Deep Throat star Harry Reems dies
RIP Harry Reems, the accidental porn star. (Although nominative determinism might have played a part. (He was born Herbert Streicher)) Reems starred in the 1973 skin flick Deep Throat, the film that made a star of Linda Lovelace (she acted as if her clitoris was located in her throat). He was 65.
Reems’ friend Don Schenk writes
Harry, whose given name was Herbert Streicher, was thrust into infamy in 1972 when he stared in “Deep Throat,” the first adult film made for wide screen, but because he was a union actor with a Screen Actors Guild card, the film’s producers had to create a new name for him.
The funny thing is Harry was not even supposed to be in the film. He was hired to handle the lighting. Writer/Director Gerard Damiano ran into a casting issue when the fellow hired to play the lead part didn’t show up. Harry was thrust into the job, for which he was paid only $250.
Adding:
A few years ago Harry’s health began to deteriorate due to peripheral neuropathy and emphysema, forcing him to retired from real estate. This past summer he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which the doctors discovered during a routine test for something else, and Harry went through months of chemo and radiation treatments.
On March 5th, Harry entered the VA Hospital due to jaundice. His liver was failing. Next his kidneys began to fail as his body started to shut down. My wife and I have been driving from Park City down to the Salt Lake City VA Hospital to visit with Harry and Jeannie every afternoon.
Harry slipped into a coma 4 days ago, and passed this afternoon.
Harry went from living a bizarre lifestyle, through a 180 degree, almost miraculous change to find a Higher Power he called God, and become a truly nice guy who cared for others, and helped a lot of people in Park City, UT.
Photo: Actor Harry Reems kisses director Fenton Bailey as co-director Randy Barbato, right, strikes a pose at the premier of their film “Inside Deep Throat” Friday, Jan. 21, 2005, in Park City, Utah, during the Sundance Film Festival. The documentary looks at the original 1972 x-rated movie “Deep Throat” and its cultural impact.
In this video Al Goldstein interviews Harry Reems on Midnight Blue, 1982.
Posted: 20th, March 2013 | In: Celebrities Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
