Dead and Kind of Famous

Courtney Blomquist and Marissa Rivera
  • 4.7 (18)
  • FILM HISTORY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Is the breaking news of today breaking you? Are true crime podcasts making you feel like trash? Then come on down and listen to us talk about old news and dead people who were NOT murdered!!  Oooo ethical AND intriguing...This is the podcast where two friends - one who's a nobody (Courtney Blomquist) and one who's kinda famous (Marissa Rivera) - dive into the life stories of dead folks who enjoyed a touch or two of fame in their time and now reside permanently in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. So if you need to escape the now for an hour and you want to show your respect for some amazing life stories that have perhaps been forgotten, hit that follow button.  Because with your help, we can make sure that the stories of Hollywood's dead never die. And believe me - these stories are WAY too good to be forgotten. 

  1. JAN 11

    Miss Donut, the Cemetery Heiress : Holly Woodlawn Part 3

    Send us a text A sex change budget blown and a cinematic breakup lead to upstate pig-slut shenanigans and a Miss Donut crown. Confused? You should be. In this episode, Holly finds her last name, meets Warhol, and almost ruins her chance with him shortly there after. If you've been listening to parts 1 and 2, it's no surprise that this chapter is quite the wild ride on the wild side. And get ready - Holly is going to be our first 5 part episode! Side note- apologies for the late episode posting. The holidays of it all, darling! Hope you had cheerful times and we're happy to get back to you. Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

    1h 7m

  2. 12/15/2025

    Esoteric Escapades: Holly Woodlawn Part 2

    Send us a text  From streetwalking to a pseudo housewife life, this episode is a journey in and of itself. Holly sold her body, slept on the subway, and even suffered from "streetwalking pneumonia". But she survived. She also met her future Warhol Factory counterparts, Candy Darling and Jackie Curtis, and found herself in a very serious relationship with a straight man who made the mistake of gifting her a Macy's credit card.  This isn't a tidy origin story. In fact, it's wildly messy and kind of terrifying. But it is in this episode that Holly steps into her own and finds her zone. You don't wanna miss this.  Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

    1h 19m

  3. 11/23/2025

    Lightning Bolts and Shaved Legs: Holly Woodlawn Part 1

    Send us a text A lightning strike beside a soda machine. A pair of freshly shaved legs in a roadside motel. A runaway from Miami who would become the source of the first verse of Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side. She was a Warhol Superstar, trans icon, and hilarious writer as exemplified in her autobiography, A Lowlife in High Heels.   This is the origin story of Holly Woodlawn—born in Puerto Rico, raised between San Juan, New York, and Miami Beach—and this episode traces how glamour became both her shield and her signature.  Holly is the heavy hitter of the season, and this episode is the first in several more to come. Get ready for a wild first chapter of a trans trailblazer that will steal your heart. Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

    1h 17m

  4. 11/04/2025

    The Gregarious Aquarius : Carroll Righter

    Send us a text We're back, baby! Season 2 of Dead and Kind of Famous is here for you so that you can continue to joyfully think about graveyards even though Halloween has passed. And catch up with Marissa and Courtney about how they're adjusting to living across the country from one another. But today, we're talking about Carroll Righter, "reader to the stars" and astrological legend who made horoscopes mainstream. Although he had many a celebrity client, he could never remember their names and often would refer to people as "Mr. Taurus" or "Ms. Libra". With mentions of Robert Mitchum, Marlene Deitrich, Maya Angelou and Ronald Reagan, the mashup of Hollywood stars and celestial stars in this episode is NOT to be missed.  Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

    1h 23m

  5. 05/09/2025

    Cemetery Kisses and Peacocks: A Season 1 Finale

    Send us a text Today we bid adieu to Season 1! Join us as we visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to pay tribute to Season 1's final featured individuals (Tomata du Plenty and Maila Nurmi) and share some significant personal news as Courtney announces her upcoming move to Minnesota. To see our other grave offerings for Season 1, check out our instagram or substack! In short order, we do all of the following in this episode: • Record from a bench in Hollywood Forever Cemetery on a cloudy day surrounded by peacocks • Announce that the podcast will continue remotely despite Courtney's upcoming relocation to Minnesota • Visit Vampira's grave where fans have left lipstick kisses, makeup, flowers, and trinkets • Explore unexpected graves including one for a woman described as an "occasional wife" • Color a peacock-themed page as an offering to Tomato DiPlenty  • Share the origin story of our friendship and creative partnership • Reflect on how graves and memorials represent the importance of chosen family THANK YOU so much for listening this season and also showing us so much love. It means the world and we will see you for Season 2 in the fall! If you liked what you heard, or if you have any feedback at all—the good, the bad, the ugly, the dead, the alive—please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know what you think. Love, Courtney and Marissa 3 Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

