Sean Michaels (born February 20, 1958) is an American pornographic actor, model, director and former trade union leader. In 2002, AVN ranked him 14th on their list of The Top 50 Porn Stars of All Time. Michaels has won several prominent adult industry awards, including the NightMoves Award for Best Actor. He has also been inducted into the AVN, NightMoves, Urban X, and XRCO Halls of Fame.

Early life Michaels was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Boys and Girls High School, the oldest public high school in Brooklyn. After moving to the West Coast, he worked as a nurse for an urgent care facility in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. He also did runway and print modeling prior to entering the porn industry.

Career

Michaels started out working in the adult entertainment industry as a model for skin magazines. Dissatisfied with the portrayal of black men in pornography, which he saw as "very demeaning and stereotypical", Michaels began performing in adult films in 1989. Michaels chose his stage name by combining the first names of two male celebrities he admired: Sean Connery, whom he described as a "man's man, on and off camera", and Michael Jordan.

Michaels gained recognition in the industry after appearing in his mentor John Leslie's 1990 film Oh What A Night. Micheals received the XBIZ Award for Woodsman of the Year in 1994. The following year, he was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame. In 1996, he started his own film studio, Sean Michaels Productions, which was later changed to Sean Michaels International the following year when Anabolic Video began handling its distribution.

Along with Lisa Ann and Nikki Benz, Michaels hosted the XRCO Awards in April 2010. In 2018, he performed in his first bisexual scene for Kick Ass Pictures. In regards to the scene, Michaels commented, "I feel strongly about doing the things you want to do in life. Cuckold fans have been asking me for years to do bi scenes, and I'm happy to be making this move. I believe it's important for people to grow sexually in any way they choose."

Legal dispute In 2003, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) issued Michaels a cease and desist letter, asking him to stop using his name due to the similarity it had to wrestler Shawn Michaels. Sean Michaels' name was already registered as a trademark, while Shawn Michaels had not registered his moniker.Steve Nelson. "Sean Michaels Sues Sean Michaels". Adult Industry News, January 23, 2003. Accessed 8 September 2008. Michaels later announced he planned to countersue the WWE. As of April 1, 2011, the trademark of "Sean Michaels" is no longer active.

Advocacy and impact In 2016, Michaels was elected President of the Adult Performance Artists Guild, then the Adult Performers Actors Guild (APAG). As President, he announced the APAG would push to raise the legal age to perform in adult films from 18 to 21, commenting that "it's 21 years old to drink, so you should have to be 21 to do porn." Amidst criticism from APAG members who saw him as reducing his union participation, Michaels officially resigned from his role. He was replaced in the role by actress Alana Evans, who had served as vice president under him. Evans revealed that Michaels was being "blackballed" in the pornographic industry due to his guild participation.

In the May 1997 issue of Vibe, he was labeled "the preeminent force in interracial erotic entertainment." In her book A Taste for Brown Sugar: Black Women in Pornography, women's studies scholar Mireille Miller-Young notes how Michaels' portrayal of "suave and professional" characters in his films has challenged the stereotyping of black men as "sexual beasts" in pornography and expanded opportunities for black performers. Violet Blue shares a similar sentiment in The Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos, calling Michaels a "major force in changing the face and attitudes of the adult industry towards black performers." Blue concluded by dubbing him "the most famous black man to ever appear in porn."

Select appearances YearTitleRoleNotes1990Oh, What a Night!Richard ParkerBreakthrough role2004Thinking XXXHimselfDocumentary2012Dave's Old PornEpisode: "Retro Orgy Night"2018Black Bi CuckoldingFirst performance in bisexual pornographyHot For Transsexuals 6First appearance in transgender pornography2022Sex Before the InternetEpisode: "Porn Awards"

