Cole Taylor

Cole Taylor was a pornographic actor who primarily worked in gay adult film in the 1980s. He debuted in 1984, delivered a notable performance in a bisexual film, and starred in what may be gay adult film's first safe sex film in 1985. He died in 1989.

He made his debut in the Nova Studios production Heroes (1984).[1] His acting debut was inauspicious. One reviewer for Manshots magazine noted, "...Taylor was certainly cute, but he lacked the look or sound of mature authority needed to play the role of a teacher convincingly. That was however, the role assigned him by [the director]."[1] "...Taylor's line readings sounded so frothily coy and cheerful, you'd have thought he'd studied with Billie Burke. Miscasting, then had sabotaged a key part of the old Nova formula: That nothing in a man's looks, environment, or voice should seem stereotypically gay."[2]

Despite this performance, Taylor continued to perform in adult film. He turned in only two more notable performances, in Full Grown, Full Blown,[3] and the bisexual production Cross Over.[4] Although his performance may not have been notable, another of his films was. Lifeguard, an original performance produced in 1985 by HIS Video, may be the first safe sex gay adult film ever made.[5] In between scenes, Robert Bolan, president of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, discussed safe sex practices. Gay adult film historian Jeffrey Escoffier notes that the film showcased some of the most popular performers of the day, which included Taylor.[6] By the end of his career, Cole Taylor made about 25 pornographic films.[7]

According to adult film historian Rex Hardesty, Taylor died in 1989. Hardesty did not disclose the cause of death.[1] According to the industry publication Adam Film World, Taylor was bisexual.[4]

References
  1. Hardesty, p. 12.
  2. Hardesty, p. 13. Emphasis in original.
  3. Adam Film World, 1991, p. 151.
  4. Adam Film World, 1991, p. 147.
  5. Burger, p. 27; Adam Film World, 1992, p. 158.
  6. Escoffier, p. 211-212.
  7. The number of films Taylor made is unclear, because sources vary. According to Atkol Video, Taylor made 21 films. See: Atkol Video, p. 88. Bruce Wayne's directory of adult film lists 34 films. See: Wayne, p. 218. Atkol lists two films (Bi-Ballers and Studio X) which Wayne does not. A cast listing cannot be independently confirmed for Bi-Ballers by Adam Film World or Internet Adult Film Database (IAFD). However, although Adam Film World has no listing for Studio X, IAFD confirms the existence of the film and that Taylor is in the cast. See: Cole Taylor. Internet Adult Film Database. No date, accessed 2013-04-21. Ten films listed by Wayne (Best of Surge Vol. 2, Climactic Scenes #101, Fanta-size, Guys Who Eat Cum, Hot Shots Vol. 7: Daddies, In Too Deep, Lovers & Friends, Magnum Griffin Vol. 6, Muscle Studs, and Tight Friendship) are compilation films (existing scenes recut and repackaged) and not original productions. Of the remaining non-compilation films which Wayne lists, six films (All Hands on Dick, Hard Fucking Buddies, Lifeguard, Making It Huge, One Size Fits All, and Sighs) are not listed by Atkol. Adam Film World confirms that Cole Taylor is in the cast of One Size Fits All and Sighs. See: Adam Film World, 1992, p. 171, 175. The IAFD confirms Taylor is a cast member in All Hands on Dick and Making It Huge. See: Cole Taylor. Internet Adult Film Database. No date, accessed 2013-04-21. Both IAFD and Adam Film World confirm that Cole Taylor is in Lifeguard. See: Adam Film World, p. 158; Cole Taylor. Internet Adult Film Database. No date, accessed 2013-04-21. No other database lists Hard Fucking Buddies and the existence of the film cannot be independently verified. Finally, neither Atkol nor Wayne list Cross Over as a Cole Taylor film. However, Adam Film World and IAFD confirm he is part of the cast of this bisexual film. See: Adam Film World, 1991, p. 147; Cole Taylor. Internet Adult Film Database. No date, accessed 2013-04-21. This leaves 25 films for Cole Taylor's original production filmography.

Bibliography
  • Adam Film World. 1991 Directory of Gay Adult Videos. Los Angeles, Calif.: 1990.
  • Adam Film World. 1992 Directory of Gay Adult Videos. Los Angeles, Calif.: 1991.
  • Atkol Video. Atkol Comprehensive Guide to Adult Male Videos. Plainfield, N.J.: Atkol, 1990.
  • Burger, John R. One-Handed Histories: The Eroto-Politics of Gay Male Video Pornography. New York: Haworth Press, 1995.
  • Escoffier, Jeffrey. Bigger Than Life: The History of Gay Porn Cinema From Beefcake to Hardcore. Philadelphia, Pa.: Running Press, 2009.
  • Hardesty, Rex. "Nova Studios, Part Two: The Final Years." Manshots. August 1997.
  • Wayne, Bruce. Gay Porn Star Directory. Laguna Hills, Calif.: Companion Press, 2000.
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