RIP William Margold
Adult Industry Legend William Margold Passes Away
AVN
By Peter Warren, Dan Miller
January 18, 2017
Adult industry legend and AVN Hall of Famer William
Margold died Tuesday night during the broadcast of his program on
XXXPornStarRadio.com from his Los Angeles apartment. He was 73.
Though few details are yet available about the cause of
Margold's death, close friend Joanne Cachapero told AVN, "It was sudden
and apparently he did not suffer."
News of Margold's passing spread like wildfire this
afternoon around the halls of the AVN Show's opening day following a post on
fellow Golden Age icon Herschel Savage's Facebook page at around 2:30 p.m. that
read, "I am saddened to learn of the passing of Bill Margold. He was doing
his radio show last night when he left us. Goodbye for now old friend."
Getting started as a performer in some of the most
celebrated movies of triple-X cinema—including 1978's Lust at First Bite (aka
Dracula Sucks), 1979's Olympic Fever and 1982's Pleasure Dome—Margold went on
to become the head of trade advocacy group the Free Speech Coalition, as well
as either founded or co-founded the X-Rated Critics Organization (XRCO), Fans
of X-Rated Entertainment (FOXE) and the PAW Foundation. He also for years
hosted his own Legends of Erotica induction ceremony during the AVN Adult
Entertainment Expo at Raymond Pistol's Showgirl Video on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Of all his ventures, Margold was particularly proud of
PAW—an acronym for Protecting Adult Welfare—which he created to assist adult
performers in all areas of their lives. Once married to 1970s porn actress
Drea, Margold was in the 2010 documentary After Porn Ends, which is about life
after being in the porn industry.
AVN Founder Paul Fishbein reflected on Margold's
unparalleled impact on adult: "Bill Margold was a bit of a renaissance man
who spanned almost the entire history of the adult industry. He was an actor,
writer, director and an industry spokesman and historian. I respect him most
for his PAW foundation, as he worked tirelessly on behalf of industry performers,
in particular young girls who were in need of help or mentoring.
"I also served with him on the board of the Free
Speech Coalition for almost 10 years," Fishbein continued. "He was a
contrarian and a pain in the ass, but it was all for the common good for First
Amendment protection, which he cared about very deeply."
X-Rated Critics Organization chariman "Dirty
Bob" Krotts, who charged Margold with overseeing the Hall of Fame
induction portion of the annual XRCO Awards Show for many years, echoed Fishbein's
comments, offering, "Bill's love of the adult industry was often masked by
his gruff exterior. Industry history was near the top of his list of important
aspects—he was entrenched in tradition. Now Bill is a real Legend of Erotica.
He will be missed."
Veteran adult journalist Jared Rutter, who was closely
involved with the XRCO from its early years, commented, "He was really a
one-of-a-kind person. He's going to be missed by a lot of people in a lot of
areas."
Rutter noted that Margold co-founded XRCO with the late
Jim Holliday, who long was considered the go-to adult industry historian. Then
when Holliday passed away 10 years ago, Margold inherited the mantle.
"He certainly has a legitimate claim to be called an
industry historian," Rutter said. "He was pretty much there from the
beginning. He saw many changes happen, many people come and go. I think he'll
be most remembered for his work with talent. He was very fond of talent. He
respected them and he helped guide quite a few careers. People like Amber Lynn.
I think he was influential with Nina [Hartley] too. I think more than a
historian, he was really an active part of history and I think that's what he
will be remembered for."
Rutter added, "Of course he was very vocal about
everything. It's a shock. I thought he'd just go on forever."
Contemporary Richard Pacheco told AVN, "Bill Margold
was a huge personality. Abrasive as poison oak when he wanted to be and as
charming as your favorite uncle when he wanted to be that."
Nicknamed Papa Bear, Margold from 1972 to 2007 appeared
in more than 250 movies, including several dozen as a non-sex performer. He is
also credited for giving Ron Jeremy his nickname "The Hedgehog," and
appeared in the 2001 biopic Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy.
Born in Washington, D.C., Margold graduated from
California State University at Northridge, with a degree in Journalism. He was
the son of Nathan Margold, a Harvard Law School graduate who went on to become
Solicitor General of the Department of the Interior under President Harry S.
Truman. Nathan was also the author of a landmark study commissioned by the
NAACP that studied public education for Black Americans.
Before getting into XXX, Margold reportedly worked as a
probation officer, and later worked with agent Reb Sawitz in the office of
Reb's Pretty Girls modeling agency, helping ease actresses' entry into the
industry and helping to find work for them with a then-small but growing number
of directors and production companies. It was there that he gained a reputation
among performers as a "go to" advocate for them—a description many
talent veterans, both retired and still working, continue to hold.
The Adult Performers Actors Guild (APAG) and Adult Film
Crew Local 424 posted this announcement on their joint Facebook page: “It is
with extreme sadness and remorse that the officers of the adult performers
actors Guild have to announce the passing of adult industry historian, Bill
Margold. Bill should always be remembered for the contributions that he gave
this industry most importantly by recognizing and appreciating the actors and
actresses from the golden era and beyond.”
