Johnny Rahm
Encyclopedia
Johnny Rahm was the stage name
of Barry "J.T." Rogers, an American
film actor who appeared in gay
pornographic movies and magazines.
, Georgia
, the son of J.T. and Connie Rogers, and raised in a conservative Baptist home. He attended Gilead Christian Academy, a Christian
high school in Macon, Georgia
and the fundamentalist Bob Jones University
(BJU) in Greenville, South Carolina
. Rogers was expelled from the university midway through his senior year when he chose to come out
. He had a Celtic cross
tattooed above his right biceps
, clearly visible in all his pornographic films.
Rogers had minor roles in films outside of the gay porn industry. He was an extra in the made-for-tv movie Unconquered, was twice a contestant on The Dating Game
(winning once), and appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
as a Jerry Lewis
impersonator.
and worked for more than a decade in the gay pornography
industry, often making films for Chi Chi LaRue
. He won two Adult Erotic Gay Video Awards: "Best Supporting Actor" in 1993 for the film Body Search (directed by Chi Chi Larue
) and in 1995 for All about Steve he also won the AVN Award
for "Best Supporting Actor" for the latter film. He also was employed at Drakes Melrose, Pier One Imports, and worked as a barback for the Atlanta club, "The Metro".
He moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1999 and tried stand-up comedy, but he struggled financially. After being diagnosed as HIV-positive, he continued to make pornographic films, working with Atlanta-based producer Dick Wadd to make hardcore and bareback sex films.
on 7 November 2004 by hanging himself with wire on the fence of the Atlanta Botanical Garden
. A suicide note complained of his frustration at not being able to receive assistance from Social Security
.
After his death, his cousin Jamey Rousey, who worked with the Atlanta AIDS
Partnership Fund, called Rogers "a kind and gentle soul, and as tragic as his death was, I hope he’s found the peace he couldn’t find in life."
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Barry "J.T." Rogers, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film actor who appeared in gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
pornographic movies and magazines.
Christian upbringing
Barry Thomas Rogers, who was known to friends as "J.T.," was born in MilledgevilleMilledgeville, Georgia
Milledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is northeast of Macon, located just before Eatonton on the way to Athens along U.S. Highway 441, and it is located on the Oconee River. The relatively rapid current of the Oconee here made this an...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, the son of J.T. and Connie Rogers, and raised in a conservative Baptist home. He attended Gilead Christian Academy, a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
high school in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and the fundamentalist Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...
(BJU) in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
. Rogers was expelled from the university midway through his senior year when he chose to come out
Come Out
Come Out may refer to:*Come Out , a music piece by Steve Reich*Coming out, disclosing one's homosexuality or bisexuality.*"Come Out", a song by Camper van Beethoven from New Roman Times...
. He had a Celtic cross
Celtic cross
A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
tattooed above his right biceps
Biceps
Biceps may refer to:*Biceps brachii muscle, a muscle located on the inside of the upper arm*Biceps femoris muscle, one of the hamstring muscles of the back of each thigh*Biceps , a point in a metrical pattern...
, clearly visible in all his pornographic films.
Rogers had minor roles in films outside of the gay porn industry. He was an extra in the made-for-tv movie Unconquered, was twice a contestant on The Dating Game
The Dating Game
The Dating Game is an ABC television show that first aired on December 20, 1965 and was the first of many shows created and packaged by Chuck Barris from the 1960s through the 1980s...
(winning once), and appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
The MDA Labor Day Telethon is an annual telethon in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association . The first MDA telethon was during the Thanksgiving Day weekend of 1952 and titled Party for MDA. It has been held annually since 1966...
as a Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
impersonator.
Gay porn star
In the 1988, Rogers moved to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and worked for more than a decade in the gay pornography
Gay pornography
Gay pornography is the representation of sexual intercourse between men with the primary goal of sexual arousal in its audience. There is also a tradition, and continuing considerable output, of lesbian pornography....
industry, often making films for Chi Chi LaRue
Chi Chi LaRue
Larry David Paciotti is an American film director of gay, bisexual and straight pornography. He is best known in his drag persona as Chi Chi LaRue and has also directed under the names Lawrence David and Taylor Hudson.- Career :...
. He won two Adult Erotic Gay Video Awards: "Best Supporting Actor" in 1993 for the film Body Search (directed by Chi Chi Larue
Chi Chi LaRue
Larry David Paciotti is an American film director of gay, bisexual and straight pornography. He is best known in his drag persona as Chi Chi LaRue and has also directed under the names Lawrence David and Taylor Hudson.- Career :...
) and in 1995 for All about Steve he also won the AVN Award
AVN Awards
The AVN Awards are movie awards sponsored and presented by the American adult video industry trade magazine AVN to honor exceptional performance in various aspects of the creation and marketing of American pornographic movies. They are called the "Oscars of porn"...
for "Best Supporting Actor" for the latter film. He also was employed at Drakes Melrose, Pier One Imports, and worked as a barback for the Atlanta club, "The Metro".
He moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1999 and tried stand-up comedy, but he struggled financially. After being diagnosed as HIV-positive, he continued to make pornographic films, working with Atlanta-based producer Dick Wadd to make hardcore and bareback sex films.
Suicide
After April 2004 Rogers shared a house with his friend Adam Kahn in midtown Atlanta and sought financial assistance to find a home of his own. Rogers suffered from chronic depression, and lived with both HIV and hepatitis. He committed suicideSuicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
on 7 November 2004 by hanging himself with wire on the fence of the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located adjacent to Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Incorporated in 1976, the garden's mission is to "develop and maintain plant collections for the purposes of display, education, conservation, research and...
. A suicide note complained of his frustration at not being able to receive assistance from Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
.
After his death, his cousin Jamey Rousey, who worked with the Atlanta AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
Partnership Fund, called Rogers "a kind and gentle soul, and as tragic as his death was, I hope he’s found the peace he couldn’t find in life."
Partial videography
- Bachelor Party: Big Switch 3 (Catalina VideoCatalina VideoCatalina Video is an award-winning production house of gay pornography, founded in 1978 by William Higgins. The company was primarily a distributor for Nova Studios in 1982. In 1987, Scott Masters was hired as its head of production, and he began making films for the studio...
) - Body Search (1993, HIS VideoHIS VideoHIS Video is a gay pornography studio. The company is a division of VCA Pictures .-Selected awards and nominations:*1984 Gay Producers Association winner of Best Video and Best Cinematography for "Pleasure Beach"....
) - Brotherly Love 2 (1991, Stallion Video)
- Hey Tony! What's the Story? (Bijou VideoBijou VideoEstablished in 1969 by Steven Toushin, Bijou Video is a company specializing in the production of gay pornographic films, based in Chicago, Illinois, United States.-History:...
) - Movers & Shakers (Vivid ManVivid EntertainmentVivid Entertainment Group is an adult video producer, featuring a catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content. In 2006 it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry....
) - On the Lookout (Jocks Video Pac 46)
- Pigs at the Troff (Dickwadd)
- Steamy Summer
External links
- Newspaper report of death
- Gay Erotic Video Index Entry
- Internet Movie Database Entry
- Express Gay News discussion of Rahm's suicide
- A poem encapsulating the life and death of Johnny Rahm by Brad Walton
See also
- List of pornographic movie studios
- List of male performers in gay porn films