The legendary director who gave the industry masterworks like BuckleRoos, Dream Team, Family Values, Brotherhood and more passed away on Saturday in New York at the age of 84.
His passing was first reported by XBIZ. Douglas first directed two porn films in the early 1970s, The Back Row and Both Ways, before focusing his attention on his journalism career. He worked with publications like The Advocate and Stallion, and also created Manshots magazine. He was also an influential writer, including the screenplay he did for the 1974 Radley Metzger bisexual comedy Score.
Douglas returned to filming in 1989 with Fratrimony starring Tim Lowe and Butch Taylor for All Worlds, and then proceeded to release a series of highly acclaimed story-based films that won multiple awards. Douglas spoke about his career with The Sword in 2014:
“I did those three films in the early 70s, The Back Row, Both Ways and Score. I was making a wonderful living, I’d met (my spouse) John and we got screwed badly on Both Ways. I never saw a penny on that. And also I didn’t want my knees broken by the Mafia. So I stayed away for twenty years. Then when I started Manshots magazine. I did two or three interviews with porn stars in each issue and one interview with somebody behind the scene. The first person I ever interviewed for Manshots was Matt Sterling. The second or third one I interviewed was Rick Ford from All Worlds Video. Rick and I got to be really good friends, and I was always calling him and saying, ‘I haven’t gotten your new film yet and we’re on deadline you better send it to me.’ Every time we talked he asked me, ‘When are you going to make another movie Jerry?’ And I said ‘never.’
“And one day I was incredibly piss elegant. I said, ‘Alright Rick, I’ll make a film for you, but you have to give me final cut, you have to give me a royalty and you have to give me Tim Lowe,’ who was the biggest star around those day. He said, ‘Okay I’ll talk to you later, bye.’ Two days later the phone rang and he said, ‘Hi Jerry, it’s Rick. I have Tim Lowe here and he wants to talk to you.’ And that’s how Fratrimony came out. That’s how I got back into the industry. And of course, Tim won best actor that year.”
His other All Worlds hits included More of a Man featuring icons Joey Stefano, Rick Donovan, Butch Taylor and Mike Henson; Trade-Off with Ryan Idol; and Flesh and Blood with Kurt Young. Douglas went on to release Family Values and Top Secret for Odyssey; Dream Team for Studio 2000; and two blockbusters for COLT, the two-part BuckleRoos and Brotherhood (his last film, released in 2007). BuckleRoos, released on COLT’s Buckshot label, remains one of the industry’s all-time iconic works, winning nine GayVN Awards and six Grabby Awards in 2005. Douglas also won awards for Flesh and Blood, Brotherhood, The Dream Team, More of a Man, Honorable Discharge and The Diamond Stud.
“As a fan of storied porn, I always loved Jerry’s work,” shared Sister Roma. “I was beyond thrilled when The Tim & Roma Show was invited to interview him on the set of BuckleRoos. His technique of directing the models by whispering in their ear was so unique, I will never forget it. He was brilliant, charming, witty, and a true legend.”
Award-winning director mr. Pam also got her big break from Douglas on the set of BuckleRoos, telling Edge Magazine: “I got my big break in 2004 when my porn daddy John Rutherford hired me to go on the set of BuckleRoos, Colt Studio’s big cowboy movie. I was out on this cattle ranch in the middle of the Sacramento Valley for three weeks, doing a featurette documentary for the DVD, eXposed: The Making of a Legend. Co-director Jerry Douglas asked me to shoot second camera for a scene with Marcus Iron and Dean Phoenix in a barn at night. And it was just magical. It seemed like the universe collided, the skies opened up, and this was where I was supposed to be.”
Legendary director Chi Chi LaRue also shared this with The Sword: “Jerry Douglas was my friend, mentor and fellow director who I have the upmost respect for. His love for Broadway, movies and porn gave us endless topics to talk and gossip about. I hope they have cigarettes in heaven my sweet friend!”
The Sword is deeply saddened by his passing; he was one of the all-time greats. We extend our sympathies to his loved ones, and all of the fans and industry professionals who were touched by his work. Read his extensive Sword interview for more insights into his career.
The current generation and all these web based fan site subscribers will never understand the value of these movies. As cheesy as they were, they were representing a more romantic era. A tough era but at the same time less complain, less me me me, I am so fragile era. Some of these movies were really gold. It always amazes me how they could fit a story with minimum number of lines of course, complete with three to four full fuck scenes, a set, music or even credit in 45 to 80 minutes. Don’t forget, most fuck scenes are about 20 minutes on average! Dream Team has to be one of my all time favorite and also Buckle Roo. I also enjoyed the packaging of those humongous VHS tapes, the glossy printed finish, the plastic tape holder, as if each tape is a treasure when you open the box. It’s the same nostalgia of holding a vinyl in my hands.
May great guy RIP. He deserves it.
Thank you Jerry Douglas, for movies, storylines I grew up with your movies during the 90’s. Thank you for your contributions to gay porn. I have become a better gay because of your movies.
California Thai boy
Aw I am feeling down. He has directed so many good videos especially ones w/ plots. I will miss his creativity and getting the best people to star in it. Rest in Peace Jerry Douglas, you will be missed. Thank You for giving us hot times whether by ourselves or w/ others.