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Harry Reems

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Harry Reems
Mugshot of Reems
taken after his arrest in 1974
Born
Herbert Streicher

(1947-08-27)August 27, 1947
Bronx, New York City, US
DiedMarch 19, 2013(2013-03-19) (aged 65)
Salt Lake City, Utah, US
Cause of deathPancreatic cancer
Other namesHarry Reams, Harry Reemes, Peter Long, Bruce Gilchrist, Charles Lamont, Tim Long, Ned Reems, Dan Stryker, Herb Streecher, Herb Streicher, Herb Stryker, Bob Walters
Occupation(s)Actor, realtor
Years active1970–1989
SpouseJeanne Sterret (1990-2013; his death)

Herbert Streicher (August 27, 1947 – March 19, 2013), better known by his professional pseudonym Harry Reems (also Peter Long), was an American pornographic actor whose most famous role was Doctor Young in the 1972 cult classic Deep Throat. Throughout the 1970s and into the mid 1980s he was one of the most prolific performers in the adult film industry. He retired from the industry in 1989.

Early life and career

Reems was born Herbert Streicher.[1] He attended the University of Pittsburgh for a year[2] before briefly serving in the United States Marine Corps, from which he received an honorable discharge following hardship leave.[3] He then elected to pursue an acting career, principally in off-Broadway theater.

Prior to appearing in Deep Throat, Herb Streicher was chosen by filmmaker Eduardo Cemano to do a hardcore scene in a film called The Deviates, which had been released previously as a softcore film. It was a body-painting sex scene that Streicher later described as his most painful sex experience because the Tempera paint used began to dry and crack. Cemano then starred him in his first 16mm feature film, called The Weirdos and the Oddballs, which was later upgraded to 35mm and released as Zora Knows Best. It was for this film that he changed his name to Peter Long.

Looking for ways to support himself, Streicher appeared in dozens of short silent stag films, often referred to as "loops," during the early 1970s. He eventually went on to appear in approximately 140 feature-length sexploitation and hardcore films between 1971 and 1989, with Deep Throat (1972) and The Devil in Miss Jones (1973) being the best known, as well as grindhouse roughies like Forced Entry (1973) and Sex Wish (1976); in the former he plays a sadistic Vietnam veteran hellbent on rape and murder, while in the latter he plays a husband turned vigilante seeking revenge over the rape and murder of his wife. In 1975 he published a memoir, Here Comes Harry Reems, in which he details the early years of his adult film career.

For the production of Deep Throat in Miami, Florida, in January 1972, Streicher was hired to be part of the lighting crew, but the director was unable to cast one of the roles and asked him to play the part. He was paid $250 for one day of acting work. Streicher was unaware that the director had given him the name "Harry Reems" until he saw the movie.[4]

Reems' appearance in Deep Throat led to his arrest by FBI agents in New York City in July 1974[5] and his indictment in Memphis, Tennessee, in June 1975 on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute obscenity across state lines.[6] Reems called it forum shopping. He was convicted in April 1976 with 11 other individuals and four corporations.[7] His conviction was overturned on appeal in April 1977 because his activities in making the film occurred before a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obscenity in 1973 (Miller v. California), and Reems was granted a new trial.[8] The charges against Reems were dropped in August.[5] Reems' defense claimed that he was the first American actor to be prosecuted by the federal government merely for appearing in a film, and he received considerable support from established Hollywood and New York celebrities during his trial.[9] His successful appeal was handled by attorney Alan Dershowitz.[citation needed]

Reems was cast in the 1978 musical film Grease as Coach Calhoun (he had done legitimate theater before turning to pornography), but out of fear that his notoriety would jeopardize the film's box office in the Southern United States,[10] he was later replaced by Sid Caesar.[11]

Later years

After years of drug abuse, Reems began his recovery in 1989. He married and converted from Judaism to Christianity. "Being the low-bottom drunk that I was, I started going around to churches," said Reems. "I called myself a church gypsy." Reems credited his conversion to Reverend Mark Heiss, a former pastor with Park City Community Church in Park City, Utah. Heiss was abruptly replaced at the church by someone else, for reasons Reems says were never explained; Reems left the congregation because he believed church attendance was "about putting money in the coffers". Outside organized religion, he continued to meditate, pray, and offer gratitude to God. "If I didn't put God in my life, I'd be dead now," he said. "I am not religious. I'm spiritual, 100 percent." [12] He continued to identify himself as "Harry Reems", even using the name while he worked as a real estate agent.

He was interviewed in the 2005 documentary Inside Deep Throat. Reems' entrance into the adult entertainment industry, his experience filming Deep Throat and its subsequent infamy and obscenity trials, are the subject of the 2010 play The Deep Throat Sex Scandal. He died while a Los Angeles run of the play was underway, and his death was noted by the production.[13][14]

Death

Reems died of pancreatic cancer on March 19, 2013, at the veterans hospital in Salt Lake City; he was 65. Reems was survived by his wife, Jeanne, his sister Janet, and a brother. He had no children.[15]

Eddie Murphy uses Reems' name to make a joke in his short Saturday Night Live film "White Like Me".

Reems and his legal battle are featured in episode 5 of the series Swingtown.

See also

References

  1. ^ Richard Corliss (2008-10-27). "Porn's Pied Piper: Deep Throat Director Dies". Time. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  2. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (March 20, 2013). "Harry Reems, Deep Throat Star, Dies at 65". People. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  3. ^ Dave Itzkoff (2005-05-21). "The Afterlife of a Porn Star". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  4. ^ Jim Gallagher, "Porn fame is a trying experience for Reems," Chicago Tribune, October 14, 1976, p. A1.
  5. ^ a b Inside Deep Throat: Timeline.
  6. ^ U.S. v. Battista, 646 F.2d 237, 241 (C.A. Tenn., 1981). The federal district court in Memphis had jurisdiction and venue because Deep Throat had been transported across state lines to be shown in Memphis in February 1974. U.S. v. Peraino, 645 F.2d 548, 549 (C.A.Tenn., 1981).
  7. ^ "'Deep Throat' Obscene, Jury Rules; 12 Convicted", Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1976, p. 11. "Notables Aid Convicted 'Deep Throat' Star", The New York Times, June 29, 1976, p. 26.
  8. ^ "Judge Grants New Trial for 'Deep Throat' Star", New York Times, April 12, 1977, p. 12. The jury instruction at Reems' trial had improperly used the post-Miller definition of obscenity.
  9. ^ Among them: Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Shirley MacLaine, Richard Dreyfuss, Gregory Peck, Colleen Dewhurst, Rod McKuen, Ben Gazzara, Mike Nichols, Julie Newmar, Dick Cavett, George Plimpton, and Stephen Sondheim (Inside Deep Throat: Timeline). Nicholson, Beatty, and Louise Fletcher were ready to testify on his behalf at his trial.
  10. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (May 21, 2005). "The Afterlife of a Porn Star". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  11. ^ "Harry Reems". NotStarring.com. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  12. ^ Harry Reems - 'Throat' star thanks God for new lease on life, The Salt Lake Tribune
  13. ^ "Harry Reems Memorial Brings Out the Legends of XXX". AVN.com. 25 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Harry Reems Memorial Gathering Set for Saturday in L.A." XBIZ.com. 21 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Harry Reems, star of porn's 'Deep Throat,' dies". USA Today. March 20, 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
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