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{{Short description|American actor and director}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox adult biography
| name            = Jamie Gillis
| image           = Jamie Gillis ces99121.jpg
| caption         = Gillis at the [[Consumer Electronics Show|CES]] in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], 1999
| birth_name      = Jamey Ira Gurman
| birth_date      = {{Birth date|1943|04|20}}
| birth_place     = [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date      = {{Death date and age|2010|02|19|1943|04|20|mf=yes}}
| death_place     = New York City, U.S. 
| partner         = [[Serena (actress)|Serena]], [[Zarela Martinez]],<ref name="nymag">{{cite web|title=Porn Star Jamie Gillis Remembered by Non-Porn-Star Friends|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2010/03/porn_star_jamie_gillis_remembe.html|magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=March 15, 2010 |access-date=December 8, 2013|quote=His real name was Jamey Gurman; he was a native New Yorker and “renaissance Jew” who graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University and, in the spirit of countercultural exploration and open-mindedness, ended up in porn.}}</ref> Juliet Graham<ref name="therialtoreport">{{cite web|title=Whatever Happened to Juliet Graham? (And 'The Ganja Express' (1978)?)|url=https://www.therialtoreport.com/2017/08/27/juliet-graham/|date=August 27, 2017|quote=A statuesque blonde, she appeared in notable films like ‘The Story of Joanna‘ (1975), ‘Alice in Wonderland‘ (1976), and the elusive ‘The Ganja Express‘ (1978) – and dated two early industry regulars, Jamie Gillis and Ashley Moore. For a time she also was a regular in pictorials in the pages of New York-based men’s magazines.}}</ref>
| alias           = Al Cianelli, Jamie Kantor, Jamier Kantor, Jaime Gillis, Jaimie Gillis, Jaimi Gillis, Jamey Gillis, Jamie Grill, Buster Hymen, Jamey, James Kleeman, Cotton Mathers, Ronny Morgan, Barry Gillis, Sir Jamie Gillis, James Rugman (gay) 
| website         = 
}}

'''Jamie Gillis''' (born '''Jamey Ira Gurman'''; April 20, 1943 – February 19, 2010) was an American [[pornographic actor]], [[film director|director]] and member of the [[AVN Award|AVN Hall of Fame]].
He was married to the porn actress [[Serena (actress)|Serena]].

==Early life==
Gillis was born Jamey Ira Gurman<ref name="nymag"/> in [[New York City]]. He was named after the [[Tyrone Power]] character in the film ''[[The Black Swan (film)|The Black Swan]]'' (1942), and he took the name ''Gillis'' from the girlfriend he was living with when he made his first films.<ref name=Gillis>[http://www.therialtoreport.com/2013/11/17/jamie-gillis-new-york-beginnings-podcast-25/ Jamie Gillis: New York Beginnings], audio interview with Jamie Gillis, [http://www.therialtoreport.com/ The Rialto Report], November 17, 2013"</ref> Gillis later attended [[Columbia University]] and graduated [[magna cum laude]].<ref name="nymag"/> While supporting himself driving a cab, he answered an ad in ''[[The Village Voice]]''.<ref name=TVV>"''SCREW'' Interview with Jamie Gillis: The Hamlet of Hard-Core," ''SCREW'', May 17, 1976, pp. 4-9, [https://41.media.tumblr.com/6344d69219434aa52838a3585497c038/tumblr_n3zx8xXbcv1sbtct0o2_1280.jpg 41.media], retrieved January 15, 2015.</ref>

