Where Are They Now: Johnny Hazzard on His Whirlwind Time in Porn, Going Mainstream, & His New Niche in Fashion

In the 2000s, one cutie who became a sensation in porn was Johnny Hazzard. That dark hair, killer smile, and toned, tatted bod made him a popular pick across several of the gay porn studios. Despite a relatively brief run in the business, Johnny became a big enough star to make a successful transition to mainstream entertainment. He made notable appearances in the television series The Lair and the critically acclaimed indie film Tiger Orange. He also had a successful music single with "Deeper into You." Johnny is now venturing into yet another profession as a fashion designer and businessman.

He stopped by Cybersocket to share a status update and how he looks back on his time in the business

Could you share with us your journey toward entering the industry?
JH: My journey was actually a lot less colorful than people probably imagine. It happened by chance. I met Doug Jeffries, who was working for Falcon at the time, at a gig he was doing in my hometown of Cleveland. We kept in touch very loosely throughout the years. He was living in Boston and I ended up moving to Provincetown in 2000, and subsequently made Boston my winter home for the next few years where we got back in touch. Then, one day, I woke up and just decided that it might just be a fun thing to try, this whole porn thing. I gave Doug a call, and I think I was on the phone that same evening with Chi Chi LaRue organizing a schedule for a test run out in LA. It happened to be a detention group scene and they figured if I could do that, I could probably do anything. So I wasn’t really discovered like most people are, it was more about being in the right place at the right time, and I think that’s the equation for pretty much any success.

You actually made the leap from porn to more "mainstream" entertainment. How did you pull that off? 
JH: That might be more like people think. I was discovered. I was approached. I was selected specifically for my past and the draw I could bring to the film Tiger Orange. This was a project by two independent filmmakers who wrote, produced, and directed the film, and what better eyes to have on their indie/gay project than a porn star?! They hoped I had the acting chops to fulfill the role of Todd. I auditioned and got the role and the rest is history. I did a couple of other little projects before and after Tiger Orange, but nothing with the success that that film had. Again, right place at the right time. I didn’t continue pursuing it though because it is a very competitive industry to be in. I saw firsthand living in LA in the years prior what it means to be an actor, and I just didn’t love it enough to do that. I was operating more along the lines of if it happens great, and I’ll do a little work to get it, but I’m not going to spend every day doing these cattle calls, and going on auditions, and paying a publicist, and paying an agent. It just didn't hold that much for me.

Tell us about your transition to music?
JH: That just fell out of the sky! I posted a little dance video on YouTube, and the writer-producer of that song saw it and wrote a song for me called “Deeper Into You.” I think he wanted me to be another porn star/pop star like Colton Ford and Frederick Ford, but again it just wasn’t something I wanted to pursue. But it is a great thing to have on the shelf!

The mid-2000s was an interesting period for the industry. What was it like during your time? How did it change?
JH: Yes! It was a very interesting time! I think I was the last of that generation to really have measured success, again because of timing. Around 2006/2007, we started to see the emergence of the internet dominating the entertainment industry. Porn became a casualty. It was also music and all types of media. It was very volatile. It was really, really successful and really fun. I made a shit ton of money that I was able to invest in the housing market, which also fell victim to that time period falling apart. We also saw a lot of my coworkers commit suicide, which sucked, and I totally understand why. I wrote an article for The Washington Post that explained my take on it. My personal experience, however, was great. I had a great company, I had resources, I had goals, I had a head on my shoulders, and I was able to make good decisions that were all keys to my success. It was also just a lot of fucking fun! I got to travel all over the world being this famous porn star, and I was the last. Soon after that, the word porn star became very ambiguous and bastardized and then anyone who had an internet connection was a “porn star.”

Who are some of your fellow stars from that time who you consider favorites? Wish you had worked with? Still in touch with?
JH: There are a lot of guys that I met through the years, but I can name three that I actually keep in touch with: Drake Jaden, Frederick Ford, and Tyler Riggs. Those are pretty much the only people I keep in touch with. It was a very transient industry, and I’m a loner by design, so it really took a lot for me to really gel with somebody.

What do you think was your best scene and why? 
JH: I really couldn’t tell you. For me, the scenes were more about my personal chemistry than anything else. A lot of that chemistry came from the gay-for-pay guys who were actually straight. A lot of those guys were part of the Randy Blue crowd and Chi Chi had a few. There was David Anthony from Titan, who had a really deep and sexy masculine energy. Zak Spears was my childhood favorite, who I dreamt of working with and I had the opportunity to because of Chi Chi. To define my best scene just calls into a lot of different factors. Sorry, I can’t be more specific, but off of memory, some of my favorite costars were Zak Spears and Shane Rollins and a lot of those guys from Randy Blue.

Do you follow the industry as it is today? Who are some of today's talents who impress you? 
JH: Not at all! Every now and then someone comes across my Twitter feed who looks attractive, but it’s not something that I have a pulse on. It was such a big part of my life and I was so saturated with that, I don’t have any bandwidth or space for it. A lot of guys moved to producing or directing behind the scenes, but I just didn’t because of that level of saturation. I don’t know what’s going on in the industry. I wish I did have the bandwidth and wasn’t as saturated because the platform that has emerged with OnlyFans is remarkable. I am so happy for all of the guys who are able to make a lot of bank on it. If that was around in my day, my life would have been a lot different. I really applaud those guys for doing it. I tried it, and it made me realize that I don’t have it in me. For me, it was a good lesson to have an Only Fans. It solidified my decision to remove myself from the industry, not because I’m against it, but because I just don’t have it in me. That was a good personal realization for me to come to.

Would you consider a comeback? 
JH:Yes I would! That’s a card that I’ve kept close to me. I never officially came out and said I was retiring, because I knew that if I ever wanted to use that card I might lose cred. I still have that card and if I ever want to play it, it has to be a very strategic play. There has to be a specific goal in mind and with my online business that I started during the pandemic that is something that I continue to think about. I will keep that card very close to my chest.

Tell us about your new business.
JH: What I am doing now is a result of my time in the adult industry. I’ve always had a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, and going into that business I knew I wanted to establish a customer base. Over the years, I’ve made a couple of attempts at clothing lines but they had gone to the wayside. Then over Covid, I started a successful mask-making business. I knew however that the demand for masks would eventually wane and disappear, so I’ve evolved that business into something called Remade in America where we up-cycle old couture fashion. The idea is you take a piece of clothing that is in dire need of repair or a new spirit, you answer a few questions, the item gets shipped to me, I work my magic, and then you end up with a whole new piece of clothing. You don’t need a new, you need a redo. Without my time in the adult industry, I probably wouldn't have a customer base and my fans to thank and achieve success.

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