Willi Ninja: Movies & Box Office

Willi Ninja, born William Roscoe Leake on April 12, 1961 in New Hyde Park, New York, emerged as a seminal figure in the New York ballroom scene of the 1980s and 1990s, transforming voguing from an underground phenomenon into a globally recognized art form. From an early age he taught himself to dance, perfecting a style that blended the precision of Fred Astaire with the flamboyance of haute couture, and by his twenties he was already a fixture at Harlem’s drag balls, leading the House of Ninja—a multiracial family of “children” he mentored on the Christopher Street pier and in underground clubs. Ninja’s influence extended beyond the ballroom when documentary filmmaker Jennie Livingston cast him in the landmark 1990 film Paris Is Burning, a role that propelled him into mainstream visibility and opened doors to collaborations with prominent musicians and fashion designers. He appeared in Malcolm McLaren’s “Deep in Vogue” video, performed in Janet Jackson’s “Alright” and “Escapade” videos, and released the single “Hot” on Nervous Records in 1994, showcasing his ability to navigate both dance and music production. In addition to his on‑screen work, Ninja modeled for Jean‑Paul Gaultier, taught celebrity Paris Hilton how to “walk,” and founded the modeling agency Elements of Ninja in 2004, further cementing his legacy as a cultural tastemaker. Despite battling AIDS, he continued to mentor younger performers and cared devotedly for his mother, Esther, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease. Willi Ninja passed away on September 2, 2006, but his pioneering choreography, charismatic presence, and commitment to inclusivity endure, influencing contemporary dance, fashion, and LGBTQ+ studies, and even earning a Google Doodle tribute in 2023.