RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne was found dead in the bathroom of their home last month, an inquest into their death has been told. The body of James Lee Williams, who performed as the drag queen, was found at their home address in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, on January 5, 2025.
An inquest into the 32-year-old’s death was opened and adjourned at Cheshire Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, February 12, in a hearing lasting two minutes. Their unnatural cause of death prompted the inquest to be formally opened, with further investigations required.
A full inquest is due to take place on June 30, the Mirror reports. Coroner’s officer Amanda Edgar said Williams had been found dead in their bathroom.
Police attending the scene confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances. Ms Edgar said: “Post-mortem testing has been undertaken, identifying an unnatural cause of death.”
Area coroner Victoria Davies said: “Given the unnatural cause of death identified on post-mortem testing it is appropriate for me to formally open the inquest into the death of James Lee Williams.”
She confirmed further investigations would be required before adjourning the case until the full inquest opens. Williams was originally from Colwyn Bay, North Wales before they moved to Liverpool.
They won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, and finished third in the 2023 series of Dancing On Ice. The star also had a theatre career, performing as the Wicked Witch of the West in a UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical, reprising the role in the West End last year.
They were set to appear on stage as the Childcatcher in the tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a role they previously portrayed last year.
Their funeral in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, North Wales, in January, was attended by fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz and Cheryl, as well a Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, TV personality Kim Woodburn and Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney.