Fred Halsted was an American actor, pornographic film director, and adult film producer. He was born on April 29, 1945 in New York City, New York and died on July 18, 1992.
Halsted was an iconic figure in the 1970s porn industry and is known as the first openly gay porn star. He began his career as an actor in the 1970s, appearing in a number of pornographic films. His breakthrough role was in 1972’s Boys in the Sand, one of the first all-male pornographic films, which was directed by Wakefield Poole. The film was a success and Halsted became a sought-after actor in the porn industry.
He was also a prolific producer and director. He wrote, directed, and starred in many adult films, including Satan Was a Lady, which was a parody of Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal. Other films he directed include L.A. Tool & Die, Blue Movie, and Boys in the Sand II.
Halsted was known for his flamboyant persona and his wild and outrageous lifestyle. He was an advocate for the LGBT community and used his fame to speak out against discrimination and homophobia. He collaborated with a number of gay liberation organizations, including the Gay Liberation Front, the Gay Activists Alliance, and the Gay Rights National Lobby.
Halsted was also a prominent figure in the leather subculture, and was known for his bold and daring fashion sense. He frequently appeared in public dressed in leather and was a frequent visitor of the underground leather bars of the 1970s.
Halsted passed away in 1992 at the age of 47 due to complications from AIDS. He is remembered as an iconic figure in the LGBT community and the porn industry, and is often credited for paving the way for other LGBT actors and filmmakers. His legacy lives on through his many films and the impact he made on the industry.
