In her later years, the iconic performer known globally as Gypsy Rose Lee reflected on her extraordinary journey. "I've lived not one, but three wonderful lives," she once told her son, Erik Lee Preminger. "Most people don't even get to live one." Beyond her fame as a burlesque artist, Gypsy graced the silver screen, authored books, and even hosted her own daytime talk show, proving her versatility and talent. Born Rose Louise Hovick, she spent much of her childhood in the shadow of her younger sister, June, who their ambitious mother, Rose, had groomed for stardom. "After June left the act, they were stranded in Kansas City," Erik exclusively shared with Closer. "Gypsy turned to burlesque out of sheer necessity—they were starving. That fear of hunger lingered in her mind forever."
Glimpse Into Gypsy Rose Lee's Personal World
When Erik was born in 1944 to director Otto Preminger, Gypsy was already a celebrated performer both in the U.S. and abroad. His early memories include a unique task: collecting straight pins from theater floors after Gypsy's striptease performances. "She would pin her costumes together, and as she took them off, she'd remove them pin by pin," Erik reminisces. "Eventually, I became her dresser. I helped her rehearse with the band. I even crafted the shadow box she used for costume changes." This hands-on role gave him an intimate understanding of his mother's craft and dedication.
Gypsy had a penchant for luxury, evident when she purchased a Rolls-Royce in London in 1951. This vehicle became a trusty companion for her, young Erik, and their menagerie of pets as they traveled across Europe and North Africa for performances. Erik recalls an unforgettable journey: "Once, we were caught in a snowstorm on the Simplon Pass between Switzerland and Italy. We were stuck with just a quarter tank of gas. She tried digging us out using the cat's litter box, but there wasn't much she could do." Thankfully, a passerby spotted them huddled in the freezing car and managed to rescue them just in time. "Our lives were filled with adventure," Erik fondly remembers.
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As a performer, Gypsy could be demanding, expecting perfection in every aspect of her work. "There was this aristocratic side to her that insisted on things being done a certain way," Erik explains. However, offstage, she was remarkably down-to-earth. "She loved to crochet, made quilts, enjoyed cooking, and had a green thumb," he says. "She embraced all the ordinary pleasures of life." Gypsy also instilled in Erik a lifelong love for learning. "She was self-taught and incredibly well-read," Erik notes. "She was a brilliant storyteller with a razor-sharp wit. Keeping up with her intellect was quite a challenge for me."
This fall, a Broadway revival of Gypsy, the musical inspired by her 1957 memoir, will premiere, starring Audra McDonald as Mama Rose. Erik is thrilled about the production, calling it a "fantastic musical" that captures the essence of his extraordinary family. "You've heard the term 'Renaissance man'? Well, my mother was a Renaissance woman," he proudly declares.
