Bijou's Star Dedication on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars

The Palm Springs Walk of Stars will honor noted Humanitarian, Entertainer and Coachella Valley resident, William "Bijou" Perez, with the 396th Star Dedication Ceremony. The star dedication ceremony will be held on Thursday June 9, 2016 at 3:00pm at 369 North Palm Canyon Drive. The public and media are invited to attend the star dedication ceremony. The star is sponsored by George and Paris Kessinger, Georgie's Alibi Azul Patio and Friends. Born in New York City of immigrant parents, a Spanish father and Puerto Rican mother, William "Bijou " Perez displayed an early allure to high fashion and artistic performing. His first show business performances were a dance with a life-sized doll attached to his wrist and ankles at age 7. While growing up he wanted to be a dress designer and enrolled in the NYC Central Needle Trade School, but after a year he realized he was second best and transferred to the NYC School of Performing Arts on 46th Street where the staff included Sidney Lumet and other great professionals. He was recruited at school by an Actors Equity Production of HAMLET and played Hamlet's mother and shared a dressing-room with Darren McGavin. Bijou enjoyed being someone else and the art of performing. He played in many off Broadway shows and did understudy parts in his early 20's and worked for 3 years at the MGM Headquarters on Broadway where he became the assistant manager of the Stills Department. Bijou's 3:00 am exclusive last picture on the camera roll photograph of a slightly ruffled Marilyn Monroe in the elevator of her apartment building the night she sang "Happy Birthday Mr. President" to JFK on Saturday May 19, 1962 was a result of Bijou's skill at autograph collecting and his and Marilyn's mutual love of pets. Macy's recognized his sense of fashion and designated him as the fashion designer for the 34 in store mannequins and window displays. Saks 5th Avenue then sought his extraordinary combination of fashion and design talent for their 5th Avenue window displays. He directed the displays on Fashion Floor-5th floor and Women's Hats and Accessories 2nd floor and became the assistant to the Display Director, Henry Callahan. While at Saks in New York he performed in several company shows including SHOWBOAT playing Frank Shultz. His work at Saks included interaction with dozens of personalities including Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Grace and family, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowden, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Sidney Poitier, and Elsa Maxwell. He was assigned to take care of all the needs for Gloria Swanson at the Metropolitan Museum for the Fashion Extravaganza. Saks gave Bijou his own store in Palo Alto, California, but Bijou realized nobody in California looked at window displays and big money hired him away to "The softer side of Sears" in San Jose and 3 years later he retired in 1995. During this time in northern California he performed in 34 shows in at the Sunnyvale Theater, Stanford University, and San Jose Theater. Those included playing Herr Zeller the Gauleiter in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and in THE MAN OF LA MANCHA playing 2 parts, the prisoner in chains and a Spanish lord. Also he played Ali Hakim in OAKLAHOMA, Rudolf in HELLO DOLLY, a Spanish aristocrat in LUTHER, and Hine-sie in PAJAMA GAME. He helped with filming and played a part in Jerry Herman's TUNE THE GRAND UP and for four years he was the stage and props manager and an actor for CABERET at Nob Hill, the show later traveling to Hawaii and San Diego. Since moving to Palm Springs in the mid 90's and surviving a stroke he has become a Palm Springs Icon and is referred to as THE LIVING LEGEND and PALM SPRINGS ROYALTY. As the pre-eminent female impersonator personality of the area, Bijou has used his fashion and performance skills to raise money for charitable events. Bijou loves Palm Springs and he always wants to give back to his community. He was selected as Miss Save a Pet 2012. His live singing and performing has raised money for the Desert Aids Project, the Aids Assistance Program, Guide Dogs of the Desert, Palm Springs Gay Pride, Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Well in the Desert, Save a Pet, Toys for Tots, and many others raising over $5,122,000 and giving back to his community. “We are very proud to honor William "Bijou" Perez with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars" said Bob Alexander, President of the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. The Palm Springs Walk of Stars, founded in 1992, has honored 395 individuals with a Golden Palm Star placed on the sidewalks of Palm Springs. Show business honorees must have made an impact worldwide in the area of show business. All other star honorees must have contributed to the charm, worldwide prominence and name recognition of Greater Palm Springs. More information available at www.palmspringswalkofstars.com