Who was Harry Reems? Legendary 'Deep Throat' porn star was nearly cast in 'Grease' as Coach Calhoun
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: According to the legendary movie musical 'Grease' director, Randal Kleiser, the production crew almost chose a totally different Coach Calhoun — the director made the revelation on October 25. According to the Hollywood Reporter podcast, 'It Occurred In Hollywood,' Kleiser revealed that they almost recruited 'Deep Throat' actor Harry Reems as Rydell High's athletics instructor. John Travolta also encouraged this decision.
“[Allan Carr] actually hired him,” said Kleiser referring to the film’s screenwriter. “And the studio said, ‘No no no. You can’t do that.’ And so they had to fire him.” According to rumors, Paramount Studios executives were worried that casting a porn star would hurt box office results. Sid Caesar, a pioneer of television and comedy, was chosen by Kleiser to play Coach Calhoun as a result of this decision.
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According to Kleiser, the adult film actor was devastated by the decision since he had believed it would help launch his career as a mainstream actor. "Alan felt so bad that he gave Harry $5,000 out of his own pocket, but the poor guy was devastated," Kleiser added. "Because it was his moment to move from porn to the real upscale world."
In the movie, Calhoun tries to get Danny (Travolta), who is trying to impress cheerleader Sandy (played by the late Olivia Newton-John), on a sports team, which leads to Danny trying to fight members of the basketball, baseball, and wrestling teams.
Reems, who passed away in 2013, previously talked about losing the part in a 2005 New York Magazine interview. “Acting was my true love, and I buried that possibility by going into adult films,” said Reems. “The writing was on the wall. There was no place for me in conventional entertainment.”
As the lead character in 'Deep Throat' in 1972, Harry Reems established himself as America's first legitimate male pornstar. In the movie, Dr. Young, played by Reems, is a brilliant diagnostician who discovers the uncommon anatomical anomaly that causes Linda Lovelace's character to prefer oral sex to intercourse by a wide margin. 'Deep Throat' became a global sensation, the topic of arguments for and against its redeeming social significance.
Reems performed in Off-Broadway productions before accepting work in pornographic movies due to a lack of income. They included 'Mondo Porno,' 'The Altar of Lust,' and parts three and four of 'Erecter Sex.'
From notoriety to obscurity
Harry Reems, who was born Herbert Striecher in Brooklyn in 1947, fell into alcholism soon after 'Deep Throat' released. He subsequently starred in more than a 100 porn movies but time and age caught up to him and he was no longer in demand. He ended up homeless on the streets of Los Angeles and sleeping in dumpsters. He even contemplated taking his own life but could not find the courage to do so, according to the New York Times.
It was in 1989 that he stopped he stopped drinking with the help of a 12-step program, got a real estate license, married Jeanne Sterret and lived the rest of his life in Utah in relative obscurity.