Joe Simmons (pornographic actor)
Encyclopedia
Joe Simmons was the screen name of Thomas Williams, an African-American male model and actor in gay-themed pornography.
Simmons was born in Yonkers, New York
, and spent much of his childhood in reform school
because of "emotional disturbances."
He went to New York City
as an adult and studied acting for two years. He developed a skill set that included dancing, singing, and playing the piano and guitar. He appeared in five off Broadway musicals and also worked in construction, building props and stage sets.
Simmons took up bodybuilding, adopting a 90-minute 4-day-a-week training regimen. He met Robert Mapplethorpe
and was the subject of a series of photographs featured in Mapplethorpe's museum exhibitions and traveling displays. Simmons also modeled for photos published in Playgirl
and Playguy magazines.
Simmons learned he was HIV-positive in 1994 and informed his mother and 11 siblings at a Thanksgiving
gathering. His family was very supportive and the news is said to have strengthened family ties.
Simmons died of AIDS complications in St. Vincent's Medical Center.
Simmons was born in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
, and spent much of his childhood in reform school
Reform school
A reform school in the United States was a term used to define, often somewhat euphemistically, what was often essentially a penal institution for boys, generally teenagers.-History:...
because of "emotional disturbances."
He went to New York City
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
as an adult and studied acting for two years. He developed a skill set that included dancing, singing, and playing the piano and guitar. He appeared in five off Broadway musicals and also worked in construction, building props and stage sets.
Simmons took up bodybuilding, adopting a 90-minute 4-day-a-week training regimen. He met Robert Mapplethorpe
Robert Mapplethorpe
Robert Mapplethorpe was an American photographer, known for his large-scale, highly stylized black and white portraits, photos of flowers and nude men...
and was the subject of a series of photographs featured in Mapplethorpe's museum exhibitions and traveling displays. Simmons also modeled for photos published in Playgirl
Playgirl
Playgirl is a print quarterly adult magazine published in the United States that is marketed mainly to heterosexual women, but has also gained a considerable gay following...
and Playguy magazines.
Simmons learned he was HIV-positive in 1994 and informed his mother and 11 siblings at a Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
gathering. His family was very supportive and the news is said to have strengthened family ties.
Simmons died of AIDS complications in St. Vincent's Medical Center.
Videography
- Advocate Men Live #6
- Bad Ass
- Bi and Large
- Black Alley
- Black Book
- Black Delivery
- Black Magic
- Black Pack
- Black Workout
- Colored Boys
- Cousin Buck
- Dirty Tricks
- Gettin' Down
- Homoboys
- Made in the Shade #1
- Made in the Shade #2
- My Masters
- Oreo Guys
- Oriental Dick
- Raunch #2
- Safe Sex
- Screen Test
- Soul and Salsa
- They All Came
- Worship