Herschel Savage (born Harvey Cohen, November 25, 1952 – October 8, 2023) was an American pornographic actor, director, and stage actor who appeared in over 1,000 adult films.[2] In 2002, AVN ranked him 46th on their list of The Top 50 Porn Stars of All Time.[3] He was also inducted into the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame.[4][5]
Herschel Savage | |
---|---|
Born | Harvey Cohen[1] November 25, 1952 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Died | October 8, 2023 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 70)
Other names | Harvey Cowen, Harvey Joel Coen, Herschel Cohen, Jack Black, Max Cohen |
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Early life
editHerschel Savage was born as Harvey Cohen on November 25, 1952, in New York City, to Russian-Jewish parents.[6][7][8] His mother battled with obsessive-compulsive disorder.[9] Growing up, he attended a Conservative synagogue.[10] Savage saw his first adult film The Nun's Bad Habit at a movie theater in Times Square.[9]
Savage began studying acting under Broadway theatre actress Uta Hagen and renowned acting teacher Stella Adler.[11][12] Savage initially sought a mainstream stage and screen career.[8] However, he became disillusioned by the constant auditioning and competition for roles.[11] He also worked for an exercise company.[9]
Career
editSavage was introduced to the adult film industry via the actor R. Bolla in 1976.[11] He went on to become one of the biggest stars of the "Golden Age of Porn" in the 1970s and 1980s.[11] Savage appeared in the 1978 classic Debbie Does Dallas, for which he was paid about $150 a day.[12] The film was a financial success, becoming one of the top five highest grossing adult films of all time.[7] Some of the other films he appeared in include Expose Me Now, Bodies in Heat, and Rambone Does Hollywood.[12] He created the stage name "Herschel Savage" with adult actor Jamie Gillis in an attempt to combine a 'nerdy Jewish identity' with that of a stud.[11]
During the mid-1980s, Savage helped to organize sex workers in San Francisco to fight for better wages.[2] The initiative was ultimately abandoned after production studios threatened to blacklist performers.[2] In 1986, Savage appeared in a cameo for the neo-noir crime film 52 Pick-Up starring Roy Scheider and Ann-Margret.[6] He was credited as "Harvey Cowen". In 1988, Savage was inducted into the XRCO Hall of Fame.[5][13] That same year, he left pornography to work in sales and video distribution.[8] He returned to performing in 1997.[8]
Savage appeared as a guest during the fifth season of the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me, with Ron Jeremy, which aired on February 1, 2001.[14] In 2003, he performed a stand-up routine on an episode of the reality television series Family Business. Savage portrayed a detective in the 2008 parody film The Texas Vibrator Massacre.[15] He appeared alongside other adult performers in the documentary series After Porn Ends 3 in 2018.[16] Savage appeared in more than 1000 adult films.[2] He was also inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame.[4]
Stage
editSavage performed under the name "Max Cohen" in a 2006 production of Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue.[6][8] In January 2013, he portrayed pornographic film director Gerard Damiano in the Los Angeles production of The Deep Throat Sex Scandal, a play described as the "theatrical telling of the back story of Deep Throat."[10][17] His performance drew positive reviews.[18] Writing for The Los Angeles Times, Charlotte Stoudt called Savage's portrayal of Damiano "surprisingly cogent".[19] Myron Meisel from The Hollywood Reporter remarked that he "engenders endearing empathy as the amiably deluded director Damiano."[20] Steven Leigh Morris from LA Weekly deemed his performance "dramatic comedy terra firma".[21] Savage credited the play with "renewing [his] love for performing on stage."[9]
