Dirk Diggler

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Dirk Diggler is a fictional character in Paul Thomas Anderson's 1997 film Boogie Nights, in which he was played by Mark Wahlberg. Diggler's first appearance was in Anderson's short film "The Dirk Diggler Story". The character is loosely based on the life of porn star John Holmes.^{[citation needed]} In 1988's "The Dirk Diggler Story", Michael Stein plays the role of Diggler. Stein makes a cameo appearance in Boogie Nights, playing the customer that Don Cheadle's character "Buck" tries selling a stereo to.

Diggler, whose given name was Eddie Adams, was discovered in the San Fernando Valley as a teen by adult movie director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds). At the time, Adams was working as a busboy, and moonlighting as a hustler. He quickly moved in with Horner, mostly to escape his dysfunctional homelife, and quickly made himself known in the thriving world of Los Angeles' porn industry.

Diggler became a huge star during the 1970s, his name reaching the mainstream. Diggler's movies were very popular, possibly due to his (supposedly) 13-inch erection. He also had an active sex life off-camera, in addition to the actresses he had sex with on film. But along with his money and fame came a dark side: one of his co-workers committed suicide, and Diggler himself became addicted to cocaine.

Diggler tried at one point during the early '80s to turn his porn industry success into a musical career, but failed miserably.

By the early 1980s, Diggler's drug habit, as well as the arrogance it fueled, had almost ruined him. He was no longer in demand by adult film producers because they had newer, younger actors. As a result, he lost most of his money, and he began wandering the streets, hustling for enough money to have a place to stay. After one of his customers brutally beat him, he reconciled with Horner and started making movies again. In the final scene, during the mid-1980s, he is shown in his dressing room staring at his penis and reviewing a script for an upcoming movie since he was once again working for Horner.