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Billi Gordon
Billi Gordon
Billi Gordon
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Wilbert Anthony Gordon Jr.[1] (September 2, 1954 – February 22, 2018), better known as Billi Gordon, was an American author, television writer, neuroscientist, actor and model.[2]

Key Information

Life and career

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Gordon was born in 1954 in Dowagiac, Michigan. He graduated from Dowagiac Union High School. After high school, in 1972, Gordon entered the Roman Catholic Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minnesota, but left during his freshman year to attend the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In his junior year, he withdrew from the university and moved to Los Angeles.

In L.A. he worked as an escort for an exclusive agency until 1982[3] when he became an alternative model and appeared on more greeting cards than any other model in the world,[2] At the height of his career, he was paid $12,000 an hour; after which he began writing and performing as a woman.[2][3] Gordon is the author of three works of non-fiction: Billi Gordon's You've Had Worse Things in Your Mouth Cookbook,[4] which the Saturday Review described as "the humor classic of 1985";[5] Eat This Book: The Last Diet Book, and Your Moon Is in Aquarius but Your Head Is in Uranus, published by West Graphics.

Gordon was a television and film actor who portrayed male and female characters, including a role in the film Coming to America. He portrayed Belle on Married With Children and Chu Lin on Women in Prison. As a writer, he wrote an episode of the sitcom 227.[3] Gordon also wrote and starred in the television pilot Next of Kin for Westway/Odessa.[6]

In the mid-1990s Gordon returned to the University of Michigan and finished his degree in 1997. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in neuroscience and did his post-doctoral training in functional neuroimaging and brain research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Gordon investigated the pathophysiology of stress as antecedent to obesity-related diseases at the UCLA Gail and Gerald Oppenheimer Family Center for the Neurobiology of Stress for the Ingestive Behaviors and Obesity Program.

In 2009, Gordon was profiled on the front page of the Los Angeles Times, in a piece which focused on his dramatic weight changes and how it related to his career and lifestyle. Over the years, his weight has fluctuated between 300 and close to 1,000 pounds. At the time of the story, he had been admitted to the hospital at a weight of 701 pounds.[3] A follow-up story reported that he had lost 175 pounds over the intervening five months, which allowed him to be able to fit into an MRI machine at 526 pounds, allowing doctors to further diagnose a large mass growing on his upper thigh.[7]

He married Robert Lindsay Schallert, on August 6, 1988. They resided in Los Angeles, California. Gordon died on February 22, 2018, at the age of 63.[8]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Party Animal The New Dean
1988 Coming to America Large Woman
1993 Married... with Children Belle

References

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Billi Gordon

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Billi Gordon was an American actor, writer, model, and neuroscientist known for his distinctive drag performances and comedic roles in 1980s and 1990s film and television, as well as his later contributions to behavioral neuroscience research and humorous writing on health and social issues. Born Wilbert Anthony Gordon Jr. on September 2, 1954, in Dowagiac, Michigan, Gordon gained recognition as a drag queen performer and greeting card model before appearing in notable projects including a role as a Large Woman in the film Coming to America (1988) and as Belle in an episode of Married... with Children (1993). He also contributed as a writer for the television series 227 and authored several humor books, including titles that blended comedy with commentary on diet and lifestyle. Renowned for his commanding physical presence—he weighed 701 pounds during a 2009 hospitalization after reaching nearly 1,000 pounds at his heaviest—and his flamboyant, self-deprecating humor, Gordon used his experiences with obesity and health challenges to inform both his entertainment work and public persona. In 2004, Gordon earned a Ph.D. in integrative behavioral neuroscience from Union Institute and University and pursued postdoctoral research at UCLA, where he investigated topics such as emotion, minority health disparities, obesity, gastroenterology, and the pathophysiology of stress and race-related health issues. He wrote the “Obesely Speaking” column for Psychology Today and contributed blogs to the Huffington Post and Los Angeles Times, often addressing prejudice, interpersonal dynamics, and self-acceptance with a blend of wit and compassion. Gordon died on February 22, 2018, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 63.

