Alexis Arquette Biography

NAME: Alexis Arquette

OCCUPATION: Film, Theater, Television

BIRTH DATE: January 01, 1969 (Age: 42)

PLACE OF BIRTH: Los Angeles, California

ALTERNATE NAME(S): Robert Arquette, Eva Destruction

Actress, entertainer. Born Robert Arquette on January 1, 1969, in Los Angeles, California to veteran actor Lewis Arquette and poet Mardi Arquette. Part of the Arquette acting dynasty, Alexis Arquette has sometimes gained more notice for her personal life and persona than for her film and television work. Born a biological male, Alexis gravitated toward the feminine at an early age.

This attractive, openly gay young actor with large hazel eyes and a sensuous mouth is the second youngest of a showbiz dynasty. Alexis Arquette displayed a surprising acuity and maturity in his portrayal of the lovely, ironic young transvestite Georgette in "Last Exit to Brooklyn" (1989), his first major role in a feature. Growing up, Arquette lived in artists' colonies with his actor parents and siblings as well as in Los Angeles. As a young adolescent, he toured Europe as an actor and a dancer. Arquette was also impressive as Werner Hauser in the "American Playhouse" (PBS) production of "The Hollow Boy" (1991) and as Danny, Tim Roth's crack addicted brother, in "Jumpin' at the Boneyard" (1991). His other feature acting credits include "Of Mice and Men" (1992), "Grief" (1993) and "Pulp Fiction" (1994). Arquette delivered a sweet performance as a gay soap opera writer who reunites with college chums in the genial "I Think I Do" (1998) and continued to appear in a supporting roles in a steady slate of films, including "Bride of Chucky" (1998), "She's All That" (1999), "Spun" (2002) and "Wasabi Tuna" (2003), as well as high-camp appearances as the Roman Emperor Caligula on the syndicated series "Xena: Warrior Princess" in 2001.

More recently, Arquette had small parts in such films as Lords of Dogtown (2005). She also appeared as herself in the celebrity reality show The Surreal Life, which films the interactions between famous people who are forced to live in a house together. On the show, Arquette shared a home with a number of stars, including Florence Henderson of The Brady Bunch fame; rocker C. C. DeVille from the hair metal band Poison; and actress/model Tawny Kitaen.

In 2006, Arquette was cast in the VH1 reality show The Surreal Life season 6. The show features celebrities who are said to be past their primes and puts them in a Hollywood Hills mansion for two weeks. Fans hailed Arquette's appearance on the show as it brought to fore the struggle of the transgender community for representation. It is, after all, the first time that a transsexual will be cast alongside other sexually “normal” people in a reality show, putting the issue of gender into topics of conversation. Other than this, though, her mysterious and capricious personality was said to have brought The Surreal Life house upside down. In Season 6, the cast was made to shoot a music video, produce and broadcast a live news program, host their own talk show, and participate in a battle of the bands competition.

The next year, he starred in the documentary, Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother (2007). The film covers her exploration of a possible sex-change operation.

In addition to her work, Arquette also supports her siblings' endeavors. She, along with her sisters Patricia and Rosanna and her sister-in-law Courteney Cox, attended the premiere of David’s short film The Butler’s In Love (2008), which also featured their brother Richmond, in the role of the unnamed husband.

Mostly recently she appeared in the Showtime series, Californication, starring David Duchovny, and she is currently at work as the character of Ms. Independence in the romantic comedy, Hard Breakers. The movie is set for release in 2009.