Hall of Fame actress Brittany Andrews added, “Wow, just
heard the news that an old crony has passed away. A Legend among Legends in the
Adult Business. Jeesh, I met him when I first got into doing films, over 20
years ago. I hosted a talk show called ‘Talking Blue’ for 9 years, that he
participated in quite often. I know over the years, one might say he had a bit
of a crass side. However he was always super sweet to me. He very much was an
important and integral part of the business, with a loud voice that took
action. As a crass bitch myself, I appreciated his demeanor, especially since
it was never directed at me LOL I for one, will miss him. RIP Babe.”
Veteran director Luc Wylder posted, “Ok, Bill, William
Margold passed away at work, not in a hospital with tube down his throat. This
is exactly how he would have wanted it to end. What a performance. CUT! Ok,
kill the lights, it's a wrap.”
Close friend John Douglas posted this remembrance on
Facebook: “Years ago I did a cable show about The Industry and met a ton of
really cool and amazing people. The guy that really opened the door for us was
William Margold. Bill. Poppa Bear. The Legend. We became close friends because
we loved to verbally spar. Constantly. For years after the show, we would get
together to hang out, go out to dinner and I would taunt him mercilessly.
Didn't matter because Bill was always right (in his mind). To outsiders it must
have looked like we were lifelong enemies. But we did that because we loved
each other.
“My partner from that show just texted me letting me know
he died suddenly and they just found him about an hour ago. I think the shock
of the news is starting to set in. I'm numb.
"I could memorialize him for hours with stories from
back in the day (and the narcissist that he was, he would love it) and it seems
so surreal right now thinking back on that. But maybe some other time. Gotta
absorb this first.”
For its part, the Free Speech Coalition issued the
following statement:
"The Free Speech Coalition expresses deep sadness at
the death of former FSC Director William Margold. Bill was one of the founders
of the modern adult industry both as an actor in the Golden Age of film and in
his lengthy career as an advocate for the industry and its performers.
"Jeffrey Douglas, FSC Board Chair, remembered Bill’s
contributions to the industry and the organization:
"'Without Bill Margold, the Free Speech Coalition
likely would have passed into history in 1995, as had its many predecessors. At
that point, interest in the organization had dropped to the point that there
were insufficient nominees to fill the Board of Directors, and Bill selected a
group to fill the numerous vacancies. His slate, (along with Paul Fishbein,
then publisher of AVN) was accepted by acclamation at a general membership
meeting in Las Vegas. From that the Free Speech Coalition was reborn.'
"Bill viewed the adult industry, and especially the
performing artists, as his family. He was driven by his pursuit of what he
believed was in the best interest of talent. Fiercely passionate and happily
cantankerous, Bill took pride in plaguing those whom he perceived as his
opponents. His gift for epigrams was constantly put to the service of
advocating for the 'Family of X.'
"Bill left the Board of Directors of the Free Speech
Coalition in the early 2000s with deep regret. He had a vision for both the
trade association and the industry that was uncompromising and zealous.
"Bill knew he was unique and reveled in that
position. We bow our heads at his passing."
During his tenure with Free Speech, Margold inaugurated a
unique type of fundraiser for the organization: naked bowling. Each year,
beginning in about 1994, he arranged for a bowling alley somewhere in the city
to close its doors to the public for one evening and allow adult stars to doff
their clothes and bowl, and FSC charged fans for the privilege of watching it
all happen. The fan attendees were also able to photograph the stars and buy
videotapes and other items they had for sale. In later years, when the bowling
alleys refused to allow complete nudity, the event was done in skimpy bikinis.
Adult performer Mr. Marcus shared his own sentiments
about Margold, who had an office next to his in Van Nuys for almost 10 years.
“Bill came from an era when what we do for a living was
very risqué but artsy and he was very supportive of everyone who followed after
that,” Mr. Marcus said. “I consider him and always will consider him a true
porn historian. We need people like him to connect the dots. He spoke on the
industry. He talked to mainstream, he dropped quotes. He was a creative cat,
and he had love for performers. He called all of us his ‘kids.’ Coming from his
era, I can see why he said that.”
Mr. Marcus recalled that he and Margold "used to
argue about all kinds of things."
“He didn’t think much of me. I had to prove myself to
him," he continued. "There were many a nights I’d sit there and talk
to Jim South and many nights I’d sit there and talk to Bill. He always had on
the flower Hawaiian shirt like he was on vacation.”
Mr. Marcus added, “He was a big guy and he had a big
heart and I guarantee that’s what he’s going to be remembered for. He spoke his
mind, he wasn’t afraid to say shit, but deep down inside that dude had a huge
heart.”
MARGOLD,
William
Born:
10/2/1943, Washington, DC, U.S.A.
Died: 1/17/2017,
Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
William Margold’s
westerns – creative assistant, 2nd unit director:
Space Virgins – 1984 [2nd unit director]
Dirty Western II: Smokin’ Guns – 1994 [creative
assistant]
RIP Angel. If you read Jim Hollidays book Only the Best from the early 80,s Bill Margold is portrayed as the sheriff from High Noon who is up in the bell tower with a sniper rifle. I met him many times at CES shows as well as XRCO awards shows over the years. He was one of the good guys in an industry with a lot of slime.
ReplyDeleteFROM THE COLONEL RIP MY FIEND OF OVER 40YRS!! WHO LOVES YOU BABY!!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear/read this about our very good friend Bill Margold. In the day we had fun together, maybe to much fun...
ReplyDelete