Chad Donovan
Encyclopedia
Chad Donovan is an American performer
and director
of gay pornographic films
. He has won numerous awards as a performer and director, and is a member of the GayVN Awards
Hall of Fame and the Grabby Awards
Hall of Fame.
farm kid" and "a redneck [from] the hills of Ohio...a genuine redneck." He grew up on a ranch that bred the American Quarter Horse
, noting that he "knew how to ride horses before I knew how to walk." In high school he was a member of Future Farmers of America and 4-H
. He traces his early sexual maturity, in part, to working on the farm, noting it was "the best time of my life. Every year you got a different animal to raise...all year long until Fair at the end of the year in July. And you showed your project and then at the end of the year, the whole deal is to sell your project... So that was a big deal and it was a lot of fun. For two weeks we would sleep at the fairgrounds underneath the animals, with snot flying and everything. It was just all of us kids. We had shaving cream fights. And trust me, lots of cocksucking. Lots of cocksucking at the 4-H."
Donovan was born into a Southern Baptist family and switched to the Pentecostal movement for a period when he determined to become a preacher. His rigid religious background and sexual precocity led to experimentation at an early age. "My first sexual experience was when I was about four or five. And it was with a girl. We were camping and I ate her pussy and fingered her. That was my first sexual experience," he recalled. "My first experience with a guy was about eight, just playing around and fingering buttholes. We probably didn't even get hard." Donovan's large endowment prompted teasing from his classmates as he reached puberty. "Through high school I had a difficult time because I had to change clothes for gym and stuff. I nearly failed gym class because I didn't want to change clothes. I got made fun of. Plus, not to mention, I hit puberty at ten. So all these little boys were bald as a peacock and here I am, full out baby's arm holding an apple."
and Tony DeAngelo. They worked as strippers at a 1470 West, a gay bar
in Dayton, Ohio
where Donovan was bartending. "We were kind of fucking around, having threeways occasionally. They took pictures of me, sent pictures all around," he recalls. Gay adult studios Catalina Video
and Falcon Studios showed interest, and Donovan chose to work for Falcon. He was eighteen years old.
Porn director Steven Scarborough
came up with his stage name, noting that he was endowed like Chad Douglas and resembled legendary gay adult film star Casey Donovan
. (A discarded stage name for Donovan is "Aaron West," which comes from the 1470 West bar back in Ohio.) Donovan's casting generated buzz that brought Falcon's legendary president, Chuck Holmes to the set. "I was told that was a very rare thing, so obviously he was interested in seeing something that I had. He directed part of the scene I was in, which was a big honor."
Donovan earned a $2,000 scene rate for his first movie. "When you're a kid living in Ohio, that's a lot of money. And a trip to San Francisco for three days. I did the one scene and two photo layouts. It was fantastic. What more could you ask for?" He filmed the scene on February 23, 1991, with Hunter Scott and Anthony Moore. The scene was released by Falcon in 1994 in the film "Workin' Stiff"
He moved to Los Angeles in 1994. "To be honest, I hated Ohio. Obviously, I was not fitting in there any longer." Donovan went on to film roughly 50 titles as a performer over the next decade.
film "Carnal Intentions" that company president Bob East broached the idea of directing. "He asked me if I'd be interested in directing. He said I seemed to have a good knack for finding talent, I've been in the industry long enough, why don't I try putting a movie together? So I did." That film was titled "Movin' On," and it was during production that he met and began a relationship with cast member Antonio Madiera, which continues to this day. "I had no intention of getting a boyfriend out of it. I hired the kid, I really liked the way he looked, he performed like a champ, and every time I looked down—when I wasn't even shooting him, I'd be shooting other boys in a scene—he'd be looking up at me with these puppydog eyes. I just couldn't resist."
Although Donovan credits directors Chi Chi LaRue
, John Rutherford and Steven Scarborough
with influencing his career as a performer and director, he says the greatest influence has come from producer/director Jim Steel
. "I could not have done it without Jim Steel, who is basically the person behind what made me what I am today."
