GIO scores an exclusive interview with Gus Mattox who was named GAYVN Performer of the Year at last weeks award show in Los Angeles.  

© Photo courtesy of Gus Mattox 

In his mid forties, Gus Mattox has achieved success on stage as an actor, in musical brilliance as a composer and now has become one of the hottest men performing in gay porn.  Unabashedly candid in his opinions and writings he has been tapped by some of the most well known gay publications of today as a writer and was thrilled when he was recently asked by Unzipped Magazine to contribute.  He first began his porn career as a Falcon Exclusive and when they “had both gotten what they wanted from the deal” he moved on to work with other studios including Rascal Video, Pacific Sun, Jet Set, Unzipped Video, Lucas Entertainment, Titan Media and most recently became a Buckshot Man and is starring in Buckshot Productions latest release BIG RIG.  This latest project “is a pinnacle for me” indicated Mattox during our interview; as he always admired the men of COLT.  Gus has that rare combination of strikingly handsome looks and brains that are equally impressive.  In today’s world of porn, Gus has set himself apart from the pack by consistently delivering exceptional performances both in front of the camera and off.  An industry insider told me “Gus is one of the few performers that all of us at the various studios mutually agree is an absolute joy to work with.”  With accolades like that, it is no wonder that he was named the  GAYVN Performer of the Year last week in L.A..  The following interview will give you a little more insight into what makes this man one of today’s most admired gay porn stars.  Enjoy! 

GIO     Gus, I would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me. 

Gus    My pleasure.  I’m just back from L.A. and totally jet-lagged, so it may be page after page of drivel.  But let’s give it a go. 

GIO     Drivel?  I highly doubt that…I must admit I am a bit intimidated doing this interview with you (that is a rarity for me)!  In my opinion, you are perhaps the most intelligent and well rounded porn star I have interviewed to date, not to mention one of the sexiest too! 

Gus    Aw, now c’mon!  You’re just trying to give an old man a big head.  (But thank you.) 

© Photo courtesy of Channel 1 Releasing 

GIO     I have read some of your writings and I must say I am impressed with your way with words.  What inspires you to offer the intelligent insight you have into gay life and one of my favorite topics the use of the term “straight acting?” 

Gus    As my friends will happily tell you, I have an opinion on just about everything.  I love to write and I found that if I leaven my treatises with a bit of humor people seem to consider them more than an out-and-out rant. 

GIO     Many of your fans may not know that you are an accomplished musician and talented stage performer, appearing in the Broadway tours of Cabaret and 42^nd Street and scoring music for the Oscar nominated film Metropolitan.  Please share with the readers what those experiences were like for you. 

Gus    Gosh, that would take a lot of space.  I focused on composing for a solid decade.  My work was split into three main areas:  off-off-Broadway theater (music and lyrics), TV themes and jingles and independent movie scores.  I loved doing the movies and the theater and so, naturally, I made the most money in TV.     

© Photo courtesy of Gus Mattox 

GIO     In January you bid farewell to your website www.gusmattox.com after two years of incredible essay’s and insight into you life (the site is still up and running).  Your last entry was very powerful as you discussed the passing of your lover Bruce in 1996 and his overall impact on your life.  What was the turning point for you in deciding to stop updating your website? 

Gus    Most of the second half of last year was spent renovating a little cottage I moved into in September.  Basically, nothing much else was going on in my life and I found myself frantically trying to come up with material for my Calendar page (my blog)  I didn’t want it to devolve into something trite, so I decided to put the site into suspended animation.  (There is a new page that shows up if there’s anything to report.)  Interestingly, mere days after posting that last piece I got an offer to write a monthly column for Unzipped Magazine.  It’s going to resemble my website in tone and subject matter (meaning whatever I feel like writing about.)  By the way, the byline will be Tom Judson, which is, of course, my real name.

© Photo courtesy of Gus Mattox 

GIO     In your writings you indicate that Chi Chi Larue is who brought you into the world of Gay Porn.  What made you decide to pursue this avenue at the age of 40? 

Gus    Well, I was asked, for one thing.  I reached a point in my life where I stopped worrying about other people’s opinions.  I thought it might be fun (it is) and I thought I might learn something about the world and about myself (I did.) 

GIO     You have written that you are amazed that some of the men who appear in gay porn are straight married men and you even tried to find out from Chi Chi Larue as to what drives these men to do porn.  You mentioned that you would try to gain insight into what drives these men, have you discovered any insight into why there are so many gay-for-pay actors in gay porn and why they do it? 

Gus    NO!  I am at a total loss as to what’s going on with the straight guys.  I suppose I should ask one of them at some point. 

GIO     As a self proclaimed “old man” in porn, what do you attribute your success to in being a mid-40’s male performer in an industry loaded with younger more naïve guys? 

Gus    I wouldn’t begin to guess why people like me in movies—that’s so subjective.  But I do think I became visible pretty quickly because of my theatrical background, my exclusive deal with Falcon and yes, my age. 

GIO     Congratulations on being named GAYVN Performer of the Year last week in L.A.! Tell me how it felt to win this award at this point in your career and attending the awards last week? 