Savage appeared as himself in Pretty Filthy, a musical about the adult film industry.[22] He also performed in the interactive dinner show Joni and Gina's Wedding.[23] In July 2016, Savage premiered Porn Star: My Life In The Sex Industry, an autobiographical one-man show, which he successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign.[24]
Personal life and death
editSavage was a practicing Buddhist.[18] He resided in California.[18]
Herschel Savage died on October 8, 2023, at the age of 70.[25]
Select performances
editFilm
editTitle | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Debbie Does Dallas | 1978 | Tim | [7] | |
The Satisfiers of Alpha Blue | 1980 | Griffin | [26] | |
Memphis Cathouse Blues | 1982 | Deacon Davis | ||
What Gets Me Hot! | 1984 | Mrs. Radner's Boyfriend | ||
52 Pick-Up | 1986 | Party Goer | Credited as Harvey Cowen | |
Droid | 1988 | Turk | ||
The Texas Vibrator Massacre | 2008 | Detective Mike Roe | [27] | |
30 Rock: A XXX Parody | 2009 | Jake | [28] | |
After Porn Ends 3 | 2018 | Himself | Documentary | [29] |
Television
editTitle | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sex Court | 1999-00 | Tommy Rawlings / Nick Palos / Tony Tornelli | 3 episodes | |
Just Shoot Me! | 2001 | Ron | Episode: "The Proposal" | [14] |
Family Business | 2003 | Himself | Episode: "Casa De Butts" | |
Are You There, Chelsea? | 2012 | Guard | Episode: "Pilot" (credited as Harvey Joel Coen) | |
Dave's Old Porn | 2012 | Himself | Episode: "Lisa Lampanelli / Herschel Savage" |
Theater
editTitle | Year | Venue | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Prisoner of Second Avenue | 2006 | Mel Edison | Lead role (credited as Max Cohen) | [8] | |
The Deep Throat Sex Scandal | 2013 | Zephyr Theater | Gerard Damiano | Los Angeles run | [10] |
Pretty Filthy | 2015 | Abrons Arts Center | Himself | Musical | [22] |
Porn Star: My Life In The Sex Industry | 2016 | Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center | Himself | One-man show | [24] |
Awards
edit
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Totals | 9 | 40 |
Year | Nominated work and artist | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | If Only Mother Knew | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | [30] |
1989 | Amanda by Night II | Best Sex Scene - Feature Film (with Nina Hartley) | Won | [31] |
1992 | Herschel Savage | AVN Hall of Fame Inductee | Won | [32] |
2000 | The Devil Made Her Do It | Most Outrageous Sex Scene (with Mila & Dave Hardman) | Won | [33] |
Herschel Savage | Male Performer of the Year | Nominated | [34] | |
The Kissing Game | Best Couples Sex Scene - Video (with Missy) | Nominated | ||
Best Supporting Actor - Video | Nominated | |||
Nothing to Hide 3 & 4 | Best Actor - Film | Nominated | ||
Trial by Copulation | Best Group Sex Scene - Film (with Temptress, Azlea Antistia, and Chris Cannon) | Nominated | ||
The Trophy | Best Supporting Actor - Film | Nominated | ||
Tushy Con Carne | Best Anal Sex Scene - Video (with Alisha Klass) | Nominated | ||
2001 | Dream Quest | Best Actor - Film | Nominated | [35] |
Exhibitionist Part 1 | Best Supporting Actor - Video | Nominated | ||
The Gapes of Wrath | Best Anal Sex Scene - Video (with McKayla Matthews, Tyce Bune, and Mark Davis) | Nominated | ||
Screamers | Best Couples Sex Scene - Film (with Dee) | Nominated | ||
Best Supporting Actor - Film | Nominated | |||
Sodomania: Gangbang Edition | Best Group Sex Scene - Video (with Sabrina Johnson, Tyce Bune, Lexington Steele, and Mark Anthony) | Nominated | ||
Spellbound | Best Actor - Video | Nominated | ||
White Trash Whore 17 | Best Anal Sex Scene - Video (with Allysin Embers & Dave Hardman) | Nominated | ||
2002 | Bad Wives 2 | Best Group Sex Scene - Film (with Kylie Ireland & Jason McCain) | Nominated | [36] |
Infidelity | Best Supporting Actor - Video | Nominated | ||