He later joined Studio 2000
as a production manager and casting director. In August 2006, Studio 2000 owner David McKay
hired veteran gay porn industry columnist and adult film director J. C. Adams
as his new chief of production. Adams replaced Scott Masters
, the award-winning director and co-founder of Studio 2000 who retired after selling the production house. McKay announced that Adams would manage all the studio's productions, while Donovan would handle talent development. Donovan left Studio 2000 later that year and briefly joined Falcon Studios in a similar capacity.
Donovan's final onscreen sexual performances (as of December 2007) were in 2004. One of those films, "Studs 'N Pups" for MSR Videos, was the first time he and boyfriend Madiera performed together. Madiera continues to act occasionally, usually in films that Donovan directs. In 2007, Donovan helmed Basic Plumbing 3 for Falcon Studios; the film starred Chase Hunter and brought them back together 16 years after Hunter introduced Donovan to the industry. Although essentially retired as a sexual performer, Donovan occasionally appears in nonsexual roles. His early roles remain in circulation as they are continually repackaged into compilation tapes.
in 1998 for Best Group Sex Scene with Zachary Scott, Brett Ford, and Tony Donovan in Ryker's Revenge. He was inducted into the GayVN Awards Hall of Fame and the Grabby Awards Hall of Fame in 2005.
Pornographic actor
A pornographic actor/actress or a porn star is a person who appears in pornographic film. Most actors appear nude in films...
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
of gay pornographic films
Gay pornography
Gay pornography is the representation of sexual intercourse between men with the primary goal of sexual arousal in its audience. There is also a tradition, and continuing considerable output, of lesbian pornography....
. He has won numerous awards as a performer and director, and is a member of the GayVN Awards
GayVN Awards
The GAYVN Awards are presented annually to honor work done in the gay pornography industry. The awards are sponsored by AVN Magazine, the parent publication of GAYVN Magazine, and continue the recognition for gay pornography which was part of the AVN Awards from 1986–1998.The award recipients...
Hall of Fame and the Grabby Awards
Grabby Awards
Grabby Awards , are presented annually in Chicago to honor work done in the gay pornography industry. The awards are sponsored by Grab Magazine, a free weekly that describes itself as "Chicago's premier LGBT publication." The Grabby Awards and Grab Magazine are owned and operated by Grabbys, LLC....
Hall of Fame.
Early life and sexual maturity
Donovan has described himself variously as an "OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
farm kid" and "a redneck [from] the hills of Ohio...a genuine redneck." He grew up on a ranch that bred the American Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
, noting that he "knew how to ride horses before I knew how to walk." In high school he was a member of Future Farmers of America and 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
. He traces his early sexual maturity, in part, to working on the farm, noting it was "the best time of my life. Every year you got a different animal to raise...all year long until Fair at the end of the year in July. And you showed your project and then at the end of the year, the whole deal is to sell your project... So that was a big deal and it was a lot of fun. For two weeks we would sleep at the fairgrounds underneath the animals, with snot flying and everything. It was just all of us kids. We had shaving cream fights. And trust me, lots of cocksucking. Lots of cocksucking at the 4-H."
Donovan was born into a Southern Baptist family and switched to the Pentecostal movement for a period when he determined to become a preacher. His rigid religious background and sexual precocity led to experimentation at an early age. "My first sexual experience was when I was about four or five. And it was with a girl. We were camping and I ate her pussy and fingered her. That was my first sexual experience," he recalled. "My first experience with a guy was about eight, just playing around and fingering buttholes. We probably didn't even get hard." Donovan's large endowment prompted teasing from his classmates as he reached puberty. "Through high school I had a difficult time because I had to change clothes for gym and stuff. I nearly failed gym class because I didn't want to change clothes. I got made fun of. Plus, not to mention, I hit puberty at ten. So all these little boys were bald as a peacock and here I am, full out baby's arm holding an apple."
