CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Herschel Savage, who starred in the original Debbie Does Dallas and continued working in adult on and off until his final screen appearance in this year's Machine Gunner, died Sunday night at the age of 70, friends report.
Fellow Golden Age star and AVN Hall of Famer Jeanne Silver told AVN, "Our community is in shock this morning and we're still trying to process."
She recalled, "I worked with Herschel in just a few films, but managed to keep a friendship over the past decade ... maybe a bit longer ... not sure when we reconnected.
"Herschel was a true lover of women and it wasn't just about sex on the set with him. He had an inner draw that automatically made you feel at ease and at home."
Aside from appearing in such adult classics as The Satisfiers of Alpha Blue, Amanda by Night, Blonde Ambition, Up 'n Coming and the aforementioned Debbie Does Dallas (along with later send-up Debbie Duz Dishes), Savage did some mainstream acting work, including in John Frankenheimer's 1986 noir thriller 52 Pick-Up and a 2006 stage production of Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue. He also portrayed Deep Throat director Gerard Damiano in the 2013 Los Angeles production of David Bertolino's play The Deep Throat Sex Scandal, and in 2016 put on his own one-man show in a Venice playhouse, Porn Star: My Life in the Sex Industry.
Long recognized as one the finest actors in the history of adult cinema, Savage initially struck out to pursue a career in mainstream stage and screen, and studied under Broadway actress Uta Hagen and legendary acting teacher Stella Adler. He was brought into adult in 1976 by fellow actor R. Bolla, and according to Wikipedia, created his stage name with another '70 and '80s icon, Jamie Gillis, "in an attempt to combine a 'nerdy Jewish identity' with that of a stud."
Director Ricky Greenwood, who placed Savage in his last role in Machine Gunner, told AVN Monday morning, "I was beyond excited when Herschel agreed to be part of Machine Gunner. Everyone on set was happy to see him, big smiles on his face as he walks on set like never leaves. Laughing with James Avalon, Matt Holder and Kylie Ireland, remembering the past and teaching a newbie like me a lot. I was lucky to witness his greatness and today we lost a legend."
Another friend and fellow Golden Age star, Richard Pacheco, told AVN: "Herschel is a much beloved man. I'm not ready to say 'was.' He holds a significant place in the history of adult cinema, but a far bigger place in the hearts of his lovers, friends, family and colleagues. In the words of an old Kirk Douglas film that I would suspect that he loved, he 'Cast a Giant Shadow.'"
AVN Hall of Fame actor/director Brad Armstrong, who cast Savage in a number of giant features including Manhunters, Dream Quest and both installments of Fallen, commented to AVN Monday: "Herschel was a bigger than life character and one of the most authentic guys I’ve met. He was the exact same guy the first day I met him and the last day I talked to him ... Herschel was Herschel."
Savage is survived by a sister and one son.
AVN will update this story as more information becomes available.
Photo by Chris King/@ReelSeduction