==Career==
He appeared in more than 470 movies as an actor. <ref name="underboss">{{Cite news |title=The Underboss |periodical=Gay Erotic Video Index |url=http://www.wtule.net/v9718.html |access-date=2007-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207114824/http://www.wtule.net/v9718.html |archive-date=2008-02-07 }}</ref> He also directed several adult movies. Openly [[bisexual]], he appeared in many gay porn films, including a sex scene with [[Zebedy Colt]] in the 1975 Gerard Damiano [[Sadomasochism|BDSM-themed]] film ''[[The Story of Joanna]]''. Gillis appeared in the mainstream Hollywood film ''[[Nighthawks (1981 film)|Nighthawks]]'' (1981) as the boss of [[Lindsay Wagner]]'s character (he's credited as 'Designer'). He also made his name in two [[Radley Metzger]] films, ''[[The Opening of Misty Beethoven]]'' (1976)<ref name="TRR-20170407">{{cite web |last=West |first=Ashley |title='The Opening of Misty Beethoven' (1976): Jamie Gillis and Constance Money |url=http://www.therialtoreport.com/2017/04/07/misty-beethoven/ |date=April 7, 2017 |work=[[The Rialto Report]] |access-date=April 7, 2017 }}</ref> and ''[[Barbara Broadcast]]'' (1977); the former is considered, by award-winning author [[Toni Bentley]], the "crown jewel" of the [[Golden Age of Porn]].<ref name="PB-201406">{{cite web|last=Bentley|first=Toni|author-link=Toni Bentley|title=The Legend of Henry Paris|url=http://www.playboy.com/articles/the-legend-of-henry-paris|date=June 2014|work=[[Playboy]]|access-date=January 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204030128/http://www.playboy.com/articles/the-legend-of-henry-paris|archive-date=February 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="TB-201406">{{cite web|last=Bentley|first=Toni|author-link=Toni Bentley|title=The Legend of Henry Paris |url=http://www.tonibentley.com/pdfarticles/playboy/RadleyMetzger_AuteuroftheErotic_ToniBentley.pdf |date=June 2014|website=ToniBentley.com|access-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref>

According to [[Al Goldstein]], Gillis was always described as "sexually the wildest, most decadent, off-the-wall guy in the business."<ref name=TVV/> His scene with Brooke Fields was problematic.<!-- Why? --> He was a pioneer in the pornographic style known as [[Gonzo pornography|Gonzo]]. In addition to starring in the first ''[[John Stagliano|Buttman]]'' film, he also created the influential ''[[On the Prowl (film series)|On the Prowl]]'' series. Featuring a porn star who rides in a limo looking for regular guys to have sex with, the video series was very popular and inspired a scene in the movie ''[[Boogie Nights]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sloan|first=Will|title=The Godfather of Gonzo Porn|date=November 21, 2013|url=http://penguinrandomhouse.ca/hazlitt/longreads/godfather-gonzo-porn|publisher=Random House|access-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref> He also co-produced the popular ''Dirty Debutante'' series with fellow director and performer [[Ed Powers]],<ref>{{cite web|author=XBIZ |url=http://www.xbiz.com/articles/profiles/84467 |title=The Godfathers of Gonzo |publisher=XBIZ.com |date=September 25, 2007 |access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> as well as the ''Walking Toilet Bowl'' series of films that focused on [[Golden shower (urolagnia)|golden showers]] and [[coprophilia]].

==Death==
Gillis died on February 19, 2010, in New York City from [[melanoma]], which was diagnosed four to five months earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/37411.html|title=Jamie Gillis Passes Away|publisher=business.avn.com|access-date=February 19, 2010|date=February 19, 2010|author=Peter Warren|archive-date=April 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430021520/http://business.avn.com/articles/37411.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In an audio interview given to ''[[The Rialto Report]]'' shortly before his death, Gillis stated that in the 1970s he had wanted his ashes to be scattered in [[Times Square]], but years later he changed his mind, stating that the [[Times Square#1960s–1990s|cleaned up Times Square]] that emerged in the 1990s would contaminate his ashes.<ref name=Gillis/>

