| Will Clark | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 9, 1968 [1][2] Wausau, Wisconsin, U.S.[1] |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| No. of adult films | approx. 50 |
| Website | |
| http://www.willclarkworld.com | |
Will Clark (b. March 9, 1968[2] under the name Andrew Altenberg)[1] is an American performer in gay pornographic films. He is a member of the Grabby Awards Hall of Fame, and has received a special citation from the GayVN Awards for his fundraising work in support of HIV/AIDS charities.[3]
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Clark's career as a gay adult film performer began in 1995 and continued through 1999, with a final appearance (as of April 2008) coming in 2003. Since his last sexual on-screen performance, he made a handful of nonsexual cameo roles. Prior to his porn career, Clark was a struggling actor in New York City. "I had trouble finding roles," he told Manshots magazine (then the gay adult film industry's publication-of-record). "I just didn’t fit anything. I wasn’t the type they were looking for. No one was casting a young, redheaded male. So to earn money, I started go-go dancing at The Limelight and Tunnel and Palladium. I also started doing male escort work, and I really enjoyed that."[4]
A music promoter encouraged him to apply to Falcon Studios as a gay porn star; he did and was rejected. "'You’re too white, you’re too hairy, you’re a redhead. We don’t care for any of that stuff. And you need to bulk up,'" he recalled being told.[4] Through a connection in San Francisco, California, Clark secured an audition with gay adult film director Steven Scarborough of Hot House Video, and was subsequently cast in his first erotic feature, Dr. Goodglove, in 1996.[4] Within a year, however, Clark had indeed added a significant amount of muscle, as well as begun to appear in leather and BDSM porn films.[5] Clark subsequently appeared in roughly 50 adult films in a wide variety of adult film genres,[1][6] although reviewers say his best performances were in leather and BDSM films.[7]
Clark has managed his image and public persona to maintain his popularity. "I’ve been good at marketing on the Web. I take care of my fans when I tour—give them pictures and promotional materials," he told one interviewer. "The columns I write and the fund-raisers I do help raise awareness of my presence. Everything sort of blends together."[4]
Clark's AIDS activism and fundraising efforts began in 1997 when he volunteered with Stop AIDS Chicago and Aid for AIDS.[4][8] A series of fundraisers titled the "Bad Boys Pool Party" (or some variation thereof) began one year later.[8] "I did this birthday party for myself and Dino DiMarco and Sam Dixon in March of ’98. And after that, I was talking to Mickey Skee and he was doing promotion for his 'Bad Boys of Video' book. And I was in the book, and I thought some other guys in the book would make great bartenders. I said, 'Hey, why not call it the Bad Boys Pool Party and promote Mickey’s book and the guys in the book?' And that became the hook of the party. And it evolved from that. The first party earned $8,300, and the second earned $10,600."[4] Clark produced fundraisers featuring variations on this and similar themes in Los Angeles, Palm Springs and San Francisco.[1][8][9][10] He continues to produce similar events in New York City (as of 2008).[8]
Clark is a published author. He has been a regular contributor to Dude magazine, International Leatherman,[11] and Pulp[12] (a fashion and style magazine published in Palm Springs, California).[1][8][9]
Clark is also the author of two children's plays, both of which were produced on the Southern California stage.[8]
Clark also wrote and performed in a theatrical solo show based on his life and adult film career. Titled Altered Ego, the show was performed several times between 2002 and 2004. Reviews were rare, but positive . One reviewer noted, "Clark immediately establishes a rapport with his audience. Here is a wonderful performer who feels comfortable and natural with his remarks," said one reviewer.[13]
Clark won a number of important awards in the gay adult film industry. He shared the Grabby Awards for "Performer of the Year" in 1999,[14] and in 2002 was inducted into the Grabby Awards Hall of Fame.[6][8]
In 1998 the GayVN Awards named him the recipient of the Performer Special Achievement Award for AIDS Causes, and in November 1998 he was awarded the Leo Ford Humanitarian Award by the Gay Erotic Video Awards.[8] [3]
During his adult film career, Clark was nominated for or won a variety of other gay adult film awards not directly unrelated to his on-screen sexual performances. For example, the Men in Video Awards named him "Best Bushwhacker" in 1997 and 1998, an award which poked fun at Clark's penchant for severely trimming his pubic hair.[8][15]
Clark also won the Northeast Mr. Drummer title in 1997, which enabled him to compete for the International Mister Leather title (he did not win).[1][8]