Lori Shannon

Who was Lori Shannon?

Lori Shannon was an openly gay female impersonator who was associated with the drag revues at Finocchio's nightclub in San Francisco. He wrote an entertainment column for the Bay Area Reporter. The way he appeared on the stage was notable for his size at a height of 6'6" with a raspy basso voice, and sarcastic humor.

To the American television audience, Shannon was best known for portraying female impersonator Beverly LaSalle in three episodes of the CBS sitcom All in the Family. The episodes in which he appears are "Archie the Hero" (1975), "Beverly Rides Again" (1976), and "Edith's Crisis of Faith, Part 1" (1977).

Shannon died of a heart attack at the age of 45 on February 13, 1984.