Photo courtesy of GAYVN 

Gus    I was so certain I was going to lose that I suggested to my friend that we leave before the show was over to beat the crush at the party.  Fortunately she insisted we stay.  I’m not going to lie—it felt great to win that award in particular.   

GIO     How do you think this award will help your future in gay porn? 

Gus    Hah!  I make no predictions! 

GIO     Tell me about being named a Falcon Exclusive and your decision to move on and pursue other studio options? 

Gus    As I mentioned above, I thought being with one studio at the outset of my career would be wise because of the publicity that comes with an exclusive contract.  A year later we had both gotten what we wanted from the deal and mutually agreed to end it. 

GIO     Your latest movie release is with Buckshot Productions, BIG RIG; tell me about this film and your experience being a Buckshot Man. 

© Photo courtesy of Buckshot Productions 

Gus    The movie was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had.  The production was elaborate, the cast and crew was top-notch and at the end of the week I really didn’t want to go home. When I was younger and first started looking at porn, the COLT guys were it as far as I was concerned.  To be associated with that studio (yes, I know—it’s technically a Buckshot Productions picture) was pretty much the pinnacle for me. 

GIO     Your first film for Buckshot Productions was LeatherBound, tell me about your performance in this film and what stood out as a highlight for you. 

Gus with Director Kristofer Weston

© LeatherBound photos courtesy of Buckshot Productions 

Gus    My most vivid memory of that shoot is a full-page monologue I had to deliver in one take.  We got it (several times, in fact) but I never felt I had really got a hold of the thing.  I felt like I was trying to remember the words rather than acting.   

GIO     If you could have anyone co-star with you in your next film, who would it be and why? 

Gus    Discretion, my dear… 

GIO     If it could be a mainstream celebrity, who would it be? 

GUS   Dennis Quaid. 

GIO     One of my favorite things to watch in gay porn is the bloopers.  What is the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you while shooting a scene? 

Gus    In The Recruits we shot out in the woods and were inundated with gnats.  In the finished movie you can see all of us squinting and spitting in some scenes.

GIO     You are a very hirsute and handsome man, what do you do to keep yourself in good health and the amazing physical shape you are in? 

Gus    Well, I’m not that hirsute!  I just exercise like crazy and eat really well.  Simple and, at times, a pain in the ass. 

GIO     Do you watch your own scenes when the films are completed? 

Gus    Very rarely. 

GIO     What do you consider your best physical attribute and if you could change anything on your body what would it be? 

Gus    The back of my left elbow is really cute (laughs).  I’m not too crazy about my Neanderthal profile, but I guess I’m stuck with it. 

GIO     Tell me about the significance of your tattoos? 

Gus    They’re both classic tattoo designs—a sailor and a Chinese dragon.  No personal significance to me. 

© Photo courtesy of Gus Mattox

GIO     If I were to ask your two closest friends what your best qualities are what would they tell me? 

Gus    I’m painfully honest and I’m not afraid to learn new things. 

GIO     What would they say is your biggest opportunity for improvement? 

Gus    Patience (or lack thereof.) 

GIO     You have stated that you have been out to your family since the age of 17 and that they know about your career in porn and are supportive.  What advice do you have for other porn performers struggling with not being completely open and honest about their work? 

Gus    Tell everyone.  They’re all going to find out sooner or later anyway. 

GIO     As a young man in school were you popular with all the other kids in school? 

Gus    With the girls! 

GIO     Aside from porn, what would you consider has been your greatest accomplishment thus far in life? 

Gus    Making my late husband very happy for six years. 

GIO     Outside of porn, what are you passionate about? 

Gus    Music, politics, food. 

GIO     If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? 

Gus    My cat.  She’s mean and cuddly at the same time. 

GIO     Boxers or briefs? 

Gus    Briefs. 

© Photo courtesy of Falcon Studios 

GIO     Is there one sexual fantasy that you have yet to fulfill and are willing to share? 

Gus    Yes and no.   

GIO     What is the best pick-up line ever used on you? 

Gus    “My friends told me you’re my date for the evening.” 

GIO     Would you consider yourself a romantic at heart or other and why? 

Gus    I’m a pragmatic romantic. 

GIO     Do you have someone special in your life at the moment? 

Gus    Nope. 

GIO     What is currently in your CD player player? 

Gus    I listen to my iPod on shuffle all the time so God knows what’s up next. 

GIO     What is next on the horizon for Gus Mattox? 

Gus    The Unzipped column and a couple of other writing projects. 

GIO     Do you foresee yourself getting back on the stage or composing more music in the future? 

Gus    I hope so.  I’ve been auditioning lately, but no takers. 

GIO     Can your fans still contact you through your website? 

© Photo courtesy of Gus Mattox 

Gus    Absolutely!  Everything is still there.  It will stay pretty static for the time being, though. 

GIO     Is there anything else that you would like to share with the readers before we end this interview? 

Gus    Nahhhh.  These were great questions. 

GIO     Gus, thank you very much for your time and I wish you continued success in all your future endeavors! 

Gus    My pleasure, Gio!  Thanks so much for asking. 

One last parting shot…WOOF! 

© Photo courtesy of Gus Mattox