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Tiger Tyson

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Tiger Tyson
Tyson in 2005
Born1981 or 1982 (age 42–43)[1]
Brooklyn, New York, United States[2]
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Film producer, entrepreneur
Years active1997-present
Known forLeading representative of gay male ‘thug porn’[3]
LabelTiger Tyson Entertainment of Pitbull Productions
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Childrenone daughter
AwardsGayVN Hall of Fame (2008)
Blatino Erotica Awards Lifetime Achievement award (2008)[4]

Tiger Tyson (born 1981 or 1982 (age 42–43)) is an American gay pornographic film actor, model, producer, and entrepreneur from Brooklyn, New York.[5][6][1] He has appeared in dozens of ethnic-themed porn films known as thug porn, where he performs only as a top, even starring as a top who “conquers” other stars who are known for topping.[7][3] Tyson, who is of African American and Puerto Rican descent, is renowned for his strong sex appeal.[8][7] 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.”[7][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.”[5][9] 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.[10][7] He had just gotten out after serving fourteen months in prison for grand theft auto.[7][5] 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.[10][7] Tyson had never even seen gay porn before, although he knew some aspects of gay life.[10] He felt he needed a few alcoholic drinks before acting; and switched acting roles as he did not want to be the bottom.[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.[7] 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.[7] 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.[7] 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.[7] 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.[5][7]

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.[7] Brian Brennan founded LFC in 1985, and as of 2009 was still the leader in the thug porn niche.[7] 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.”[7] 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.[7] 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.[7]

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][7] Fuentes wanted to avoid the “Hollywood” glamour approach to gay sex in favor of an “urban, gritty, raw and real feel.”[11] He coined ‘thugporn' to capture “this type of urban homeboy sex” with their company.[11] With Tyson's company change he assumed a more sexually aggressive public persona.[10] 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.”[7] Tyson was a Pitbull Productions headlining star for years.[12][11][3] He has also directed many of their films.[10] One estimate had ‘thug porn’ growing to as much as a fifth of the gay porn market.[7] Over its first six or seven years Pitbull Productions became a multimillion-dollar studio releasing over fifty films.[7][8] 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.[10][8][13][14][15] He was inducted into the GayVN Hall of Fame in February 2008.[7][1]

Having reached celebrity status, Tyson had his portrait made by French artists Pierre et Gilles while he was in Paris directing, and acting in Tiger’s Eiffel Tower: Paris is Mine (2006),a “two-part thug porn spectacular.”[7][16][17] 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).[7]

“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.[5][8] 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.”[8] Tyson approached Hardy seeking help writing his memoir, once they started, Hardy realized the material would make a great one-person play.[8] Hardy developed a script in late 2009.[9] It premiered in April 2010 to a sold-out crowd at the New York Downtown Urban Theater Festival, where it won the "Best Dramatic Short" award.[18][9][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.[9]

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.[19] The panel discussion was to “explore how pornography and the gay porn industry impacts Black and Latino identity, behavior and representation.”[9] Tyson challenged negative stereotypes about men who act in gay porn, pointing out that some were raising families.[19]

Personal life

Tyson is a native of The Bronx, New York, and was raised by his single mother.[9] He lost his virginity at twelve years old.[20]

Tyson was also a dancer at Magic Touch, a popular Jackson Heights, Queens gay bar where he met his fiancée.[7] Both she and his mother are aware of, and accept his gay porn movie-making.[7] He has a daughter.[8]

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

Year Ceremony Result Category Film/Work
2007 GayVN Award Won Best Ethic Film The Show, Part 1, and Part 2[21]
2008 GayVN Award Won Best Ethic Film Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine[11]
Nominated Best Actor Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine[22]
Nominated Best Non-European Film[23] —
Nominated Best Top[23] —
Nominated Best DVD Extras/Special Edition Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine[23]
Nominated Best Picture Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine[23]
Nominated Performer of the Year[23] —
Blatino Erotica Awards Won Lifetime Achievement[4] —
Grabby Awards Nominated Best Performers[24] —
Nominated Best DVD Extras Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine[24]
CyberSocket Web Awards Nominated Best Porn Star Site Tiger-Tyson.com[25]
XBIZ Awards Nominated GLBT Performer of the Year[26] —
Nominated GLBT Studio of the Year Pitbull Productions[26]
Nominated GLBT Feature Movie of the Year Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine[26]
European Gay Porn Awards Won Best Black/Latino Porn Site Tiger-Tyson.com[27]
Nominated Best Top Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine[28]
2011 CyberSocket Web Awards Nominated Best Video Company Pitbull Productions[29]
Nominated Best Porn Blog Tiger Tyson Blog[29]
Nominated Best Black Theme Site Tiger-Tyson.com[29]

