Eric Manchester
Eric Manchester | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ronald Eugene Liter August 26, 1964 |
| Died | March 12, 2023 (aged 58) San Francisco, U.S. |
| Resting place | Wellston |
| Other names | Paul Carson |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1985–1994 |
| Agent | Falcon Studios |
Eric Manchester (born Ronald Eugene Liter; August 26, 1964 – March 12, 2023) was an American adult film actor who became one of the most prominent "gay-for-pay" performers of the late 1980s.[1][2] Known for his athletic build and "military" aesthetic, Manchester appeared in approximately thirty films between 1985 and 1994, several of which are considered classics of the era.[1][3]
Early life and military service
Ronald Eugene Liter was born in Dallas, Texas, to Donald Liter and Patricia Hampton.[4] He was raised in a Mormon household in the countryside, spending his formative years in Oklahoma and Indiana alongside his four sisters and brother.[4]
As a young man, Liter joined the United States Marine Corps.[1] While serving as a Marine, he was introduced by a fellow serviceman to Dirk Yates, the CEO of Seabag Productions, a studio known for "real military" content.[1] This introduction marked his entry into the adult industry; his first professional job involved posing in swimwear for Yates.[1]
Career
Manchester transitioned from military-themed modeling to mainstream gay pornography, primarily working under the stage name Eric Manchester.[1] Despite his prolific career in the genre, he initially identified as heterosexual and performed strictly as an active ("top") performer.[1][5]
Manchester was highly regarded by directors for his professionalism and charisma.[1] In a 1989 interview with Manshots magazine, Dirk Yates described him as "classy, really handsome, and a gentleman".[1][6]
In 1991, the founders of Fine-Line Productions, Jim Steel and Jeff Appel, praised Manchester's screen presence:
"The sexiest guy in the world... He oozes sexuality," stated Steel. Appel added, "He's the best. It's always a pleasure working with him... there's something about him that's incredibly sexy".[1]
Between 1985 and 1994, Manchester starred in roughly 30 films. Several of these are now regarded as groundbreaking titles such as Giant Splash Shots 2, In Your Wildest Dreams, Spokes 2: The Graduation, Head of Class, and The Rites of Summer.[1]
However, in the years following his departure from the adult industry, Manchester underwent a personal transition.[1] Despite his earlier public identification as straight, he eventually came out as gay to his family, reconciling his private life with the career that had made him an icon in the LGBTQ+ community.[1]
Death
In March 2023, while visiting San Francisco, Manchester was found dead in his hotel room by housekeeping staff.[1] A subsequent investigation determined the cause of death to be a heroin overdose. He was 58 years old at the time of his death.[4]
He died on March 12, 2023, at the age of 58 in San Francisco.[7] Following his death, he was returned to his roots and buried at Wellston Cemetery in Oklahoma.[4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Gay XXX Superstars of the 1980's | Paul | Debut |
| 1986 | Double Load: Video Games 3 | Bill | |
| 1986 | Kurt Bauer's Intense Moments: Video Games 11 | Handsome Guy | |
| 1986 | Innocence Lost | Eric | |
| 1986 | The Exchange | Eric | |
| 1986 | Giant Splash Shots II | Mike | |
| 1987 | Sex Drive 2020 | Eric | |
| 1987 | Giants: It's So Much Larger Than Life | Eric | |
| 1987 | Men of Size 1 | Eric | |
| 1987 | Down for the Count | Eric-Star Wrestler | |
| 1988 | Bulge: Mass Appeal | Manchester | |
| 1988 | Touch Me: It's Hot, It's Tender | Eric | |
| 1988 | The Next Valentino | Eric | |
| 1988 | A Big Business | Frank | |
| 1988 | Head of the Class | Sexy Guy | [8] |
| 1988 | They Grow 'em Big | Bob Roberts | [9] |
| 1988 | Bulge: Mass Appeal | Eric | |
| 1988 | Touch Me: It's Hot, It's Tender | Eric | |
| 1988 | The Next Valentino | Bruce | |
| 1988 | A Big Business | Sauna Boy | |
| 1988 | 57 Pick-Up | Mountain Guy | |
| 1988 | Superhunks 1 | Eric | [10] |
| 1988 | Switch Video 4 | Eric | |
| 1988 | Spokes 2: The Graduation | Matt | |
| 1988 | Big Ones!: Hot Shots 21 | Steven | |
| 1989 | Sex Waves | Eric | |
| 1989 | Catalina Preview Tape 3: It's What's Inside That Counts | Rick | |
| 1989 | Mannequin Man | Eric | |
| 1988 | Crosswire | Eric | [11] |
| 1989 | The Rites of Summer | Vincent | |
| 1989 | Powerline | Eric | [12] |
| 1989 | In Your Wildest Dreams | Tom | |
| 1990 | Giant Men | Greg | |
| 1990 | Dirty Daddies: Hot Shots 32 | Handsome Guy | |
| 1990 | World of Sexual Oddities | Eric | |
| 1990 | Hot, Hung & Hard | Eric | |
| 1991 | The Best of Eric Manchester | Eric Manchester | |
| 1992 | Best Bi Far 2 | Eric | |
| 1993 | Giants | Chris | [13] |
| 1993 | Men of Size 2 | Eric | |
| 1993 | Tough Competition 2 | Eric | |
| 1994 | Dripping Hard 2 | Paul | |
| 1994 | Anal Hall of Fame | Bobby | |
| 1994 | Tools of the Trade | Handsome Guy | |
| 1994 | Ball Blasters, Hard Hunks Collection | Eric | |
| 1994 | Hot & Hung 1 | Paul Carson | |
| 1994 | Threes on Their Knees 3 | Kyle | |
| 1998 | Locker Room Sex | Eric | |
| 2002 | Young Men of the 80's | Eric | |
| 2004 | Size Matters 1 | Eric | |
| 2021 | Falcon Icons: The 1980s | Eric Manchester | |
| 2025 | Bareback Classics 3 | Eric | Posthumous release |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Il tourna notamment pour Falcon Studios dans le fameux". Pink TV News. March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Close-Up: Eric Manchester, Straight Guy Gay Star" Manshots Vol. 1 No. 1. FirstHand Ltd. 1988. p. 44.
- ^ "Close-Up" Manshots Vol. 2 No. 5. FirstHand Ltd. 1990. p. 48.
- ^ a b c d "Ronald Eugene Liter Obituary". Lehman Funeral House. January 25, 2026.
- ^ "20 MEN Models Bare Their Assets" Men of Advocate Men. Liberation Publications. 1989. p. 48.
- ^ The Advocate: Issues 620-627. Liberation Publications. 1993. p. 49.
- ^ "Ronald Eugene Liter". Lincoln County News. September 22, 2025.
- ^ Head of the Class" Manshots Vol. 1 No. 1. FirstHand Ltd. 1988. p. 51.
- ^ "New Videos: They Grow 'em Big" Manshots Vol. 1 No. 1. FirstHand Ltd. 1988. p. 27.
- ^ "Super Hunk" Skinflicks Vol. 9 No. 2. MagCorp. 1989. p. 6.
- ^ "Manshots Picks: Crosswire" Manshots Vol. 1 No. 4. FirstHand Ltd. 1989. p. 51.
- ^ Manshots Vol. 1 No. 7. FirstHand Ltd. 1989. p. 37.
- ^ Translations/Transformations: Gender and Culture in Film and Literature, East and West : Selected Conference Papers. College of Languages, Linguistics, and Literature, University of Hawaii. 1993. p. 66.