Mafioso | Best Actor - Film | Nominated | ||
Pussy Face | Most Outrageous Sex Scene (with Kristen Kane and Rafe) | Won | [37] | |
Succubus | Best Group Sex Scene - Video (with Ava Vincent, Bridgette Kerkove, Nikita Denise, and Trevor) | Won | ||
Taken | Best Anal Sex Scene - Film | Nominated | [36] | |
Best Supporting Actor - Film | Won | [37] | ||
2003 | Big Bottom Sadie | Best Supporting Actor - Video | Nominated | [38] |
2004 | Roommate From Hell | Best Actor - Video | Nominated | [39] |
The Contortionist | Best Supporting Actor - Video | Nominated | ||
2005 | The Hitman | Nominated | [40] | |
Love and Bullets | Best Actor - Video | Nominated | ||
2006 | Dark Side | Best Actor - Film | Nominated | [41] |
Best Couples Sex Scene - Film (with Penny Flame) | Won | [42] | ||
House of Ass | Best Three-Way Sex Scene (with Mari Possa & Barbara Summer) | Nominated | [41] | |
2007 | Butt Pirates of the Caribbean | Best Group Sex Scene - Video (with Mari Possa, Amber Peach, Samantha Ryan, and Kurt Lockwood) | Nominated | [43] |
ClusterFuck 5 | Best Group Sex Scene - Video (with Mayhem, Tory Lane, Jay Lassiter, Dirty Harry, Scott Lyons, Jenner, Rick Masters, Chris Mountain, Steve james, Trevor Thompson, and Alec Knight) | Nominated | ||
Game | Best Non-Sex Performance | Nominated | ||
Rumour Had 'Em | Best Supporting Actor - Video | Nominated | ||
2008 | Delilah | Best Actor - Video | Nominated | [44] |
Spunk'd the Movie | Best Supporting Actor - Video | Nominated | ||
2009 | The Texas Vibrator Massacre | Best Non-Sex Performance | Nominated | [45] |
2010 | 30 Rock: A XXX Parody | Best Actor | Nominated | [46] |
2013 | Dallas: A XXX Parody | Best Non-Sex Performance | Nominated | [47] |
Year | Nominated artist | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Herschel Savage | Best Actor | Nominated | [48] |
Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | 30 Rock: A XXX Parody | Acting Performance of the Year - Male | Nominated | [49] |
2019 | Fallen II: Angels & Demons | Best Non-Sex Performance | Nominated | [50] |
Year | Nominated work and artist | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | Herschel Savage | XRCO Hall of Fame Inductee | Won | [13] |
2000 | Nothing to Hide 3 & 4 | Actor (Single Performance) | Nominated | [51] |
2006 | Dark Side (with Penny Flame) | Best Onscreen Couple | Won | [52] |
References
edit- ^ "Herschel Savage's 'Porn Star' Shows His Mainstream Acting Chops". Adult Video News. July 11, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ^ a b c d R. Berg, Heather (2016). "Porn Work: Adult Film at the Point of Production" (PhD). University of California, Santa Barbara. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ "AVN: The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ^ a b "AVN Hall Of Fame". Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ a b "XRCO Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on October 7, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Herschel Savage". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
- ^ a b c "The Curse of Debbie Does Dallas". The Sydney Morning Herald. August 19, 2005. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Savage Stars In Neil Simon Play". AVN. Retrieved March 30, 2009.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ a b c d Kernes, Mark (July 11, 2016). "Herschel Savage's 'Porn Star' Shows His Mainstream Acting Chops". AVN. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ a b c Pfefferman, Naomi (January 23, 2013). "Play reveals naked truth behind 'Deep Throat'". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Herschel Savage: The Evergreen Porn Star", The Rialto Report, November 3rd, 2013
- ^ a b c Savage, Herschel; Atell, Dave (2012). Dave's Old Porn (Television Production). Los Angeles: Showtime.
- ^ a b "XRCO's Hot 'n' Horny Heart-On Awards!", Hustler Erotic Video Guide Vol. 3, No. 5, September 1988, pp. 8-9.
