Jamie Gillis, a legend in the world of adult entertainment, died on Friday, February 19th at the age of 66 from an internal melanoma. Professionally I loved Jamie most as Dr. Seymour Love, a sexologist in the film The Opening of Misty Beethoven. The performance, based on the play Pygmalion, showcased Gillis in his prime. He was a total heartthrob. He could sing, crack a joke and that smile, that Jamie Gillis smile, it spoke volumes without having to say anything at all.

Years later, way after Misty Beethoven had closed her legs, I got to know Jamie in New York. He became part of my “adult” family, the one that consists of wonderful friends like Candida Royalle, Veronica Vera, Michele Capozzi, Alexandra SilkandLuc Wylder (read Luc’s eulogy too). I was super nervous the first time I met Jamie. He was still as good looking as he was in those Misty days, but he had this tranquility and this gentle kindness now surrounding him. His laugh was soft but genuine and he told great stories, I mean the man had years of stories to tell. And truth be told, I loved his curly hair.

We were the two Jamie’s, one with a y, one with an i, and each time we ate together, sometimes at his partner Zarela’s restaurant, I enjoyed the few minutes we’d spend catching up. He didn’t let anyone know he was sick, so the shock of his death felt much greater to those who got to relish in his presence. And while the world lost a man and possibly a myth, I felt like I lost something else too. I lost the excitement I’d felt in knowing that Jamie Gillis would be joining us for dinner whenever we all got together in NY. He was definitely a man I liked having around.

Jamie Gillis, you will be missed. Rest in peace forevermore