Jump to content

Tiger Tyson: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
AnomieBOT (talk | contribs)
Bots
6,362,014 edits
m Dating maintenance tags: {{Fv}}
Added content
Tags: nowiki added Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
Line 1: Line 1:
{{AfDM|page=Tiger Tyson|year=2019|month=December|day=4|substed=yes|origtag=afdx}}
{{AfDM|page=Tiger Tyson|year=2019|month=December|day=4|substed=yes|origtag=afdx}}
{{short description|American pornographic actor}}
{{short description|American gay male pornographic actor, and producer}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2008}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox adult biography
{{Infobox person
| name = Tiger Tyson
| name = Tiger Tyson
| image= Tiger Tyson.JPG
| image = Tiger Tyson.JPG
| caption =
| image_upright =
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| birth_name = Tiger Tyson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|05|20}}
| caption = Tyson in 2005
| pronunciation =
| birth_place = [[Brooklyn, New York]], [[United States]]
| birth_date ={{Birth based on age as of date|25|2007|July|27}}<ref name=jdferguson/>
| spouse =
| birth_place = [[Brooklyn, New York]], [[United States]]<ref name=Cedano/>
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=6}}
| alias =
| residence =
| website = http://www.TigerTyson.com
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| occupation = Film producer, entrepreneur
| years_active = 1997-present
| known_for = Leading representative of gay male ‘thug porn’
|label_name= Tiger Tyson Entertainment of Pitbull Productions
| net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a reliable Source —->
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=6}}
| partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) -->
| children = one daughter
| awards = [[GayVN Hall of Fame]] (2008)
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Tiger Tyson''' (born {{Birth based on age as of date|25|2007|July|27}}) is an American [[gay pornographic film]] actor, model, producer, and entrepreneur from [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, New York]].<ref name=":15">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2011/04/28/porn-stars-story-explored-in-new-play/|title=Porn star’s story explored in new play|last=|first=|date=April 28, 2011|work=[[Washington Blade]]|access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@SonofBaldwin/from-the-archives-catch-a-tiger-by-his-toe-an-interview-with-james-earl-hardy-by-darnell-l-dbfbbfc584e1|title=Catch a Tiger By His Toe: An Interview with James Earl Hardy by Darnell L.|last=Moore|first=Darnell L.|date=July 7, 2016|website=[[Medium]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name=jdferguson>{{Cite web|url=https://www.papermag.com/jd-ferguson-presents-tiger-tyson-1425300590.amp.html|title=JD Ferguson Presents: Tiger Tyson|last=Ferguson|first=JD|date=July 27, 2007|website=[[Paper (magazine)|]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> He has appeared in dozens of ethnic-themed porn films, where he performs only as a [[Top (sex)|top]].<ref name=":17" /> Tyson, who is of [[African American]] and [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]] descent, is renowned for his strong [[sex appeal]].<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=http://gaytheatrenyc.blogspot.com/2010/06/interview-johnathan-cedano-of.html|title=Gay Theatre NYC Review: Interview - Johnathan Cedano of Confessions of Homo Thug Porn Star|last=Harrison|first=Byrne|date=June 16, 2010|website=Gay Theatre NYC Review|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":17" /> In February 2008, he was inducted into the [[GayVN Hall of Fame]], and is also “an advocate for [[safe sex]] education, [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] research and [[gay rights]].”<ref name=":17" /><ref name="Cedano">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/johnathan-cedano-to-star-in-confessions-of-a-homo-_28170.html|title=Johnathan Cedano to Star in Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star on Fire Island|last=Bacalzo|first=Dan|date=June 15, 2010|website=Theater Mania|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref> His draft of a memoir was turned into the play “Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star” by [[James Earl Hardy]].
'''Tiger Tyson''' (born 20 May 1977) is an American [[gay pornographic film]] actor, model, and director. He is noted for his appearances in dozens of ethnic-themed porn films, where he performs regularly as a [[Top (sex)|top]].<ref name=":0">[http://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid=TigerTyson/gender=M/Tiger-Tyson.htm IAFD profile: Tiger Tyson]</ref> He has also worked as a male escort and gogo dancer, and has appeared in numerous gay-themed publications. Tyson, who is of [[African American]] and [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]] descent, is renowned for his large aggressive sexual performance on camera.{{cn|date=June 2019}}

