Where Are They Now: Damien on Getting Discovered by Chi Chi LaRue, His Time at Falcon, The Mainstream Moment of ’90s Porn Stars, & Leaving The Industry on Top

The gay porn industry of the late '80s and early '90s saw the coming and going of many absolutely beautiful studs. One performer who achieved definite stardom, while avoiding all of the turmoil connected with the industry, was Damien (singularly named, like Cher or Madonna).

Damien’s hypnotic stare, combined with a smooth, tanned, and perfectly-toned body made him a prototype for the Falcon models of the '90s.

It's no wonder he landed so many video covers!

Though he made over 50 films in a relatively short period and had a devoted fan base, Damien chose to leave the industry at the height of his fame and on his own terms.

Damien remains a total stud who has since been living a full and happy life, achieving success in multiple careers. He joined us for an interview to discuss his memories of gay porn, sharing the good, the very good, and the not-so-good.

Could you tell us a bit about your journey entering the industry?
I never had any intention of working in the adult industry. I was a dancer at Studio One and Chi Chi LaRue was a regular host of different shows. He never let up. It was a constant, “when are you going to do a movie for me?” every time I saw him. I never watched porn. The only movie I had seen was something called The Wedding or The Groom, I honestly don’t recall. I remember the groom having sex with the limo driver in the car. Haha! To say the least, it never occurred to me that I would ever be in a movie like that. After a particularly bad breakup with a guy who was porn obsessed, I reached out to Chi Chi because I wanted my ex to see me in a movie & realize what he had lost. I mean, I guess that is what I was thinking back then. Sort of revenge porn.

You worked at two of the top studios of the industry, Falcon and Jocks. What was the culture like at those studios and in the industry in general at the time you were there? 
Falcon Studios was my first studio and it was a tight ship. Chuck Holmes was still alive and very much involved. Steven Scarborough was doing most of the directing, and he never liked me. I recall flying up to San Francisco from LA. Back then, all the talent flew with airline tickets in the name of Chuck Holmes. I guess he had quite the frequent flyer miles! I was met by a nice guy, although I can’t recall his name. He handled the talent. I was taken to dinner and then to meet Steven face to face. He wanted my hair cut short, in that typical Falcon style, but I said no. Falcon used to bring the guys to Vidal Sassoon in San Francisco, but I had longish hair and wouldn’t cut it. It didn’t go over well. Since I was Chi Chi’s find, they flew him up and scheduled a dinner at Chuck Homes house in Pacific Heights. There we sat in his beautiful dining room: Chi Chi, Steve, his boyfriend, Mr. Chuck Homes & me. I thought I was in for it. Chuck said, “You leave this boy's hair just the way it is. Nothing wrong with it!”  Yet another reason for Steve to not like me. So I won that battle, but there were many more to come. We were “the talent” at Falcon. They treated us that way. Folks were kind and gracious to us. They put us up in our own hotel rooms, drove us around, took us to dinners, etc. But we were also on a short leash. We never met our scene partner until that morning on set. We weren’t allowed to be “messy” when we were out. We had to keep up a certain facade. I suppose they wanted to keep a certain mystique about us.

The 1990s is widely seen as  The Golden Age of Gay Porn. Do you agree? What do you think made that period so special?
I hear that all the time, and in many ways, I think it was. I think it was a time of sexual exploration for many people. It was Tom Ford’s sexually explicit Gucci ads, Madonna’s Sex book & videos. Gay porn had a mainstream “moment.” For Madonna to walk up to me in Steve Antin’s club and know my name was really surreal. Shortly after, I was contacted to do Sandra Bernhard’s HBO special, Sandra After Dark. It was cool for celebs to feature gay porn actors in their projects. There wasn't anything “dark” or “dirty” about what we did or who we were. At least, that’s how it felt!

