Photo: Behind The Velvet Rope TV / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Lea DeLaria reads to me as sheer, unapologetic presence. Many know her as Big Boo on Orange Is the New Black, but she was a jazz vocalist, comedian, and award-winning stage performer long before, which tells you the talent runs deep and wide. From small-town Belleville, Illinois, she carved space in the world on her own terms rather than shrinking to fit anyone's expectations. That low, gravelly jazz voice carries the same conviction her acting does. I am drawn to artists who never blur their own edges, and DeLaria has spent a career proving how much that integrity is worth.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Lea DeLaria
- Name (Japanese)
- リア・デラリア
- Reading
- りあ・でらりあ
- Born
- May 23, 1958 (age 68)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Dog
- Origin
- Belleville, Illinois, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / jazz musician / singer / stage actor / television actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Belleville High School-West
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 1998 Theatre World Award
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.leadelaria.com/
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/realleadelaria/
- Xhttps://x.com/realleadelaria
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lea%20DeLaria
Frequently asked questions
When was Lea DeLaria born?
Born May 23, 1958 (age 68).
Where is Lea DeLaria from?
Lea DeLaria is from Belleville, Illinois, United States.
What does Lea DeLaria do?
Lea DeLaria works as actor, jazz musician, singer, stage actor, television actor.
Actor — see all → · Jazz musician — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.