said by LGWMate
on Thursday, 20 October 2005, 7:32pm

Only one thing anyone can say - RIP Phil - you will be sorely missed xx

said by wildblood
on Friday, 21 October 2005, 12:53pm

When i dived into the world of all things drag and cabaret ealier this year for Gscene one name was constantly mentioned. Phil Star...who was just that. A star. Respect to him and our thoughts at this sad time to his loved ones.
WB & QJ x

said by Doughnut
on Friday, 21 October 2005, 1:24pm

Phil Starr 'Always a star' R.I.P

said by andysussex
on Friday, 21 October 2005, 1:33pm

Like everyone else I am in shock after hearing of the passing away of Phil Starr.

In my years working on the scene I know how much he was admired both by the audiences that watched him and his peers on the cabaret circuit - many of whom saw Phil as the goal post to aim to themselves.

Phil had a true gift for entertaining and was at ease performing to a bar full of gay men as he was to a group of old ladies in a rest home.

He was one of the only artists that I have seen that was able to have the whole audience in silence hanging on his every word - even if it was the corniest joke from his huge repertoire. He could make people from 18-80 laugh and knew how to play his audience leaving them wanting more.

Off stage Phil was one of the sweetest gentleman you could meet and if you had been having a bad day could always bring a smile to your face with one of his many anecdotes from the 52 years he had been performing.

We should be grateful Tony Chapman organised the tribute night for Phil in his Golden Jubilee year so he was able to appreciate the love and respect his audiences and fellow cabaret acts had for him.

There is now a huge void on the cabaret scene that will never be filled and I'm sure his memory will be with us all for ever.

Phil's last song on stage at Legends last day was "We'll Meet Again" and I hope that if there is an afterlife Phil will be there with Dockyard and Regina to make us laugh for eternity.

Sleep Well Phil - life won't be the same without you.

said anonymously
on Friday, 21 October 2005, 1:48pm

So, so sad at hearing of the death of Phil Starr. Will greatly miss him. Goodnight, Phil, and God Bless.

Patrick & George
Lancing

said by christof69
on Friday, 21 October 2005, 3:30pm

Without doubt the funniest most laugh/tear inducing and hugely sweet entertainer the gay world has ever scene. Most definitely the end of an era.

Terribly sad....

said anonymously
on Friday, 21 October 2005, 5:28pm

We just wanted to say what a sad loss it is with the death of Phil Starr. He was a fabulous performer. one of the old school. He was a very sincere person. Very open and caring person. He never said a bad word about anyone. I had the pleasure of working alongside him on stage and felt so honoured. He will be sadly and greatly missed by all of us.

Krissie Du Cann & Bel
(received by email)

said anonymously
on Friday, 21 October 2005, 5:30pm

Well like everyone else in the Brighton community I would like to say how much Phil Starr will be missed. Characters like his do not come along often and sadly leave so soon. He will be remembered by many people for a very long time. I hope we can all give him the send off he so richly deserves. RIP Mr Starr.

Plainyboy.
(received by email)

said by Steveneil
on Friday, 21 October 2005, 7:24pm

When you hear news of this nature you really want it to be a dream, it is so hard to believe. On Sunday (Legends closing) he was even better than his best. Towards the end of the show Phil dedicated a song in memory of Dockyard Doris, with the words, “ as we will not be here next week on the anniversary of her passing…."

To us Phil was the last of the old school, the last of the old pros. We did not know him, but felt like we did. We will miss him, his dry sense of hummer, his quick delivery and perfect timing.

Since we read the news we have not been able to get the song ‘Cairo’ out of our head's – a fitting tribute we hope.

Rest in peace Mr Starr, the sky has a new north star shinning even brighter.

With Love & Respect

Steven & Neil
XX

said by MrRon
on Saturday, 22 October 2005, 4:08am

Phil Starr, as the song goes, "Simply The Best".
I sit here, trying to add to the words already said on here.
Tears rolling down my face, for the loss of this incredible man. I had the biggest honour to have worked with Phil, even though it was only introducing him on stage.
Watching a full house, time and time again, laughing till it hurt. There was no age limit to Phils fans, they all loved him for his unique humour, his unique voice and his layed back attitude. Often never moving from the spot where he first stood on the stage. I never heard Phil say a bad word against anyone, not even Brighton's drag wannabees.
How many professional drag artistes have done the Brighton circuit over the years and all had complete admiration for Phil, again I have never heard a bad word said about him.
To see Phil and Maisie on stage, bouncing off one another with no rehearsal, it was a sight to behold.
Never have I met someone so well respected, not by the few, but by all.
To even be mentioned on The Paul O'Grady show, thats RESPECT.
He lit up millions of lives, he gave millions a sore throat (Your rude, you are) through laughter, he made peoples problems go away, just by being himself.
Now its up to us, to give Phil the send off he rightly deserves, and remember his dignity and honour.
Heavens a lucky place, St Peter is going to be on the floor, and if God gave him his sense of humour, he better watch out too.
Bless you Phil.

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