Awards and nominations

+ AVN Awards Year Nominated work and artist Category Result 1991Nasty GirlsBest Video Group Sex Scene1994Anus and AndyBest Sex Scene, Video (Group)Sean MichaelsMale Performer of the Year1995In the BushBest Actor—VideoSean Michaels Hall of FameMale Performer of the Year1996VisionsBest Couples Sex Scene—VideoWorld Sex Tour, Vol. 1Best Group Sex Scene—VideoThe PassionMost Outrageous Sex Scene1997Sean MichaelsMale Performer of the Year1998Butt Banged Naughty NursesBest Anal Sex Scene—VideoDinner Party 2Best Couples Sex Scene—FilmFace JamBest Supporting Actor—VideoSean MichaelsMale Performer of the Year1999Sean Michaels' Up Your Ass 7Best Anal Sex Scene—VideoTushy HeavenFresh Meat 5Best Group Sex Scene—VideoTushy HeavenSean MichaelsMale Performer of the Year2000We Go DeepBest Couples Sex Scene—VideoSean MichaelsMale Performer of the Year2006Sean MichaelsMale Performer of the Year2007FuckBest Anal Sex Scene – FilmElastic Assholes 4Best Anal Sex Scene – VideoFuckBest Group Sex Scene – FilmJanine's Been BlackmaledRacial TensionBest Sex Scene Coupling – Video2008Orgy World: The Next Level 11Best Group Sex Scene – Video2009Succubus of the RougeBest Supporting Actor2010Semen Sippers 7Best Threeway Sex SceneBobbi Starr & Dana DeArmond's Insatiable VoyageBest Double Penetration Sex SceneLA Pink: A XXX Porn ParodyBest ActorBest Double Penetration Sex SceneSean MichaelsMale Performer of the Year2011Interracial Fuck SlutsBest Three-Way Sex Scene (B/B/G)2012Orgy: The XXX ChampionshipBest Group Sex Scene2013School of Black CockBest Double Penetration Sex SceneElastic Assholes 10Best Three-Way Sex Scene (B/B/G)2014Double Black PenetrationBest Double Penetration Sex Scene2016True LustBest Three-Way Sex Scene - (B/B/G)Adriana's a SlutBest Group Sex Scene2017This Ain't American Horror Story XXXBest Supporting ActorThe Booty Queen 2Best Double Penetration Sex Scene2018Anal Warriors 3Best Anal Sex Scene2020Hot for Transexuals 9Best Transgender Group Sex Scene

+ F.O.X.E. Awards Year Nominated work and artist Category Result 1996Sean MichaelsMale Fan Favorite"Adult Video Awards - The FANS OF X-RATED ENTERTAINMENT", Retrieved 19 April 2007, Archived at: 19971998

+ NightMoves Awards Year Nominated work and artist Category Result 2002Sean MichaelsBest Actor (Fan's Choice)2003Best Director (Fan's Choice)2007NightMoves Hall of Fame

+ Transgender Erotica Awards Year Nominated work and artist Category Result 2020Sean MichaelsBest Non-TS Male Performer2021

+ Urban X Awards Year Nominated work and artist Category Result 2008Sean MichaelsBest Male PerformerUrban X Hall of Fame2011Cougar on the ProwlBest 3 Way Sex Scene2012Anal Buffet 7Best 3-Way Sex SceneBest Anal Sex SceneBlack DiamondsBest Couples Sex SceneDaddy Knows Best

+ XBIZ Awards Year Nominated work and artist Category Result 2010L.A. PinkActing Performance of the Year — MaleSean MichaelsMale Performer of the Year2014Diesel Dongs 28Best Scene — Non-Feature Release2017This Ain't American Horror Story XXXBest Supporting Actor 2018Anal Warriors 3 Best Sex Scene — Gonzo ReleaseSun-LitBest Sex Scene — Vignette Release2019CarnalBest Sex Scene — All-Sex Release2021The TransAngels Motorcycle ClubBest Sex Scene — Trans

+ XRCO Awards Year Nominated work and artist Category Result 1994Arabian NightsBest Anal Sex SceneSlave to LoveGroup Sex SceneSean MichaelsWoodsman of the Year1999Tushy HeavenBest Anal or D.P. Scene2000Sean MichaelsMale Performer of the YearXRCO Hall of Fame

References

External links