Early Life and Education

Childhood in Michigan

Billi Gordon was born Wilbert Anthony Gordon Jr. on September 2, 1954, in Dowagiac, Michigan. He was the son of Wilbert and Geneva Gordon. Gordon spent his childhood in this small Midwestern town, attending Patrick Hamilton Elementary School near his family home on Tuthill Street. He grew up in a typical Midwestern environment during his early years.

High School Years

Billi Gordon attended Dowagiac Union High School in Dowagiac, Michigan, where he was actively involved in numerous extracurricular activities during his teenage years. He served as president of the school's Student Council and was a member of the band, playing the saxophone in the marching band, as well as a member of the Varsity Club. Gordon graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1972.

Post-High School Pursuits

After graduating from high school in 1972, Billi Gordon briefly attended a Catholic seminary in Minnesota. He subsequently attended the University of Michigan, where he became involved in gay activism and served as spokesperson for the Ann Arbor Black Gay Caucus. Gordon left the University of Michigan, fleeing Ann Arbor after developing an addiction to the diet pill Preludin, which impaired his thinking and prompted significant weight loss. He then drove cross-country through South Dakota to Los Angeles in an effort to overcome the addiction. In Los Angeles, he began pursuing work in entertainment.

Entertainment Career

Acting Roles in Film and Television

Billi Gordon appeared in a limited number of film and television roles during the 1980s and 1990s, often in comedic projects where his distinctive physical presence and ability to portray female characters were featured. He began his on-screen acting career with the role of The New Dean in the 1984 comedy film The Party Animal, portraying a male character. In 1987, he made a guest appearance as a Prisoner in an episode of the NBC sitcom Women in Prison. The following year, Gordon played the Large Woman in Eddie Murphy's comedy Coming to America (1988), a role that drew on his stature for humorous effect. In 1993, he returned to television with the role of Belle in the Married... with Children episode "Take My Wife, Please." These appearances reflected Gordon's range in embodying both male and female characters within comedic settings, frequently aligning with his drag performance experience.

Drag Performance and Modeling

Billi Gordon's engagement with drag performance and modeling intensified during the 1980s and 1990s, a period when he lived full-time as a woman for most of those years. Having initially discovered drag earlier in life, he progressively spent more time presenting as female, eventually adopting this as his primary gender expression both personally and professionally. In modeling, Gordon built a career portraying a voluptuous Black woman, most notably through print work for humorous greeting cards that capitalized on this image. Gordon was known as a drag queen whose flamboyant humor and self-described diva persona made him a natural fit for such roles in entertainment. His drag work often involved exaggerated female characterizations that aligned with his modeling image and informed his broader career portraying women.

Authorship and Television Writing

Billi Gordon contributed to television as a writer in addition to his on-screen work, most notably penning one episode of the NBC sitcom 227 in 1987. Gordon authored several humorous books during the 1980s and 1990s, characterized by provocative titles and satirical takes on cooking, dieting, and astrology. He published Billi Gordon's You've Had Worse Things in Your Mouth Cookbook in 1986, a comedic cookbook featuring outrageous and intentionally over-the-top recipes divided into thematic sections on seduction, motivation, destitution, and revenge, with instructions delivered in a camp, colorful style. The book drew praise for its side-splitting humor and John Waters-esque raw edge, though it was noted as unsuitable for conventional audiences. He followed with Eat This Book: The Last Diet Book in 1987 and the astrology-themed Your Moon Is in Aquarius but Your Head Is in Uranus in 1990. In 1991, Gordon co-authored Oil and Gasoline: A Story of Two Survivors. These works collectively showcased his distinctive blend of wit, provocation, and social commentary through the medium of self-published or niche humor books.

Scientific Career

Return to Academia

After a successful career in entertainment, Billi Gordon returned to academia in the mid-1990s to resume his higher education following earlier interruptions, including a brief seminary stint in 1972 and an incomplete period at the University of Michigan. He completed his Bachelor of General Studies at the University of Michigan in 1997, focusing on human sexuality and women's studies. Gordon continued his studies, earning a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences (Psychology/Sociology) from California State University, Northridge in 2001. He then pursued a PhD in Neuroscience at the Union Institute and University, completing the degree in 2004 with a concentration in functional neuroimaging and brain research. Concurrent with his doctoral work, Gordon established an affiliation with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA beginning in 2001, where he conducted research and later undertook postdoctoral training. This return to formal education and transition to a scientific environment marked his shift from entertainment to neuroscience.