Porn career (1991-2000)
Donovan was introduced to the gay pornographic industry by performers Chase HunterChase Hunter
Chase Hunter is an actor in gay pornographic films. He entered the business starring in his first movie "Basic Plumbing" with his then long term partner and fellow pornographic actor Tony Di Angelo.-Awards and nominations:...
and Tony DeAngelo. They worked as strippers at a 1470 West, a gay bar
Gay bar
A gay bar is a drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender clientele; the term gay is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBT and queer communities...
in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
where Donovan was bartending. "We were kind of fucking around, having threeways occasionally. They took pictures of me, sent pictures all around," he recalls. Gay adult studios Catalina Video
Catalina Video
Catalina Video is an award-winning production house of gay pornography, founded in 1978 by William Higgins. The company was primarily a distributor for Nova Studios in 1982. In 1987, Scott Masters was hired as its head of production, and he began making films for the studio...
and Falcon Studios showed interest, and Donovan chose to work for Falcon. He was eighteen years old.
Porn director Steven Scarborough
Steven Scarborough
Steven Scarborough is an American director of gay pornography and the founder of Hot House Entertainment.- Career :Scarborough started directing at Falcon Studios in the summer 1988 with his first gay adult video Perfect Summer. Handing over the reins was his life partner and founder of Falcon...
came up with his stage name, noting that he was endowed like Chad Douglas and resembled legendary gay adult film star Casey Donovan
Casey Donovan (porn star)
Casey Donovan was an American male pornographic actor of the 1970s and 1980s, appearing primarily in adult films and videos catering to gay male audiences....
. (A discarded stage name for Donovan is "Aaron West," which comes from the 1470 West bar back in Ohio.) Donovan's casting generated buzz that brought Falcon's legendary president, Chuck Holmes to the set. "I was told that was a very rare thing, so obviously he was interested in seeing something that I had. He directed part of the scene I was in, which was a big honor."
Donovan earned a $2,000 scene rate for his first movie. "When you're a kid living in Ohio, that's a lot of money. And a trip to San Francisco for three days. I did the one scene and two photo layouts. It was fantastic. What more could you ask for?" He filmed the scene on February 23, 1991, with Hunter Scott and Anthony Moore. The scene was released by Falcon in 1994 in the film "Workin' Stiff"
He moved to Los Angeles in 1994. "To be honest, I hated Ohio. Obviously, I was not fitting in there any longer." Donovan went on to film roughly 50 titles as a performer over the next decade.
Porn career (2001-present)
In 2001, although still performing occasionally, Donovan began to transition behind the camera. It was during production of the Men of OdysseyMen of Odyssey
-Awards:* 1997 GayVN Awards winner of Best Overall Marketing Campaign for "Family Values".* 1998 GayVN Awards winner of Best Overall Marketing Campaign for "Ryker's Revenge".* 1999 Men in Video Awards winner of Most Romantic Video and Hottest Video....
film "Carnal Intentions" that company president Bob East broached the idea of directing. "He asked me if I'd be interested in directing. He said I seemed to have a good knack for finding talent, I've been in the industry long enough, why don't I try putting a movie together? So I did." That film was titled "Movin' On," and it was during production that he met and began a relationship with cast member Antonio Madiera, which continues to this day. "I had no intention of getting a boyfriend out of it. I hired the kid, I really liked the way he looked, he performed like a champ, and every time I looked down—when I wasn't even shooting him, I'd be shooting other boys in a scene—he'd be looking up at me with these puppydog eyes. I just couldn't resist."
Although Donovan credits directors Chi Chi LaRue
Chi Chi LaRue
Larry David Paciotti is an American film director of gay, bisexual and straight pornography. He is best known in his drag persona as Chi Chi LaRue and has also directed under the names Lawrence David and Taylor Hudson.- Career :...
, John Rutherford and Steven Scarborough
Steven Scarborough
Steven Scarborough is an American director of gay pornography and the founder of Hot House Entertainment.- Career :Scarborough started directing at Falcon Studios in the summer 1988 with his first gay adult video Perfect Summer. Handing over the reins was his life partner and founder of Falcon...
with influencing his career as a performer and director, he says the greatest influence has come from producer/director Jim Steel
Jim Steel (director)
Jim Steel is an award-winning American director, writer, production manager and producer of pornographic films. He is an inductee of the Grabby Awards Hall of Fame and the GayVN Awards Hall of Fame.-Porn career:Steel's career dates back to the late 1980s...
