Jack Wrangler

Jack Wrangler is the professional name of John Robert Stillman in his roles as both former gay and straight porn star and current theatrical producer and director. He was born June 11, 1946, in Los Angeles, the son of the Hollywood film and television producer Robert Stillman ("Champion", "Boots and Saddles", "Second Chorus", "Home of the Brave"). His mother was a former dancer in Busby Berkeley musicals. His paternal grandfather made a fortune in the garment industry.

Early career

At the age of nine, John Stillman starred with Eleanor Powell in the television series "Faith of Our Children", a religious family show which ran for three years and won five Emmy awards. Following college, he had some early work on the stage and as a model and dancer, as well as bit parts on television shows like "The Mod Squad" and "Medical Center". Finally, he appeared in a male strip show in the mid-70s under the name "Jack Wrangler." A career in gay pornographic films soon followed, and he rapidly became one of the first performers in gay porn to achieve star status and a cult following.

During his career as a pornographic star, Jack Wrangler appeared in over 85 films. He also continued performing in theater, including the play "T-Shirts" by Robert Patrick. Wrangler's resume lists a performance in "Forever After", by Doric Wilson , although Doric points out he did not actually appear in this play. Wrangler also once claimed that Doric Wilson's play "A Perfect Relationship" was written with him in mind, to which Doric has replied, "I never even jacked off with him in mind." In the early 1980s, Jack Wrangler began appearing in straight porn films, most notably "Devil in Miss Jones II" and "Debbie Does Dallas 2". Allegedly his first sexual encounter with a woman was on screen.

His autobiography, "The Jack Wrangler Story, or What's a Nice Boy Like You Doing?", was released in 1984. [cite book |last=Wrangler |first=Jack |authorlink= |coauthors=Johnes, Carl |title=The Jack Wrangler Story, or What's a Nice Boy Like You Doing? |year=1984 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0312439415 ]

Romantic relationship and later career

In 1976, Wrangler met celebrated pop singer and film actress Margaret Whiting (whose songs include the 1966 single "The Wheel of Hurt") when she attended one of his one-man erotic shows in New York. As he later recalled, "I was with my manager when I looked over at Margaret, who was surrounded by five guys at a booth. 'There she was with the hair, the furs and the big gestures. I thought, 'Boy, now that's New York! That's glamour!' I had to meet her." A relationship developed. He was 33; she was 55. When Wrangler confided to Whiting that he was gay, her response was "only around the edges, dear." [cite news | author = John Stark | url = http://www.gaylib.com/text/rept5.htm (reprint)| title = After Three Marriages, Crooner Margaret Whiting Lands Her Ideal in X-Rated Star Jack Wrangler| work = People Magazine | date = May 4, 1987] Wrangler and Whiting have been married since 1994.

Soon after becoming involved with Whiting, Wrangler retired from porn and devoted his time to his first love, musical theater. A fan of Johnny Mercer, he was one of the co-producers of the cabaret "Dream," which featured songs by the composer and included Whiting in the cast. [http://www.johnnymercer.com/dream/dreamtxt.htm] Dream Cast, Credits, and Program] ] Other performances he has written and produced include "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: the Jazz Concert"; "The Valentine Touch"; "The First Lady and Other Stories of Our Times"; and "Irina Abroad!".

In 1998, Wrangler and Whiting filed a multi-million dollar suit against the city of New York when she broke her hip after tripping over loose pavement. The media quickly pounced on the fact that their suit cited loss of sexual relations as one of the damages incurred from the accident. [ [http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/News/9810/07/showbuzz/#story4 Margaret Whiting sues New York for $3 million] ]

Wrangler and Whiting still remain visible in the New York theatrical scene and are highly active in supporting and promoting AIDS charities. In 2008, a feature documentary about the life of Jack Wrangler called "Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon" was produced and directed by Jeffrey Schwarz of Automat Pictures. It had its premiere at the 2008 Newfest and is being distributed by TLA Releasing.

Selected filmography

*"New York Construction Co." (1970)
*"Kansas City Trucking Co." (1976)
*"Wanted" (1980)
*"The Devil in Miss Jones II" (1982)
*"Navy Blue Hanky Left" (1985)
*"Guess Who's Coming?" (1990)

References

External links

* [http://www.wranglermovie.com Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/wranglermovie Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon mySpace page]
* [http://mannet.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=000547 ManNet Review: "Kansas City Trucking Co."]
* [http://mannet.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=001324 ManNet Review: "Killing Me Softly"]
* [http://mannet.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=001347 ManNet Review: "Navy Blue"]
* [http://mannet.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=001324 ManNet Review: "Dynamite"]
*
* [http://www.gaylib.com/text/rept5.htm People Magazine Profile of Jack and Margaret at GayLib.com]
* [http://www.library.gsu.edu/spcoll/pages/pages.asp?ldID=105&guideID=505&ID=3548 Interview with Margaret Whiting and Jack Wrangler] Interview as part of the Johnny Mercer Oral History Project. Georgia State University 1995.
* [http://rickx.com/movies/Jack.htm Backstage interview with Rick X] 1989, in his first theatrical performance in Anthony Bruno's Soul Survivor, NYC

ee also

*List of gay porn stars