== Career ==
Novelist and playwright [[James Earl Hardy]] characterized Tyson’s story as the [[American Dream|American dream]], “boy from the hood, raised by a single mother, high school dropout, drug dealer, jail bird. But he parlayed that thug life past into a unique, marketable image and created his own multi-million dollar studio.”<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":19" /> He began his career as a [[stripper]]/[[go-go dancer]] at New York City’s The Web on East 58th street, a [[Midtown Manhattan]] [[gay-sian]] club for gay Asian men and their admirers.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":17" /> He had just gotten out after serving fourteen months in prison for [[Grand Theft Auto (crime)|grand theft auto]].<ref name=":17" /><ref name=":15" /> Tyson liked the dancing/stripping work as easy money, but Malice, another dancer who did gay porn, suggested the films as it paid more; and shared director Enrique Cruz’s phone number.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":17" /> Tyson had never even seen gay porn before, although he knew some aspects of gay life.<ref name=":10" /> He felt he needed a few alcoholic drinks before acting; and switched acting roles as he did not want to be the bottom.<ref name=":10" />

Tyson was introduced in Cruz’s ''Sweatin' Black'' (1997). Cruz had his breakthrough as a director with ''Learning Latin'' (1997), his first film with his own company La Mancha Productions.<ref name=":17" /> ''Learning Latin'', a “runaway best-seller,” was set on a college campus featuring black and Latino men, showcasing the “gay and bisexual [[Blatino Erotica Awards|Blatino]] sex-party scene” with an urban [[hip hop]] soundtrack.<ref name=":17">{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/647869684|title=Bigger than life : the history of gay porn cinema from beefcake to hardcore|last=Escoffier|first=Jeffrey|date=2009|publisher=Running Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7867-4753-5|location=Philadelphia|pages=314-8|oclc=647869684}}</ref> Cruz discovered Tyson and featured him in the second La Mancha release, ''Tiger's Brooklyn Tails'' (1998) building on the Blatino theme, and set in [[Sex club|sex clubs]] and [[Cruising for sex|cruising areas]].<ref name=":17" /> Over the ten years after ''Tiger's Brooklyn Tails'', Tyson became the “best-known public representative of ‘thug porn’,” catering to, and representative of young gay black and Latino men.<ref name=":17" /> Tyson, from the start, developed his persona based on black and Latino men [[Down-low (sexual slang)|on the down-low]]—who [[Men who have sex with men|had sex with other men]], but still saw themselves as heterosexual—though he personally identified as [[Bisexuality|bisexual]], could not imagine being romantically involved with another man, and refused to [[Top, bottom and versatile|bottom]].<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":17" />

Tyson made four films with La Mancha, then joined its main competition in the gay porn “ethnic market,” Latino Fan Club (LFC) from 1998-2000.<ref name=":17" /> Brian Brennan founded LFC in 1985, and as of 2009 was still the leader in the thug porn niche.<ref name=":17" /> Brennan said, “Tiger Tyson is probably the most popular Latin porn performer ever, ... [he] has an incredible star presence and dynamic personality. He’s got all the ingredients of a major talent: great looks, huge uncut dick, and sexual energy that won’t quit.”<ref name=":17" /> Tyson though grew frustrated that his persona was selling videos that he had little control in developing the narrative, or getting compensated for boosting sales.<ref name=":17" /> He also felt the production values should be much better, and decided to do a few years break from acting while he worked to start his own company.<ref name=":17" />

=== Pitbull Productions/'''Tiger Tyson Entertainment''' ===
In 2003, along with Jalin Fuentes, Tyson co-founded Pitbull Productions where Tyson has his own Tiger Tyson Entertainment label; Fuentes coined ''thug porn'' or ''thugporn'' to represent their niche in the gay porn market, and the product they were to create.<ref name="jdferguson" /><ref name=":17" /> Fuentes wanted to avoid the “[[Hollywood]]” glamour approach to gay sex in favor of an “urban, gritty, raw and real feel.”<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/pitbull-productions-55743.html|title=Pitbull Productions AVN|last=Jansen|first=Brady|date=November 19, 2008|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> He coined ‘thugporn' to capture “this type of urban homeboy sex” with their company.<ref name=":8" /> With Tyson’s company change he also left behind the “more affectionate, on-screen persona” and “metamorphosed into a more traditional 'service me,' top kind of guy” while retaining his “magical smile” and personality.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.papermag.com/tiger-tiger-burning-bright-1425201060.html|title=Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright|last=Boardman|first=Mickey|date=October 12, 2005|website=[[Paper (magazine){{!}}]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> Tyson states, “I discovered we had the same vision about the adult business, by using only authentic thugs, paying the performers well, and practicing safe sex.”<ref name=":17" /> Tyson was a Pitbull Productions headlining star for years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/avnid/pitbull-productions-63665.html|title=Pitbull Productions AVN|last=|first=|date=|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> He has also directed many of their films.<ref name=":10" /> One estimate had ‘thug porn’ growing to as much as a fifth of the gay porn market.<ref name=":17" /> Over its first six or seven years Pitbull Productions became a multimillion dollar studio releasing over fifty films.<ref name=":17" /><ref name=":16" /> Tyson is also his own brand; in addition to his movies and the Tiger Tyson Replicock [[dildo]] which premiered in 2008, he has his own exercise video, branded [[lip gloss]], and “ocean-scented” [[Car Freshner|car freshener]]<nowiki/>s.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":16" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/tiger-tyson-unveils-his-first-official-dildo-26033.html|title=Tiger Tyson Unveils His First Official Dildo AVN|last=Hunter|first=Richard|date=January 18, 2008|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/pitbull-productions-put-a-tiger-in-your-car-53399.html|title=Pitbull Productions: ‘Put a Tiger in Your Car' AVN|last=Rice|first=G. Zisk|date=June 26, 2008|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/pitbull-aims-to-soothe-lips-scorch-libidos-with-free-gifts-368133.html|title=Pitbull Aims to Soothe Lips, Scorch Libidos with Free Gifts AVN|last=Rice|first=G. Zisk|date=October 29, 2009|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[GayVN]] [[GayVN Awards#2008|Hall of Fame]] in February 2008.<ref name=":17" /><ref name="jdferguson" />

