonator. He was a runner-up in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the winner of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. In 2013, he released "Tragic Girl", his debut single and music video.
Early life
Michaels was born Chad Michael Storbeck to former high school football player Jerry Michael Storbeck of Aurelia, Iowa and salon worker Linda Storbeck Olson of Encinitas, California{{cite news |author= |date=April 25, 1968 |title=Linda Olson Wed In Lutheran Rites |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/california/arcadia/arcadia-tribune/1968/04-25/page-44/ |work=Arcadia Tribune |location=Arcadia, California |access-date=November 8, 2022}} at Arcadia Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California on March 20, 1971. His parents graduated from Pasadena High School and Aurelia High School, respectively, and wed in 1968. They resided in Olivenhain, Encinitas, California at the time of his birth before they moved to Los Angeles, and then again to San Diego, where he was raised.Michaels in {{cite web|url=http://www.seattlegayscene.com/2012/01/untucked-with-brian-interview-with-chad-michaels-of-rupauls-drag-race-season-four.html|title=Untucked with Brian: Interview with Chad Michaels of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season Four|first=Brian|last=Peterson|publisher=SeattleGayScene,com|access-date=March 9, 2013|date=January 5, 2012|archive-date=June 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629164217/http://www.seattlegayscene.com/2012/01/untucked-with-brian-interview-with-chad-michaels-of-rupauls-drag-race-season-four.html |df=mdy-all}} He originally went by the drag name "Brigitte Love." Michaels chose to perform under his own name after working at "An Evening at La Cage" in Las Vegas, which required the drag queens to use masculine stage names. Michaels is married to Adam Magee.{{Cite tweet |user=ChadMichaels1 |number=489942110200938498 |title=My early Anniversary pressy from @AdamMagee8803 !!! Omg it is awesome! Love u Baby!!🎁👬❤️🎉}}
Career
File:Performista vestido como Cher-1.jpg.]]
Michaels began his career as a celebrity impersonator, being especially known for his Cher impressions.
After his run on Drag Race, Chad continued to perform as Cher.{{Cite web |title=Chad Michaels – RuPaul's Drag Race All Star Winner |url=https://chadmichaels.com/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |language=en-US |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206005930/https://chadmichaels.com/ |url-status=dead }}
Michaels produces and performs with the Dreamgirls Revue, a drag show in California.{{cite web|title=About Chad Michaels|url=http://www.chadmichaels.com/about-chad-michaels/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724052110/http://www.chadmichaels.com/about-chad-michaels/ |archive-date=July 24, 2012|work=ChadMichaels.com|access-date=March 9, 2013}} Performers in the Dreamgirls Revue have included RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Delta Work, Raven, Detox, Morgan McMichaels, Raja, Shannel, and Venus D-Lite.{{cite web|title=See Chad Michaels Perform with the Dreamgirls Revue!|url=http://worldofwonder.net/posts/2012/11/27/come-to-chad-michaels-dreamgirls-revue/#|work=World of Wonder|access-date=March 9, 2013|date=November 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218094342/http://worldofwonder.net/posts/2012/11/27/come-to-chad-michaels-dreamgirls-revue/|archive-date=February 18, 2013}}
Morgan McMichaels is Michaels' drag daughter.{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Joshua|title=The Scottish Scandal, Morgan McMichaels|url=http://www.edgeboston.com/?104493|work=Edge Boston|access-date=March 9, 2013|date=April 15, 2010}}
Michaels started touring with Farrah Moan in 2019 for the Burlesque tour, based on the 2010 film of the same name starring Cher and Christina Aguilera.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/119269/farrah-moan-is-not-here-for-your-criticism-walk-a-mile-in-my-motherfucking-louboutins/|title=Farrah Moan is not here for your criticism: "Walk a mile in my motherf**king Louboutins"|date=2019-03-07|language=en|work=Gay Times|access-date=2019-03-21}}
In 2010, Michaels competed in the first California Entertainer of the Year pageant, becoming first alternate to winner Shangela.{{cite web|last=Addams|first=Calpernia|title=California EOY 2010 – The Recap|url=http://www.calpernia.com/diary/california-eoy-2010-the-recap/|work=Calpernia.com|access-date=March 9, 2013|archive-date=December 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226040109/http://www.calpernia.com/diary/california-eoy-2010-the-recap/|url-status=dead}}
''RuPaul's Drag Race''
=''Season 4''=
In 2011, Michaels was announced as one of the 13 queens competing on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012.
