Born James Slattery in Long Island, in 1944, Candy Darling was an American actress & muse, best known for being a “Warhol Superstar”. As a transwoman, she starred in Andy Warhol’s films ‘Flesh’ & ‘Women in Revolt’, making her one of the first openly transgender actresses in the world. She also became a muse of the protopunk band The Velvet Underground.
In her late teens, Darling would often take a taxi to the train station where she would take the train to Manhattan. Being in Long Island did not permit the life she so desired to lead. She first assumed the name Hope Slattery. She adopted this name sometime in 1963/1964 after she started going to gay bars in Manhattan & making doctor visits for hormone injections on Fifth Avenue. The name was inspired by a well-known Off-Off Broadway actress named Hope Stansbury. But she would go on make many name changes; transforming from Hope Dahl to Candy Dahl and then to Candy Cane. A longtime friend & roommate of Darling’s said he believed the name Candy came about because of her love for sweets, and so many of her friends would affectionately call her “darling” that she made it stick.
Before meeting the man that would change her life then abandon her, filmmaker & artist Andy Warhol, she laid eyes on Warhol at an after-hours club called The Tenth of Always. At this time, Candy was starring in a play called ‘Glamour, Glory & Gold’, alongside a young Robert De Niro. Warhol went to see the play & at the after-party was where he & Candy officially met. He was obviously taken by her, and casted her in his film ‘Flesh’ in 1968. But it wasn’t until her role as a Long Island socialite who joined a women’s liberation group in ‘Women In Revolt’ (1971) that made her a Warhol Superstar. Being a Warhol Superstar was life changing & iconic. It comprised of a clique of New York personalities whom Andy Warhol promoted endlessly. These personalities appeared in Warhol’s artworks & accompanied him in his social life, revolutionizing fame. The most famous of them all would arguably be his muse Edie Sedgwick, who became an instant style icon.
However, due to Warhol being unable to get a distributor for the film, he rented out the Cine Malibu on East 59th Street & launched the film with a celebrity preview which created much buzz on February 16, 1972. After the screening there was a dinner in Candy’s honor at Le Parc Périgord restaurant, on Park Avenue, followed by a party at the iconic fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo’s townhouse, where they watched TV reviews of the movie. Among the guests at Darling’s party were former Harper’s Bazaar editor D.D. Ryan, actresses Sylvia Miles & Julie Newmar, journalist & founder of The Paris Review George Plimpton, fashion designers Halston, Giorgio di Sant’ Angelo, Prince Egon & wife Diane von Furstenberg.
After working with Warhol, Darling still went on to work independent films. She also appeared in ‘Klute’ with Jane Fonda & ‘Lady Liberty’ with Sophia Loren; even landing a leading role in ‘Myra Breckenridge’. But was never taken too serious for the mainstream movie circuit due to being a transwoman.
Darling died of lymphoma in 1974, at the age of 29, at the Columbia University Medical Center division of the Cabrini Health Center. She left a letter written on her deathbed, intended for Andy Warhol and his followers. The letter read, “Unfortunately before my death I had no desire left for life… I am just so bored by everything. You might say bored to death. Did you know I couldn’t last. I always knew it. I wish I could meet you all again.”
She was given a huge send off. Her funeral was flocked by many, including Hollywood stars such as Gloria Swanson & Julie Newmar (the original Catwoman) who read the eulogy. Her legacy lives on as Darling was the subject of The Velvet Underground‘s opening track on their third, and self-titled, album in 1968 with the song “Candy Says”, sung by Doug Yule. The album is ranked at no. 314 on Rolling Stone’s “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list. Candy is also mentioned in music by David Bowie & The Rolling Stones.
the unpublished Cosmo cover of Candy, shot by their then photographer, the iconic Francesco Scavullo
portrait by Andy Warhol
Dre DeCarlo 