Herschel Savage

[3] Herschel Savage (born Harvey Cohen on November 25, 1952) is a former American pornographic actor, director and stage actor who has appeared in over 1,000 adult films.[4] In 2002, AVN ranked him 46th on their list of The Top 50 Porn Stars of All Time.[5] He has also been inducted into the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame.[6][7]

Herschel Savage
Savage in 2010
Born
Harvey Cohen[1]

(1952-11-25) November 25, 1952[2]
New York City, New York, U.S.
Other namesHarvey Cowen, Harvey Joel Coen, Herschel Cohen, Jack Black, Max Cohen
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Early life

Savage was born to Russian-Jewish parents on November 25, 1952 in New York City.[3][8] His mother battled with obsessive-compulsive disorder.[9] Growing up, he attended a conservative synagogue.[10] Savage saw his first adult film The Nun's Bad Habit at a movie theater in Times Square.[9]

Savage began studying acting under Broadway theatre actress Uta Hagen and renowned acting teacher Stella Adler.[11][12] Savage initially sought a mainstream stage and screen career.[8] However, he became disillusioned by the constant auditioning and competition for roles.[11] He also worked for an exercise company.[9]

Career
Savage in 2006

Savage was introduced to the adult film industry via the actor R. Bolla in 1976,[11] He went on to become one of the biggest stars of the "Golden Age of Porn" in the 1970s and 1980s.[11] Savage appeared in the 1978 classic Debbie Does Dallas, for which he was paid about $150 a day.[12] The film was a financial success, becoming one of the top five highest grossing adult films of all time.[3] Some of the other films he has appeared in include Expose Me Now, Bodies in Heat, and Rambone Does Hollywood.[12] He created the stage name "Herschel Savage" with adult actor Jamie Gillis in an attempt to combine a 'nerdy Jewish identity' with that of a stud.[11]

During the mid-1980s, Savage helped to organize sex workers in San Francisco to fight for better wages.[4] The initiative was ultimately abandoned after production studios threatened to blacklist performers.[4] In 1986, Savage appeared in a cameo for the neo-noir crime film 52 Pick-Up starring Roy Scheider and Ann-Margret.[2] He was credited as "Harvey Cowen". In 1988, Savage was inducted into the XRCO Hall of Fame.[7][13] That same year, he left pornography to work in sales and video distribution.[8] He returned to performing in 1997.[8]

Savage appeared as a guest during the fifth season of the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me, which aired on February 1, 2001.[14] In 2003, he performed a stand-up routine on an episode of the reality television series Family Business. Savage portrayed a detective in the 2008 parody film The Texas Vibrator Massacre.[15] He appeared alongside other adult performers in the documentary series After Porn Ends 3 in 2018.[16] To date, Savage has appeared in more than 1000 adult films.[4] He has also been inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame.[6]

Stage

Savage performed under the name "Max Cohen" in a 2006 production of Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue.[2][8] In January 2013, he portrayed pornographic film director Gerard Damiano in the Los Angeles production of The Deep Throat Sex Scandal, a play described as the "theatrical telling of the back story of Deep Throat."[10][17] His performance drew positive reviews.[18] Writing for The Los Angeles Times, Charlotte Stoudt called Savage's portrayal of Damiano "surprisingly cogent".[19] Myron Meisel from The Hollywood Reporter remarked that he "engenders endearing empathy as the amiably deluded director Damiano."[20] Steven Leigh Morris from LA Weekly deemed his performance "dramatic comedy terra firma".[21] Savage credited the play with "renewing [his] love for performing on stage."[9]

Savage appeared as himself in Pretty Filthy, a musical about the adult film industry.[22] He also performed in the interactive dinner show Joni and Gina's Wedding.[23] In July 2016, Savage premiered Porn Star: My Life In The Sex Industry, an autobiographical one-man show; he successfully funded the project through a Kickstarter campaign.[24]

Personal life

Savage is a practicing Buddhist.[18] He resides in California.[18]

Select performances

Film
Title Year Role Notes Ref.
Debbie Does Dallas 1978 Tim [3]
The Satisfiers of Alpha Blue 1980 Griffin [25]
Memphis Cathouse Blues 1982 Deacon Davis
What Gets Me Hot! 1984 Mrs. Radner's Boyfriend
52 Pick-Up 1986 Party Goer Credited as Harvey Cowen
Droid 1988 Turk
The Texas Vibrator Massacre 2008 Detective Mike Roe [26]
30 Rock: A XXX Parody 2009 Jake [27]
After Porn Ends 3 2018 Himself Documentary [28]

Television
Title Year Role Notes Ref.
Sex Court 1999-00 Tommy Rawlings / Nick Palos / Tony Tornelli 3 episodes
Just Shoot Me! 2001 Ron Episode: "The Proposal" [14]
Family Business 2003 Himself Episode: "Casa De Butts"
Are You There, Chelsea? 2012 Guard Episode: "Pilot" (credited as Harvey Joel Coen)
Dave's Old Porn 2012 Himself Episode: "Lisa Lampanelli / Herschel Savage"

