Victor Willis’ funeral brought together members of the Village People as they gathered to remember the singer and founding member. The group honored Willis with a farewell similar to his famed stage image. Several band members attended the service wearing their well-known Village People costumes. Willis died last month after a short but aggressive illness.
How Village People honored Victor Willis during his final farewell
Willis’ funeral was held at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mortuary in San Diego, California, and attended by approximately 50 mourners. Photos obtained by TMZ from the service showed five people who appear to be current Village People members sitting in the front row. The group members included James Kwong as the construction worker, Nicholas Manelick as the cowboy, Javier Perez as the Native American, James Lee as the G.I., and J.J. Lippold as the leather man. In place of traditional funeral garments, they wore costumes.
In 1977, Willis rose to fame as the Village People’s police officer, and also helped form the band. He appeared in different versions of the band throughout the years. Willis rejoined the group in 2017, after which he played regularly with them for the next several years. He appeared in the group’s performance at a pre-inauguration event for President Donald Trump in 2025.
Fans and public figures mourned the death of the singer. Willis was 74 when he died after battling a short but aggressive illness. Trump recalled Willis as “a great and happy guy” and noted that whenever he heard “Y.M.C.A,” he thought of Willis. The song has become one of the most popular songs by the Village People.
Willis’ funeral highlighted the enduring ties between him and the Village People. His bandmates celebrated his career with costumes that became the band’s identity. Fans still recall his legacy in the disco era. The Village People remain known worldwide for their music and performances.
Tell us – What is your favorite memory of Victor Willis and the iconic Village People?
