RuPaul (born RuPaul Andre Charles on 17 November 1960) is an American drag performer, dance music singer, actor and songwriter who gained world-wide fame in the 1990s; appearing in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Though a catty attitude is often associated with drag queens, RuPaul intentionally set himself apart with a "love one another" attitude. Although primarily known for his extravagant drag queen persona, he has performed as a man in a number of roles, usually billed as RuPaul Charles.