==Partial filmography==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

===As an actor===
* ''[[Die You Zombie Bastards!]]'' (2005)
* ''Potty Mouth'' (2004)
* ''Luv Generation'' (2004)
* ''Sunset Stripped'' (2002)
* ''New Wave Hookers 5'' (1997)
* ''Bobby Sox'' (1996)
* ''Taboo XI'' (1993)
* ''Taboo IX'' (1991)
* ''Play My Flute'' (1991)
* ''Uncle Jamie's Double Trouble'' (1991)
* ''Playin' Dirty'' (1990)
* ''Jamie Gillis and Africa'' (1990)
* ''Taboo VII'' (1989)
* ''Alien Space Avenger'' (1989)
* ''Adventures of Buttman'' (1989)
* ''Pretty Peaches'' (1989)
* ''Head Lock'' (1989)
* ''Pretty Peaches 2'' (1987)
* ''Babyface 2'' (1986) 
* ''Taboo V'' (1986)
* ''Taboo IV'' (1985)
* ''Ten Little Maidens'' (1985)
* ''Love Mexican Style'' (1985)
* ''Too Naughty to Say No'' (1985)
* ''[[New Wave Hookers]]'' (1984)
* ''Trinity Brown'' (1984)
* ''A Little Bit of Hanky Panky'' (1984)
* ''Corruption'' (1983) 
* ''[[Night of the Zombies]]'' (1981)
* ''Roommates'' (1981)
* ''Neon Nights'' (1981)
* ''Amanda by Night'' (1981)
* ''[[Wanda Whips Wall Street]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Nighthawks (1981 film)|Nighthawks]]'' (1981)
* ''Dracula Exotica'' (1980)
* ''The Seduction of Cindy'' (1980)
* ''800 Fantasy Lane'' (1979)
* ''The Ecstasy Girls'' (1979)
* ''Sensual Fire'' (1979)
* ''Heavenly Desire'' (1979)
* ''Hot Honey'' (1978)
* ''[[Dracula Sucks]]'' (aka ''Lust At First Bite'') (1978)
* ''A Coming of Angels'' (1977)
* ''[[Barbara Broadcast]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Lustful Feelings]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Obsessed (1977 film)|Obsessed]]'' (1977)
* ''Captain Lust and the Pirate Women'' (1977)
*''[[Through the Looking Glass (film)|Through the Looking Glass]]'' (1976)
* ''Winter Heat'' (1976)
* ''[[Water Power (film)|Water Power]]'' (1976)
* ''[[The Opening of Misty Beethoven]]'' (1976)<ref name="TRR-20170407" />
* ''Oriental Blue '' (1976)
* ''Saturday Night Special'' (1976)
* ''Boy {{'}}Napped'' (1975)
* ''Sometime Sweet Susan'' (1975)
* ''Abigail Lesley is Back in Town''(1975)
* ''The Seduction of Lyn Carter'' (1974)
* ''Fantasy Girls'' (1974)
* ''[[Deep Throat (film)|Deep Throat]] Part II'' (1974)

===As a director===
* ''Devious Old Gillis'' (1998)
* ''Back on the Prowl 2'' (1998)
* ''Back on the Prowl'' (1998)
* ''Punished Sex Offenders'' (1990)
* ''Takeout Torture'' (1990)
* ''[[On the Prowl (film series)|On the Prowl]]'' (1989)
{{div col end}}

