John Holmes (actor)John Curtis Estes (August 8, 1944–March 13, 1988), better known as John Holmes, was an adult film actor of the 1970s and 1980s and is generally considered to be the greatest male star in the 35 years since cinematic pornography lost its illegal status and became generally available to the public. Holmes was particularly active in the period before condoms were customarily used in adult film, and was a user of injectable drugs; he died in 1988 from complications due to AIDS. Some elements of the film Boogie Nights were loosely based on Holmes, who was widely publicized as having a 13½-inch-long (34 cm) penis. In reality, it was somewhere between 9 and 11 inches long (23-28 cm). Born in Pickaway County, Ohio, John never knew his father, a railroad worker named Carl Estes. John's mother, a devout Southern Baptist married Edward Holmes a few years later, and changed John's birthname from Estes to Holmes. John Holmes was the youngest of five children. At 16, with the permission of his mother, Holmes enlisted in the United States Army and spent three years in Germany in the Signal Corps. Upon his discharge, Holmes moved to Los Angeles where he worked in a variety of jobs. It was during his stint as an ambulance driver that he met a nurse named Sharon Gebenini. They married in 1965. For the next two years, Holmes and his wife lived quiet, uneventful lives. Holmes found work as a forklift driver at a warehouse, but the rigors of driving in and out of a frozen warehouse created severe health problems, causing Holmes' lung to collapse on three separate occasions. While recovering from the collapsed lung, Holmes frequented a club in Gardena, where he met a man in the bathroom who encouraged him to do pornography. Initially, he did magazine work and the occasional 8mm loop (both straight and gay), keeping his work in porn secret from his wife. With the success of 1972's Deep Throat, The Devil in Miss Jones and Behind the Green Door, porn had become chic although it was still illegal. Holmes was arrested during this time for pimping and pandering, but avoided prison time by becoming an informant for the LAPD. In 1973, Holmes' career began to take off with a porn series built around a private eye named Johnny Wadd. By 1978 Holmes was reputed be earning as much as $3000.00 a day as a porn actor. He starred at a time when an attractive personality and a certain amount of acting ability were demanded of porn stars. The money Holmes was earning at the time was not enough to support his drug addiction, and he ventured into crime, selling drugs for gangs, prostituting himself to both men and women, committing credit card fraud and petty theft. In 1981, he was arrested for stealing a computer from a car. Holmes had developed a close friendship with drug dealer and nightclub owner Eddie Nash, who supplied Holmes with cocaine, heroin and other drugs he desired. At the same time, Holmes was closely associated with the Wonderland Gang, frequently selling drugs for them. After stealing from a couple of drug runs, Holmes found himself in trouble with the Wonderland Gang. Allegedly in exchange for his life, he told gang leaders about Nash and a very large stash of drugs, money and jewelry Nash had, and helped to set up a robbery. After the robbery, Nash is believed to have suspected Holmes had a part in it, and after getting Holmes to confess to his participation, allegedly exacted revenge against the Wonderland Gang. Four of the gang's members were later found killed in what is now known as the Wonderland Murders or Four on the Floor (police reference to the crime). Holmes was incarcerated in connection with the murders, but was later acquitted. Gebenini divorced him while he was in jail in 1982. As Holmes' career continued to decline, he starred in his only full-length feature gay porn movie, The Private Pleasures of John C. Holmes and continued to prostitute himself and his underage girlfriend. In 1986 Holmes contracted AIDS, but continued to have unprotected sex without informing any of his partners of his status, and worked in the adult film industry until the disease emaciated him. A biographical movie of John Holmes starring Val Kilmer called Wonderland was released on October 17, 2003. This page about John Holmes includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about John Holmes News stories about John Holmes External links for John Holmes Videos for John Holmes Wikis about John Holmes Discussion Groups about John Holmes Blogs about John Holmes Images of John Holmes |
|
A biographical movie of John Holmes starring Val Kilmer called Wonderland was released on October 17, 2003. Series in which he had a starring role are listed here. In 1986 Holmes contracted AIDS, but continued to have unprotected sex without informing any of his partners of his status, and worked in the adult film industry until the disease emaciated him. Keith worked steadily in television from the 1950s until the end of his life and made numerous guest appearances. Holmes and continued to prostitute himself and his underage girlfriend. [1]. As Holmes' career continued to decline, he starred in his only full-length feature gay porn movie, The Private Pleasures of John C. Keith was a strong and capable actor who spent many years playing second leads and gruff sidekicks, He may be best known for his role as "Uncle Bill" on the television series Family Affair (1966-1971). Gebenini divorced him while he was in jail in 1982. He is buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California. Holmes was incarcerated in connection with the murders, but was later acquitted. