Joey Arias
Actor
Biography
A fixture of New York City’s vibrant downtown performance scene for 30-plus years, Joey Arias is a bona fide NYC icon. Arias lived and worked with legendary musician Klaus Nomi until Nomi’s death in 1983. However, he has long since stepped out of Nomi’s shadow to gain fame in his own right as a performance artist, cabaret singer and drag artist. Arias has distinguished himself with scandalous wit, sleek style and an extraordinary voice... evocative of Billie Holiday yet uniquely his own. Arias has performed worldwide at venues including Carnegie Hall and the Freedom Theatre in London. Arias was tapped by Cirque du Soleil to originate the role of the emcee in their Las Vegas spectacular Zumanity. After 6 years in that role, Arias returned to New York where he became the star and co-creator of Arias With a Twist with master puppeteer Basil Twist. The show was a critical and commercial hit and extended repeatedly for a total of 8 months. On film, he has appeared in Mondo New York, Big Top Pee Wee, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Wigstock - The Movie, Flawless and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, among others.
As Director
Filmography
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
as Justine 1995
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
as Hitchhiker 1988
Flawless
as Stormy 1999
Big Top Pee-wee
as Shim 1988
The Nomi Song
as Self 2004
Naked in New York
as Self 1993
After Louie
as Jai the Chanteuse 2017
Wig
as Self 2019
Jobriath A.D.
as Himself 2012
Wigstock: The Movie
as Self 1995
Mondo New York
as Fish Out Of Water / A Hard Days Night 1988
Drunks
as Ruby 1997
Deadly Game
as Ramirez 1991
Cirque du Soleil: LoveSick
as Himself 2008
The Zanctuary
as Dora Ramona del Pilar 2016
Arias With a Twist
as Himself 2010
The Long Island Four
1980