Theater
Title Year Venue Role Notes Ref.
The Prisoner of Second Avenue 2006 Mel Edison Lead role (credited as Max Cohen) [8]
The Deep Throat Sex Scandal 2013 Zephyr Theater Gerard Damiano Los Angeles run [10]
Pretty Filthy 2015 Abrons Arts Center Himself Musical [22]
Porn Star: My Life In The Sex Industry 2016 Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center Himself One-man show [24]

Awards
List of accolades received by Herschel Savage
Total number of wins and nominations
Totals 9 40
AVN Awards
Year Nominated work and artist Category Result Ref.
1987 If Only Mother Knew Best Supporting Actor Nominated [29]
1989 Amanda by Night II Best Sex Scene - Feature Film (with Nina Hartley) Won [30]
1992 Herschel Savage AVN Hall of Fame Inductee Won [31]
2000 The Devil Made Her Do It Most Outrageous Sex Scene (with Mila & Dave Hardman) Won [32]
Herschel Savage Male Performer of the Year Nominated [33]
The Kissing Game Best Couples Sex Scene - Video (with Missy) Nominated
Best Supporting Actor - Video Nominated
Nothing to Hide 3 & 4 Best Actor - Film Nominated
Trial by Copulation Best Group Sex Scene - Film (with Temptress, Azlea Antistia, and Chris Cannon) Nominated
The Trophy Best Supporting Actor - Film Nominated
Tushy Con Carne Best Anal Sex Scene - Video (with Alisha Klass) Nominated
2001 Dream Quest Best Actor - Film Nominated [34]
Exhibitionist Part 1 Best Supporting Actor - Video Nominated
The Gapes of Wrath Best Anal Sex Scene - Video (with McKayla Matthews, Tyce Bune, and Mark Davis) Nominated
Screamers Best Couples Sex Scene - Film (with Dee) Nominated
Best Supporting Actor - Film Nominated
Sodomania: Gangbang Edition Best Group Sex Scene - Video (with Sabrina Johnson, Tyce Bune, Lexington Steele, and Mark Anthony) Nominated
Spellbound Best Actor - Video Nominated
White Trash Whore 17 Best Anal Sex Scene - Video (with Allysin Embers & Dave Hardman) Nominated
2002 Bad Wives 2 Best Group Sex Scene - Film (with Kylie Ireland & Jason McCain) Nominated [35]
Infidelity Best Supporting Actor - Video Nominated
Mafioso Best Actor - Film Nominated
Pussy Face Most Outrageous Sex Scene (with Kristen Kane and Rafe) Won [36]
Succubus Best Group Sex Scene - Video (with Ava Vincent, Bridgette Kerkove, Nikita Denise, and Trevor) Won
Taken Best Anal Sex Scene - Film Nominated [35]
Best Supporting Actor - Film Won [36]
2003 Big Bottom Sadie Best Supporting Actor - Video Nominated [37]
2004 Roommate From Hell Best Actor - Video Nominated [38]
The Contortionist Best Supporting Actor - Video Nominated
2005 The Hitman Nominated [39]
Love and Bullets Best Actor - Video Nominated
2006 Dark Side Best Actor - Film Nominated [40]
Best Couples Sex Scene - Film (with Penny Flame) Won [41]
House of Ass Best Three-Way Sex Scene (with Mari Possa & Barbara Summer) Nominated [40]
2007 Butt Pirates of the Caribbean Best Group Sex Scene - Video (with Mari Possa, Amber Peach, Samantha Ryan, and Kurt Lockwood) Nominated [42]
ClusterFuck 5 Best Group Sex Scene - Video (with Mayhem, Tory Lane, Jay Lassiter, Dirty Harry, Scott Lyons, Jenner, Rick Masters, Chris Mountain, Steve james, Trevor Thompson, and Alec Knight) Nominated
Game Best Non-Sex Performance Nominated
Rumour Had 'Em Best Supporting Actor - Video Nominated
2008 Delilah Best Actor - Video Nominated [43]
Spunk'd the Movie Best Supporting Actor - Video Nominated
2009 The Texas Vibrator Massacre Best Non-Sex Performance Nominated [44]
2010 30 Rock: A XXX Parody Best Actor Nominated [45]
2013 Dallas: A XXX Parody Best Non-Sex Performance Nominated [46]
NightMoves Awards
Year Nominated artist Category Result Ref.
2007 Herschel Savage Best Actor Nominated [47]
XBIZ Awards
Year Nominated work Category Result Ref.
2010 30 Rock: A XXX Parody Acting Performance of the Year - Male Nominated [48]
2019 Fallen II: Angels & Demons Best Non-Sex Performance Nominated [49]
XRCO Awards
Year Nominated work and artist Category Result Ref.
1988 Herschel Savage XRCO Hall of Fame Inductee Won [13]
2000 Nothing to Hide 3 & 4 Actor (Single Performance) Nominated [50]
2006 Dark Side (with Penny Flame) Best Onscreen Couple Won [51]
gollark: Alternatively, fill the server with a solid in exactly the right shape with a refractive index similar to water.
gollark: Well, in that case you'll just have to suffer fishlessness.
gollark: Oh yes, true.
gollark: Plastic fake fish of some kind perhaps.
gollark: I am of course not responsible for any damage.

References
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  3. "The Curse of Debbie Does Dallas". The Sydney Morning Herald. August 19, 2005. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
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