Herschel Savage (born Harvey Cohen, November 25, 1952 – October 8, 2023) was an American pornographic actor, director, and stage actor who appeared in over 1,000 adult films. In 2002, AVN ranked him 46th on their list of The Top 50 Porn Stars of All Time. He was also inducted into the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame.
Early life Herschel Savage was born as Harvey Cohen on November 25, 1952, in New York City, to Russian-Jewish parents. His mother battled with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Growing up, he attended a Conservative synagogue. Savage saw his first adult film The Nun's Bad Habit at a movie theater in Times Square.
Savage began studying acting under Broadway theatre actress Uta Hagen and renowned acting teacher Stella Adler. Savage initially sought a mainstream stage and screen career. However, he became disillusioned by the constant auditioning and competition for roles. He also worked for an exercise company.
Career
Savage was introduced to the adult film industry via the actor R. Bolla in 1976."Herschel Savage: The Evergreen Porn Star", The Rialto Report, November 3rd, 2013 He went on to become one of the biggest stars of the "Golden Age of Porn" in the 1970s and 1980s. Savage appeared in the 1978 classic Debbie Does Dallas, for which he was paid about $150 a day. The film was a financial success, becoming one of the top five highest grossing adult films of all time. Some of the other films he appeared in include Expose Me Now, Bodies in Heat, and Rambone Does Hollywood. He created the stage name "Herschel Savage" with adult actor Jamie Gillis in an attempt to combine a 'nerdy Jewish identity' with that of a stud.
During the mid-1980s, Savage helped to organize sex workers in San Francisco to fight for better wages. The initiative was ultimately abandoned after production studios threatened to blacklist performers. In 1986, Savage appeared in a cameo for the neo-noir crime film 52 Pick-Up starring Roy Scheider and Ann-Margret. He was credited as "Harvey Cowen". In 1988, Savage was inducted into the XRCO Hall of Fame."XRCO's Hot 'n' Horny Heart-On Awards!", Hustler Erotic Video Guide Vol. 3, No. 5, September 1988, pp. 8-9. That same year, he left pornography to work in sales and video distribution. He returned to performing in 1997.
Savage appeared as a guest during the fifth season of the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me, with Ron Jeremy, which aired on February 1, 2001. In 2003, he performed a stand-up routine on an episode of the reality television series Family Business. Savage portrayed a detective in the 2008 parody film The Texas Vibrator Massacre. He appeared alongside other adult performers in the documentary series After Porn Ends 3 in 2018. Savage appeared in more than 1000 adult films. He was also inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame.
Stage Savage performed under the name "Max Cohen" in a 2006 production of Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue. In January 2013, he portrayed pornographic film director Gerard Damiano in the Los Angeles production of The Deep Throat Sex Scandal, a play described as the "theatrical telling of the back story of Deep Throat." His performance drew positive reviews. Writing for The Los Angeles Times, Charlotte Stoudt called Savage's portrayal of Damiano "surprisingly cogent". Myron Meisel from The Hollywood Reporter remarked that he "engenders endearing empathy as the amiably deluded director Damiano." Steven Leigh Morris from LA Weekly deemed his performance "dramatic comedy terra firma". Savage credited the play with "renewing [his] love for performing on stage."
Savage appeared as himself in Pretty Filthy, a musical about the adult film industry. He also performed in the interactive dinner show Joni and Gina's Wedding. In July 2016, Savage premiered Porn Star: My Life In The Sex Industry, an autobiographical one-man show, which he successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign.
Personal life and death Savage was a practicing Buddhist. He resided in California.
Herschel Savage died on October 8, 2023, at the age of 70.