Having reached celebrity status, Tyson had his portrait made by French artists [[Pierre et Gilles]] while he was in Paris directing, acting in ''Tiger’s Eiffel Tower: Paris is Mine'' (2006),a “two-part thug porn spectacular.”<ref name=":17" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/sneak-peek-i-tiger-s-eiffel-tower-paris-is-mine-i-25063.html|title=Sneak Peek {{!}} Tiger’s Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine AVN|website=AVN|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/gay/porn-stars/tiger-tyson-247061.html|title=Tiger Tyson AVN full biography|last=|first=|date=|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> They portrayed him in a tiger-striped kitchen getting relief from the apparent heat in front of an open refrigerator filled with raw meat; the portrait sold for $65,000 in 2009 ({{Inflation|US|65,000|2009|fmt=eq}}).<ref name=":17" />

=== “Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star” ===
His life story was portrayed in [[James Earl Hardy]]’s 2010 play “Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star,” starring Johnathan Cedano, telling Tyson’s “rags-to-riches” life using source material from writing sessions between Tyson and Hardy.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16" /> In Hardy’s work including this one, his first play, he attempts to “unpack the complicated [[Intersectionality|intersections]] of race, sexuality, gender and class that shape the lives of “[[same gender loving]]” men of color.”<ref name=":16" /> Tyson approached Hardy seeking help writing his [[memoir]], once they started, Hardy realized the material would make a great one-person play.<ref name=":16" /> Hardy developed a script in late 2009.<ref name=":19" /> It premiered in April 2010 to a sold-out crowd at the New York Downtown Urban Theater Festival describing it as “What's it like being the world's most revered and recognizable "homo thug" porn star?”, where it won the "Best Dramatic Short" award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/Dial-Hardy-Goins-Win-Top-Honors-At-Downtown-Urban-Theatre-Festival-20100510|title=Dial, Hardy & Goins Win Top Honors At Downtown Urban Theatre Festival|last=|first=|date=May 10, 2010|website=[[Broadway World News]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":19" /><ref name="Cedano" /> In August it was reprised for two more sold-out shows at Whyte Hall on [[Fire Island]], then two runs; at the Roy Arias Theater in New York in March 2011, and the Lace Lounge & Nightclub in Washington D.C. in May 2011.<ref name=":19" />

In an April 2012 Hispanic Black Gay Coalition event, “''The Raw Realty: Pornography & Black and Latino Gay Representation,''” Tyson stressed the need for everyone, both producers and end users, to practice safe sex.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/hbgc-event-black-and-latino-gay-men-on-pornography/|title=HBGC Event: Black and Latino Gay Men on Pornography|last=Colbert|first=Chuck|date=May 1, 2012|website=[[The Rainbow Times]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> The panel discussion was to “explore how pornography and the gay porn industry impacts Black and Latino identity, behavior and representation.”<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/a-weekend-with-tiger-tyson-hosted-by-the-hbgc/|title=A Weekend with Tiger Tyson hosted by the HBGC|last=Colbert|first=Chuck|date=March 23, 2013|website=[[The Rainbow Times]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> Tyson challenged negative stereotypes about men who act in gay porn, pointing out that some were raising families.<ref name=":18" />

