Harry Reams, The Accidental 'Deep Throat' Star, Dies Aged 65

Harry Reams, The Accidental 'Deep Throat' Star, Dies Aged 65

Harry Reams, the former porn actor best known for starring opposite Linda Lovelace in Deep Throat, has died of pancreatic cancer in Utah. Reams - who starred in almost 400 adult films - was working the lights on the famous adult movie but ended up scoring the lead role after the original star was "unable to perform his duties," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Manhattan-born Reams was arrested in 1974 for conspiracy to distribute obscenity across state lines, eventually appearing in a court case that had broader culture implications for creative freedom. Jack Nicholson and various other stars lent their support though co-star Lovelace testified against him. He was convicted in 1976, though the verdict was overturned in 1977.

Reams struggled with alcoholism, though gave up drink in 1989, married, and became a real estate agent. In 2005, he revealed he never saw Linda Lovelace after the criminal trial and remained bitter over the conflict. "The only opportunity I had to briefly make contact with Linda Lovelace was vicariously through a friend of hers, who called me up to tell me that she needed some money; she needed a liver transplant and couldn't afford it. So I sent a thousand dollars to her... and never heard back, never got a thank-you." Lovelace - who later denounced her career in pornography - died in 2002 following complications from a serious automobile accident. 

The O.C. actor Adam Brody plays Reams in Rob Epstein's forthcoming Lovelace biopic. Amanda Seyfried plays the adult movie star, while Peter Sarsgaard plays her abusive husband Chuck Traynor.

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