---
name: "RuPaul"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/rupaul"
fi1m_id: "rupaul"
imdb_id: "nm0750412"
tmdb_id: 78589
wikidata_id: "Q705715"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "17 November 1960"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 65
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-30T22:04:05.612108+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# RuPaul

## Identity

RuPaul

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/rupaul
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** rupaul
- **IMDb ID:** nm0750412
- **TMDB ID:** 78589
- **Wikidata ID:** Q705715
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RuPaul, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q705715, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750412/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/78589

Actor. Born 17 November 1960 in San Diego, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 17 November 1960, San Diego, California, USA
- **Active:** 2023–present
- **Also known as:** RuPaul Charles, RuPaul Andre Charles, Andre Charles, Ru Paul
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 7 Emmys (7 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 65 to 68 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 2, Adventure 2, Animation 2, Comedy 2, Family 2, Fantasy 2
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $214m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RuPaul, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q705715, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750412/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/78589

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Nimona*](https://film.one/film/nimona.md) (74), [*Stop! That! Train!*](https://film.one/film/stop-that-train.md) (63)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on RuPaul

> RuPaul produces the way RuPaul hosts: assemble the queens, keep it moving, and trust the performers to carry what the writing does not. On television that has run since 2009. On film, so far, it makes for a cheerful ninety minutes and not much more.

President Judy Gagwell sits aboard a luxury train that will not stop, holds a straight face, and waits. That stillness is the best thing RuPaul does in the 2026 runaway-train spoof, and it is a fair picture of the producer too: the calm centre while the noise happens around it. Adam Shankman, who made *Hairspray* (2007), directs the film as a drag-queen take on the 1980 airline disaster comedy, and RuPaul produces it with Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the World of Wonder partners of long standing.

The producing grew out of the performing and the two have never been separated. RuPaul began in Atlanta clubs and on public access television in the early 1980s, broke through with the album *Supermodel of the World* in 1993, hosted *The RuPaul Show* on VH1 from 1996 to 1998, and since 2009 has hosted and executive-produced *RuPaul's Drag Race* and its spin-offs around the world. The feature film is the newest branch of the same tree, the first of its kind and staffed almost entirely with drag performers, several of them graduates of the programme.

That is the method, and in the film it works exactly as far as the casting goes. Ginger Minj plays Tess as a woman who has dealt with worse than a runaway train before breakfast, and Jujubee's DeeDee panics in wide eyes and small screams beside her. We laughed out loud more than once, and nearly every time it was one of them, usually reacting to something rather than saying it. Put drag talent in front of a camera and let it work: that is the strength, and it is a real one.

The weakness is everything the casting cannot fix. Christina Friel and Connor Wright's script fires a gag every twenty seconds and lands about half, which is respectable and is also the ceiling. It recycles more than it invents, the cameos do the work the writing should, and the train never looks as if it weighs anything. The long-running series has drawn the occasional complaint that its format repeats itself across seasons and spin-offs, and the film's habit of borrowing rather than building is the same complaint in a different medium.

RuPaul has said of producers that "their job is to handle paperwork, but you create the jobs." The jobs are created; nobody doubts that. The next film, if there is one, needs a script as good as its casting director. Until then, see this one with a crowd that watches *Drag Race*, because that is who it was made for, and alone on a sofa it leaves the evening with time to spare.

## Biography

RuPaul, born RuPaul Andre Charles, is an American actor, drag performer and television host. He is credited as RuPaul Charles on film and television.

He appears as President Judy Gagwell and is a producer on the 2026 comedy *Stop! That! Train!*. Other screen credits include voice roles in *Nimona* (2023) as Nate Knight, *Trolls Band Together* (2023) as Miss Maxine, and *Someone Great* (2019) as Hype, alongside earlier appearances in *To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar* (1995) and *But I'm a Cheerleader* (2000).

RuPaul is best known for creating, producing and hosting the reality series *RuPaul's Drag Race* (2009–present), for which he has received multiple Primetime Emmy Awards.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, variety.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Stop! That! Train!* (2026), Fi1m 63, as President Judy Gagwell — [page](https://film.one/film/stop-that-train.md)
- *Nimona* (2023), Fi1m 74, as Nate Knight (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/nimona.md)
- *Trolls Band Together* (2023), Fi1m 58, as Miss Maxine (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/trolls-band-together.md)