== Personal life ==
Tyson is a native of [[Bronx, New York|The Bronx, New York]], and was raised by his [[single mother]].<ref name=":19" /> He lost his virginity at twelve years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/tiger-tyson-on-losing-his-virginity-what-freaks-him-out-and-if-he-prefers-blair-or-serena-54008.html|title=Tiger Tyson on losing his virginity, what freaks him out and if he prefers Blair or Serena… AVN|last=|first=|date=July 31, 2008|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>

Tyson was also a dancer at Magic Touch, a popular [[Jackson Heights, Queens]] gay bar where he met his fiancée.<ref name=":17" /> Both her and his mother are aware of, and accept his gay porn movie-making.<ref name=":17" /> He has a daughter.<ref name=":16" />

Tyson openly promotes [[safe sex]] education, [[AIDS]] research and [[gay rights]].<ref name="Cedano" /> In 2007, he endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] for [[president of the United States|president]].<ref name="jdferguson" /> He supports the [[Legalization of marijuana in the United States|legalization of marijuana]].<ref name="jdferguson" />

== Awards and nominations ==
*[[GayVN Awards|GayVN Award]]
**Won - (2008) Hall of Fame<ref name=":17" />
**Won - (2008) Best Ethic Film for ''Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine'' (2006)<ref name=":8" />
**[Nominee] (2008) Best Actor for ''Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine'' (2006)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/gayvn-announces-10th-annual-gayvn-awards-nominations-25062.html|title=GAYVN Announces 10th Annual GAYVN Awards Nominations! AVN|last=Rice|first=G. Zisk|date=January 12, 2008|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>
**Nominated (2008) - Best Non-European Film for ''Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine'' (2006)<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/european-gay-porn-awards-finalists-announced-52414.html|title=European Gay Porn Awards Finalists Announced AVN|last=Rice|first=G. Zisk|date=April 28, 2008|website=AVN|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref>
**Nominated (2008) - Best Top<ref name=":9" />
**Nominated (2008) - Best DVD Extras/Special Edition for ''Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine'' (2006)<ref name=":9" />
**Nominated (2008) - Best Picture for ''Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine'' (2006)<ref name=":9" />
**Nominated (2008) - Performer of the Year<ref name=":9" />

*[[Grabby Awards]]
**[Nominee] (2008) Best Performers<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/grabby-nominations-announced-27315.html|title=Grabby Nominations Announced AVN|last=Rice|first=G. Zisk|date=March 14, 2008|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>
**Nominated (2008) - Best DVD Extras for ''Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine'' (2006)<ref name=":14" />
*[[Cybersocket, Inc.|CyberSocket Web Awards]]
**Nominated (2008) - Best Porn Star Site for Tiger Tyson<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/voting-begins-for-8th-annual-cybersocket-web-awards-28020.html|title=Voting Begins for 8th Annual Cybersocket Web Awards AVN|last=Rice|first=G. Zisk|date=December 11, 2007|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>

*[[XBIZ Award|XBIZ Awards]]
**[Nominee] (2008), GLBT Performer of the Year<ref name=":11" />
**Nominee (2008) - GLBT Studio of the Year for Pitbull Productions<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/gay-companies-earn-xbiz-awards-nominations-25370.html|title=Gay Companies Earn XBiz Awards Nominations AVN|last=Rice|first=G. Zisk|date=January 8, 2008|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>
**Nominee (2008) - GLBT Featured Movie of the Year for ''Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine'' (2006)<ref name=":11" />

* European Gay Porn Awards Web Awards
**Won - (2008) Tiger-Tyson.com as Best Black/Latino Porn Site.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/gay/egpa-web-awards-announced-55304.html|title=EGPA Web Awards Announced AVN|last=Rice|first=G. Zisk|date=October 14, 2008|website=AVN|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/176956934|title=Latino Fan Club : photos|last=Brennan, Brian.|date=2007|publisher=FotoFactory Press|isbn=978-1-933841-21-2|location=Santa Monica, Calif.|oclc=176956934}}

==Videography==
Tyson has acted for thirty films; with compilations he appears in at least 37 films.<ref>500 Porn Stars, Vol. 2, No. 8, Oct. 2004.</ref><ref> Adam Gay Video Erotica, pg. 116.</ref>

;Vivid Man
* ''Brothers On The Downlow'' (1997)
*''VividMan Raw 5: Sweatin' Black'' (1998)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/movies/31029.html|title=VividMan Raw 5: Sweatin' Black AVN|website=AVN|access-date=2019-12-07}}</ref>