. "I could not have done it without Jim Steel, who is basically the person behind what made me what I am today."
He later joined Studio 2000
Studio 2000
Studio 2000 is a gay pornographic film studio based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1992 by producer Scott Masters and director John Travis. It is currently owned by two former Falcon Entertainment executives who purchased the studio in April 2006 upon the retirement of Masters and...
as a production manager and casting director. In August 2006, Studio 2000 owner David McKay
David McKay (adult studio owner)
David McKay is the owner of gay adult company Studio 2000, one of the largest such companies in the world. Prior to becoming co-owner of Studio 2000, McKay was vp of marketing for Falcon Entertainment...
hired veteran gay porn industry columnist and adult film director J. C. Adams
J. C. Adams
J. C. Adams is an author, magazine editor and reporter whose work focuses on the adult gay pornographic industry, and a director of gay pornographic films.-Early life and education:...
as his new chief of production. Adams replaced Scott Masters
Scott Masters
Scott Masters is a gay pornographic film director and studio owner active in adult film since the mid-1960s.Masters, whose real name is Warren Stephens, used the nom-de-porn "Robert Walters" when he founded Nova Studios. He later shuttered Nova Studio and became head of production at Catalina...
, the award-winning director and co-founder of Studio 2000 who retired after selling the production house. McKay announced that Adams would manage all the studio's productions, while Donovan would handle talent development. Donovan left Studio 2000 later that year and briefly joined Falcon Studios in a similar capacity.
Donovan's final onscreen sexual performances (as of December 2007) were in 2004. One of those films, "Studs 'N Pups" for MSR Videos, was the first time he and boyfriend Madiera performed together. Madiera continues to act occasionally, usually in films that Donovan directs. In 2007, Donovan helmed Basic Plumbing 3 for Falcon Studios; the film starred Chase Hunter and brought them back together 16 years after Hunter introduced Donovan to the industry. Although essentially retired as a sexual performer, Donovan occasionally appears in nonsexual roles. His early roles remain in circulation as they are continually repackaged into compilation tapes.
Awards
Donovan received a GayVN AwardGayVN Awards
The GAYVN Awards are presented annually to honor work done in the gay pornography industry. The awards are sponsored by AVN Magazine, the parent publication of GAYVN Magazine, and continue the recognition for gay pornography which was part of the AVN Awards from 1986–1998.The award recipients...
in 1998 for Best Group Sex Scene with Zachary Scott, Brett Ford, and Tony Donovan in Ryker's Revenge. He was inducted into the GayVN Awards Hall of Fame and the Grabby Awards Hall of Fame in 2005.
Selected acting filmography
- Studs 'N Pups (MSR Videos, 2004)
- Open House (Massive Studio, 2003)
- The Seven Deadly Sins: Pride (All Worlds Video, 2001)
- Hot Cops 3: The Final Assault (Centaur Films, 1997)
- Picture Perfect (Vivid Man, 1996)
- Come And Get It (Catalina VideoCatalina VideoCatalina Video is an award-winning production house of gay pornography, founded in 1978 by William Higgins. The company was primarily a distributor for Nova Studios in 1982. In 1987, Scott Masters was hired as its head of production, and he began making films for the studio...
, 1995) - Secret Sex 2: The Sex Radicals (Catalina VideoCatalina VideoCatalina Video is an award-winning production house of gay pornography, founded in 1978 by William Higgins. The company was primarily a distributor for Nova Studios in 1982. In 1987, Scott Masters was hired as its head of production, and he began making films for the studio...
, 1994) - Workin' Stiff (Falcon Studios, 1994)
Selected directing filmography
- On Fire! (Jet Set Productions, 2007)
- Basic Plumbing 3 (Falcon, 2006)
- Carnal Choices (Studio 2000, 2005)
- Porn Struck VIII (All Worlds Video, 2003)
- Knight Spot (All Worlds, 2002)
- Movin' On (Men of Odyssey, 2001)