Where Are They Now: Jake Deckard on Studio System Politics of the Early 2000s, Leaving on Top, & Finding Love After Porn

In the 2000s, one of the biggest names in the business was Jake Deckard. In 2008, that muscular man with a sexy stache, bald head, and piercing blue eyes became the first performer to win GayVN Awards for both Performer of the Year and Best Actor. Though he was at the peak of his success, Jake chose to retire from the industry in 2009. He made a brief comeback in 2012 for a few more sizzling hot movies that he also directed, and even started his own production company. However, Jake chose to leave the business for good to pursue his own personal relationship. Jake joined us for a candid interview to share his experiences working at several of the different studios, the politics at each, his favorite scenes, and his current status as a happily married man.

Could you share with us your journey to entering the industry and then becoming a star?JD: It's pretty simple. I hooked up with Colton Ford while he was in NYC one night. We fucked all night, and that morning I asked him to tell me how it all worked. My main questions was, "How can I make the most money and get really famous?" The next day the phone started ringing. Chi Chi, Titan, Colt, and Raging Stallion all called around the same time.

You have worked at several of the different major studios, both in front of and behind the camera. Could you compare your experiences working for these different companies? 
JD: Well, Chi Chi was really fun and sweet, but I very quickly understood that I was not going to get far with her. First, I signed with Titan against my better judgment.  Frankly, they were a nightmare to work for. Very strange people. They made me look great though and that's all that mattered. When my contract ended with Titan, Raging Stallion had expressed interest in doing a shoot with me and Sagat in Hawaii, with Francois playing a Tarzan-like character, which I thought was fucking brilliant. I had to keep it all under wraps. At the time, for some reason, every studio had some issue with Raging Stallion. I was told by nearly everyone if I worked for them, I would be blacklisted from every other studio. Oh man, that shit cracks me up now. Anyway, Francois pulled his own stunt and jumped over to Titan without telling anyone, breaking his contract. Titan called me, and asked if I'd be willing to do a scene with Francois, as he was crushing on me at the time. I played dumb and asked how Francois could possibly be working for Titan, when he was signed with Stallion. "We stole him!" they said. The press release was to go out the next morning. So I called Chris at Raging Stallion about an hour before they opened the next morning, knowing they would be in full crisis mode (they were) and made an offer. No one knew I was out of contract with Titan yet. I would allow Raging Stallion to issue their own press release saying they "stole" me from Titan. The terms of my contract were long, expensive, and included my own studio and a job at Raging Stallion so I could learn and get health insurance. They even paid for my relocation to San Francisco. I was very surprised when they said yes. They had a press release out in an hour. Raging Stallion not only was able to save face, as losing Francois at the time could have sunk them, but it started a whole new chain of talent and style for them that had been inaccessible before that.

What made you decide to leave the business? 
JD: I left the first time because I had done everything I wanted to do. I won two GayVNS, for Best Actor and Man of the Year. I was as famous as I was ever going to be, and I wanted to do something different. I came back for another round several years later and directed two movies for Ray Dragon that are probably my best work, Dirty Director and Men in the Sand.

How have you been since leaving the industry? What have you been up to? 
JD: I've been great. I've had a really big fun life. I lived bi-coastal for years between NYC and Silverlake, and I just kind of spent my time doing whatever the fuck I wanted to do. A few years ago I fell in love with a boy, who is now my husband, and I have a really sweet life in the Midwest.

How do you look back on your time in the industry?
JD: Oh man, I had a great time. I feel like I did it exactly right. I got the money, sex, travel, and fame. I got to do the cliche fame blowout too. You can't be a rockstar unless you are willing to set your wheels on fire a few times.

Who were some of your favorite performers? That you worked with or wish you had? 
JD: Of course, I'm going to say Dale Cooper. I mean jeez, that scene in Dirty Director is one of the most famous porn scenes ever. I wish Francois and I had gotten to shoot together, We did wind up fucking privately and it was scorching chemistry. Y'all missed out on that.

What was your favorite scene and why?
JD: The scene with Dale Cooper in Dirty Director. All that was real, by the way. In fact, the whole movie was real. I really did harass those poor guys like that. When I told Dale to say he loved me, the room went dead silent. I could hear the camera guys stop breathing. Very intense moment that has played out for many young men so I'm told. Being able to shoot Men in the Sand was also a highlight. I had always wanted to shoot something really retro and timeless. It's a beautiful movie and I'm quite proud of it.