## Complete filmography (81)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Rewind* (2026), Executive Producer
- *Stop! That! Train!* (2026), as President Judy Gagwell · Producer — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/stop-that-train.md)
- *Hitpig!* (2024), as Polecat (voice)
- *OZI: Voice of the Forest* (2024), as Gurd (voice)
- *Darlo todo* (2023), as Material de archivo
- *Trolls Band Together* (2023), as Miss Maxine (voice) — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/trolls-band-together.md)
- *Nimona* (2023), as Nate Knight (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/nimona.md)
- *The Tiny Chef Show* (2022), series, as Announcer (voice)
- *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3* (2022), as The Mothership (voice)
- *Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon* (2021), as Q
- *The Bitch Who Stole Christmas* (2021), as Hannah Contour
- *Chicago Party Aunt* (2021), series, as Gideon (voice)
- *Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch* (2021), Actor
- *RuPaul's Drag Race: Bring Back My Ghouls* (2020), Executive Producer
- *AJ and the Queen* (2020), series, as Robert Lee / Ruby Red · Executive Producer, Writer, Creator
- *Stonewall Outloud* (2019), as Narrator (voice)
- *Amphibia* (2019), series, as Mr. X (voice)
- *Someone Great* (2019), as Hype
- *RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular* (2018), Executive Producer
- *Drag Tots* (2018), series, as Corny the Unicorn (voice)
- *Show Dogs* (2018), as Persephone (voice)
- *Forbidden* (2018), Actor
- *Girlboss* (2017), series, as Lionel
- *Not Today, Bianca* (2016), series, as RuPaul
- *Straight Outta OZ* (2016), Actor
- *Hurricane Bianca* (2016), as Weatherman
- *The Real O'Neals* (2016), series, as RuPaul
- *Animals.* (2016), series, as Dr. Labcoat
- *Adam Ruins Everything* (2015), series, Actor
- *Grace and Frankie* (2015), series, as Benjamin Le Day
- *Harvey Beaks* (2015), series, as Jackie Slitherstein (voice)
- *BoJack Horseman* (2014), series, as Queen Antonia (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/bojack-horseman.md)
- *Broad City* (2014), series, as Marcel — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/broad-city.md)
- *Happy Endings* (2011), series, as KrisJahn
- *Starz Inside: Ladies or Gentlemen* (2008), as Narrator
- *Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!* (2008), as Tyrell Tyrelle
- *Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World* (2007), series, as Tyler (voice)
- *Starrbooty* (2007), as Starrbooty / Cupcake · Producer, Writer
- *Ugly Betty* (2006), series, as Rudolph
- *Queer Duck: The Movie* (2006), as Theme Song Performance
- *Zombie Prom* (2006), as Miss Strict
- *Encounters 1: The Heat of the Moment* (2006), Director
- *Whitepaddy* (2006), as Radio Kissin'
- *The Comeback* (2005), series, as RuPaul
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as (voice)
- *The Groovenians* (2002), as Champagne Courvoisier
- *Who Is Cletis Tout?* (2001), as Ginger Markum
- *The Truth About Jane* (2000), as Jimmy
- *But I'm a Cheerleader* (2000), as Mike
- *Son of the Beach* (2000), series, Actor
- *The Eyes of Tammy Faye* (2000), as Narrator
- *Time of Your Life* (1999), series, Actor
- *Popular* (1999), series, as Sweet Honey Chile
- *EDtv* (1999), as RuPaul
- *V.I.P.* (1998), series, as Pepe Dutille
- *Hercules* (1998), series, as Rock Guardian (voice)
- *An Unexpected Life* (1998), as Charles
- *Veronica's Closet* (1997), series, as Brett
- *Shantay* (1997), as Shantay
- *Sabrina, the Teenage Witch* (1996), series, as Witch Judge
- *A Very Brady Sequel* (1996), as Ms. Cummings
- *Nash Bridges* (1996), series, as Simone Dubois
- *Blue in the Face* (1995), as Dancer
- *To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar* (1995), as Rachel Tensions
- *Red Ribbon Blues* (1995), as Duke
- *A Mother's Prayer* (1995), as Deacon "Dede"
- *The Brady Bunch Movie* (1995), as Mrs. Cummings
- *Crooklyn* (1994), as Bodega Woman
- *Sister, Sister* (1994), series, as Marje
- *RuPaul's Christmas Ball* (1993), as Host · Writer
- *Walker, Texas Ranger* (1993), series, as Bob
- *Fertile La Toyah Video Magazine: Inaugural Issue* (1993), Actor
- *Inferno* (1992), as Party Guest
- *Real Sex* (1990), series, Actor
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Queen Chante (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Nelson Sullivan* (1989), Actor
- *Pickle Surprise* (1989), Actor
- *Starbooty Trilogy* (1987), as Starbooty
- *Trilogy Of Terror* (1984), as Sheila Jones · Writer
- *Just Between Friends*, Actor
- *American Porn Star*, as Cherry Grind

## Gallery

- ![RuPaul at the 2019 California Hall of Fame Ceremony.](https://film.one/media/person/93437/gallery-4b9a0fedf07a.jpg) RuPaul at the 2019 California Hall of Fame Ceremony. — Government of California, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/2019_California_Hall_of_Fame_Ceremony_06.jpg/1280px-2019_California_Hall_of_Fame_Ceremony_06.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![RuPaul](https://film.one/media/person/93437/gallery-3429f90903f3.jpg) RuPaul — DVSROSS, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/DragCon_2023_%40_DVSROSS_Photgraphy_-5_%28RuPaul%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![DragCon LA 2023 - Convención anual de Drag Race en Los Angeles. Fotografía de DVSROSS](https://film.one/media/person/93437/gallery-88bf08c8aaf9.jpg) DragCon LA 2023 - Convención anual de Drag Race en Los Angeles. Fotografía de DVSROSS — DVSROSS, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/DragCon_2023_%40_DVSROSS_Photgraphy_-5.jpg/1280px-DragCon_2023_%40_DVSROSS_Photgraphy_-5.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Rupaul DragCon 2019 - Los Angeles](https://film.one/media/person/93437/gallery-0cafd7d80454.jpg) Rupaul DragCon 2019 - Los Angeles — DVSROSS, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Dragcon2-SAT-121_%2847937181463%29.jpg/1280px-Dragcon2-SAT-121_%2847937181463%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![RuPaul](https://film.one/media/person/93437/gallery-58fdb3dd161e.jpg) RuPaul — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 7 won

- 2020: Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program (won), for *RuPaul's Drag Race*
- 2019: Outstanding Reality-Competition Program (won), for *RuPaul's Drag Race*
- 2019: Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program (won), for *RuPaul's Drag Race*
- 2018: Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program (won), for *RuPaul's Drag Race*
- 2018: Outstanding Reality-Competition Program (won), for *RuPaul's Drag Race*
- 2017: Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program (won), for *RuPaul's Drag Race*
- 2016: Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program (won), for *RuPaul's Drag Race*

### Other awards — 2 won

- MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year 2019: MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year (won), for *You Need to Calm Down*
- Emmy Award 2016: Emmy Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/rupaul