Sean Michaels (actor)
{{short description|American pornographic actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sean Michaels
| image = Sean Michaels 2011.jpg
| caption = Michaels in Los Angeles in 2011
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1958|2|20}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| years_active = 1989–present
| height =
| alias =
| website =
}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.action-dvd.com/avnt50ps.asp?whichpage=1&userid=3AED28DC-3047-4F5C-87F5-D9AC3B9DA6F3&sort_order= |title=AVN: The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time|access-date=January 14, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015019/http://www.action-dvd.com/avnt50ps.asp?whichpage=1&userid=3AED28DC-3047-4F5C-87F5-D9AC3B9DA6F3&sort_order= |archive-date = September 30, 2007}} 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.{{cite web|url= http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Sean-Michaels-Is-at-Work-on-1st-Volume-of-Autobiography-485109.html|title= Sean Michaels Is at Work on 1st Volume of Autobiography|access-date= October 6, 2015|author= Mark Kernes|date= August 10, 2012|publisher= AVN|archive-date= October 7, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151007093503/http://business.avn.com/articles/video/Sean-Michaels-Is-at-Work-on-1st-Volume-of-Autobiography-485109.html|url-status= dead}}{{cite book|last=Blue|first=Violet|date=October 1, 2003|title=The Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos: How to Watch Adult Videos and Make Your Sex Life Sizzle|publisher=Cleis Press Start|page=168|isbn=1573447056}} After moving to the West Coast, he worked as a nurse for an urgent care facility in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} 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.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}
Michaels gained recognition in the industry after appearing in his mentor John Leslie's 1990 film Oh What A Night.{{cite web|date=March 11, 1999|title=Sean Michaels says he's sweating this Monday morning|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/video/sean-michaels-says-he-s-sweating-this-monday-morning-36304.html|publisher=AVN|access-date=October 31, 2023}} 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.{{cite web|url = http://business.avn.com/articles/37385.html|title = Nikki Benz, Lisa Ann and Sean Michaels to Host XRCO Awards|access-date = 2010-02-19|author = Wade Garrett|date = 2010-02-17|publisher = AVN|archive-date = 2010-05-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100504123411/http://business.avn.com/articles/37385.html|url-status = dead}} 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.{{cite web|last=Majors|first=Frank|date=January 24, 2003|title=Will The Real Sean Michaels Please Throw Down?|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/video/will-the-real-sean-michaels-please-throw-down-32889.html|publisher=AVN|access-date=October 31, 2023}} Sean Michaels' name was already registered as a trademark, while Shawn Michaels had not registered his moniker.Steve Nelson. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030820074154/http://ainews.com/Archives/Story4356.phtml "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.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}
Advocacy and impact
In 2016, Michaels was elected President of the Adult Performance Artists Guild, then the Adult Performers Actors Guild (APAG).{{cite web|last=Warren|first=Peter|date=August 11, 2016|title=Union Chapters Issue Statement on Court's False Endorsement Decision|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/legal/union-chapters-issue-statement-on-courts-false-endorsement-decision-693752.html|publisher=AVN|access-date=May 3, 2019}}{{cite news|last=Snow|first=Aurora|date=May 27, 2016|title=Porn's First Union President: Performers Should Be 21+ Only|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/porns-first-union-president-performers-should-be-21-only|newspaper=The Daily Beast|access-date=May 3, 2019}} 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.{{cite web|title=News From The Officers Of APAG|date=22 February 2018 |url=https://apagunion.com/2018/02/22/news-from-the-officers-of-apag/|publisher=APAG|access-date=November 4, 2023}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/lobbyist-profiles/572077-organizing-for-adult-entertainers|title=President of newly recognized union for adult performers boosts membership|work=The Hill|last=Rodrigo|first=Chris Mills|date=September 14, 2021|accessdate=October 24, 2021}}
