Randy Paul (actor)

Robert Harris (December 15, 1960 – November 3, 2020), known professionally as Randy Paul, was an American adult film actor, model, and trained stage performer.^[1][2] He was a prominent figure during the "Golden Age" of adult cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, recognized for his athletic "all-American" appearance and his rare ability to navigate the industry's straight, gay, and fetish markets.^[3][4]

Born in Bay Shore, Long Island, Harris grew up in a volatile household.^[1] Following the separation of his parents when he was eight, he witnessed a series of violent domestic incidents, culminating in his father attacking his mother with an ice pick.^[1] Harris's father died shortly thereafter.^[1]

Despite these early traumas, Harris was a gifted athlete, participating in baseball, basketball, and surfing.^[1] He was a high-achieving student placed in honors programs, though he later struggled with truancy.^[1] At age 19, seeking structure, he enlisted in the United States Navy.^[1] Following his service, he pursued a career in the arts, attending the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, He was one of only 75 students invited back for a second year of study, where he trained as a classical theater actor.^[1]

Harris began his career in the adult industry as a print and catalog model.^[1] His initial professional work consisted of still photography for both gay men's magazines and mainstream adult publications.^[1] His "boy next door" aesthetic made him a high-demand subject for print before he ever appeared on film.^[5][1]

Harris's introduction to the industry began in the early 1980s when he met actress Veronica Hart in New York.^[1] She invited him to appear as an extra in a softcore production.^[1] Faced with the financial pressure of supporting a partner and her young son, Harris decided to enter the adult industry professionally in 1986.^[6][1]

Using the name Randy Paul, he initially performed in gay and bisexual films for producers like Terry LeGrand and Falcon Studios.^[1] He eventually attempted to transition into the straight market, signing with agents Jim South and Reb Sawitz.^[1]

During this time, he faced significant industry stigma regarding "crossover" performers.^[1] Despite this, his acting talent and physique made him a high-demand star.^[1][7] Notable career highlights include such as Stryker Force (with Jeff Stryker), Final Impact, and Thrilled to Death.^[1] He performed alongside industry icons such as Nina Hartley, Amber Lynn, Peter North, and Siobhan Hunter.^[1]

He was nominated for the AVN Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1988 film The Horneymooners.^[8] This production was a popular parody of the classic television series, in which Paul played the role of Ed Norton.^[8][9]

In the 1990s, he became a fixture in the New York fetish scene, specifically the Toe Tales series produced by Adventure Studios, where he was cast as a "dominant" performer.^[10][1]

As the adult industry moved away from New York in the early 2000s, Harris transitioned into the culinary arts.^[1] He worked as a chef in high-end Manhattan establishments, including Sarabeth's Kitchen and various 5-star hotels.^[1]

In his later years, he returned to his hometown of Bay Shore.^[1] He remained a devoted father figure to his former partner's son, whom he had helped raise since the mid-1980s.^[1] Harris continued to practice acting and singing as a hobby.^[1]

Though he became a star in gay cinema, Harris was famously candid about his orientation, describing himself as "70% straight, 30% bi" and maintaining that he only sought romantic "soulmate" connections with women.^[1] He shared a lifelong, inseparable bond with his younger brother.^[1] Harris served as the godfather to his nephew (his younger brother's son), a role he took with great seriousness as the family's "all-American" patriarch.^[1] His habits, including a strict physical fitness regimen and a clean living space, were often attributed to his time in the Navy.^[1]

He spent 38 years as a primary father figure to the son of his former partner, Nancy, whom he continued to mentor and support long after the romantic relationship ended.^[11]

Robert Harris died on November 3, 2020, at the age of 59.^[1]

• Randy Paul at IMDb