Gerard Damiano
Encyclopedia
Gerard Damiano was an American
director of adult films and producer, writer and director of the 1972 cult classic Deep Throat (film)
.
Catholic family in the Bronx. When he was 6, his father died; his mother never remarried. The day he turned 17, he joined the United States Navy
for 4 years. Before this, he was a shoeshine boy in Times Square
and worked in an automat
. Afterwards, he studied X-ray technology on the G.I. Bill and was an x-ray technician at Jamaica Hospital in Queens NY, then opened a hairdressing salon with a friend in New York City
. Frequently overhearing sexual gossip at the salon convinced him that pornographic films made to appeal to couples would be a commercial success.
Damiano took an interest in film-making after his accountant introduced him to a producer who was making a low-budget horror film
. Intrigued, Damiano began helping out as he could on the set.
He directed the famous film Deep Throat
(1972) starring Linda Lovelace
and Harry Reems
. The film is regarded as pioneering, and its success is credited with helping to launch the modern adult-entertainment industry. Damiano was surprised that the film attracted such attention. Other notable films made by Damiano include The Devil in Miss Jones
(1973) and the sadomasochistic classic The Story of Joanna (1975). He often appeared in his films in small non-sexual side roles, and used the names "Albert Gork", "Al Gork", "Jerry Gerard", or "D. Furred". He directed more than 50 adult films during his career.
He married three times; with his second wife, Barbara Walton, he had two children, Christar and Gerard, Jr.
He was interviewed for the 2005 documentary Inside Deep Throat
.
Damiano died on October 25, 2008 in a Fort Myers, Fl hospital, aged 80, following complications from a stroke
he had suffered in September.
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United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
director of adult films and producer, writer and director of the 1972 cult classic Deep Throat (film)
Deep Throat (film)
Deep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and produced by Louis Peraino and starring Linda Lovelace ....
.
Biography
He was born to an Italian AmericanItalian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
Catholic family in the Bronx. When he was 6, his father died; his mother never remarried. The day he turned 17, he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for 4 years. Before this, he was a shoeshine boy in Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
and worked in an automat
Automat
An automat is a fast food restaurant where simple foods and drink are served by coin-operated and bill-operated vending machines.-Concept:Originally, the machines took only nickels...
. Afterwards, he studied X-ray technology on the G.I. Bill and was an x-ray technician at Jamaica Hospital in Queens NY, then opened a hairdressing salon with a friend in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Frequently overhearing sexual gossip at the salon convinced him that pornographic films made to appeal to couples would be a commercial success.
Damiano took an interest in film-making after his accountant introduced him to a producer who was making a low-budget horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
. Intrigued, Damiano began helping out as he could on the set.
He directed the famous film Deep Throat
Deep Throat (film)
Deep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and produced by Louis Peraino and starring Linda Lovelace ....
(1972) starring Linda Lovelace
Linda Lovelace
Linda Susan Boreman , better known by her stage name Linda Lovelace, was an American pornographic actress who was famous for her performance of deep throat fellatio in the enormously successful 1972 hardcore porn film Deep Throat...
and Harry Reems
Harry Reems
Harry Reems is the nom de film of one of the most notorious pornographic actors of the 1970s and star of the 1972 cult classic Deep Throat.-Early life and career:Reems was born Herbert Streicher...
. The film is regarded as pioneering, and its success is credited with helping to launch the modern adult-entertainment industry. Damiano was surprised that the film attracted such attention. Other notable films made by Damiano include The Devil in Miss Jones
The Devil in Miss Jones
The Devil in Miss Jones is a pornographic film, written, directed and produced by Gerard Damiano and starring Georgina Spelvin. It is widely regarded as a classic adult film, released during the Golden Age of Porn. Damiano made the film after his 1972 success with Deep Throat...
(1973) and the sadomasochistic classic The Story of Joanna (1975). He often appeared in his films in small non-sexual side roles, and used the names "Albert Gork", "Al Gork", "Jerry Gerard", or "D. Furred". He directed more than 50 adult films during his career.
He married three times; with his second wife, Barbara Walton, he had two children, Christar and Gerard, Jr.
He was interviewed for the 2005 documentary Inside Deep Throat
Inside Deep Throat
Inside Deep Throat is a 2005 American documentary about the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat and its effects on American society.The film is narrated by Dennis Hopper. The documentary was written, produced, and directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, and produced by Brian Grazer...
.
Damiano died on October 25, 2008 in a Fort Myers, Fl hospital, aged 80, following complications from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
he had suffered in September.
Filmography (fundamental)
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- We All Go Down (1969)
- Changes (1970; alternative title: Sex U.S.A.)
- Deep ThroatDeep Throat (film)Deep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and produced by Louis Peraino and starring Linda Lovelace ....
(1972; as Jerry Gerard) - Meatball (1972; as D. Furred)
- The Devil in Miss JonesThe Devil in Miss JonesThe Devil in Miss Jones is a pornographic film, written, directed and produced by Gerard Damiano and starring Georgina Spelvin. It is widely regarded as a classic adult film, released during the Golden Age of Porn. Damiano made the film after his 1972 success with Deep Throat...
(1973) - Memories Within Miss Aggie (1974)
- The Story of Joanna (1975)
- Let My Puppets ComeLet My Puppets ComeLet My Puppets Come is a 1976 softcore pornographic musical comedy short film written and directed by Gerard Damiano, and starring Al Goldstein, Lynette Sheldon, Penny Nichols, and Gerard Damiano.-Background:...
(1976) - Odyssey, the Ultimate Trip (1977)
- People (1979)
- For Richer, for Poorer (1979)
- Never So Deep (1981)
- The Satisfiers of Alpha Blue (1981)
- Consenting Adults (1982)
- Return to Alpha Blue (1983)
- Throat 12 Years After (1984)
- Cravings (1985)
- Flesh and Fantasy (1985)
- Splendor in the Ass (1989; alternative title: Sex Express)
- Young Girls in Tight Jeans (1989)
- Manbait (1990)
- Naked Goddess (1990)
- Just for the Hell of It (1991)