Some of the people you worked alongside, like Steve Fox, met very unfortunate fates. What do you think it was about the industry, or that time, that made life so hard for some of your fellow performers? 
I don’t know. I imagine there were and are a lot of actors who got into the business for attention and some type of validation. The window for an actor in adult work is limited and you have to be prepared to move on to something new. Some guys weren’t able to make the transition. They became escorts which, I imagine, can be demoralizing on some level. As fun as the industry was back then, you still had to be tough, smart, and have goals outside of that business. Maybe some couldn’t handle the objectification after a while? Drugs are a huge issue for so many of the guys, past and present. It’s a shame. Breaks my heart to see such beautiful men crumble and fall.

How were you able to avoid such troubles? 
I had a goal all along. I did 51 films over the course of 4 years. I worked a lot and it was at a time when you could make an unbelievable amount of money on just one project. I saved my money and used it to pay for a master's degree in architecture. I traveled and did personal appearances all over the U.S. and Europe. Those were thousands a night, just to show up, dance one or two songs, sign glossies, and go back to the hotel. I have a solid family structure, and while a long-term relationship has eluded me, I have sisters and a brother, aunts, and uncles that have always formed a strong base for me. I don’t have an addictive personality, so drugs were never a thing for me. I did them all, but nothing ever stuck, thank God.

What caused your exit from the industry? What have you been up to since then? 
It was time! I saw some of the other guys try and hang on to their careers & popularity, but it ends. I wanted to get out before I was pushed out. Besides, I was excited about school and my future. Once I was done, I was done. I did the architecture/design thing for a while and had a lot of success. I did tire of it after a few years & changed careers. I had the opportunity to move to London and attend culinary school. I classically trained for three years, then stayed on in the UK and worked for three more. I worked in the U.S. and Canada for years until I finally started my own catering company about 10 years ago. As I write this I am sitting at a resort, looking at the Pacific Ocean on Christmas Day with my two pups. I just sold my home in Palm Springs and am headed up to San Francisco. Not sure for how long, but my plan is to buy a house in the Catskills and open a small inn.

How do you look back on your time in the industry?
With fondness. It was an amazing time that I am grateful for. The people I met and still know. I talk with Chi Chi every day. Sadness when I think of Joey Stefano, who was like a brother to me. We lived together. I loved him. He was a special person— damaged and broken, but a beautiful soul. In all, with gratitude.

Who were some of your favorite fellow performers during your time in the business? Either that you worked with or wish you had? 
This might sound strange but, I don’t even remember. I can see their faces, but their names? Beats me. I worked with everyone I wanted to I think. Aiden Shaw maybe, but I knew him socially and it probably wouldn’t have worked. Chi Chi put Joey and I in a three-way scene once and it was awful! I just didn’t think of him that way, so it was truly “work!”

What was your favorite scene and why?
Sure. The Coach’s Boys. I think it was for one of the Falcon companies? Not sure. It was an oral scene with this blond guy that had just moved from Eastern Europe. I was super attracted to him and I got to suck dick and he was uncut….pretty much all I needed!

Do you follow the industry today? Any talents stand out for you? 
I don’t follow porn at all, with the exception of what I hear from Chi Chi, which isn’t much. My world is pretty porn-free. I’m not super involved in the gay scene anymore. I think working in it for so long in the industry, then as a bartender while in school, I became pretty burned out. Plus, watching porn now, I can see every “cut” and “loop.” That's no fun.

How does the industry today compare to when you were a part of it?
I don't know? I think the salaries are less for sure. Back then, we were chosen, groomed and our careers were handled by studios. Now, it seems, anyone with a camera on their phone can be a “porn star."  No one “takes care” of these boys, and I think they get used up pretty quickly.

Would you ever consider a comeback? 
Almost did. Chi Chi offered me a three pic series about a year and a half ago. I thought about it. Even got an OnlyFans and Twitter account. There seemed to be a lot of interest, but it just didn't feel right. I think I am pretty content with my life, right here and right now. I'd like to finally meet a good guy and settle down. I don't think a return to that industry is in the cards….but never say never!