In the May 1997 issue of Vibe, he was labeled "the preeminent force in interracial erotic entertainment."{{cite web |last1=Morales |first1=Robert |title=Sexy Motherfuckers |url=http://www.vibe.com/archive/may97/docs/porn2.html |website=Vibe.com |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970715170918/http://www.vibe.com/archive/may97/docs/porn2.html |archive-date=15 July 1997 |url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite book |last=Miller-Young |first=Mireille |date=October 30, 2014 |title=A Taste for Brown Sugar: Black Women in Pornography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x4_uBQAAQBAJ&dq=%22sean+michaels%22+porn&pg=PT5|publisher=Duke University Press |page=219 |isbn=978-0-8223-7591-3 }} 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
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" | |
| scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|Title !scope="col"|Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" |Notes !scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} | |
|---|---|
| 1990
|Oh, What a Night! |Richard Parker |Breakthrough role | |
| 2004
|rowspan="5"|Himself |Documentary |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|access-date=November 1, 2023|publisher=TV Guide|title=Thinking XXX|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/thinking-xxx/1000390485/}} | |
| 2012
|Episode: "Retro Orgy Night" |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|title=Dave's Old Porn - Season 2 (2012)|url=https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/daves-old-porn/season-2|publisher=JustWatch|accessdate=March 24, 2023}} | |
| rowspan="2"|2018
|Black Bi Cuckolding |First performance in bisexual pornography | |
| Hot For Transsexuals 6
|First appearance in transgender pornography |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|title=Hot For Transsexuals 6|url=https://avn.com/movies/246190/hot-for-transsexuals-6|publisher=AVN|access-date=November 1, 2023}} | |
| 2022
|Sex Before the Internet | Episode: "Porn Awards" |
Awards and nominations
File:Sean Michaels at Erotica LA 2005.jpg
| class="wikitable" style="width:70%;"
|+ AVN Awards |
| width=4%| Year
! style="width:35%;"| Nominated work and artist ! style="width:30%;"| Category ! style="width:8%;"| Result ! width=3%| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"|1991
|Nasty Girls |Best Video Group Sex Scene |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite magazine |author= |title=The 1991 Adult Video News Awards Show |magazine=Official Program |location=Upper Darby, Pennsylvania |publisher=AVN Publications, Inc. |date=January 12, 1991 }} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|1994
|Anus and Andy |Best Sex Scene, Video (Group) |{{nom}} |rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|{{cite magazine |author= |title=The 1994 AVN Awards Show |magazine=Official Program |location=Upper Darby, Pennsylvania |publisher=AVN Publications, Inc. |date=January 8, 1994 }} |
| Sean Michaels
|Male Performer of the Year |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|1995
|In the Bush |Best Actor—Video |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"|Sean Michaels
|Hall of Fame |{{won}} |
| Male Performer of the Year
|{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|1996
|Visions |Best Couples Sex Scene—Video |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite AV media |people=Stone, Mark (Director) |year=1996 |title=The 1996 AVN Awards |medium=videotape |publisher=VCA Pictures }} |
| World Sex Tour, Vol. 1
|Best Group Sex Scene—Video |{{won}} |
| The Passion
|Most Outrageous Sex Scene |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|1997
|Sean Michaels |Male Performer of the Year |{{nom}} | |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|1998
|Butt Banged Naughty Nurses |Best Anal Sex Scene—Video |{{won}} |
| Dinner Party 2
|Best Couples Sex Scene—Film |{{nom}} |rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|{{cite magazine |author= |title=History: The 1998 AVN Awards Show |magazine=Official Program |location=Van Nuys, California |publisher=AVN Publications, Inc. |date=January 9, 1998 }} |
| Face Jam
|Best Supporting Actor—Video |{{nom}} |
| Sean Michaels
|Male Performer of the Year |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"|1999
|Sean Michaels' Up Your Ass 7 |rowspan="2"|Best Anal Sex Scene—Video |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite journal |author= |title=Choices |journal=1999 AVN Awards Show Program |location=Van Nuys, CA |publisher=AVN Publications, Inc. |date=January 9, 1999 }} |
| Tushy Heaven