;La Mancha Productions/La Mancha Video:
* ''Tiger's Brooklyn Tails'' (1997)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/movies/30892.html|title=Tiger's Brooklyn Tails AVN|website=AVN|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref>
* ''Sweatin' Black'' (1997)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/gay/porn-stars/tiger-tyson-247061.html|title=Tiger Tyson AVN Bio|last=|first=|date=|website=[[Adult Video News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>
* ''Off Da Hook'' (1998)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/movies/27736.html|title=Off da Hook AVN|website=AVN|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref>
* ''Off Da Hook 2'' (1999)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/movies/26747.html|title=Off Da Hook 2 AVN|website=AVN|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref>

;GYCO Video
* ''Screentest USA'' (1999)<ref name=":20" />

;Latino Fan Club:
* ''Tiger Untamed'' (1998)<ref name=":20" />
* ''Best of the Best'' (1998)
* ''I Was a Teenage Hustler'' (1999)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/movies/18565.html|title=I Was a Teenage Hustler AVN|website=AVN|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref>
* ''Papis In Paris'' (1999)
* ''More Spanish Lessons, Hard Study 1'' (2000)<ref name=":20" />
* ''Best of Tiger Tyson'' (2004)

;Pitbull Productions [[et al]] including Tiger Tyson Entertainment:
* ''Tiger Tyson Secrets'' (2004)
* ''The Way You Like It'' (2004)<ref name=":20" />
* ''Take 'em Down 1'' (2004), ''2'' (2005),<ref name=":20" /> ''3'' (2006),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/business/press-release/gay/pitbull-s-take-em-down-3-available-at-aebn-305089.html|title=Pitbull’s ‘Take ’Em Down 3’ Available at AEBN AVN|website=AVN|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref> and ''4'' (2009)
* ''Tiger Tyson Strikes Back'' (2005)<ref name=":20" />
* ''In The Heat'' (2006)<ref name=":20" />
* ''The Show, Part 1,''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/movies/66470.html|title=THE SHOW 1 AVN|website=AVN|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref> ''and 2'' (2006)
* ''Tiger Tyson's Eiffel Tower - Paris Is Mine'' (2006)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avn.com/movies/7111.html|title=Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris is Mine AVN|website=AVN|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref>
* ''Tiger Tyson Steel Curtain'' (2006)
*''Bottoms Up'' (2006)<ref name=":20" />
*''Meat Wackers 5'' (2006)<ref name=":20" />
*''Steel Curtain'' (2007)<ref name=":20" />
*''Best of Thug Porn 2'' (2008)<ref name=":20" />
* ''Tastee'' (2009)

==See also==
* [[List of male performers in gay porn films]]

== Reference ==
{{Ref talk}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|1767587|Tiger Tyson}}
* {{iafd name|id=TigerTyson|gender=male|name=Tiger Tyson}}


== Career ==
== Career ==

Revision as of 07:01, 7 December 2019

Tiger Tyson
Tyson in 2005
Born1981 or 1982 (age 41–42)[1]
Brooklyn, New York, United States[2]
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Film producer, entrepreneur
Years active1997-present
Known forLeading representative of gay male ‘thug porn’
LabelTiger Tyson Entertainment of Pitbull Productions
Childrenone daughter
AwardsGayVN Hall of Fame (2008)

Tiger Tyson (born 1981 or 1982 (age 41–42)) is an American gay pornographic film actor, model, producer, and entrepreneur from Brooklyn, New York.[3][4][1] He has appeared in dozens of ethnic-themed porn films, where he performs only as a top.[5] Tyson, who is of African American and Puerto Rican descent, is renowned for his strong sex appeal.[6][5] In February 2008, he was inducted into the GayVN Hall of Fame, and is also “an advocate for safe sex education, AIDS research and gay rights.”[5][2] His draft of a memoir was turned into the play “Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star” by James Earl Hardy.

Career

Novelist and playwright James Earl Hardy characterized Tyson’s story as the American dream, “boy from the hood, raised by a single mother, high school dropout, drug dealer, jail bird. But he parlayed that thug life past into a unique, marketable image and created his own multi-million dollar studio.”[3][7] He began his career as a stripper/go-go dancer at New York City’s The Web on East 58th street, a Midtown Manhattan gay-sian club for gay Asian men and their admirers.[8][5] He had just gotten out after serving fourteen months in prison for grand theft auto.[5][3] Tyson liked the dancing/stripping work as easy money, but Malice, another dancer who did gay porn, suggested the films as it paid more; and shared director Enrique Cruz’s phone number.[8][5] Tyson had never even seen gay porn before, although he knew some aspects of gay life.[8] He felt he needed a few alcoholic drinks before acting; and switched acting roles as he did not want to be the bottom.[8]