The season began with a design challenge, which Michaels performed adequately in, but the episode 2, Chad won his first challenge alongside Madame LaQueer, the "WTF!: Wrestling's Trashiest Fighters", where the contestants had to play wrestlers. Chad continued performing well, getting good critiques for the advertisement challenge in episode 3 and the acting challenge in episode 4.
Chad won his second challenge in Episode 5, the Snatch Game, where he impersonated Cher. His performance has been regarded as one of the best performances in the challenge's history.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/drag-race-snatch-game-performances-ranked-music/jinkx-monsoon-as-judy-garland-all-stars-7/ |title='RuPaul's Drag Race': Every Musical Impersonation on Snatch Game Ranked
|author=Joe Lynch, Stephen Daw |date=23 January 2023 |magazine=billboard |publisher= |access-date=30 September 2023 |quote=}}
Chad performed solidly in the remaining challenges, not winning any but doing well enough to be safe. This ended in episode 11, where Chad performed poorly in a ball challenge and was put into the bottom two against Latrice Royale. The two lip-synced to "No One Else on Earth" by Wynona Judd. Latrice was eliminated, and Chad won and gained a spot in the finale.
File:Chad_Michaels_as_Cher.jpg in Austin, Texas.]]
At the grand finale, it was revealed that Chad had lost the season to Sharon Needles, tying for second with Phi Phi O'Hara.
=''All Stars 1''=
Shortly after his run on season 4, Chad was announced as a contestant on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/08/06/rupauls-all-stars-drag-race-cast-announcement/ |title= 'RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race' cast announced |author=Tanner Stransky |date=August 6, 2012 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher= |access-date=September 30, 2023 |quote=}}
During the season, a twist was incorporated where the twelve contestants had to pair up with a fellow contestant to run the season with. Chad picked season 1 contestant, Shannel and the pair were given the name "Team Shad". The first challenge was a photo shoot where contestants had to take "half-baked" and "opposites attract" photos. Shad performed weakly, landing in the bottom two in episode 1 beside Team Mandora (Mimi Imfurst and Pandora Boxx). Chad lip-synced against Mimi to Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul and won, sending Mimi and Pandora home first.
In episode 2, team Shad survived the "gaff-in" challenge, followed by the team winning all three of the final challenges in episodes 3, 4, and 5, a pranks challenge, girl group/makeover challenge, and a ball challenge, which took both Chad and Shannel to the final 4.
In the finale, Shannel and Jujubee were eliminated, leaving Chad and season 2 finalist, Raven as the final two. After they lip-synced to Responsitrannity by RuPaul, it was announced that Chad had won All Stars 1. This secured his spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame.
