Redemption is an amazing thing. Mike’s wife may have her own story. I seldom read the Calendar section of the LA Times but on Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 (of all days to see such an redemption article, and in the LA Times, of all places) was the headline “After ‘Deep Throat,’ G-rated life.” The article was about “Herb Streicher, a young New York (Jewish) actor who took his craft very seriously in the late 1960s” but who wasn’t making any money. He got a job on a small movie set to do lighting “but when the man hired for the (male lead) part never showed,” the producer told him to put on a lab coat, “you’re acting.”
“Harry Reems” was born that day on that set; he was the “star” in the most financially successful porn movie ever, taking in over $600 million. The article dealt with what happened in his life afterwards; heavy drinking (2-quarts of vodka a day, buying it by the case), in and out of jails and hospitals; and one time living in a dumpster behind a grocery store in Malibu; almost losing his life in his downward spiral.
Today, he “has been clean and sober for 15 ½…happily and faithfully married,” a born again Christian and a successful Realtor. I also heard a news story years ago about his co-star, Linda Lovelace; she, too, had became a born-again Christian.
Yep, redemption makes for interesting stories. :yup:
By the way, he kept the name Harry Reems because he said he didn’t want guys coming up to him later on in life saying, “I know who you really are.”