Tyson was introduced in Cruz’s Sweatin' Black (1997). Cruz had his breakthrough as a director with Learning Latin (1997), his first film with his own company La Mancha Productions.[5] Learning Latin, a “runaway best-seller,” was set on a college campus featuring black and Latino men, showcasing the “gay and bisexual Blatino sex-party scene” with an urban hip hop soundtrack.[5] Cruz discovered Tyson and featured him in the second La Mancha release, Tiger's Brooklyn Tails (1998) building on the Blatino theme, and set in sex clubs and cruising areas.[5] Over the ten years after Tiger's Brooklyn Tails, Tyson became the “best-known public representative of ‘thug porn’,” catering to, and representative of young gay black and Latino men.[5] Tyson, from the start, developed his persona based on black and Latino men on the down-low—who had sex with other men, but still saw themselves as heterosexual—though he personally identified as bisexual, could not imagine being romantically involved with another man, and refused to bottom.[3][5]

Tyson made four films with La Mancha, then joined its main competition in the gay porn “ethnic market,” Latino Fan Club (LFC) from 1998-2000.[5] Brian Brennan founded LFC in 1985, and as of 2009 was still the leader in the thug porn niche.[5] Brennan said, “Tiger Tyson is probably the most popular Latin porn performer ever, ... [he] has an incredible star presence and dynamic personality. He’s got all the ingredients of a major talent: great looks, huge uncut dick, and sexual energy that won’t quit.”[5] Tyson though grew frustrated that his persona was selling videos that he had little control in developing the narrative, or getting compensated for boosting sales.[5] He also felt the production values should be much better, and decided to do a few years break from acting while he worked to start his own company.[5]

Pitbull Productions/Tiger Tyson Entertainment

In 2003, along with Jalin Fuentes, Tyson co-founded Pitbull Productions where Tyson has his own Tiger Tyson Entertainment label; Fuentes coined thug porn or thugporn to represent their niche in the gay porn market, and the product they were to create.[1][5] Fuentes wanted to avoid the “Hollywood” glamour approach to gay sex in favor of an “urban, gritty, raw and real feel.”[9] He coined ‘thugporn' to capture “this type of urban homeboy sex” with their company.[9] With Tyson’s company change he also left behind the “more affectionate, on-screen persona” and “metamorphosed into a more traditional 'service me,' top kind of guy” while retaining his “magical smile” and personality.[8] Tyson states, “I discovered we had the same vision about the adult business, by using only authentic thugs, paying the performers well, and practicing safe sex.”[5] Tyson was a Pitbull Productions headlining star for years.[10][9] He has also directed many of their films.[8] One estimate had ‘thug porn’ growing to as much as a fifth of the gay porn market.[5] Over its first six or seven years Pitbull Productions became a multimillion dollar studio releasing over fifty films.[5][6] Tyson is also his own brand; in addition to his movies and the Tiger Tyson Replicock dildo which premiered in 2008, he has his own exercise video, branded lip gloss, and “ocean-scented” car fresheners.[8][6][11][12][13] He was inducted into the GayVN Hall of Fame in February 2008.[5][1]

Having reached celebrity status, Tyson had his portrait made by French artists Pierre et Gilles while he was in Paris directing, acting in Tiger’s Eiffel Tower: Paris is Mine (2006),a “two-part thug porn spectacular.”[5][14][15] They portrayed him in a tiger-striped kitchen getting relief from the apparent heat in front of an open refrigerator filled with raw meat; the portrait sold for $65,000 in 2009 (equivalent to $92,313 in 2023).[5]

“Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star”

His life story was portrayed in James Earl Hardy’s 2010 play “Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star,” starring Johnathan Cedano, telling Tyson’s “rags-to-riches” life using source material from writing sessions between Tyson and Hardy.[3][6] In Hardy’s work including this one, his first play, he attempts to “unpack the complicated intersections of race, sexuality, gender and class that shape the lives of “same gender loving” men of color.”[6] Tyson approached Hardy seeking help writing his memoir, once they started, Hardy realized the material would make a great one-person play.[6] Hardy developed a script in late 2009.[7] It premiered in April 2010 to a sold-out crowd at the New York Downtown Urban Theater Festival describing it as “What's it like being the world's most revered and recognizable "homo thug" porn star?”, where it won the "Best Dramatic Short" award.[16][7][2] In August it was reprised for two more sold-out shows at Whyte Hall on Fire Island, then two runs; at the Roy Arias Theater in New York in March 2011, and the Lace Lounge & Nightclub in Washington D.C. in May 2011.[7]

