Herschel Savage


Herschel Savage was an American pornographic actor, director, and stage actor who appeared in over 1,000 adult films. In 2002, AVN ranked him 46th on their list of The Top 50 Porn Stars of All Time. He was also inducted into the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame.
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Early life

Herschel Savage was born as Harvey Cohen on November 25, 1952, in New York City, to Russian-Jewish parents. His mother battled with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Growing up, he attended a Conservative synagogue. Savage saw his first adult film The Nun's Bad Habit at a movie theater in Times Square.
Savage began studying acting under Broadway theatre actress Uta Hagen and renowned acting teacher Stella Adler. Savage initially sought a mainstream stage and screen career. However, he became disillusioned by the constant auditioning and competition for roles. He also worked for an exercise company.

Career

Savage was introduced to the adult film industry via the actor R. Bolla in 1976. He went on to become one of the biggest stars of the "Golden Age of Porn" in the 1970s and 1980s. Savage appeared in the 1978 classic Debbie Does Dallas, for which he was paid about $150 a day. The film was a financial success, becoming one of the top five highest grossing adult films of all time. Some of the other films he appeared in include Expose Me Now, Bodies in Heat, and Rambone Does Hollywood. 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.
During the mid-1980s, Savage helped to organize sex workers in San Francisco to fight for better wages. The initiative was ultimately abandoned after production studios threatened to blacklist performers. In 1986, Savage appeared in a cameo for the neo-noir crime film 52 Pick-Up starring Roy Scheider and Ann-Margret. He was credited as "Harvey Cowen". In 1988, Savage was inducted into the XRCO Hall of Fame. That same year, he left pornography to work in sales and video distribution. He returned to performing in 1997.
Savage appeared as a guest during the fifth season of the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me, with Ron Jeremy, which aired on February 1, 2001. 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. He appeared alongside other adult performers in the documentary series After Porn Ends 3 in 2018. Savage appeared in more than 1000 adult films. He was also inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame.

Stage

Savage performed under the name "Max Cohen" in a 2006 production of Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue. 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." His performance drew positive reviews. Writing for The Los Angeles Times, Charlotte Stoudt called Savage's portrayal of Damiano "surprisingly cogent". Myron Meisel from The Hollywood Reporter remarked that he "engenders endearing empathy as the amiably deluded director Damiano." Steven Leigh Morris from LA Weekly deemed his performance "dramatic comedy terra firma". Savage credited the play with "renewing love for performing on stage."
Savage appeared as himself in Pretty Filthy, a musical about the adult film industry. He also performed in the interactive dinner show Joni and Gina's Wedding. In July 2016, Savage premiered Porn Star: My Life In The Sex Industry, an autobiographical one-man show, which he successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign.

Personal life and death

Savage was a practicing Buddhist. He resided in California.
Herschel Savage died on October 8, 2023, at the age of 70.

Awards

YearNominated work and artistCategoryResult
[4th AVN Hall of Fame|AVN Awards|1987]If Only Mother KnewBest Supporting ActorNomitated
1989Amanda by Night IIBest Sex Scene - Feature Film Won
1992Herschel SavageAVN Hall of Fame InducteeWon
2000The Devil Made Her Do ItMost Outrageous Sex Scene Won
2000Herschel SavageMale Performer of the YearNomitated
2000The Kissing GameBest Couples Sex Scene - Video Nomitated
2000The Kissing GameBest Supporting Actor - VideoNomitated
2000Nothing to Hide 3 & 4Best Actor - FilmNomitated
2000Trial by CopulationBest Group Sex Scene - Film Nomitated
2000The TrophyBest Supporting Actor - FilmNomitated
2000Tushy Con CarneBest Anal Sex Scene - Video Nomitated
2001Dream QuestBest Actor - FilmNomitated
2001Exhibitionist Part 1Best Supporting Actor - VideoNomitated
2001The Gapes of WrathBest Anal Sex Scene - Video Nomitated
2001ScreamersBest Couples Sex Scene - Film Nomitated
2001ScreamersBest Supporting Actor - FilmNomitated
2001Sodomania: Gangbang EditionBest Group Sex Scene - Video Nomitated
2001SpellboundBest Actor - VideoNomitated
2001White Trash Whore 17Best Anal Sex Scene - Video Nomitated
2002Bad Wives 2Best Group Sex Scene - Film Nomitated
2002InfidelityBest Supporting Actor - VideoNomitated
2002MafiosoBest Actor - FilmNomitated
2002Pussy FaceMost Outrageous Sex Scene Won
2002SuccubusBest Group Sex Scene - Video Won
2002TakenBest Anal Sex Scene - FilmNomitated
2002TakenBest Supporting Actor - FilmWon
2003Big Bottom SadieBest Supporting Actor - VideoNomitated
2004Roommate From HellBest Actor - VideoNomitated
2004The ContortionistBest Supporting Actor - VideoNomitated
2005The HitmanBest Supporting Actor - VideoNomitated
2005Love and BulletsBest Actor - VideoNomitated
2006Dark SideBest Actor - FilmNomitated
2006Dark SideBest Couples Sex Scene - Film Won
2006House of AssBest Three-Way Sex Scene Nomitated
2007Butt Pirates of the CaribbeanBest Group Sex Scene - Video Nomitated
2007ClusterFuck 5Best Group Sex Scene - Video Nomitated
2007GameBest Non-Sex PerformanceNomitated
2007Rumour Had 'EmBest Supporting Actor - VideoNomitated
2008DelilahBest Actor - VideoNomitated
2008Spunk'd the MovieBest Supporting Actor - VideoNomitated
2009The Texas Vibrator MassacreBest Non-Sex PerformanceNomitated
201030 Rock: A XXX ParodyBest ActorNomitated
2013Dallas: A XXX ParodyBest Non-Sex PerformanceNomitated

YearNominated workCategoryResult
201030 Rock: A XXX ParodyActing Performance of the Year - MaleNomitated
2019Fallen II: Angels & DemonsBest Non-Sex PerformanceNomitated