Iconic Performer and Adult Film Star Jack Wrangler Dies at 62
Jack Wrangler, child TV star, porn icon, and Broadway performer, has died at age 62, Broadway World reports:
"Wrangler had been struggling with complications from lung disease. Wrangler, who got his start as a child television actor, went on to star in over 85 adult movies and became a porn legend. He married vocalist Margaret Whiting, and later found success in New York's legitimate theatre scene. An award-winning Cabaret director, Wrangler conceived and co-produced the 1997 Broadway Musical DREAM. A documentary on Jack's life, 'Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon' recently won the GayVN Award For Best Alternative Release."
Watch the trailer for Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted Apr. 7,2009 at 6:20 PM EST by Andy Towle in Adult, Deaths, News | Permalink
I liked him because he seemed to always be having genuine fun ;-)
Posted by: Jano Rubio | Apr 7, 2009 6:37:48 PM
Saddened to read this. I grew up fantasizing about Jack in the late 70’s. I would see his picture week after week in the movie section of the Washington Post and wish that I could go see his movies but was under age and lived to far out, dang-it.
Posted by: Bojo | Apr 7, 2009 6:47:52 PM
This is heartbreaking. He was such a sweetheart -- just a really nice guy. The last time I met him, I remarked that I wish he didn't smoke so much, and he just laughed and said, "The damage is already done." If nothing else, I'm really glad he got to enjoy the praise that came to the documentary on him that Jeffrey Schwarz made.
Posted by: MrRoboto | Apr 7, 2009 7:04:07 PM
I had such a crush on him when I was younger--I'd see these ads in the back pages of magazines... let's just say he was a big part of my fantasies growing up.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 7, 2009 7:10:28 PM
I had such a crush on him when I was younger--I'd see these ads in the back pages of magazines... let's just say he was a big part of my fantasies growing up.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 7, 2009 7:10:28 PM
how odd. I watched this on you tube last night after not seeing it for a couple years.
very sad.
Posted by: william ww | Apr 7, 2009 7:12:08 PM
Who?
Posted by: Micah J. | Apr 7, 2009 7:17:58 PM
Very sad. He led a, well, very complicated life. I just watched him in "The Bus is Coming," his sole(?) non-adult film, a few weeks ago.
Posted by: Paul | Apr 7, 2009 7:25:14 PM
i remember seeing a video of him sitting on another guy's hand. no the whole hand, but four fingers. am i disremembering that?
jack wrangler, RIP.
Posted by: nic | Apr 7, 2009 7:27:51 PM
Wrangler was done making films when I was a kid, but in my late teens, I got the opporutnity to house sit for my dentist, who happened to ba a gay man. I was a buttoned down, very square, young guy who was afraid of everything. Imagine that first night that I retired to the bedroom, openned the television cabinet and discovered an enormous collection of gay adult videos. It was the era of the shaved, boyish looking porn star, and many of the videos reflected that. I probably didn't get more than an hours sleep that first night, transfixed by not only the man on man sex, but just by the sheer revelation that there were so many gay men out there, and so many appeared to be just like every other guy I worked with or went to school with. Nevertheless, it was when I stumbled upon an older "vintage" film, starring Jack Wrangler, that I found my heart beat in a different rhythmic movement; the object of my lust suddenly made me swoon. Due to that fleeting moment, when I entered the gay world I did so integrating sex and love from the start (not that that is a good or a bad thing, it was merely my experience), just knowing that out there was my very own Jack Wrangler to make passionate love to.
I'm so sorry to see him go, and to go at such a young age, but he will live on in my adolescent memories, and an image of him shall flicker in my mind's eye, when I look at my husband (my own Wrangler) and I find my heart beat in that same unique rhythm.
Posted by: Mike | Apr 7, 2009 7:29:36 PM
Growing up in the 70s, my family subscribed to WHT http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wometco_Home_Theater, a precursor to HBO. It showed the atrocious MAME (1974) with Lucille Ball six times per day, every day, and scrambled porn films at night. I'd never seen a porno until the day I figured out how to jimmy the box and up popped THE FILTHY RICH (1980) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083939/ with Jack Wrangler and Vanessa Del Rio. It was lust at first sight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g11be4XY4Mo
Posted by: JohnInManhattan | Apr 7, 2009 7:53:33 PM
So much sadness for poor Margaret Whiting. I know she really loved him and will miss him terribly. My deepest, heartfelt sympathy for her.
Posted by: MDtopdad | Apr 7, 2009 8:08:09 PM
Utterly fascinating guy. It's the end of an era.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Apr 7, 2009 8:18:08 PM
Absolutley my favorite porn star ever.
He truly is an Icon.
My heart goes out to the talented Margaret Whiting...they seemed so happy together.
Posted by: Stephen | Apr 7, 2009 8:23:48 PM
They sell his jeans at K Mart. Next to the acid washed Bugle Boys.
I don't know any porn people from the olden days, but he's kind of hot.
Posted by: paul c | Apr 7, 2009 9:43:20 PM
For those of you who saw the film, I share my impression -- [the real] Jack Wrangler and Barry Manilow. Strangely similar. Discuss.
Posted by: Jack off | Apr 7, 2009 11:07:19 PM
a real class act. It really does feel like the last part of that era has passed. What a great time it was when sex was glamorous, carefree and everything and anything seemed possible. It is ironic that he has passed at the the time when suddenly there are a whole new set of possibilities (VT and Iowa) So a new era begins. What an interesting and great guy though
Posted by: David | Apr 8, 2009 2:07:17 AM
ANATOMY OF AN ICON is a terrific documentary. I highly recommend renting it from netflix or elsewhere. It certainly changed my mind about Jack Wrangler and made me respect him tremendously. This is very sad news that he has passed away.
Posted by: Jim | Apr 8, 2009 8:52:13 AM
Very sad. I saw "Anatomy of an Icon" about a month ago and thought he seemed such a kind, funny guy. He had a very interesting life.
Posted by: dm | Apr 8, 2009 12:13:23 PM
Homosexuality is an abomination
- Leviticus 18
Where their fire will never be put out
- Mark 9
Posted by: Antioch | Apr 8, 2009 1:21:34 PM
OMG, Johninmanhattan, that was my first Jack Wrangler film too! Only I didn't have to unscramble anything, I just found it in Dad's secret VHS collection. LMAO! I was transfixed and little did I know at the time that years earlier Jack was at the top of the gay porn food chain. He will be greatly missed.
Oh, and Antioch, you pathetic neanderthal, make sure you go check out www.gofuckyourselfinhell.com. Spam is not welcomed ANYWHERE.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Apr 8, 2009 5:14:24 PM
@FIZZIEKRUNTNT
How sad I was that www.gofuckyourselfinhell.com wasn't a real website designed for the pathetic right wing...I was hoping for a link to send to some distant family...
Posted by: NCNyrk | Apr 8, 2009 7:22:35 PM
62 is a long life...not average in the developed world, but long enough.
Posted by: TANK | Apr 8, 2009 7:32:47 PM
really ! Margaret Whiting ? What an odd couple indeed.
Posted by: richard s | Apr 8, 2009 8:01:14 PM
I remember JW films as if they were yesterday, ahh the late 70's early 80's... a friend in NYC who was a flight attendant on PAN AM told me how he once met JW on a flight, pretended he didn't know who he was and had hot sex with him, and his dialogue was right out of the films...memories light the corners of my mind...you will be missed Jack! Love and peace, rest forever!
Posted by: Jeff | Apr 8, 2009 8:20:06 PM