# Why is Ron Jeremy the king of porn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2011, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133 "2011-02-04T10:37:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/1 "2011-02-04T10:37:07Z")
Ron Jeremy’s face seems to be everywhere. Most recently on this forum selling rum. How did he attain his position as the default male porn actor? Does he have an exceptionally good publicity agent? Is it an ironic statement because he’s hideously normal looking? Have all of the other male actors died or retired, leaving him as the last man standing at a time when the internet made porn ubiquitous? It can’t be the mustache, that’s de rigeur for the role. My theory is that he’s the most affable, and didn’t mind to being the object of some friendly ribbing. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/2 "2011-02-04T10:58:13Z")
Cock the size of a baby’s arm? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/3 "2011-02-04T11:11:02Z")
I’ve read here that he was specifically selected for his average (some would say subaverage) looks. If you are marketing your porn toward men, you want a non-threatening guy to be the male stand in. I know that I at least have a viscerally negative reaction to pretty guys when I’m in that state, so it wouldn’t surprise me if that is true. (Then again, I also have a pretty negative reaction to other penises in general, so it doesn’t work for me. My porn can’t have males present.) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/4 "2011-02-04T11:40:04Z")
Acting ability? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/5 "2011-02-04T11:51:23Z")
His scepter. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/6 "2011-02-04T11:58:06Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Acting ability? Totally. He has a natural ability, he’s self deprecating both in character and in interviews I’ve seen of him, he’s a nice guy who is good at what is required of him, and does it because he thinks it’s a giggle. In an industry overflowing with ego and narcissism he’s an anomaly, and that worked for him. Plus he was [a lot more attractive](http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1836153,00.html) in the early days. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/7 "2011-02-04T12:05:56Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Totally. He has a natural ability, he’s self deprecating both in character and in interviews I’ve seen of him, he’s a nice guy who is good at what is required of him, and does it because he thinks it’s a giggle. In an industry overflowing with ego and narcissism he’s an anomaly, and that worked for him. He was on the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother and came across (fnarrr!) as a really decent and thoughtful bloke. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/8 "2011-02-04T12:14:58Z")
Once I saw him in Cincinnati Airport where he’d been stopped by a bunch of college athletes who were posing for pictures with him. I think it was a school like Notre Dame or some other religious affiliated school. Wish I’d had a camera with me because it would have made a fun picture. He seemed glad to give back to his fans. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/9 "2011-02-04T12:46:30Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Totally. He has a natural ability, he’s self deprecating both in character and in interviews I’ve seen of him, he’s a nice guy who is good at what is required of him, and does it because he thinks it’s a giggle. In an industry overflowing with ego and narcissism he’s an anomaly, and that worked for him. > > Plus he was [a lot more attractive](http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1836153,00.html) in the early days. Right. In the late 70s he had what then passed for reasonably decent everyman looks. Also, on the strictly mechanical side of things, he would reliably show up, able and ready to do the job – that makes for a longer career with more gigs. Arriving towards the end of that early crop of porn players who still had some level of non-porn acting ability and regular-folk personalities(\*), that gave him a potential for some limited mainstream media crossover (mainly small roles on B-flicks/video and TV) that in turn meant more contacts outside the porn community. Combine all that and you have yourself a “face” of porn. (\*)Notice that in recent times there was a rise of _ **female** _ porn players (e.g. Jameson, Carrera) who are articulate and personable and can serve as faces/voices of the industry when someone needs a mainstream TV interview. But from the guys’ side it’s still Ron virtually alone. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/10 "2011-02-04T13:03:39Z")
There is also fewer male porn actors to compete with. Plus the field draws even more people with problems than regular Hollywood. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/11 "2011-02-04T13:40:21Z")
he is educated and has a big diploma. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/12 "2011-02-04T13:43:39Z")
If you ever get a chance check out “Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy.” He’s actually quite the sad character. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/13 "2011-02-04T13:50:06Z")
He has also said that, in addition to his endowment, he also has the ability to finish on cue. When the director needs the money shot, they just have to give Ron the word and he’ll deliver. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/14 "2011-02-04T14:06:43Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > He has also said that, in addition to his endowment, he also has the ability to finish on cue. When the director needs the money shot, they just have to give Ron the word and he’ll deliver. That’s a (pun alert) big part of it. It isn’t easy getting aroused on cue and on set while dozens of people are watching and you have to stop as they move the camera setup. A writer I knew wrote about her experience as the screenwriter on a porn set and indicated that the ability to perform as needed was a big factor in getting work. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/15 "2011-02-04T14:27:42Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Totally. He has a natural ability, he’s self deprecating both in character and in interviews I’ve seen of him, he’s a nice guy who is good at what is required of him, and does it because he thinks it’s a giggle. In an industry overflowing with ego and narcissism he’s an anomaly, and that worked for him. > > Plus he was [a lot more attractive](http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1836153,00.html) in the early days. _San Fernando Jones and The Temple Of Poon?_ :D:D:D:D:D Lord that’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/16 "2011-02-04T14:41:09Z")
All that has been said above covers it pretty well. I’ll just add that I’ve long thought of Ron Jeremy as the perfect proof of the old adage “Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.” Of all his peers from the classic old days, he’s the one who lasted long enough (pun both intended while also not intended). ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/17 "2011-02-04T15:23:30Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Right. In the late 70s he had what then passed for reasonably decent everyman looks. Also, on the strictly mechanical side of things, he would reliably show up, able and ready to do the job – that makes for a longer career with more gigs. Arriving towards the end of that early crop of porn players who still had some level of non-porn acting ability and regular-folk personalities(\*), that gave him a potential for some limited mainstream media crossover (mainly small roles on B-flicks/video and TV) that in turn meant more contacts outside the porn community. Combine all that and you have yourself a “face” of porn. > > (\*)Notice that in recent times there was a rise of _ **female** _ porn players (e.g. Jameson, Carrera) who are articulate and personable and can serve as faces/voices of the industry when someone needs a mainstream TV interview. But from the guys’ side it’s still Ron virtually alone. This. If you’ve ever seen him in the various reality shows he’s done, as well numerous cameo appearances he’s had in mainstream movies, you’d realize he’s actually a fairly decent comic actor. If he hadn’t gone the porn route, I could easily have seen him carving out a niche for himself as a schlubby Jonah Hill-type (but wittier and less annoying) character actor. And as others have mentioned, it also helps that he’s hung like a mule. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/18 "2011-02-04T15:26:52Z")
Since this has to do with movies, it’s better suited to Cafe Society than GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/19 "2011-02-04T15:29:13Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > If you ever get a chance check out “Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy.” He’s actually quite the sad character. What can you (or anyone) share about this? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133/20 "2011-02-04T15:31:26Z")
Ron Jeremy is the king of porn because he killed the previous king and married his widow. I’d say more but it’s too tragic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ron-jeremy-the-king-of-porn/570133.md?page=2)