Kelly Mantle

Kelly Mantle is an American actor, comedian, musician, drag queen and reality television personality. He appeared as a contestant on the sixth season of the reality TV show RuPaul's Drag Race.

Kelly 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.

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 also studied at Second City in Chicago. He has performed with many sketch comedy troupes in Chicago and Los Angeles including The Milk Carton Children where the character Dusty Rhodes was created and The Dusty Rhodes Show was born. Mantle performed as Dusty Rhodes for three years.

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 lead singer Robbie Quinne and guitarist Bernard Yin (Medicine, Pansy Division). As part of the group, Mantle used the stage name "Brandy Warhol". The group disbanded in December 2002. Mantle later joined Robbie 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, a Jon Stewart pilot for Comedy Central.

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 his own one-person show, 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, California. Other theater performances include Jo in the musical-play All This & Heaven Too, his portrayal of Gash in Laguna Playhouse's production of Last Easter. Mantle also starred alongside musician Heather Reid in the world premiere musical Dear Bernard. Mantle received a Maddy Award for Best Actor for their performance in Dear Bernard. 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.

In addition to acting, Mantle has worked as a model. 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, Rock N Glow, was also produced by Freeman. Mantle worked with producer, Steven Phillips, to record his third album, 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 that was acclaimed by Khia herself.

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, California.

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

Mantle released the single and music video for "Keyboard Courage" in 2016. The song was written and recorded by Mantle as an empowerment anthem in response to the cyberbullying epidemic faced by adolescents, and is the first single off of his upcoming album slated for early 2016. In 2016, Mantle also starred in the film American Dream with Nick Stahl and Middle Man alongside Jim O'Heir, Josh McDermitt, and Andrew J. West.

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. He was eliminated in the first episode, lip-synching to Express Yourself against Vivacious.

Albums

• Ever Changing (2002)
• Rock-N-Glow (2004)
• Satellite Baby (2006)

Singles

Music videos

Film

Television

Web series