Neuroscience Research and Contributions

Gordon pursued postdoctoral research and subsequent positions in functional neuroimaging at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), initially in the Division of Digestive Diseases' Center for Neurovisceral Sciences and Women's Health, and later as a research associate at the Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience in the David Geffen School of Medicine. His work centered on using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate central nervous system processing of visceral stimuli, with a particular emphasis on pain modulation and brain responses in functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). He contributed to studies documenting gender-related differences in central responses to rectal and sigmoid distension among IBS patients, as well as evidence for antinociceptive deactivation of the amygdala in functional gastrointestinal disorders. Additional research examined modulation of endogenous pain inhibition circuits during visceral stimulation and distinctions in brain activation patterns between inflammatory and functional gastrointestinal conditions. In a later methodological contribution, he co-developed a technique for simultaneous EEG and fMRI data acquisition during focused attention suggestions aimed at differential thermal sensation, advancing multimodal neuroimaging capabilities. Gordon's research interests extended to the neuroanatomy of emotion, interoceptive awareness, the pathophysiology of stress as a precursor to disease, and brain-microbiome interactions, with connections to ingestive behaviors and obesity. He served as a co-investigator in UCLA's Ingestive Behaviors and Obesity Program, applying neuroscientific approaches to elucidate biological mechanisms underlying stress-related obesity and metabolic regulation.

Personal Life

Marriage and Long-Term Relationship

Billi Gordon married Robert Schallert in 1988. Their long-term relationship spanned approximately 30 years, with the couple residing together in Los Angeles throughout that time. Schallert remained by Gordon's side until Gordon's death in 2018. The partnership was marked by mutual support, as evidenced by Schallert's reflections in a 2009 interview describing their shared life and commitment.

Gender Identity and Expression

Billi Gordon's gender expression was characterized by his prominent work as a drag performer and actor portraying female characters, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s. He adopted a feminine presentation in his professional endeavors, including modeling as a "voluptuous black woman" for humorous greeting cards, print advertisements, and international commercials. This feminine persona extended to his acting roles, where he played women in television series such as Women in Prison and Married... with Children, as well as in films. His expression through drag and female roles remained a defining feature of his public identity in entertainment before his transition to academic and scientific pursuits. Biographical sources consistently referred to him with male pronouns.

Death and Legacy

Final Years and Illness

In his final years, Billi Gordon faced a prolonged illness accompanied by a series of health setbacks. He died on February 22, 2018, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 63.

Legacy in Entertainment and Science

Billi Gordon is remembered as a multifaceted figure whose career uniquely bridged entertainment and neuroscience, earning him recognition as a celebrity neuroscientist who transitioned from a successful entertainment career to impactful scientific work. He was celebrated for his in-your-face humor, flamboyant public demeanor, and powerful physical presence, which he deployed deliberately across his roles as an entertainer, model, writer, and later researcher. After building a profile in entertainment through acting, writing, and humor authorship, Gordon earned a PhD in integrative behavioral neuroscience and conducted postdoctoral research at UCLA focused on emotion, obesity, gastroenterology, and minority health disparities, approaching these topics with personal commitment. Through his popular "Obesely Speaking" column in Psychology Today and blogs for the Huffington Post and Los Angeles Times, he addressed stereotyping, prejudice, health, and interpersonal issues with compassion and self-effacing humor, reaching broad audiences to promote social justice and personal acceptance. Gordon was deeply admired by colleagues, friends, and community members for his enormous generosity of spirit, kindness, intelligence, and uplifting positivity, often described as an encouraging mentor who inspired others to embrace their authentic selves. Tributes highlighted his humor as unmatched, his enthusiasm for life as infectious, and his ability to make people feel valued even in challenging times, with many noting his role in fostering pride in individual differences. His enduring connection to his hometown and establishment of a memorial fund for school band instruments reflected the lasting community impact he maintained alongside his professional achievements. Gordon's legacy lies in his trailblazing path across entertainment and science, combined with the profound personal influence he exerted through empathy, wit, and advocacy for marginalized experiences.
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