Herschel Savage

Herschel Savage (born Harvey Cohen, November 25, 1952 – October 8, 2023) was an American pornographic actor, director, and stage actor who appeared in over 1,000 adult films. In 2002, AVN ranked him 46th on their list of The Top 50 Porn Stars of All Time. He was also inducted into the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame. His mother battled with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Savage saw his first adult film The Nun's Bad Habit at a movie theater in Times Square. Savage initially sought a mainstream stage and screen career. He went on to become one of the biggest stars of the "Golden Age of Porn" in the 1970s and 1980s. That same year, he left pornography to work in sales and video distribution. In 2003, he performed a stand-up routine on an episode of the reality television series Family Business. Savage portrayed a detective in the 2008 parody film The Texas Vibrator Massacre. He appeared alongside other adult performers in the documentary series After Porn Ends 3 in 2018. Savage appeared in more than 1000 adult films.

Stage Savage performed under the name "Max Cohen" in a 2006 production of Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue. His performance drew positive reviews. Myron Meisel from The Hollywood Reporter remarked that he "engenders endearing empathy as the amiably deluded director Damiano." Steven Leigh Morris from LA Weekly deemed his performance "dramatic comedy terra firma". Savage credited the play with "renewing [his] love for performing on stage."

Savage appeared as himself in Pretty Filthy, a musical about the adult film industry. He also performed in the interactive dinner show Joni and Gina's Wedding. In July 2016, Savage premiered Porn Star: My Life In The Sex Industry, an autobiographical one-man show, which he successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign.

Personal life and death Savage was a practicing Buddhist. He resided in California.

Select performances Film

Television + NightMoves Awards Year Nominated artist Category Result 2007Herschel SavageBest Actor + XBIZ Awards Year Nominated work Category Result 201030 Rock: A XXX ParodyActing Performance of the Year - Male 2019Fallen II: Angels & DemonsBest Non-Sex Performance