In an April 2012 Hispanic Black Gay Coalition event, “The Raw Realty: Pornography & Black and Latino Gay Representation,” Tyson stressed the need for everyone, both producers and end users, to practice safe sex.[17] The panel discussion was to “explore how pornography and the gay porn industry impacts Black and Latino identity, behavior and representation.”[7] Tyson challenged negative stereotypes about men who act in gay porn, pointing out that some were raising families.[17]

Personal life

Tyson is a native of The Bronx, New York, and was raised by his single mother.[7] He lost his virginity at twelve years old.[18]

Tyson was also a dancer at Magic Touch, a popular Jackson Heights, Queens gay bar where he met his fiancée.[5] Both her and his mother are aware of, and accept his gay porn movie-making.[5] He has a daughter.[6]

Tyson openly promotes safe sex education, AIDS research and gay rights.[2] In 2007, he endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.[1] He supports the legalization of marijuana.[1]

Awards and nominations

  • GayVN Award
    • Won - (2008) Hall of Fame[5]
    • Won - (2008) Best Ethic Film for Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine (2006)[9]
    • [Nominee] (2008) Best Actor for Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine (2006)[19]
    • Nominated (2008) - Best Non-European Film for Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine (2006)[20]
    • Nominated (2008) - Best Top[20]
    • Nominated (2008) - Best DVD Extras/Special Edition for Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine (2006)[20]
    • Nominated (2008) - Best Picture for Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine (2006)[20]
    • Nominated (2008) - Performer of the Year[20]
  • XBIZ Awards
    • [Nominee] (2008), GLBT Performer of the Year[23]
    • Nominee (2008) - GLBT Studio of the Year for Pitbull Productions[23]
    • Nominee (2008) - GLBT Featured Movie of the Year for Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine (2006)[23]
  • European Gay Porn Awards Web Awards
    • Won - (2008) Tiger-Tyson.com as Best Black/Latino Porn Site.[24]

Bibliography

  • Brennan, Brian. (2007). Latino Fan Club : photos. Santa Monica, Calif.: FotoFactory Press. ISBN 978-1-933841-21-2. OCLC 176956934.

Videography

Tyson has acted for thirty films; with compilations he appears in at least 37 films.[25][26]

Vivid Man
  • Brothers On The Downlow (1997)
  • VividMan Raw 5: Sweatin' Black (1998)[27]
La Mancha Productions/La Mancha Video
  • Tiger's Brooklyn Tails (1997)[28]
  • Sweatin' Black (1997)[29]
  • Off Da Hook (1998)[30]
  • Off Da Hook 2 (1999)[31]
GYCO Video
  • Screentest USA (1999)[15]
Latino Fan Club
  • Tiger Untamed (1998)[15]
  • Best of the Best (1998)
  • I Was a Teenage Hustler (1999)[32]
  • Papis In Paris (1999)
  • More Spanish Lessons, Hard Study 1 (2000)[15]
  • Best of Tiger Tyson (2004)
Pitbull Productions et al including Tiger Tyson Entertainment
  • Tiger Tyson Secrets (2004)
  • The Way You Like It (2004)[15]
  • Take 'em Down 1 (2004), 2 (2005),[15] 3 (2006),[33] and 4 (2009)
  • Tiger Tyson Strikes Back (2005)[15]
  • In The Heat (2006)[15]
  • The Show, Part 1,[34] and 2 (2006)
  • Tiger Tyson's Eiffel Tower - Paris Is Mine (2006)[35]
  • Tiger Tyson Steel Curtain (2006)
  • Bottoms Up (2006)[15]
  • Meat Wackers 5 (2006)[15]
  • Steel Curtain (2007)[15]
  • Best of Thug Porn 2 (2008)[15]
  • Tastee (2009)

