Jack Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon
November 11th, 2008 by TyRain
Back in the 1960´s, pornography was a shadowy realm, forcing gay men to bodybuilding and physique magazines to get their fill of near naked male bodies. When Jack Wrangler debuted in 1970´s “New York Construction Company”, he emerged as the more realistic type of self-assured gay man – muscular, masculine, sexy and proudly gay.
Born Jack Stillman to wealth and celebrity on November 11, 1946 in Beverly Hills, his father being the producer of the hit western series Bonanza, Jack came to acknowledge his sexuality with the sight of a young Michael Landon.
Jack honed his acting and directing talents, but when show business success eluded him, he turned to tending bar and strip-tease dancing in the growing gay community of West Hollywood, christening himself Jack Wrangler.
The Jack Wrangler character was a deliberate construction, a carefully cultivated image of a rough and tumble, beer drinking drifter who dug guys in a macho kind of way. Wrangler quickly became a sensation, doing nude modeling and appearing on the cover of the first issue of Mandate magazine. Gay men saw Jack Wrangler as a hero and role model.
A cavalcade of movie roles followed - sailors, cowboys, and construction workers – Jack Wrangler played them all.
Not content to be a big fish in a small pond during the sexual revolution of the 1970’s, he decided to cross over into the more lucrative straight porn world and became an even bigger success.
While in New York doing a live one-man show, Jack met legendary vocalist Margaret Whiting, 22 years his senior, and much to their surprise they inexplicably fell in love. Although their relationship confounded their friends, as well as Jack’s gay audience, the couple have weathered the storm and remained together for 30 years.
In this highly recommended documentary, Jack Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon, Jack Stillman looks back over his life and career – a fascinating story of self-invention and determination. Although he has gone on to an accomplished career in legitimate theater, he knows he will always be known as Jack Wrangler, former porn star.
This post dated November 11th - Happy Birthday Jack Wrangler. You are quite a charismatic and sexy looking 62-year-old.
Posted in Celebrity Men, Gay Gift Ideas, Porn Stars
