Jeremy, Ron 1953–

views updated

Jeremy, Ron 1953–

(Lolita Brooklyn, David Elliott, Ron Jeremy Hyatt)

PERSONAL:

Born March 12, 1953, in Long Island, NY. Education: Holds B.A.s in theater and elementary education; Queens College, M.A. Religion: Jewish.

CAREER:

Writer, porn star; star, director and/or writer of numerous pornographic films, 1983—; producer of Once upon a Secretary,1983,Cock-Tales,1985,Money Honey(as Nicholas Pera), 1990,Frankenpenis,1996,Ron Jeremy on the Loose: Sunset Strip,2002; subject of the documentary,Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy,2001; served as a consultant on the films 9 1/2 Weeks,1986,52 Pick Up,1986, and Boogie Nights,1997; cinematographer for Sex and Other Games,1989,Backdoor to Hollywood 9(as Norm L. Pera), 1989, and The Dane Harlow Story,1990; appears in music videos for rock musicians including Moby, Kid Rock, Sublime, and Mercury Rev; with DJ Polo, wrote and performed the rap song "Freak of the Week"; appeared on the Warner Brothers Television series The Surreal Life,2004. Previously taught special education.

WRITINGS:

(With Eric Spitznagel)Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz, HarperEntertainment (New York, NY), 2007.

Wrote scripts for Once upon a Secretary,1983,Cock-Tales,1985,The Anal-ist 2,(as David Elliott), 1986,American Dream Girls,(story; as David Elliott), 1987,Flesh for Frankenstein,(as David Elliott), 1987,Primal Urge,(as David Elliott), 1987,Blacks Next Door,(as David Elliott), 1988,Ladies Lovin' Ladies Lovin' Ladies 1,1992,Musical Bedrooms,(as Lolita Brooklyn), 1993.

SIDELIGHTS:

Ron Jeremy was born Ron Jeremy Hyatt in 1953 in Long Island, New York. Though he developed an interest in acting at a young age and had a double major as an undergraduate in theater and education, he went on to earn his master's degree from Queens College and to teach special education. He worked in the theater as well, but understood the slim chance of making that a full-time career. Then his girlfriend submitted his picture to Playgirl magazine for a section that featured average, everyday men. The exposure led to more acting roles and eventually to an offer to appear in an adult video. In 1983 Jeremy starred in his first film and began his career as a porn star. His popularity grew exponentially, and soon he was appearing in several films a week. In addition to performing, he began to produce, direct, and write films as well. He went on to act as a consultant for several high-profile Hollywood films, including 9 1/2 Weeks and Boogie Nights, and began making guest appearances as himself. He was also the subject of a documentary on his career,Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy.

Jeremy's book,Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz, which he wrote with the assistance of Eric Spitznagel, offers readers an in-depth look at his life and career, including glimpses of his numerous business projects, from rap music to reality television shows. The book also corrects various stereotypes and rumors about the adult video business and addresses health concerns and other criticisms of the industry. Jeremy also gives an honest account of his personal life and how his career choices have affected his relationships off-screen. He also offers a fair share of hilarity, including amusing anecdotes from both on the set and off, and mentions stunts and mishaps he has witnessed over the course of his career. He credits his average, normal-guy looks and his willingness to work for his success. Owen Gleiberman, in a review for Entertainment Weekly, noted that there is little that Jeremy can hope to reveal in his book, no matter how candid, as "whatever private Ron Jeremy once existed has now been eclipsed, if not eliminated, by the cult celebrity of Ron Jeremy's privates." In a review for Publishers Weekly, one contributor remarked that "the incessant celebrity name-dropping is daunting, but the book is like Jeremy: self-effacing, affably vulgar, eager-to-please."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Jeremy, Ron, and Eric Spitznagel,Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz, HarperEntertainment (New York, NY), 2007.

PERIODICALS

Advertising Age, January 26, 2004, T.L. Stanley, "‘Surreal Life’: Porn Crosses over to Media Mainstream," p. 4.

Booklist, February 1, 2007, Mike Tribby, review of Ron Jeremy, p. 14.

Electronic Gaming Monthly, December 1, 2003, "Celebrity Gamer: Ron Jeremy."

Entertainment Weekly, December 7, 2001, Owen Gleiberman, "XXX-Man: The Sexumentary Porn Star Looks at the Unlikely Hero of Adult Films," p. 69; February 2, 2007, "The Porn Identity," p. 128.

New York Times, November 30, 2001, Dave Kehr, "Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy," p. 18.

New York Times Book Review, February 18, 2007, Jane and Michael Stern, "Mr. Big," p. 30.

Publishers Weekly, December 18, 2006, review of Ron Jeremy, p. 56.

U.S. News & World Report, August 29, 2007, Alison Go, "The Great Porn Debate, Featuring Ron Jeremy and Some Other Guy."