John Leslie, RIP

Classic porn star John Leslie has died in Marin County of a massive heart attack. Leslie was in many of the most famous movies in the golden age of pornography, including Talk Dirty to Me and Nothing to Hide. He started working in the porn industry in the mid 1970's.

Leslie, whose real name was John Leslie Nuzzo, was born in East Liverpool, Ohio and started working first in a steel mill and then as a blues singer.  He became a titan in his new industry, appearing in over 300 movies. He left the acting business with the advent of the AIDS crisis.

"He came from the old world, where people made movies that included sex, rather than people who were having sex that made movies," said Christian Mann, his long time distributor. "Whether it was emotional, angry, joyful, anxious - he managed to bring the psychology element to it. It made his gonzo work more compelling and watchable."
Aside from playing the blues, Mr. Nuzzo was also a gourmet chef, as well as a photographer and painter, friends said.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Kathleen Nuzzo. The family has not decided whether there will be a public memorial, Mann said.
"John was much more than his resume in the adult entertainment world," Mann said. "He was a well-rounded guy who loved life. Pornography was his job - he was great at it and it was a passion - and it wasn't going to define his life."

It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it and Leslie never complained. Hoist a special salute to this fine departed actor.