Funny thing I learned this morning as I was perusing the “Today’s Birthdays” list on IMDB – today is the birthday of Dick Smothers Jr, who turns 41 today. For those of you who are old enough to remember or who shared my love of retro-television, that name probably sounds familiar because it was the name of one of the two-brother act called The Smothers Brothers, who had a comedy show that got cancelled for being “too liberal”*. Tom and Dick Smothers were at the height of their fame during this time and went on to many guest appearances on other people’s shows, like Fantasy Island and Saturday Night Live.But this is not that Dick Smothers**.
This Dick Smothers (Jr) has a completely different line of work, having starred in such classic films as “100% Natural 2”, “Porn Town USA”, “The Sopornos 6” and “The New Devil in Miss Jones”. Yes, Dick Smothers Jr is an adult film actor, and apparently his body of work is impressive, having been previously nominated for an “Adult Film Oscar”**. He once said “What I really want to do is become the Orson Welles of porn, not only performing in these films, but writing, directing and doing the music”.
The interesting thing is that Dick Smothers Jr The Pornstar is the son of Dick Smothers The Famous Comedian! What’s more, while Dick Sr was apparently shocked at his son’s choice of career, he’s such a supporter of freedom of expression that he refuses to condemn it.
As much as I respect that position, it got me thinking what if in 30 years my kid comes up to me and says he/she is working in porn? I tried to think of what I would do, but my brain just wouldn’t let me consider it. On the one hand I’d want to support my kid, but on the other hand…eeeeewwwwww!
This is why I’m glad I don’t have kids yet. Purely to avoid the “Oh my god my son/daughter is a stripper/drug dealer/pornstar/bullfighter/reality television star/republican/cannibal” dilemma for a few more years.
* I know, I didn’t think that was possible during the ‘70s! Why didn’t they cancel shag carpeting for its liberal use of woven polyester fiber?
** That Dick Smothers is the one on the right, with the mustache
***According to his bio on IMDB – I did do some research for this post, but not *that* much
Comments
That's very bizarre about Dick Jr. - maybe the Smothers fortune wasn't as great as one might think? Maybe, as the child of a celeb, he thought Hollywood was his destiny but didn't have the talent to make it in the big leagues? (Watch out, TomKitten and Briterline II: Electric Boogaloo!)
I think I would die if my son became a porn actor. I'd probably tell my family that he was off in LA working as an extra in movies because I don't think any of them rent or own porn. They'd never know.
What industry do you expect that guy to be in?
So, you know, brace yourself for some shockers to come before things like speaking and walking...
:)