Discography
= Singles =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Song ! style="text-align: center;" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}} |
| 2013
|"Tragic Girl" | style="text-align: center;" |{{cite news |url=http://www.newnownext.com/get-a-taste-of-chad-michaels-new-single-tragic-girl-listen/08/2013/|title=Get A Taste Of Chad Michaels' New Single, "Tragic Girl": LISTEN|author=Dan Avery |date=August 12, 2013 |access-date=May 20, 2020 |magazine=NewNowNext.com}} |
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| 2011
| Bamboo Shark | Cher | |
| 2021
|The Bitch Who Stole Christmas |Cher | |
| TBA
|Maybe This Time |Stephen |Pre-production |style="text-align: center;" |{{cite web|last=Hopkins|first=Jay|title=Rupaul's Drag Race Winner Chad Michaels Joins Cast Of "Maybe This Time"|url=https://www.shootonline.com/spw/rupaul%E2%80%99s-drag-race-winner-chad-michaels-joins-cast-maybe-time|work=PureWow|access-date=April 28, 2020|date=October 25, 2018}}{{cite magazine|last=Schiller|first=Rebecca|title=Chad Michaels Discusses Cher Impersonator Role in New Film 'Maybe This Time': Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8455961/chad-michaels-cher-impersonator-film-role-video-interview|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 28, 2020|date=May 14, 2018}} |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| 2002
| MADtv | Cher impersonator at gay bar | Season 7, Episode 15 |style="text-align: center;" | |
| 2003
| E! True Hollywood Story: Cher | Himself | |style="text-align: center;" | |
| 2007
| Glenn Whitney | Episode 9: "To Drag and to Hold" |style="text-align: center;" | |
| 2009
| Cher | Episode 16: "Bachelorette" |style="text-align: center;" |{{Cite news|url=https://worldofwonder.net/kath-kim-cher-aka-chad-michaels/|title=Kath & Kim & Cher AKA Chad Michaels|author=WOW Staff|date=March 5, 2009|work=WOW Report|access-date=September 15, 2021|language=en}} |
| 2011
|Cher impersonator |Series 17, Episode 3 |style="text-align: center;" | |
| 2012–24
| rowspan="5" | Himself | Contestant (Season 4) – Runner-Up |
| rowspan="3" | 2012
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked | |style="text-align: center;" | |
| NewNowNext Awards
| |style="text-align: center;" | |
| RuPaul's Drag U
| |style="text-align: center;" | |
| 2012–19
| RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Contestant (Season 1) - Winner |
| rowspan="2" |2015
| rowspan="2" |Cher impersonator | |
| 2 Broke Girls
| |
| 2019
|Cher |Guest |style="text-align: center;" |{{Cite news|url=http://www.newnownext.com/sean-hayes-chad-michaels-cher-ellen/10/2019/|title=Watch Sean Hayes Turn Back Time With Chad Michaels on "Ellen"|last=Voss|first=Brandon|date=October 5, 2019|work=NewNowNext|access-date=April 27, 2020|language=en}} |
| 2020
|Brian Gerrity/Cher |Guest appearance |style="text-align: center;" |{{Cite news|url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/12/03/aj-and-the-queen-netflix-rupauls-drag-race-queens/|title=RuPaul brings 22 Drag Race queens to costar on AJ and the Queen|last=Nolfi|first=Joey|date=2019-12-03|work=EW.com|access-date=2019-12-03}} |
= Music Videos =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Artist !Ref. |
|---|
| 2012
| "Glamazon" | RuPaul | style="text-align: center;" | {{cite magazine |url=http://www.newnownext.com/rupaul-and-three-finalists-star-in-glamazon-video/04/2012/|title=Video: RuPaul And Three Finalists Star In 'Glamazon' Video |date=April 23, 2012 |last=Robertson |first=Lindsay |magazine=NewNowNext |access-date=April 10, 2020 }} |
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| "Woman's World" (Remix) | Cher | style="text-align: center;" | {{Cite news|url=http://www.newnownext.com/cher-womans-world-rupauls-drag-race/09/2013/|title="Drag Race" Queens Star In Video For Cher's "Woman's World": WATCH|last=Avery|first=Dan|date=2013-09-05|work=NewNowNext.com|access-date=2020-04-10}} |
| "Tragic Girl"
|Chad Michaels & Liquid360 |
=Web series=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://chadmichaels.com/}}
- {{IMDb name|2235636}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box | title=Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | before=First| years=US All Stars 1| after=Alaska Thunderfuck}}
{{s-end}}
{{RuPaul's Drag Race}}
{{RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Michaels, Chad}}
Category:People from San Diego
Category:Drag performers from Los Angeles
Category:People from Arcadia, California