As porn stars go, Gus Mattox is an original. Not only does the über-sexy, naturally masculine top claim a career in film, television, and theater, but he’s proved that it’s possible to be a porn star without compromising one’s integrity. Rather than simply showing up on the set of every shoot he’s offered, Mattox has carefully selected his projects, choosing those that present him in the best light and allow him the opportunity to take part in the process. His talents also extend beyond performing, as his vanity website, the heavily trafficked GusMattox.com, proves with a broad selection of offerings for his fans. After appearing in the little-seen Brooklyn Meat Company in 1998 (“the orphan child in my career,” Mattox jokes on his site), Mattox disappeared from porn for several years, instead focusing on his stage and musical ambitions. Appearances in the Broadway and touring productions of 42nd Street and the wildly popular Cabaret revival followed, as did gigs composing music for the likes of off-Broadway cult hits (Charles Busch’s Vampire Lesbians of Sodom) and children’s television (Sesame Street).
Then fate stepped in. During a stopover in Los Angeles on the 42nd Street tour, Mattox met Chi Chi LaRue, who persuaded him to appear in his 2003 video What Men Do. The scene, a threesome with Johnny Hazzard and Gage Matthews, went on to be nominated for a GayVN Best Threesome award, and Mattox found himself in a modest “bidding war” for his services.
He ultimately decided to sign as an exclusive with Falcon (as part of the deal, Mattox would be allowed to write scripts for his starring vehicles), and went on to appear in hit titles like The Recruits, Taking Flight, the Little Red Riding Hood-inspired Through the Woods, Kept (for which he received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor), and the upcoming Man Made, a film he wrote and plays the leading role in. Falcon frequently lent Mattox out to LaRue’s Rascal Video, and he charted a few other hot appearances there as well (his sizzling pairing with Tag Adams in last year’s Raw Footage earned him yet another GayVN nod).
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Though Mattox has since parted ways with Falcon to work with other studios (see Titan’s Five Star, among others) his star continues to rise. Meanwhile, as a model in his 40s, he also sets an example for an industry often obsessed with ideals of youth and beauty. And with two big features about to hit the shelves (in addition to Man Made, he appears in Michael Lucas’s upcoming triple-X Dangerous Liaisons remake), Mattox is sure to hit the big-time as a heavily sought-after player.
I recently caught up with the hunky stud to talk about his fantastic site, his ideal porn movie, and what it’s like to be the Madonna of the gay porn world.
Ken Knox: So, tell me about your site, www.gusmattox.com. It’s not at all your typical porn star website. What was your idea behind creating it?
Gus Mattox: When I first launched the site just over a year ago, the only specific thing I had in mind to differentiate the site from [other model sites] was the look of it. My complete inexperience in designing and building a site was almost an asset in this case because it forced me to keep it very simple in both the look of the site and how it functions. The white background alone sets it apart, I think, as does my choice of fonts (of which there are only two) and colors (just one.)
What about the content?
I kind of figured that out as I went along. Since I was new to the porn game when the site went live, I didn’t have a very large collection of photos for the galleries, so I started writing. First on the Calendar page (a glorified blog, really) and then the Soapbox page. To be honest, the Soapbox page started out as merely something to fill up space. Now the Calendar and Soapbox are the most-visited pages on the site, which is very flattering—and gratifying.
Speaking of the Soapbox, it’s not at all the usual blog, but a fully developed op-ed space for you to rant about idiosyncrasies and absurdities.
Most of the essays on that page aren’t even related to porn or sex at all. I took a chance with that, not knowing if the site visitors would care less what I remembered about bringing in the hay on my grandparents’ farm or what my political views are. Apparently they do care. I’m sometimes astounded at the trouble and time people take to write me about what they’ve read on my site.
I have to comment, one would not expect to find an mp3 clip of a children’s song called “Drew the Moo Cow” on the same site where you can buy a copy of hardcore gay porn. Are you still composing professionally?
I haven’t written any music in years. I’m not “retired” from it or anything. I just concentrated on my acting career for a few years and haven’t pursued music gigs in a while. I do play the piano all the time, though, so I’m still active musically. Ain’t diversity grand?
How are sales for your underwear and jockstraps going? And, uh, like, when do I get my free pair? (Laughs.)
Say the word, fella! They sell better than I would have thought. Underwear really is a fetish of mine, so I thought I’d see if anyone else shared that. I’m happy to report they do.
What kind of content will members be able to see, as opposed to nonmembers?
The photo galleries are the only things on my site one must pay to see. In the best of all possible worlds, they would be free as well, but at this point they support the site better than I can myself. There are hundreds of pictures at this point, set up as individual galleries from each shoot. I also include a word or two about the experience and the photographer. Photographer Mick Hicks told me no one has ever credited him on a website before, much less used a picture of him along with his photos. The reason the pictures are so good is because of the photographers, so I thought it only right to acknowledge their contribution[s].
What future plans do you have for your site?