|{{won}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=http://avn.com/awards/winners.html |title=Last Year's Winner's |access-date=April 19, 2015 |publisher=AVN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991013062528/http://avn.com/awards/winners.html |archive-date=October 13, 1999 }} |
| Fresh Meat 5
|rowspan="2"|Best Group Sex Scene—Video |{{nom}} |
| Tushy Heaven
|{{won}} |
| Sean Michaels
|Male Performer of the Year |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2000
|We Go Deep |Best Couples Sex Scene—Video |{{nom}} |rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=http://www.avn.com/awards/noms.html |title=AVN 2000 Nominations |author= |date=March 2, 2000 |access-date=February 16, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000302100333/http://www.avn.com/awards/noms.html |archivedate=March 2, 2000 }} |
| Sean Michaels
|Male Performer of the Year |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2006
|Sean Michaels |Male Performer of the Year |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"|2007
|Fuck |Best Anal Sex Scene – Film |{{nom}} |rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|url=http://www.avn.com/imagearchive/27/84/74/278474AVNNOMSFINALNOV20 |title=AVN Awards 2007 Nominees |author= |date=2006 |access-date=January 9, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061220061002/http://www.avn.com/imagearchive/27/84/74/278474AVNNOMSFINALNOV20 |archive-date=December 20, 2006 }} |
| Elastic Assholes 4
|Best Anal Sex Scene – Video |{{nom}} |
| Fuck
|rowspan="2"|Best Group Sex Scene – Film |{{nom}} |
| Janine's Been Blackmaled
|{{nom}} |
| Racial Tension
|Best Sex Scene Coupling – Video |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2008
|Orgy World: The Next Level 11 |Best Group Sex Scene – Video |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2009
|Succubus of the Rouge |Best Supporting Actor |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"|2010
|Semen Sippers 7 |Best Threeway Sex Scene |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite news|title=2010 NOMINEES |url=http://avnawards.avn.com/nominees/ |accessdate=20 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304153045/http://avnawards.avn.com/nominees/ |archivedate=4 March 2010 }} |
| Bobbi Starr & Dana DeArmond's Insatiable Voyage
|Best Double Penetration Sex Scene |{{won}} |
| rowspan="2"|LA Pink: A XXX Porn Parody
|Best Actor |{{nom}} |
| Best Double Penetration Sex Scene
|{{nom}} |
| Sean Michaels
|Male Performer of the Year |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2011
|Interracial Fuck Sluts |Best Three-Way Sex Scene (B/B/G) |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
|Orgy: The XXX Championship |Best Group Sex Scene |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2013
|School of Black Cock |Best Double Penetration Sex Scene |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|{{cite web|title=2013 AVN Awards Nominees |url=http://avnawards.avn.com/2013_nominations.pdf |publisher=AVN |accessdate=November 8, 2023 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328092725/http://avnawards.avn.com/2013_nominations.pdf |archivedate=March 28, 2013 }} |
| Elastic Assholes 10
|Best Three-Way Sex Scene (B/B/G) |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2014
|Double Black Penetration |Best Double Penetration Sex Scene |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2016
|True Lust |Best Three-Way Sex Scene - (B/B/G) |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|{{cite web|url=http://avnawards.avn.com/pages/8|title=2016 AVN Award Nominations|access-date=November 8, 2023|publisher=AVN|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120162020/http://avnawards.avn.com/pages/8|archive-date=November 20, 2015}} |
| Adriana's a Slut
|Best Group Sex Scene |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2017
|''This Ain't American Horror Story XXX |Best Supporting Actor |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|{{cite web|url=https://avn.com/awards/nominees|title=AVN Awards 2017 Nominees|author=|date=November 17, 2016|publisher=AVN|url-status=dead|accessdate=November 8, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113172207/https://avn.com/awards/nominees|archivedate=January 13, 2017}} |
| The Booty Queen 2
|Best Double Penetration Sex Scene |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2018
|Anal Warriors 3 |Best Anal Sex Scene |{{nom}} | |
| style="text-align:center;"|2020
|Hot for Transexuals 9 |Best Transgender Group Sex Scene |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|title=2020 Nominees|url=https://avn.com/awards/nominees|publisher=AVN|access-date=October 27, 2023}} |
| class="wikitable" style="width:70%;" |