==Awards==
* 1976 [[Adult Film Association of America|AFAA Award]] – Best Actor (''[[The Opening of Misty Beethoven]]'')<ref name="TRR-20170407" /><ref name="RAME">{{cite news|title=rame awards list|url=http://www.rame.net/library/lists/best.html|access-date=December 27, 2007|archive-date=April 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421220757/http://www.rame.net/library/lists/best.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1977 AAFA Award – Best Actor (''Coming of Angels'')<ref name="RAME"/>
* 1979 AAFA Award – Best Actor (''Ecstasy Girls'')<ref name="RAME"/>
* 1982 AFAA Award – Best Supporting Actor (''Roommates'')<ref name="RAME"/>
* 1984 [[XRCO Award]] – Best Kinky Scene (''Insatiable II'')<ref name=XRCO1985>{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/View?docid=dcpxgmgk_0hrghhdgp|title=Transcript of the video A Night of Legends: First Annual XRCO Adult Film Awards|access-date=August 9, 2008|author=MayorDefacto|archive-date=August 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812055222/https://docs.google.com/View?docid=dcpxgmgk_0hrghhdgp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1985 [[XRCO Award]] – Best Kinky Scene (''Nasty'')<ref name=XRCO1986>{{cite web|url=http://aiwards.com/xrco/1986 |title=Winners of XRCO Awards 1986}}</ref>
* 1987 [[XRCO Award]] – Best Actor (''Deep Throat 2'')<ref name="RAME"/><ref name="Academy Awards of XXX Convene in 'the Valley of Lust'">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-19-ca-29687-story.html |title=Academy Awards of XXX Convene in 'the Valley of Lust': Uptight Undercurrent Mars Atmosphere of Kinky Abandon in Era of Challenges From Law|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 19, 1988|access-date=January 12, 2014}}</ref>
* 1987 [[XRCO Award]] – Best Supporting Actor (''Babyface 2'')<ref name="RAME"/>
* 1987 [[XRCO Award]] – Best Kinky Scene (''Let's Get It On With Amber Lynn'')<ref name=XRCO1988>{{cite web|url=http://aiwards.com/xrco/1988 |title=Winners of XRCO Awards 1988}}</ref>
* 1989 [[AVN Award]] – [[AVN Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] &ndash; (''Pretty Peaches 2'')<ref name="AVN">{{cite news|title=Past AVN Award Winners |url=http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=pastwinners |access-date=December 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312060026/http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=pastwinners |archive-date=March 12, 2009 }}</ref>
* 1989 [[XRCO Award]] – Best Actor (''Second Skin'')<ref name="RAME"/>
* 1997 [[AVN Award]] – [[AVN Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] &ndash; Film (''Bobby Sox'')<ref name="AVN"/>
* 1999 [[AVN Award]] – Best Supporting Actor &ndash; Video (''Forever Night'')<ref name="AVN"/>
* [[List of members of the AVN Hall of Fame|AVN Hall of Fame]]<ref name="AVN HOF">{{cite news|title=AVN Hall of Fame |url=http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=halloffame |access-date=December 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002002341/http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=halloffame |archive-date=October 2, 2008 }}</ref>
* [[XRCO Hall of Fame]]<ref name="XRCOHOF">{{cite news|title=XRCO Hall of Fame |url=http://www.bwdl.net/XRCO-2/hall.htm |access-date=December 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007005528/http://www.bwdl.net/XRCO-2/hall.htm |archive-date=October 7, 2007 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Golden Age of Porn]]
* [[List of male performers in gay porn films]]

==Sources==
* Nicolas Barbano: ''Verdens 25 hotteste pornostjerner'' (Rosinante, Denmark 1999) {{ISBN|87-7357-961-0}}: Features a chapter on him.
* [http://www.therialtoreport.com/ The Rialto Report]: [http://www.therialtoreport.com/2013/11/17/jamie-gillis-new-york-beginnings-podcast-25/ Jamie Gillis: New York Beginnings], audio interview with Jamie Gillis, November 17, 2013
* {{cite web|url=http://penguinrandomhouse.ca/hazlitt/longreads/godfather-gonzo-porn|title=The Godfather of Gonzo Porn|last1=Sloan|first1=Will|date=November 21, 2013|website=Hazlitt|publisher=[[Random House of Canada]]|access-date=March 9, 2014}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0003501|Jamie Gillis}}
* {{iafd name|id=jgillis|gender=male|name=Jamie Gillis}}
* {{afdb name|id=635|gender=male|name=Jamie Gillis}}
* [http://www.therialtoreport.com/2013/11/17/jamie-gillis-new-york-beginnings-podcast-25/ Jamie Gillis: New York Beginnings], audio interview with Jamie Gillis, [http://www.therialtoreport.com/ The Rialto Report], November 17, 2013
* [http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/07/19/the-prince-of-gonzo-porn/ The Prince of Gonzo Porn] – July 2007 interview
* {{YouTube|iHEeu0TjX30|1983 interview with Shauna Grant}}
* [http://screwmag.tumblr.com/post/77588491508/al-goldstein-interviews-gerard-damiano-july-9 Interview by Al Goldstein] in ''[[SCREW (magazine)|SCREW magazine]]'', July 9, 1973, pp.&nbsp;5–8.

{{AVN Best Actor}}
{{AVN Best Supporting Actor}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Society|Film|United States}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillis, Jamie}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Film directors from New York City]]
[[Category:American people of Dutch-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American male pornographic film actors]]
[[Category:American pornographic film directors]]
[[Category:American pornographic film producers]]
[[Category:Bisexual male pornographic film actors]]
[[Category:Deaths from melanoma in New York (state)]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ film directors]]
[[Category:Bisexual Jews]]
[[Category:American bisexual male actors]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]]
[[Category:Pornographic film actors from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Columbia University alumni]]
[[Category:American taxi drivers]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Best Actor AVN Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actor AVN Award winners]]