Publications
Partners
Los Angeles - Former US porn actor Harry Reems, who starred opposite Linda Lovelace in the pioneering 1972 adult film Deep Throat, has died aged 65, a friend said on Wednesday.
The ex-actor, real name Herbert Streicher, fell out with Lovelace and became a real estate agent in the western state of Utah, marrying a deeply religious woman, according to the IMDb movie industry website.
He was later offered a role as Coach Calhoun with John Travolta in Grease (1978), but producers replaced him with Sid Caesar at the last moment for fear his porn notoriety would taint the movie.
The actor's death on Tuesday was first reported by colleague Don Schenk, who knew him after he quit acting in the 1980s, and confirmed by media including The Hollywood Reporter. Other media reports said he died of pancreatic cancer.
Thrust into a starring role
Reems only got the role on Deep Throat, one of the first porn films to go mainstream, because the actor originally cast failed to turn up. Reems was working on lighting for the film, but was thrust into a starring role.
Deep Throat starred Lovelace as a woman seeking a doctor's help for sexual frustration. His diagnosis was that her clitoris was in the back of her throat, and proceeded to demonstrate, according to the film's storyline on IMDb.
Reems estimated that he worked in 300-400 porn films overall, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His Deep Throat performance earned him $250, according to Schenk. IMDb said he made $800.
The ex-actor, real name Herbert Streicher, fell out with Lovelace and became a real estate agent in the western state of Utah, marrying a deeply religious woman, according to the IMDb movie industry website.
He was later offered a role as Coach Calhoun with John Travolta in Grease (1978), but producers replaced him with Sid Caesar at the last moment for fear his porn notoriety would taint the movie.
The actor's death on Tuesday was first reported by colleague Don Schenk, who knew him after he quit acting in the 1980s, and confirmed by media including The Hollywood Reporter. Other media reports said he died of pancreatic cancer.
Thrust into a starring role
Reems only got the role on Deep Throat, one of the first porn films to go mainstream, because the actor originally cast failed to turn up. Reems was working on lighting for the film, but was thrust into a starring role.
Deep Throat starred Lovelace as a woman seeking a doctor's help for sexual frustration. His diagnosis was that her clitoris was in the back of her throat, and proceeded to demonstrate, according to the film's storyline on IMDb.
Reems estimated that he worked in 300-400 porn films overall, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His Deep Throat performance earned him $250, according to Schenk. IMDb said he made $800.