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.[30][31]

Vivid Man
  • Brothers On The Downlow (1997)
  • VividMan Raw 5: Sweatin' Black (1998)[32]
La Mancha Productions/La Mancha Video
  • Tiger's Brooklyn Tails (1997)[33]
  • Sweatin' Black (1997)[34]
  • Off Da Hook (1998)[35]
  • Off Da Hook 2 (1999)[36]
GYCO Video
  • Screentest USA (1999)[17]
Latino Fan Club
  • Tiger Untamed (1998)[17]
  • Best of the Best (1998)
  • I Was a Teenage Hustler (1999)[37]
  • Papis In Paris (1999)
  • More Spanish Lessons, Hard Study 1 (2000)[17]
  • Best of Tiger Tyson (2004)
Pitbull Productions et al including Tiger Tyson Entertainment
  • Tiger Tyson Secrets (2004)
  • The Way You Like It (2004)[17]
  • Take 'em Down 1 (2004),[38] 2 (2005),[17] 3 (2006),[39] and 4 (2009)[40]
  • Tiger Tyson Strikes Back (2005)[17]
  • In The Heat (2006)[17]
  • The Show, Part 1,[41] and 2 (2006)
  • Tiger Tyson's Eiffel Tower - Paris Is Mine (2006)[42]
  • Tiger Tyson Steel Curtain (2006)
  • Bottoms Up (2006)[17]
  • Meat Wackers 5 (2006)[17]
  • Steel Curtain (2007)[17]
  • Best of Thug Porn 2 (2008)[17]
  • Tastee (2009)

See also

Reference

  1. ^ a b c d e f Ferguson, JD (27 July 2007). "JD Ferguson Presents: Tiger Tyson". Paper. 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 Adams, JC (24 May 2009). "From Thugz to Glamour". XBIZ. Retrieved 7 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b Adams, JC (23 January 2009). "Blatino Erotica Awards Name '09 Winners". XBIZ. Retrieved 7 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e "Porn star's story explored in new play". Washington Blade. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  6. ^ 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)
  7. ^ 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 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.
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ 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)
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Boardman, Mickey (12 October 2005). "Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright". Paper. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ 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)
  12. ^ "Pitbull Productions AVN". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ 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)
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ "Sneak Peek | Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris Is Mine AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  17. ^ 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)
  18. ^ "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)
  19. ^ 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)
  20. ^ "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)
  21. ^ "Pitbull Productions Wins Best Ethnic-Themed GAYVN For 2nd Year in a Row". XBIZ. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ 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)
  23. ^ 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)
  24. ^ 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)
  25. ^ 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)
  26. ^ 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)
  27. ^ Rice, G. Zisk (14 October 2008). "EGPA Web Awards Announced AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ Cachapero, Joanne (22 April 2008). "European Gay Porn Awards Short Lists Tops and Bottoms". XBIZ. Retrieved 7 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ a b c Rodriguez, Ariana (3 November 2010). "Cybersocket Awards Finalists Announced, Voting Has Begun". XBIZ. Retrieved 7 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ 500 Porn Stars, Vol. 2, No. 8, Oct. 2004.
  31. ^ Adam Gay Video Erotica, pg. 116.
  32. ^ "VividMan Raw 5: Sweatin' Black AVN". AVN. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  33. ^ "Tiger's Brooklyn Tails AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  34. ^ "Tiger Tyson AVN Bio". Adult Video News. Retrieved 6 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ^ "Off da Hook AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  36. ^ "Off Da Hook 2 AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  37. ^ "I Was a Teenage Hustler AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  38. ^ Adams, JC (29 July 2009). "Pitbull Preps Limited-Edition Tiger Tyson Sexpic". XBIZ. Retrieved 7 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ "Pitbull's 'Take 'Em Down 3' Available at AEBN AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  40. ^ XBIZ. "AEBN Streams Pitbull's 'Take 'Em Down 4' Exclusively". XBIZ. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  41. ^ "THE SHOW 1 AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  42. ^ "Tiger's Eiffel Tower: Paris is Mine AVN". AVN. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
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