Porn King: The Autobiography of John C. Holmes

by John Curtis Holmes, Laurie Holmes

In the world of Adult Cinema, one name stands out above all others: John Holmes. For nearly 20 years, from 1967 to 1987, Holmes reigned as the undisputed King of X-rated films, having appeared in a record 2,200-plus productions, from the landmark Johnny Wadd movies to the legendary Insatiable with Marilyn Chambers. To a legion of fans throughout America, Europe and Asia, he was known as "Mr. Big." To industry insiders, he was "Mr. Nice Guy." Yet for all of his fame and notoriety, Holmes remained an intensely private person and a mystery man. That is until now.

In this startingly frank autobiography, PORN KING was written in large part prior to his death (with new material added by his widow, Laurie) Holmes talkes about his incredible life.This is not a typical celebrity story filled with bright lights and movie moguls. It is, instead, a rare portrait of a young man drawn into an unknown Hollywood, a secret, forbidden Hollywood, and the parallels between his astounding career and the sexual revolution in American Films. Holmes knew his subject better then anyone.

Holmes candidly tells of a lucrative but often harrowing "other" life as a male prostitute to the rich and famous, international society matrons, politicians' wives, debutantes and actresses; a shattering fall into drugs and his involvements with dealers, organized crime, rock and screen stars; and a desperate cross-country flight following his implication in the grisly "Laurel Canyon - Four on the Floor" Murders.

From start to finish, "PORN KING" is a sizzling, sensuous, fast-paced story laced with controversy. It is at times raw, violent, even filled with pain. During his lifetime, John Holmes wentthrough hell and back, and he had the emotional scars to prove it.

John C. Holmes will without a doubt go down in our History Books. This is a definate must read book that any reader will have a hard time putting down. Many rare never seen before photographs of The man, The Legend, The real person.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Memoir, Autobiography

172 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

American male porn star, mostly known for his large penis, large number of prom films in which he appeared, and his involvement in the drug-related "Wonderland murders".

Holmes died of complications related to AIDS in 1988.

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book written by the wife of John Holmes after his death from audio tapes he recorded. Talks about a number of topics including the Laurel Canyon murders, his descent into drugs, etc. But leaves so many questions that it really leaves you wishing it was 3 times longer. Frustrating.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revised edition of Porn King, the 2012 updated version of the Autobiography of John C. Holmes, originally published in 1998. It's supposed to have new, updated info, but sadly they didn't take the time to correct the handful of annoying spelling and/or grammar errors. Couldn't tell much difference from the original, but its been 14 years since I read it too. Enjoyed it, but it left me with many questions, and wanting a lot more.

[Eevie · Rating 1 out of 5]

what a crock!!!! Who did he think he was fooling with this? Anyone who has read "Surviving john holmes" or seen "Wonderland" knows this is a bunch of lies. I feel for Misty Dawn.. did she actually believe this crap?

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always curious as to where people begin life and how it shapes them to make decisions later in their life.

[Dna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is poorly written and therefore hard to read and, in some cases, hard to believe.

[Zeka Sixx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraída de diários e fitas de áudio gravadas por Holmes antes de sua morte, essa autobiografia do maior astro pornô de todos os tempos tem como grande atrativo justamente o fato de apresentar a visão do próprio John sobre sua trajetória. Tendo em vista que o ator era conhecido por ser um mentiroso compulsivo e extremamente paranóico, é interessante tentar adivinhar o quanto há de verdade nas palavras de John em "Porn King". Com apenas 172 páginas, o livro não chega perto do completíssimo "A Life Measured In Inches", a melhor biografia de Holmes disponível no mercado, mas tem seus méritos. Quem espera conhecer John, o ator pornô, talvez se decepcione, porque pouco é abordado sobre os bastidores dos filmes e da própria indústria pornográfica. Mas o livro é excelente em apresentar John, o homem, com seus defeitos abertamente admitidos - e também suas virtudes, por que não? Os últimos capítulos, após sua saída da prisão, em especial, são emocionantes, e o livro termina com um gosto realmente amargo e triste, nos deixando com a clara sensação de que não deve ter sido nada fácil ser John C. Holmes.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I didn't expect the (potentially ghost-written?) auto-biography of John Holmes to have so many prominent subplots about weapons trafficking in it. But that's kinda spoiling the life story for those of you unfamiliar with the iconic and infamous "actor." Hearing him talk about his childhood and early years slumming it up in L.A. is a bit tedious, but by the time he's recounting all of his drug escapades and (indirect?) involvement in murder for hire plots, let's just say this book takes some interesting and unexpected twists and turns. Oddly enough, this book probably *sanitizes* his life too much, especially all of that unsavory stuff about going to Europe and filming XXX movies while he KNEW he had AIDS. Holmes obviously isn't a very likeable character, but you at least come to understand *some* of his actions and perspectives after reading this. And yes, the book DOES have "candid" pictures of the author in it, if you're wondering.

[Philip Hollenback · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Probably the weakest porn autobiography I've read so far. Really, really brief, and for the most part boring. I'd skip this one.

[Nayef · Rating 3 out of 5]

A truly amazing life story of John Holmes. It gets really crazy when it goes through The Wonderland massacre and his involvement in it. It gets depressing in the end. I felt that since the autobiography was written by his wife, it was a bit biased towards clearing his public image from all the myth, yet it didn't apologize for all the wrongs that he did towards the industry and partners and his record of crimes.

[Gregory Klages · Rating 3 out of 5]

His story is simple and compelling. He makes little effort to glorify his work, or to romanticize the life it led him into. He also does not vilify his work or personal associates. Instead, his autobiography seems like a quiet reflection offered by a man who knows the end of his days are near, and merely want to leave some more meaningful or fuller record of his experience than pictures of himself having sex.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting. I am fascinated by John Holmes and the Wonderland murders. I read and enjoyed Dawn Schiller's book about her time with Holmes. This story is very different than Dawn's and it just isn't very believable. People sure have different versions of this story! I did have fun reading this, though I'd love to get the truth from an unbiased source---yeah, I know it'll never happen!

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for an explisit sex romp, this is not what you are looking for then. Very little detail in the story that John Holmes gives you about his life. It was very interesting tale that skims his life with drugs, the porn business, the Wonderland murders and his struggle with AIDS.

[Grump · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and short. Kind of a fluffy gloss-over of Uncle John's life. Interesting to read about his life after Wonderland even if it's pretty thin. Will always wonder who "Sam" was.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

For someone who's done a lot of interesting things, this is a pretty damn, dull book. Color me disappointed.

[KenazNYC · Rating 1 out of 5]

Exactly as tawdry, one-sided, and depressing as one would imagine.