Sean Michaels (actor)

Sean Michaels
Michaels in Los Angeles in 2011
Born (1958-02-20) February 20, 1958 (age 66)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Years active1989–present

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.[1] 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.[2] He attended Boys and Girls High School, the oldest public high school in Brooklyn.[2][3] After moving to the West Coast, he worked as a nurse for an urgent care facility in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.[citation needed] 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.

Michaels gained recognition in the industry after appearing in his mentor John Leslie's 1990 film Oh What A Night.[4] Micheals received the XBIZ Award for Woodsman of the Year in 1994. The following year, he was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame.[5] 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.[6] In 2018, he performed in his first bisexual scene for Kick Ass Pictures.[7] 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."[7]

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.[8] Michaels name was already registered as a trademark, while Shawn Michaels had not registered his moniker.[9] Michaels announced he planned to countersue the WWE.[8] As of April 1, 2011, the trademark of "Sean Michaels" is no longer active.

Advocacy and impact

In 2016, Michaels was elected President of the Adult Performance Artists Guild, then the Adult Performers Actors Guild (APAG).[10][11] 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."[11] Amidst criticism from APAG members who saw him as reducing his union participation,[12] Michaels officially resigned from his role.[13] 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.[12]

In the May 1997 issue of Vibe, he was labeled "the preeminent force in interracial erotic entertainment."[14] 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.[15] 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."[3] Blue concluded by dubbing him "the most famous black man to ever appear in porn."[3]

Select appearances

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1990 Oh, What a Night! Richard Parker Breakthrough role [4]
2004 Thinking XXX Himself Documentary [16]
2012 Dave's Old Porn Episode: "Retro Orgy Night" [17]
2018 Black Bi Cuckolding First performance in bisexual pornography [7]
Hot For Transsexuals 6 First appearance in transgender pornography [18]
2022 Sex Before the Internet Episode: "Porn Awards" [19]

Awards and nominations

Michaels in 2005
AVN Awards
Year Nominated work and artist Category Result Ref.
1991 Nasty Girls Best Video Group Sex Scene Nominated [20]
1994 Anus and Andy Best Sex Scene, Video (Group) Nominated [21]
Sean Michaels Male Performer of the Year Nominated
1995 In the Bush Best Actor—Video Nominated [22]
Sean Michaels Hall of Fame Won [5]
Male Performer of the Year Nominated [22]
1996 Visions Best Couples Sex Scene—Video Nominated [23]
World Sex Tour, Vol. 1 Best Group Sex Scene—Video Won [24]
The Passion Most Outrageous Sex Scene Nominated [23]
1997 Sean Michaels Male Performer of the Year Nominated
1998 Butt Banged Naughty Nurses Best Anal Sex Scene—Video Won [25]
Dinner Party 2 Best Couples Sex Scene—Film Nominated [26]
Face Jam Best Supporting Actor—Video Nominated
Sean Michaels Male Performer of the Year Nominated
1999 Sean Michaels' Up Your Ass 7 Best Anal Sex Scene—Video Nominated [27]
Tushy Heaven Won [28]
Fresh Meat 5 Best Group Sex Scene—Video Nominated [27]
Tushy Heaven Won [28]
Sean Michaels Male Performer of the Year Nominated [27]
2000 We Go Deep Best Couples Sex Scene—Video Nominated [29]
Sean Michaels Male Performer of the Year Nominated
2006 Sean Michaels Male Performer of the Year Nominated [30]
2007 Fuck Best Anal Sex Scene – Film Nominated [31]
Elastic Assholes 4 Best Anal Sex Scene – Video Nominated
Fuck Best Group Sex Scene – Film Nominated
Janine's Been Blackmaled Nominated
Racial Tension Best Sex Scene Coupling – Video Nominated
2008 Orgy World: The Next Level 11 Best Group Sex Scene – Video Nominated [32]
2009 Succubus of the Rouge Best Supporting Actor Nominated [33]
2010 Semen Sippers 7 Best Threeway Sex Scene Nominated [34]
Bobbi Starr & Dana DeArmond's Insatiable Voyage Best Double Penetration Sex Scene Won [35]
LA Pink: A XXX Porn Parody Best Actor Nominated [34]
Best Double Penetration Sex Scene Nominated
Sean Michaels Male Performer of the Year Nominated
2011 Interracial Fuck Sluts Best Three-Way Sex Scene (B/B/G) Nominated [36]
2012 Orgy: The XXX Championship Best Group Sex Scene Nominated [37]
2013 School of Black Cock Best Double Penetration Sex Scene Nominated [38]
Elastic Assholes 10 Best Three-Way Sex Scene (B/B/G) Nominated
2014 Double Black Penetration Best Double Penetration Sex Scene Nominated [39]
2016 True Lust Best Three-Way Sex Scene - (B/B/G) Nominated [40]
Adriana's a Slut Best Group Sex Scene Nominated
2017 This Ain't American Horror Story XXX Best Supporting Actor Nominated [41]
The Booty Queen 2 Best Double Penetration Sex Scene Nominated
2018 Anal Warriors 3 Best Anal Sex Scene Nominated
2020 Hot for Transexuals 9 Best Transgender Group Sex Scene Nominated [42]
F.O.X.E. Awards
Year Nominated work and artist Category Result Ref.
1996 Sean Michaels Male Fan Favorite Won [43]
1997 Won
1998 Won
NightMoves Awards
Year Nominated work and artist Category Result Ref.
2002 Sean Michaels Best Actor (Fan's Choice) Won [44]
2003 Best Director (Fan's Choice) Won [45]
2007 NightMoves Hall of Fame Won [46]
Transgender Erotica Awards
Year Nominated work and artist Category Result Ref.
2020 Sean Michaels Best Non-TS Male Performer Won [47]
2021 Nominated [48]
Urban X Awards
Year Nominated work and artist Category Result Ref.
2008 Sean Michaels Best Male Performer Nominated [49]
Urban X Hall of Fame Won [50]
2011 Cougar on the Prowl Best 3 Way Sex Scene Nominated [51]
2012 Anal Buffet 7 Best 3-Way Sex Scene Nominated [52]
Best Anal Sex Scene Nominated
Black Diamonds Best Couples Sex Scene Nominated
Daddy Knows Best Nominated
XBIZ Awards
Year Nominated work and artist Category Result Ref.
2010 L.A. Pink Acting Performance of the Year — Male Nominated [53]
Sean Michaels Male Performer of the Year Nominated
2014 Diesel Dongs 28 Best Scene — Non-Feature Release Nominated [54]
2017 This Ain't American Horror Story XXX Best Supporting Actor Nominated [55]
2018 Anal Warriors 3 Best Sex Scene — Gonzo Release Nominated [56]
Sun-Lit Best Sex Scene — Vignette Release Nominated
2019 Carnal Best Sex Scene — All-Sex Release Nominated [57]
2021 The TransAngels Motorcycle Club Best Sex Scene — Trans Nominated [58]
XRCO Awards
Year Nominated work and artist Category Result Ref.
1994 Arabian Nights Best Anal Sex Scene Won
Slave to Love Group Sex Scene Won
Sean Michaels Woodsman of the Year Won
1999 Tushy Heaven Best Anal or D.P. Scene Won [59]
2000 Sean Michaels Male Performer of the Year Nominated [60]
XRCO Hall of Fame Won [61]

References

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