Select performances Film TitleYearRoleNotesDebbie Does Dallas1978Tim The Satisfiers of Alpha Blue1980Griffin Memphis Cathouse Blues1982Deacon DavisWhat Gets Me Hot!1984Mrs. Radner's Boyfriend52 Pick-Up1986Party GoerCredited as Harvey CowenDroid1988Turk LA 399 1999 Alejandro Biscotti Last Breath 2000 Mary's Husband The Texas Vibrator Massacre2008Detective Mike Roe 30 Rock: A XXX Parody2009Jake After Porn Ends 32018HimselfDocumentary
Television TitleYearRoleNotesSex Court1999-00Tommy Rawlings / Nick Palos / Tony Tornelli3 episodesJust Shoot Me!2001RonEpisode: "The Proposal" Family Business2003HimselfEpisode: "Casa De Butts"Are You There, Chelsea?2012GuardEpisode: "Pilot" (credited as Harvey Joel Coen)Dave's Old Porn2012HimselfEpisode: "Lisa Lampanelli / Herschel Savage"
Theater TitleYearVenueRoleNotesThe Prisoner of Second Avenue2006Mel EdisonLead role (credited as Max Cohen) The Deep Throat Sex Scandal2013Zephyr TheaterGerard DamianoLos Angeles run Pretty Filthy2015Abrons Arts CenterHimselfMusical Porn Star: My Life In The Sex Industry2016Beyond Baroque Literary Arts CenterHimselfOne-man show
Awards + List of accolades received by Herschel SavageAwards and nominationsAwardWonNominated AVN Awards NightMoves Awards XBIZ Awards XRCO Awards Total number of wins and nominations + AVN Awards Year Nominated work and artist Category Result 1987If Only Mother KnewBest Supporting Actor 1989Amanda by Night IIBest Sex Scene - Feature Film (with Nina Hartley)1992Herschel SavageAVN Hall of Fame Inductee 2000The Devil Made Her Do ItMost Outrageous Sex Scene (with Mila & Dave Hardman)Herschel SavageMale Performer of the Year The Kissing GameBest Couples Sex Scene - Video (with Missy)Best Supporting Actor - VideoNothing to Hide 3 & 4 Best Actor - FilmTrial by CopulationBest Group Sex Scene - Film (with Temptress, Azlea Antistia, and Chris Cannon)The TrophyBest Supporting Actor - FilmTushy Con CarneBest Anal Sex Scene - Video (with Alisha Klass) 2001Dream QuestBest Actor - FilmExhibitionist Part 1Best Supporting Actor - VideoThe Gapes of WrathBest Anal Sex Scene - Video (with McKayla Matthews, Tyce Bune, and Mark Davis) ScreamersBest Couples Sex Scene - Film (with Dee)Best Supporting Actor - FilmSodomania: Gangbang EditionBest Group Sex Scene - Video (with Sabrina Johnson, Tyce Bune, Lexington Steele, and Mark Anthony)SpellboundBest Actor - VideoWhite Trash Whore 17Best Anal Sex Scene - Video (with Allysin Embers & Dave Hardman) 2002Bad Wives 2Best Group Sex Scene - Film (with Kylie Ireland & Jason McCain) InfidelityBest Supporting Actor - VideoMafiosoBest Actor - FilmPussy FaceMost Outrageous Sex Scene (with Kristen Kane and Rafe) SuccubusBest Group Sex Scene - Video (with Ava Vincent, Bridgette Kerkove, Nikita Denise, and Trevor) TakenBest Anal Sex Scene - FilmBest Supporting Actor - Film2003Big Bottom SadieBest Supporting Actor - Video 2004Roommate From HellBest Actor - VideoThe Contortionist Best Supporting Actor - Video 2005The HitmanLove and BulletsBest Actor - Video2006Dark SideBest Actor - FilmBest Couples Sex Scene - Film (with Penny Flame)House of AssBest Three-Way Sex Scene (with Mari Possa & Barbara Summer) 2007Butt Pirates of the CaribbeanBest Group Sex Scene - Video (with Mari Possa, Amber Peach, Samantha Ryan, and Kurt Lockwood)ClusterFuck 5Best Group Sex Scene - Video (with Mayhem, Tory Lane, Jay Lassiter, Dirty Harry, Scott Lyons, Jenner, Rick Masters, Chris Mountain, Steve james, Trevor Thompson, and Alec Knight)GameBest Non-Sex PerformanceRumour Had 'EmBest Supporting Actor - Video 2008DelilahBest Actor - Video Spunk'd the MovieBest Supporting Actor - Video 2009The Texas Vibrator MassacreBest Non-Sex Performance201030 Rock: A XXX ParodyBest Actor2013Dallas: A XXX ParodyBest Non-Sex Performance + NightMoves Awards Year Nominated artist Category Result 2007Herschel SavageBest Actor + XBIZ Awards Year Nominated work Category Result 201030 Rock: A XXX ParodyActing Performance of the Year - Male2019Fallen II: Angels & DemonsBest Non-Sex Performance + XRCO Awards Year Nominated work and artist Category Result 1988Herschel SavageXRCO Hall of Fame Inductee 2000Nothing to Hide 3 & 4Actor (Single Performance) 2006Dark Side (with Penny Flame)Best Onscreen Couple
References
External links
The Rialto Report, "Herschel Savage - The Evergreen Porn Star", November 3, 2013 - new audio podcast interview with Herschel Savage