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on June 24, 1997, just two months after his daughter had committed suicide. Four of the gang's members were later found killed in what is now known as the Wonderland Murders or Four on the Floor (police reference to the crime). During the later part of his life he suffered from emphysema and lung cancer. After the robbery, Nash is believed to have suspected Holmes had a part in it, and after getting Holmes to confess to his participation, allegedly exacted revenge against the Wonderland Gang. After the war, he became a stage actor, branching into television and films in the late 1940s. Allegedly in exchange for his life, he told gang leaders about Nash and a very large stash of drugs, money and jewelry Nash had, and helped to set up a robbery. Marines (1942-1945) where he served during World War II as an aerial gunner and received an Air Medal. After stealing from a couple of drug runs, Holmes found himself in trouble with the Wonderland Gang. After high school, he joined the U.S. At the same time, Holmes was closely associated with the Wonderland Gang, frequently selling drugs for them. He made his acting debut in a silent film, Pied Piper Malone (1924). Holmes had developed a close friendship with drug dealer and nightclub owner Eddie Nash, who supplied Holmes with cocaine, heroin and other drugs he desired. in Bayonne, New Jersey to actor Robert Keith and stage actress Helena Shipman (born in Aberdeen, Washington). In 1981, he was arrested for stealing a computer from a car. Brian Keith was born Robert Keith Richey, Jr. The money Holmes was earning at the time was not enough to support his drug addiction, and he ventured into crime, selling drugs for gangs, prostituting himself to both men and women, committing credit card fraud and petty theft. Brian Keith (November 14, 1921 - June 24, 1997) was an American stage, film and television actor. He starred at a time when an attractive personality and a certain amount of acting ability were demanded of porn stars. Pied Piper Malone (1924). By 1978 Holmes was reputed be earning as much as $3000.00 a day as a porn actor. The Other Kind of Love (1924). In 1973, Holmes' career began to take off with a porn series built around a private eye named Johnny Wadd. Arrowhead (1953). Holmes was arrested during this time for pimping and pandering, but avoided prison time by becoming an informant for the LAPD. Alaska Seas (1954). With the success of 1972's Deep Throat, The Devil in Miss Jones and Behind the Green Door, porn had become chic although it was still illegal. Jivaro (1954). Initially, he did magazine work and the occasional 8mm loop (both straight and gay), keeping his work in porn secret from his wife. The Bamboo Prison (1954). While recovering from the collapsed lung, Holmes frequented a club in Gardena, where he met a man in the bathroom who encouraged him to do pornography. The Violent Men (1955). Holmes found work as a forklift driver at a warehouse, but the rigors of driving in and out of a frozen warehouse created severe health problems, causing Holmes' lung to collapse on three separate occasions. Tight Spot (1955). For the next two years, Holmes and his wife lived quiet, uneventful lives. 5 Against the House (1955). They married in 1965. Storm Center (1956). It was during his stint as an ambulance driver that he met a nurse named Sharon Gebenini. Nightfall (1957). Upon his discharge, Holmes moved to Los Angeles where he worked in a variety of jobs. Dino (1957). At 16, with the permission of his mother, Holmes enlisted in the United States Army and spent three years in Germany in the Signal Corps. Run of the Arrow (1957). John Holmes was the youngest of five children. Chicago Confidential (1957). John's mother, a devout Southern Baptist married Edward Holmes a few years later, and changed John's birthname from Estes to Holmes. Hell Canyon Outlaws (1957). Born in Pickaway County, Ohio, John never knew his father, a railroad worker named Carl Estes. Fort Dobbs (1958). In reality, it was somewhere between 9 and 11 inches long (23-28 cm). Desert Hell (1958). Some elements of the film Boogie Nights were loosely based on Holmes, who was widely publicized as having a 13½-inch-long (34 cm) penis. Sierra Baron (1958). Holmes was particularly active in the period before condoms were customarily used in adult film, and was a user of injectable drugs; he died in 1988 from complications due to AIDS. Violent Road (1958). John Curtis Estes (August 8, 1944–March 13, 1988), better known as John Holmes, was an adult film actor of the 1970s and 1980s and is generally considered to be the greatest male star in the 35 years since cinematic pornography lost its illegal status and became generally available to the public. Villa! (1958). Appointment with a Shadow (1959). The Young Philadelphians (1959). Ten Who Dared (1960). The Parent Trap (1961). The Deadly Companions (1961). Moon Pilot (1962). Savage Sam (1963). A Tiger Walks (1964). The Raiders (1964). The Pleasure Seekers (1964). Those Calloways (1965). The Hallelujah Trail (1965). The Rare Breed (1966). The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966). Nevada Smith (1966). Way… Way Out (1966). Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967). With Six You Get Eggroll (1968). Krakatoa, East of Java (1969). Gaily, Gaily (1969). Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? (1970). The MacKenzie Break (1970). Something Big (1971). Scandalous John (1971). The Yakuza (1975). The Wind and the Lion (1975). Joe Panther (1976). Nickelodeon (1976). Hooper (1978). Meteor (1979). The Mountain Men (1980). Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981). Sharkey's Machine (1981). Death Before Dishonor (1987). Young Guns (1988). Welcome Home (1989). After the Rain (1990). Wind Dancer (1993). Under a Killing Moon (1994). Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996). FollowYour Heart (1998). The Crusader (CBS, 1955-1956). The Westerner (NBC, 1960). Family Affair (CBS, 1966-1971). The Brian Keith Show (NBC, 1972-1974). Archer (NBC, 1975). Hardcastle and McCormick (ABC, 1983-1986). Pursuit of Happiness (ABC, 1987). Heartland (CBS, 1989). Walter and Emily (NBC, 1991-1992). Heyday (1946). Mister Roberts (1948). Darkness at Noon (1951). Da (199?). |