Harry Reems Dies: Porn Actor of 'Deep Throat' Battled Pancreatic Cancer, 'Lovelace' Film Starring Amanda Seyfried Released at Sundance
Harry Reems, the leading man in the pornography film Deep Throat, culturally considered an adult film classic, died on Tuesday at the age of 65.
Reems, whose real name is Herbert Streicher, was battling with pancreatic cancer and his wife, Jeanne, said his health has been declining for some time, according to The New York Times.
The film Deep Throat, which came out in 1972 and co-starred Linda Lovelace, propelled Reems to porn-stardom. According to CNN, porn star Ron Jeremy said Reems's fight for First Amendment rights helped put the adult film industry more into the mainstream.
Originally Reems tried his hand at acting in off-Broadway shows, according to E!, but it never fared the way pornography did. He was convicted of "conspiracy to distribute obscenity across state lines" in 1976, but the decision was overturned in 1977.
In a 2005 interview with New York Magazine, Reems said of his casting in porn films, "I was always the doctor because I was the one that had an acting background. I would say: 'You're having trouble with oral sex? Well, here's how to do it.' Cut to a 20-minute oral-sex scene."
A retelling of the famed film was debuted in the Sundance Film Festival titled Lovelace, starring Amanda Seyfried who is playing Linda Lovelace. The OC actor Adam Brody plays the role of Reems.
Deep Throat grossed $600 million. Reems had acted in around 300 adult films and after fighting alcoholism, he married his wife in the late 1980s and became a real estate agent, according to E!.