| width=4%| Year
! style="width:35%;"| Nominated work and artist ! style="width:30%;"| Category ! style="width:8%;"| Result ! width=3%| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"|1996
|rowspan="3"|Sean Michaels |rowspan="3"|Male Fan Favorite |{{won}} |style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|[http://canbest.com/awards2.html "Adult Video Awards - The FANS OF X-RATED ENTERTAINMENT"], Retrieved 19 April 2007, Archived at: {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624122443/http://canbest.com/awards2.html |date=June 24, 2006 }} |
| style="text-align:center;"|1997
|{{won}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|1998
|{{won}} |
| class="wikitable" style="width:70%;" |
| width=4%| Year
! style="width:35%;"| Nominated work and artist ! style="width:30%;"| Category ! style="width:8%;"| Result ! width=3%| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"|2002
|rowspan="3"|Sean Michaels |Best Actor (Fan's Choice) |{{won}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2003
|Best Director (Fan's Choice) |{{won}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2007
|NightMoves Hall of Fame |{{won}} |
| class="wikitable" style="width:70%;" |
| width=4%| Year
! style="width:35%;"| Nominated work and artist ! style="width:30%;"| Category ! style="width:8%;"| Result ! width=3%| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"|2020
|rowspan="2"|Sean Michaels |rowspan="2"|Best Non-TS Male Performer |{{won}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|last=JC|first=Adams|date=May 10, 2020|title=Winners Announced for 2020 TEAs|url=https://www.xbiz.com/news/252067/winners-announced-for-2020-teas|publisher=XBIZ|access-date=October 31, 2023}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2021
|{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|title=2021 TEAs Nominees Announced|date=24 December 2020 |url=https://www.xbiz.com/news/256466/2021-teas-nominees-announced|publisher=XBIZ|access-date=October 31, 2023}} |
| class="wikitable" style="width:70%;"
|+ Urban X Awards |
| width=4%| Year
! style="width:35%;"| Nominated work and artist ! style="width:30%;"| Category ! style="width:8%;"| Result ! width=3%| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2008
|rowspan="2"|Sean Michaels |Best Male Performer |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|last=Hunter|first=Tod|date=April 21, 2008|title=Urban Spice Awards Talent Nominees Announced|url=https://www.xbiz.com/news/92808/urban-spice-awards-talent-nominees-announced|publisher=AVN|access-date=October 31, 2023}} |
| Urban X Hall of Fame
|{{won}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|last=Javors|first=Steve|date=June 11, 2008|title=Urban Spice Awards Announces First-Ever Winners|url=https://www.xbiz.com/news/95013/urban-spice-awards-announces-first-ever-winners|publisher=XBIZ|access-date=November 5, 2023}} |
| style="text-align:center;"|2011
|Cougar on the Prowl |Best 3 Way Sex Scene |{{nom}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|2012
|rowspan="2"|Anal Buffet 7 |Best 3-Way Sex Scene |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Bob|date=June 27, 2012|title=Urban X Awards Nominations Announced|url=https://www.xbiz.com/news/150466/urban-x-awards-nominations-announced|publisher=XBIZ|access-date=October 28, 2023}} |
| Best Anal Sex Scene
|{{nom}} |
| Black Diamonds
|rowspan="2"|Best Couples Sex Scene |{{nom}} |
| Daddy Knows Best
|{{nom}} |
| class="wikitable" style="width:70%;"
|+ XRCO Awards |
| width=4%| Year
! style="width:35%;"| Nominated work and artist ! style="width:30%;"| Category ! style="width:8%;"| Result ! width=3%| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| 1994
|Arabian Nights |Best Anal Sex Scene |{{won}} | |
| Slave to Love
|Group Sex Scene |{{won}} | |
| Sean Michaels
|Woodsman of the Year |{{won}} | |
| style="text-align:center;"|1999
|Tushy Heaven |Best Anal or D.P. Scene |{{won}} |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2000
|rowspan="2"|Sean Michaels |Male Performer of the Year |{{nom}} |style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|date=March 14, 2000|title=XRCO nominations|url=https://avn.com/business/articles/video/xrco-nominations-33751.html|publisher=AVN|access-date=November 6, 2023}} |
| XRCO Hall of Fame
|{{won}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Sean Michaels}}
- {{IMDb name|0584489}}
- {{iafd name|id=SMichaels|gender=male}}
- {{afdb name|id=150|gender=male}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Michaels, Sean}}
Category:20th-century African-American male actors
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