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john holmes

John Holmes, born John Curtis Estes on August 8, 1944, in Ashville, Ohio, was the youngest of four children to Mary June Holmes. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at 15, serving in West Germany, then moved to Los Angeles after discharge in 1963, working various jobs before marrying Sharon Ann Gebenini in 1965 (divorced 1984). He entered the porn industry in 1967, gaining fame in the 1970s with over 573 films, starring in the Johnny Wadd series like *Johnny Wadd* (1971), *Flesh of the Lotus* (1971), and others including *Deep Throat* (1972) and *Behind the Green Door* (1972). Known for his exceptional penis size—claimed up to 16 inches long and 13 inches in circumference, insured for $14 million—Holmes was a prolific performer. His career involved drug issues, including cocaine addiction, and alleged grooming and abuse of Dawn Schiller from 1976. In 1981, he was linked to the Wonderland murders, acquitted in 1982 after charges of involvement. Diagnosed HIV-positive in 1986, he married Laurie Rose in 1987, died March 13, 1988, at 43 from AIDS complications, and was cremated with ashes scattered at sea. His legacy includes inductions into the XRCO Hall of Fame (1985) and inspiration for films like *Boogie Nights* (1997).