Remembering Al Parker: 25 Years Gone

[Moondance]

25 Years Ago, August 17, 1992, gay superstar, producer and director Al Parker died of complications from AIDS at age 40.

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5eFnyv9WKA/T7sszv0BCeI/AAAAAAAAAK4/dpaz9BFHdEs/s1600/5336016068_610105c0a2+(1).jpg

 

He was born Andrew ("Drew") Okun on June 25, 1952 in Natick, Massachusetts.

 

As a teenager, he convinced his parents to lend him their new Mustang so he could go to Woodstock. (He told them it was a classical music festival.) When the concert film of Woodstock was made, Drew Okun could be seen in the crowd on the movie poster.

 

After graduating high school, he moved to Los Angeles and landed a job as a butler at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion. It was there that he was discovered by adult film producer Rip Colt, who gave him the "manlier" name Al Parker. Soon "Al Parker" was starring in Colt's 8mm short films.

 

 

Not long afterward, Al Parker met Richard Cole, and the two began a long, open relationship.

 

 

In 1980, Parker and Cole started Surge Studios. In addition to starring in films, Parker began producing and directing. The partners were soon creating larger budget, themed films, many shot out of their home in Hermosa Beach, California.

 

As a result of how hard HIV and AIDS were hitting the adult film industry, and the gay community at large, Surge became one of the first studios to mandate safe sex practices during filming.

 

In 1986 Richard Cole died of AIDS.

 

 

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DQniLN9qDEI/UJy4GrXESyI/AAAAAAAAIhM/yHkTZmamfx0/s1600/unexpectedguest.jpg

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u4IveLD7HXU/TgRgjKQT3EI/AAAAAAAARUc/yrJ1ub6BZjg/s1600/al%20parker.jpg

 

 

Al Parker died in San Francisco. His ashes were scattered in the ocean near the nude section of San Gregorio State Beach.

 

He is the subject of Roger Edmonson's biography Clone: The Life and Legacy of Al Parker Gay Superstar.

 

 

His life is depicted in playwright Drew Sachs' play, aka Al Parker.

 

 

http://37.media.tumblr.com/77cb57e56aa6d8721d9f9f7d8164c71c/tumblr_n5tjcptAjy1qicuhxo1_1280.jpg

[P Gren]

thanks for that history

[Moondance]

http://40.media.tumblr.com/a913251ed1e6c9113bb5bfde8fc9f5f1/tumblr_nud9otJkvq1uv9wo6o1_1280.jpg

 

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-znf6qtW2OPQ/TaCAn32PNqI/AAAAAAAAGds/8EAzPkJ3e88/s1600/Gat+Icon+Al+Parker.bmp

 

 

 

 

http://www.manhuntdaily.com/files/Casey-Donovan-vintage-gay-porn-icon-precondom-era-Other-Side-of-Aspen-Al-Parker-blond-big-cock-bottom-6.jpg

 

 

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m17ge2WONh1rqm6dxo1_1280.jpg

 

This scene with Parker, Steve Taylor in the middle, and Will Seagers on the right is from Weekend Lockup (Falcon, 1981). "Steve Taylor" was the name Al Parker's partner in life and work, Richard Cole, used in his film appearances:

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RkdhP3AAChw/UlUHCKNGwqI/AAAAAAABXEE/OV3vWuDmwrY/s1600/alparker2+(1).jpg

 

 

[TruthBTold]

He really was a handsome guy.

[P Gren]

did either of you meet him?

[Moondance]

http://38.media.tumblr.com/94a403f8a4e996a8ae777cd89d02d27a/tumblr_myzq2w7B0R1tnf6t2o2_400.gif http://38.media.tumblr.com/864722a49b62b3cd77410010b251a6de/tumblr_myzq2w7B0R1tnf6t2o1_400.gif http://38.media.tumblr.com/94a403f8a4e996a8ae777cd89d02d27a/tumblr_myzq2w7B0R1tnf6t2o2_400.gif

 

 

http://68.media.tumblr.com/44919fb0d2ec56cd8da8212d96f960cb/tumblr_n5at6oOMX11t8sk4ko1_1280.jpg

 

 

http://68.media.tumblr.com/8267ffeb1c07de13d80bc07386e9273c/tumblr_oet19n7Kt61u1use6o3_540.gif

 

http://68.media.tumblr.com/6c7e7f6112167569adc0777f88ee2e08/tumblr_oet19n7Kt61u1use6o5_540.gif

 

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-81InNMera54/UDDqR7e_DeI/AAAAAAAAp_8/qs4CJxyjmpI/s640/Al+Parker.jpg

 

 

http://www.manhuntdaily.com/files/Al-Parkers-Rangers-vintage-gay-porn-classic-1984-film-Bijou-World-4.jpg

 

 

http://stimg.falconstudios.com/assets/2/64423/2_64423_1280.jpg

 

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nrxqk_7BFGU/TzzXLomukBI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/VXy7SNrD59M/s1600/AlParker-Flashback-001.jpg

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UKj2oQ6cNWY/UBdNVALFbaI/AAAAAAAAKfM/cCrIid9LIqM/s1600/al.jpeg

 

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hm0FLzHYedQ/Uq4wZ1qkcQI/AAAAAAABPlI/-9SXyrtuaSY/s1600/Al_Parker-05.jpg

[Moondance]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XRPMRYDg0AY/UXEbcjwOq2I/AAAAAAAAAW8/Qe2G-rW97JA/s1600/alparker6.jpg

 

With Bob Bishop:

http://ist1-4.filesor.com/pimpandhost.com/3/6/5/0/36505/h/G/X/x/hGXx/road08.jpg

[TruthBTold]

. . .

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hm0FLzHYedQ/Uq4wZ1qkcQI/AAAAAAABPlI/-9SXyrtuaSY/s1600/Al_Parker-05.jpg

 

One of the few men I like with long hair.

[Chuckball]

What a gorgeous guy. Thank you for sharing these pics.

[bigvalboy]

A stunning series...Thank you for posting.

This was my favorite photo...

 

[Moondance]

http://68.media.tumblr.com/14208018103813f92e787fcec6602101/tumblr_nafh4jvnui1ru0bpso1_1280.jpg