Iconic gay porn star of the 1970s and '80s Jack Wrangler, born John Robert Stillman in 1946, died of emphysema on April 7, 2009, TLA Releasing announced. He was the subject of TLA documentary "Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon," directed by Jeffrey Schwarz and reviewed by Joe Saporito in these pages last summer. In 1977, Wrangler met noted singer Margaret Whiting at Ted Hook's Backstage Restaurant in New York and they began their long relationship. They married in 1994.
With Carl Johnes, Wrangler wrote a biography, "The Jack Wrangler Story, or What's a Nice Boy Like You Doing?" which was published by St. Martin's Press in 1984. After he retired from the porn industry, for which he made more than 80 films, both gay and hetero, Wrangler returned to a career in legit theater and musical theater.
Wrangler's gay films included "A Night at the Adonis," "Heavy Equipment," "Hothouse," "Sex Magic," and "Kansas City Trucking Company." Among his hetero films were "The Devil in Miss Jones, Part II," "Two China Sisters," and "Jack and Jill." After the AIDS crisis began, he participated in such benefits as "Stripping for AIDS" at the Adonis Theater in 1986.
On March 28, in San Francisco, "Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon" won the 2009 Gay VN Award for Best Alternative Release." On receiving this recognition, director Schwarz said, "Making this film was a great opportunity to pay tribute to a man who lives his life with grace, humor and confidence, and was a role model for an entire generation of men. Jack and the filmmakers he worked with were truly pioneers in the industry, and I hope this film can remind us that porn can be revolutionary, inspirational and just plain fun."
TLA Director of Publicity and Marketing Lewis Tice saluted Wrangler, saying, "Jack was one of the earliest pioneers in helping to bring awareness to the gay community by being open about who he was and following his dreams. We are deeply saddened as he is an essential part of our gay history. Our sympathies go out to his family."
