Who is Artie in Cruella based on?
Matthew Wilson
Updated on January 12, 2026
Cruella features Disney's first openly gay character, Artie, and also pays homage to the gender-bending musician David Bowie. Portrayed by British actor John McCrea, the vintage shop owner has a glam rock aesthetic, which thematically aligns with the primary 1970s London setting.
Who is Artie in the original 101 Dalmatians?
Character informationArthur "Artie" is a supporting character in the 101 Dalmatians live-action spin-off, Cruella, played by John McCrea. He is the owner of a vintage clothing store who admires Cruella's sense of fashion.
Is Artie from Cruella a guy?
John personally identifies as a gay man, and whilst Disney hasn't confirmed if Artie is an LGBTQ+ character or not, when asked about it in an interview with Attitude, John said: "It depends on who you're asking I suppose — but for me, yes, it's official: he's queer.Is Artie from Cruella in the cartoon?
Another character with a passion for fashion, Artie owns a vintage shop and sparks up a friendship with Estella, helping her transform into Cruella. Artie is a new addition to the narrative, who did not appear in the original animated film or the live-action 90s remake, but he's an immediate standout in the film.Does Disney have any LGBT characters?
A Brief Timeline of Disney's 16 'First Gay Characters'
- First Gay Married Couple: Bucky and Pronk Oryx-Antlerson in 'Zootopia' (2016) ...
- First Lesbian Couple in a Pixar Film: Couple in 'Finding Dory' (2016) ...
- First 'Exclusively Gay Moment:' LeFou in 'Beauty and the Beast' (2017)