    52 min

  6. 04/14/2025

    Punk to Paint: Tomata Du Plenty Part 2

    Send us a text Spoiler alert!!! - Tomata keeps doin' stuff in this episode.  Our deep dive into his life reveals an artist who refused to be defined by any single medium, constantly evolving from drag performer to punk rock icon to folk artist without ever losing his authenticity. When a broken leg temporarily halted Tomata's performance career in 1983, he discovered a children's paint kit in an alley and began creating art. That same year, he received an HIV diagnosis – a death sentence in the 1980s. Yet instead of despair, he saw synchronicity and opportunity, launching an artistic career that would sustain him for the rest of his life. His approach was refreshingly unpretentious: "I always have lots of $20 pieces in the show because I think people should have art."  Even in his final interview, just months before his death from AIDS-related cancer, his optimism and self-deprecating humor remained undimmed. For those seeking permission to reinvent themselves creatively, Tomata's story offers not just inspiration, but liberation. Have you been limiting your own creative expression? Perhaps it's time to follow Tomata's lead and simply create without overthinking. Episode Links: Population 1: https://youtu.be/B3QpxnCRtVY?si=b5OZfMaKce75kaNC Eva Braun - https://youtu.be/gIdlqWcGn_s?si=OpAI7nSRrS8bRSxZ Visual Art journey - https://sandraschulman.medium.com/tomata-du-plenty-from-screamer-to-artist-b5648dd369d Jack Rabid Interview - https://bynwr.com/posts/the-screamers-tomata-du-plenty https://www.ebay.com/itm/315411162470 https://art-for-a-change.com/Punk/psketch5.htm Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

    1 hr

  7. 03/27/2025

    Let's Do Things: Tomata Du Plenty Part 1

    Send us a text At the intersection of drag theater, punk rock innovation, and fearless artistic evolution stands David Xavier Harrigan - better known to those in-the-know as Tomato DePlenty.  From his early days with the revolutionary Cockettes (described by John Waters as "insane hippie drag queens" creating "complete sexual anarchy"), to founding Ze Whiz Kidz in Seattle, to pioneering synthesizer-based punk with The Screamers, Tomato consistently positioned himself at the cutting edge of artistic movements. What makes Tomato's story so compelling isn't just his artistic versatility - it's his uncanny ability to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.  He embodied his personal philosophy: "Let's do things" and "Do plenty."  Listen in as we uncover the first chapter in the fascinating life of this punk pioneer, theatrical innovator, and boundary-breaking artist who helped shape multiple movements while remaining just outside the spotlight. Links From This Episode: Tomata's Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plenty The Tupperware's at the TMT show recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyezrW9SNP0 The Screamers Target Studios Promo Video: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plenty Gary Panter's famous rendering of Tomata: https://obeygiant.com/gary-panter-a-provocateur-print-available-now/ The Cockettes Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gPxQvN0f1c Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

    1h 1m

  8. 02/27/2025

    Punk Vampira: Maila Nurmi Part 4

    Send us a text Well, here it is. The final installment of our four part series on Maila Nurmi. Maila didn’t get all she deserved in her life and she never really reaped the benefits of her creations. But the life she lived was full of adventure, fascination, excitement and in many ways, love. In this particular episode, we explore her final romances, alleged marriages and marriages of convenience. We also dig into her lasting friendships (including Marlon Brando) and her counterculture grandmother relationship to the punk musicians of the late 70s and 80s. We all need someone to love and care for us, and Maila always found her community, even in her old age.  This serves as some consolation for the loss of her intellectual property and her legal battles against her unwelcomed predecessor, Elvira. There's a lot of dirt to dig into here and we DIG. Thank you for listening to this one, and please leave us comments with any tributes or words you’d like to pass along for when we visit Maila’s grave.  Links for this episode: Maila and Satan’s Cheerleaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2duQNeim6k Follow us on... Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamous Here, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters. Instagram- @deadandkindoffamous See us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings. Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!

    1h 27m
See All (17)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Is the breaking news of today breaking you? Are true crime podcasts making you feel like trash? Then come on down and listen to us talk about old news and dead people who were NOT murdered!!  Oooo ethical AND intriguing...This is the podcast where two friends - one who's a nobody (Courtney Blomquist) and one who's kinda famous (Marissa Rivera) - dive into the life stories of dead folks who enjoyed a touch or two of fame in their time and now reside permanently in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. So if you need to escape the now for an hour and you want to show your respect for some amazing life stories that have perhaps been forgotten, hit that follow button.  Because with your help, we can make sure that the stories of Hollywood's dead never die. And believe me - these stories are WAY too good to be forgotten. 

Information

  • Creator
    Courtney Blomquist and Marissa Rivera
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dead and Kind of Famous
  • Show Website
    Dead and Kind of Famous

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