- ^ a b "Just Shoot Me". TV Guide. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ Watson, Thomas (2013). "There's something rotten in the state of Texas: Genre, adaptation and The Texas Vibrator Massacre" (PDF). Journal of Adaptation in Film & Performance. 6 (3): 387–400. doi:10.1386/jafp.6.3.387_1. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ Street, Sharan (October 29, 2018). "Stars Share Their Stories in 'After Porn Ends 3'". AVN. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ Ng, David (December 12, 2012). "'Deep Throat' play set for L.A. with porn star Veronica Hart". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Herschel Savage: The Evergreen Porn Star". The Rialto Report. 3 November 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- ^ Stoudt, Charlotte (February 6, 2013). "Review: Cheerful if uneven, 'Deep Throat Sex Scandal' mimics film". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ Meisel, Myron (February 4, 2013). "The Deep Throat Sex Scandal: Theatre Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ Steven Leigh Morris (February 7, 2013). "The Deep Throat Sex Scandal Celebrates a Famous First Amendment Victory But Ignores the Bigger Issue". LA Weekly. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Scheck, Frank (February 8, 2015). "'Pretty Filthy': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- ^ Cling, Carol (25 September 2014). "'Merrily' tops upcoming theater, music events". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ a b Kernes, Mark (July 5, 2016). "Herschel Savage Solo Play 'Porn Star' Opens This Weekend". AVN. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ^ "Herschel Savage Passes Away at 70". XBIZ. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Review: Satisfiers of Alpha Blue". AVN. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ Warren, Peter (April 23, 2008). "Rob Rotten's Texas Vibrator Massacre". XBIZ. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ Delahaye, Gabe (August 21, 2009). "NSFW: 30 Rock Porno? 30 Rock Porno". Stereogum. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ Pardon, Rhett (September 19, 2018). "'After Porn Ends' Documentary Series Continues With 3rd Chapter". XBIZ. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "Nominations for the 1986 Adult Video News Awards". AVN. Vol. 1, no. 47. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Adult Video News, Inc. January 1987. pp. 16–20. ISSN 0883-7090.
- ^ "1989 AVN Award Winners". AVN. Archived from the original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "Vegas Sex-cess!". EFG Showcase (Hot Videos Illustrated). New York, New York: Eton Publishing Co. October 1992. pp. 34–37.
- ^ "2000 AVN Award Winners Announced". AVN. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "AVN 2000 Nominations". AVN. March 2, 2000. Archived from the original on March 2, 2000. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ^ "2001 AVN Awards Nominations List". AVN. November 2000. Archived from the original on March 9, 2001. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
- ^ a b Marco, Ben (November 9, 2001). "2002 AVN Awards Show Nominations Announced". AVN. Archived from the original on December 4, 2001. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
- ^ a b Pike-Johnson, Heidi (January 12, 2002). "2002 AVN Awards Show Winners Announced". AVN. Archived from the original on February 4, 2002. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ^ "2003 AVN Awards Nominations". AVN. Archived from the original on November 27, 2002. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ^ "AVN 2004 Nominations" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2003. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
- ^ "2005 AVN Awards Nominations". AVN. November 14, 2004. Archived from the original on November 14, 2004. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ a b "AVN Awards 2006 Nominees" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2006. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
- ^ "2006 AVN Award Winners Announced". AVN. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "AVN Awards 2007 Nominees". AVN. 2006. Archived from the original on December 20, 2006. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ "The 2008 AVN Awards Nominations" (PDF). AVN. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 27, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- ^ Shull, Ed (December 21, 2008). "AVN Announces 2009 Award Nominees". Filthy Lucre. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ "2010 AVN Nominees". Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
- ^ "2013 AVN Award Nominations" (PDF). AVN. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ Javors, Steve (July 4, 2007). "Nightmoves Announces 2007 Awards Finalists". XBIZ. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ Javors, Steve (December 16, 2009). "XBIZ Announces Finalist Nominees for 2010 XBIZ Awards". XBIZ. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ Freixes, Alejandro (November 15, 2018). "XBIZ Announces Finalist Nominees for 2019 XBIZ Awards". XBIZ. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ "XRCO Nominations". AVN. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
- ^ Rhett Pardon (21 April 2006). "Porn Industry Shows Up for XRCO Awards". XBIZ. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
External links
edit- Herschel Savage at IMDb
- Herschel Savage on Twitter
- Herschel Savage at the Internet Adult Film Database
- Herschel Savage at the Adult Film Database
- The Rialto Report, "Herschel Savage - The Evergreen Porn Star", November 3, 2013 - new audio podcast interview with Herschel Savage