See also

Reference

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Ferguson, JD (27 July 2007). "JD Ferguson Presents: Tiger Tyson". [[Paper (magazine)|]]. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c d Bacalzo, Dan (15 June 2010). "Johnathan Cedano to Star in Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star on Fire Island". Theater Mania. Retrieved 5 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e "Porn star's story explored in new play". Washington Blade. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  4. ^ Moore, Darnell L. (7 July 2016). "Catch a Tiger By His Toe: An Interview with James Earl Hardy by Darnell L." Medium. Retrieved 5 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Escoffier, Jeffrey (2009). Bigger than life : the history of gay porn cinema from beefcake to hardcore. Philadelphia: Running Press. pp. 314–8. ISBN 978-0-7867-4753-5. OCLC 647869684.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Harrison, Byrne (16 June 2010). "Gay Theatre NYC Review: Interview - Johnathan Cedano of Confessions of Homo Thug Porn Star". Gay Theatre NYC Review. Retrieved 5 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b c d e f Colbert, Chuck (23 March 2013). "A Weekend with Tiger Tyson hosted by the HBGC". The Rainbow Times. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Boardman, Mickey (12 October 2005). "Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright". [[Paper (magazine)|]]. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ a b c d Jansen, Brady (19 November 2008). "Pitbull Productions AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Pitbull Productions AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Hunter, Richard (18 January 2008). "Tiger Tyson Unveils His First Official Dildo AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Rice, G. Zisk (26 June 2008). "Pitbull Productions: 'Put a Tiger in Your Car' AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Rice, G. Zisk (29 October 2009). "Pitbull Aims to Soothe Lips, Scorch Libidos with Free Gifts AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Sneak Peek | Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Tiger Tyson AVN full biography". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Dial, Hardy & Goins Win Top Honors At Downtown Urban Theatre Festival". Broadway World News. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ a b Colbert, Chuck (1 May 2012). "HBGC Event: Black and Latino Gay Men on Pornography". The Rainbow Times. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Tiger Tyson on losing his virginity, what freaks him out and if he prefers Blair or Serena… AVN". Adult Video News. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Rice, G. Zisk (12 January 2008). "GAYVN Announces 10th Annual GAYVN Awards Nominations! AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ a b c d e Rice, G. Zisk (28 April 2008). "European Gay Porn Awards Finalists Announced AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ a b Rice, G. Zisk (14 March 2008). "Grabby Nominations Announced AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Rice, G. Zisk (11 December 2007). "Voting Begins for 8th Annual Cybersocket Web Awards AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ a b c Rice, G. Zisk (8 January 2008). "Gay Companies Earn XBiz Awards Nominations AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Rice, G. Zisk (14 October 2008). "EGPA Web Awards Announced AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ 500 Porn Stars, Vol. 2, No. 8, Oct. 2004.
  26. ^ Adam Gay Video Erotica, pg. 116.
  27. ^ "VividMan Raw 5: Sweatin' Black AVN". AVN. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  28. ^ "Tiger's Brooklyn Tails AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  29. ^ "Tiger Tyson AVN Bio". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "Off da Hook AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  31. ^ "Off Da Hook 2 AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  32. ^ "I Was a Teenage Hustler AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  33. ^ "Pitbull's 'Take 'Em Down 3' Available at AEBN AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  34. ^ "THE SHOW 1 AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  35. ^ "Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris is Mine AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.

Career

Recruited by a friend and fellow dancer at a gay club, Tyson began working as a pornographic actor in the 1997 film Sweatin' Black with director Enrique Cruz.[1][failed verification] Shortly thereafter Tyson starred in his breakthrough film, Tiger's Brooklyn Tails. After serving a stint as an actor for Latino Fan Club, Tyson left the porn industry in 1999, but quickly returned in 2000 to form his own production company, Tiger Tyson Productions. He announced his retirement in 2004 but changed his mind after the success of Take 'Em Down.

Tyson was a co-founder of Pitbull Productions in 2003, and was its headlining star for years. He has appeared in dozens of pornographic films, and directed many others. He was inducted into the GayVN Hall of Fame in February 2008.[2] He has insisted he would never bottom on film.[1]

Off-camera, Tyson openly promotes safe sex education, AIDS research and gay rights. In 2007, he endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.[3][4]

Select videography

Tyson has appeared in at least forty films.[5]

  • In The Heat (Pitbull Productions)
  • Sweatin' Black (LaMancha Video)
  • The Show, Parts 1 & 2 (Pitbull Productions)
  • Take 'em Down 1, 2, 3 & 4 (Pitbull Productions)
  • The Way You Like It (Tiger Tyson Productions)
  • Tiger's Brooklyn Tails (LaMancha Video)
  • Tiger Tyson's Eiffel Tower - Paris Is Mine (Pitbull Productions)
  • Tiger Tyson Secrets (Pitbull Productions)
  • Tiger Tyson Steel Curtain (Pitbull Productions)
  • Tiger Untamed (Latino Fan Club)
  • Tiger Tyson Strikes Back (Pitbull Productions)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Boardman, Mickey (12 October 2005). "Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright". PAPERMAG.
  2. ^ GayVN Awards Archived 6 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Rod 2.0 News: Hillary Clinton Ad, Lutherans, Adrian Fenty, Tiger Tyson
  4. ^ Ferguson, JD (27 July 2007). "JD Ferguson Presents: Tiger Tyson". PaperMag.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tiger_Tyson&oldid=929648460"