John C. Holmes, famously known as “the King” of X-rated films, whose on-screen persona was synonymous with inexhaustible virility and often featured him in nude scenes, passed away Saturday night at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Sepulveda. He was 43. Associates confirmed his death Sunday, though the hospital administration declined to comment on the cause. For months, reports circulated about Holmes battling AIDS and undergoing extended hospitalization.
Early Career and Rise to Fame in Adult Films
Born in Ashville, Ohio, Holmes’ path to adult film stardom was unconventional. Before entering the world of pornography, he served in the Army for three years in West Germany, a period preceding his high school graduation. Upon returning to Southern California, Holmes worked various jobs – as an ambulance driver, warehouseman, and even a door-to-door salesman. His foray into nude photography, initially to supplement his income, inadvertently paved his way into the adult film industry. A sex film producer noticed these nude photographs, marking the beginning of Holmes’ career in pornography. By the 1970s, John Holmes had solidified his position as a prominent figure in X-rated cinema, working extensively both in the United States and Europe.
John Holmes Nude Performances and Sex Symbol Status
During his career, John Holmes appeared in over 1,000 sexually explicit movies and peep show loops between the late 1960s and early 1980s. His long-time associate, Bill Margold, himself a participant in several Holmes films, hailed him as “the pioneer in X-rated films,” stating definitively, “There’s only one king.” On screen, Holmes cultivated an image of unrestrained sexual prowess. He famously claimed to have slept with thousands of women, a testament to the virile persona he projected. The early 1980s sex film, “Exhausted,” was even purported to be a biography of his life, further cementing his legendary status within the adult entertainment industry. His final film, “Hollywood Confidential,” was released two years prior to his death.
Film critic Kenneth Turan, in his 1974 book “Cinema,” quoted Holmes reflecting on his profession. Holmes believed that well-crafted pornography possessed a more enduring impact than mainstream films. “No emotion is stronger,” he asserted about sexual desire, “It’s a lasting thing.” Despite his on-screen bravado and frequent nude scenes, off-screen, Holmes remained private about his work, particularly with his former wife, Sharon Holmes.
Personal Life, Troubles, and the Laurel Canyon Murders
Sharon Holmes of Glendale, who was married to John Holmes for nearly 20 years until their divorce in 1984, admitted to never watching any of his films. “He knew it was not something I was particularly happy about,” she explained, “But he said the money was good.” At the peak of his career, Holmes commanded a substantial $2,000 per day. However, his success was shadowed by personal struggles. According to Sharon, in the late 1970s, her husband “got into drugs heavily,” leading to a loss of control over his life and career.
In a dramatic turn, Holmes became entangled in the infamous 1981 Laurel Canyon murders. Just weeks before his death, Los Angeles police re-interviewed him in his hospital bed regarding the brutal slayings of four individuals on Wonderland Drive. While police remained tight-lipped about the interview’s specifics, it was believed to be prompted by new witness testimony. Holmes was previously arrested in Florida in December 1981 and charged in connection with the murders. Although he was acquitted by a jury, he served 111 days for contempt of court for refusing to identify the killers, citing fears for his safety. Sharon Holmes believes the murders “will remain unsolved,” adding, “He told me he could have told (police) everything. But he wanted to stay alive.”
Death and Legacy
The circumstances surrounding John Holmes’ death were initially unclear. William Amerson, a pornographic film producer and distributor with a long history of business dealings with Holmes, stated in June of the previous year that Holmes was battling colon cancer, not AIDS, and had undergone surgery in October 1986 to remove a malignant tumor. Confirming Holmes’ death, Amerson declined further comment, stating, “I can’t talk. It’s kind of an emotional time.”
John Holmes is survived by his mother, Mary, residing in Ohio, two brothers, Edward and Dale, a sister, Anna, and a stepbrother, David. His legacy remains complex, forever tied to his prolific career in adult films, his on-screen nude performances that defined an era of pornography, and the lingering shadow of the Laurel Canyon murders.
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