At this point it’s going to continue on as it is for a while. Being a one-man band makes maintaining the site pretty labor-intensive so I don’t need to give myself any more tasks at the moment.
OK. So, tell me about your big new movie with Titan, Man Made. You wrote the script and starred in this one, correct?
I wrote stage directions and visual directions into the script and Chi Chi and the folks at Falcon hewed very closely to what I had written. I was impressed and flattered. They also gave me a very sexy bunch of guys to work with in it: Arpad Miklos, Bryce Pierce, Brad Patton, to name just a few. It was a really great experience.
You’re a little like the Madonna of gay porn, in that you represent a new breed in porn stars, one who seems to be totally in control of his career and the direction it’s moving in—someone who’s actively involved in broadening the scope of what is usually expected in this business. How do you react to this?
Humbly. A frequent comment I hear is, “You’ve made me realize I was stereotyping porn stars.” I know porn stars. Lots of ‘em. They’re as diverse and multidimensional as any other group out there. If I’ve played even a tiny role in helping people realize that, then that’s my good deed for the day. I think of porn as just another facet of show business. In that respect, even though I’m relatively new to porn, I’m pretty experienced in the workings and machinations of show business in general. So I approach it in terms of how it relates to my career as a whole.
I read that you were itching to do a live show again. Ever thought of doing an off-Broadway show about porn? Maybe a one-man show?
I’ve been approached about it, actually. It would have to be a musical, though, and a comedy. At some point in the evening I’d be forced to bring out the accordion. It won’t be pretty.
You’ve mentioned on several occasions that you’re thinking of writing a book about your experiences in the adult skin trade. Have you gotten started on this yet?
I do have a comic novel in mind loosely based on my experience shooting a particular video. It will be a great excuse to draw in all the wacky things that have happened on porn sets and cram them all into one plot. I haven’t started on it yet, though. One-thousand-word essays are one thing; writing a 250-page book scares the hell out of me.
What’s been your favorite part of performing in the adult industry so far?
The people I’ve met. No question there. Both in the business and the public. My experience with porn has been so, well, wholesome. It would probably spoil a lot of fantasies if I were to relate how friendly and genuine most of the people I’ve encountered are. So I’ll deny I ever said that. (Laughs.)
What have you learned about yourself as a result?
I’m happy to say that I’ve learned my instincts are generally right. I’ve lived a fairly bohemian, nontraditional life since I left home at age 17. I’ve made lots of decision that most people would raise an eyebrow at (especially my parents.) But going into porn leaves all those other choices in the dust, in terms of what people might expect or think I should do. But I find myself with a very happy, productive life as I approach middle age. It’s not one that most people would be comfortable with in its lack of security, but it works for me. And I got here because I held my breath and jumped into the deep end—without looking to see if there’s even water in the pool.
How much longer do you plan to remain in porn?
I’m going to keep doing it until I don’t want to anymore. That’s pretty namby-pamby, I realize, but I don’t have any long-term plans regarding my porn career—44 is kind of late in the game for long-term plans in this biz.
What about directing?
One day on the set of the Colt movie I shot in January, John Rutherford turned to me out of the blue and said, “When are you going to direct a movie?” I don’t know how serious he was, but I’m going to blackmail him into considering his offer. Haven’t figured out the blackmail angle yet, though.
Are you concerned about lack of experience?
Hmm. Can I direct a movie? I don’t know. Did I know how to build a website? No. Did I? Yes. Did I know how to build a house? No. Did I? Yes.
Any ideas so far?
Maybe it could be a spin-off of the Bravo series where they give a novice a chance to direct a movie: Project Red Light District.
Hey, it could work! I’d watch it! In a little over a year, you’ve already managed to accomplish more than a lot of other models do in their entire careers. What’s next for you?
Well that’s awfully nice of you to say, thanks. I’m working hard on the writing right now—it’s the best thing to come out of this adventure, and I’d like to see how far I can go with it. I’d also like to do another show, but one does have to audition if one wants to get cast, and I hate to audition.
Describe to me your idea of the ideal porn movie cast, and what kind of movie would it be?
I’d have to make two movies, I think, to qualify as “ideal.” The movies I like to make have lots of dialogue, while the movies I like to watch have no dialogue. But, either way, the cast would include folks like Patrick Knight (he needs to make more movies, by the way—preferably with me!), Jake Andrews, Dean Phoenix, Dean Phoenix, and Dean Phoenix. Oh, and avec le participacion extraordinaire de Tag Adams.
Of course. OK, now when are you going to write and direct it?
Well, I’ll be seeing John Rutherford at IML in Chicago in a few weeks. Maybe I can figure out that blackmail angle by then.
Finish this sentence: My dick is, to me, like …
…a search warrant. It gets me in the door, but I’d better have a damn good reason for being there and know what it is I’m doing there in the first place.
Ha-ha. I like a man who comes prepared!
Check out Gus Mattox’s website by visiting www.gusmattox.com.
