Kevin Baker, half of the popular Kiwi drag duo Buffy and Bimbo, died after suffering a heart attack on Monday morning.
Alongside his performance partner and husband Jonathan 'Bimbo' Smith, Baker had entertained audiences as Buffy around the world for decades.
The duo's Queen of the Whole Universe show - which parodied the world of fame, fashion and pageantry - sold out venues including the Aotea Centre in Auckland and the St James in Wellington.
Among their numerous television appearances, Buffy and Bimbo featured as agony aunts on TVNZ's Good Morning.
They regularly hosted the annual Big Gay Out celebration in Auckland, and made headlines when they taught then-Prime Minister John Key a few drag dance moves.
Smith, who is a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, announced Baker's death on Facebook. The long weekend marked the couple's 24th anniversary of being together.
Baker's funeral will be held in Napier on Saturday.
Newhsub.
