Divine

Birth Name: Harris Glenn Milstead

Date of Birth: October 19, 1945

Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Date of Death: March 7, 1988

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – English
*mother – Serbian

Divine was an American actor, singer, and drag queen. He was known for his work with John Waters. His roles included the films Mondo Trasho, Multiple Maniacs, Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble (1974), Polyester (1981), and Hairspray (1988), all Waters films, as well as Lust in the Dust, Trouble in Mind, and Out of the Dark.

Divine was the son of Frances Diana (Vukovich) and Harris Bernard Milstead, who both worked for the Black & Decker factory in Towson. His maternal grandparents were ethnic Serbs, of the Orthodox religion, who moved in 1891 from Zagreb, Croatia to the U.S. His family had become affluent, and eventually moved to Lutherville, Maryland. He was raised Baptist.

Divine’s paternal grandfather was Benoni Milstead (the son of Bernard Greer Milstead and Margaret LeEllen “Lady” Leland). Benoni was born in Washington, D.C., to parents who were born in Charles County, Marland. Bernard was the son of Henry Augustine Milstead and Elizabeth Makala Groves. Margaret was the daughter of Luther L. Leland and Margaret Jane Dent.

Divine’s paternal grandmother was Eva Grace Skinner (the daughter of William Louis/Lewis Skinner and Jane Elizabeth “Jannie” Posey). Eva was born in Charles County, Maryland, to parents who were also born there. Divine’s great-grandmother Jane was the daughter of Thomas M. Posey and Sara Caeoline Rison.

Divine’s maternal grandfather was named Novak Wukovich/Vukovich. Novak was born in Zagreb.

Divine’s maternal grandmother was named Catherine Szmerich.

Sources: Genealogy of Divine – https://www.findagrave.com

Genealogy of Divine (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com