There are few porn stars that make my heart leap the way that Gus Mattox does. Jack and I first met him on the set of Wet Palms where he more than lived up to his reputation as a fiercely handsome, disarmingly charming and all-around good guy. Chalk his two-year dip into adult up as “too good to last” — the sexy fox is retiring. To go back to the theater, no less, in a new original production by Terrence McNally (Love! Valour! Compassion!). Oh well, it beats shuffleboard.

Gus (now known to the world by his rightful name, Tom Judson) granted us his last (well, first of last) industry interview. I have to go before I get teary… Now that you are retiring, will you be moving to Florida or Arizona?
I’m trying to find out if I qualify for the Motion Picture Home.

What’s your most indelible memory of the industry you are leaving behind?
Well, there’s not really a specific thing, but as I slowly became aware of the fact that other people in the industry knew who I was I found it surprisingly–what?–satisfying, I guess. I was having so much fun that it never occurred to me that people were taking notice. I did a scene with a very sexy guy who was making his debut and he told me he was nervous about meeting me! I kept looking over my shoulder to see who he was talking to. In a similar vein it’s why winning Performer of the Year felt so good. I looked on the bottom of the trophy expecting to see “Well done, good and faithful servant,” because that’s how it felt. Sort of like the industry saying, “You done good, kid.”

You’ve won GayVN Performer of the Year, are you gunning for a Tony?
Not in the part I’ll be playing in “Some Men” (the new play I’m doing in May)! Don’t get me wrong, I’d sit on the side of the stage with a bag over my head to be in a Terrence McNally play, but my part mostly involves playing the piano as background and accompanying some of the other actors. The script is wonderful and has a couple of references to porn and to escorting, which gave me a chuckle. I fully expect everyone to turn and look at me during the table read when those things come up. Trust me, I fully subscribe to the maxim “There are no small parts. Just itty bitty teeny little actors.”

I imagine the casting directors of Oh! Calcutta! are thrilled with your news. How has your stint in the adult industry affected your mainstream career?
Y’know, I think it’s only affected it positively. I did a couple of shows during my run in porn, but focused mostly on the movies. The creative team for “Some Men” is fully aware of Gus Mattox. On other things, like a couple of freelance writing gigs, the subject just never came up. Look, if people know who I am–however they know–it can help me to at least get in the door.

Was this something you’ve been planning for a while? Waiting to see if you won the award and then spring the big news on an unsuspecting public?
100% no. I was even in the middle of talking to a couple of people about upcoming projects. Winning the award was the catalyst that started me thinking about what really would be the best way to plan how to handle the twilight of my career (violins, please.)

You’re leaving us behind like a stain on a bedsheet. How are we supposed to go on?
As my father-in-law says, “Woodlawn Cemetery is filled with irreplaceable people.” (He also suggested I ask if it’s alright if I put my GayVN award on the piano in the play! What a guy.) One thing about this business that I love is that there are always new faces coming along all the time. I’m convinced I’m the oldest guy working steadily, which may make me an interesting footnote. But you’ll be amazed how easily you’ll all go on.

Does this mean we have to kill off Randall Jett?
Hmmmm…. Adriana showed up in the first episode of the new season of “The Sopranos” and she had been whacked in the woods. I hear the guys that write that “Wet Palms” thing are pretty clever, so maybe they can figure something out.

Some of my favorite Gus Mattox moments:

Gus, as deceitful rake Valentine Moore, in Dangerous Liaisons
Gus, as patriarch Randall Jett, in Wet Palms
Gus, as a derelict flight captain, in Taking Flight

Gus Mattox: The Gay Porn Blog Interview

Gus Mattox’s Blog

Gus Mattox: February 2006 Dream Team Profile (free with registration)

– Mike