The Divine Master Plan

A month before Divine's death in March 1988, the film "Hairspray" is released, and the performer's dreams of becoming a "respected" actor were finally coming true. He's lands a guest role on the 90s TV series "Married... With Children." The day before his death, he spends it rehearsing for his appearance at Sunset Gower Studios (1438 N Gower St.). Divine stays at the Regency Plaza Suites Hotel in Los Angeles (7940 Hollywood Blvd. - the hotel is demolished in '07) and enjoys dinner with some friends at the hotel's restaurant. Afterward, he retires to his room, where he dies in his sleep. Divine suffers from an enlarged heart due to obesity. He is only 42 when he dies. His body is flown back to Maryland, where he is buried. One of the wreaths at his gravesite is sent by Whoopi Goldberg. It bears the remark: "See what happens when you get good reviews."