Interview with Jeff Stryker

One gets the impression that Jeff Stryker is a pretty nice guy. I wasn't really sure what to expect of the guy that I, like so many others, had jacked off to a million times or so. But minutes into our brief interview (at the end of the Grabby Award Show), I got the distinct feeling that Stryker is on top of his game in a big way, yet completely down-to-earth.

Moments before our conversation, Stryker graced the stage in a bathrobe, then revealed a better-looking-than-ever birthday suit for the adoring audience. Nice pecker!

Now back in clothes, Stryker joined Gay Chicago Magazine's Harry Bayer and yours truly for a glimpse of the guy behind the legend. I must say that writing while conversing is never an enviable task, resulting in a cluttered note pad that I now try to decipher for this article. Amidst doodles of dangling penises, I have written, "Jeff Stryker Does Hard Times-play." I suppose we can start there. Though at the end of it's run, Jeff brightens visibly at the very mention of the play.

"I sort of poke fun at the Jeff Stryker porn god image throughout the performance," says Stryker. Centered in an area of prison known as "Homo Central," the play is about Jeff being tossed in prision for indecent exposure and his subsequent interactions with the other inmates and guards.

Turning now to all things porn, Stryker explains his appearance at the Grabby Awards Show: "It's the only porn awards show that I have done. When Ralph Paul called me with the idea, I was excited about it immediately. While fans everywhere have been great to me, I feel a real connection to Chicago and knew the Grabbys would feature a lively crowd." Lively indeed, as the crowd went bonkers over Stryker's impromptu show-all stage appearance.

Perhaps the most interesting revelation from Stryker is that his sexuality is almost entirely reserved for video shoots. "It may surprise some to hear that I'm not out 'running the streets' and definitely not into escorting. I've had some very attractive offers that way, but it just doesn't interest me. I get all the sex I need while the cameras are rolling," explained Stryker. With 29 titles to his name, Stryker has certainly paid his dues.

On getting into the business, Stryker credits a close friendship with director John Travis and a picture of the late John Holmes. "When I heard about how endowed this Holmes guy was, I felt compelled to see a picture, I guess I had imagined something else. Upon seeing his picture I realized that my dick also qualified as huge, something that I wasn't terribly aware of before that. I found myself thinking, 'If this guy can become that big of a name, I can too' and decided to check it out."

So what else about Jeff Stryker gave me the "nice guy" impression? Aside from being relaxed and friendly, it was the way he spoke so proudly of single-parenting his 11-year-old son. "It can be a challenge at times for sure, but he is the most rewarding part of my life. He's great."

We look forward to seeing Jeff Stryker at next year's Grabby show, schedule permitting.