Lost Boys: Vintage Images of Eric Ryan

Lost Boys: 

Vintage Images of Eric Ryan

Sure, there are plenty of gay porn superstars. You see their pics everywhere on the net and their names become stamped on your memory. But there are those faces that never make it onto the cover of the video box., yet their faces are familiar: they are there in the background, or in that magazine, or it's that one image that pops up every time you do a certain google search. They're not headliners... but they are consistent performers. 

Today's Lost Boys takes a look at one such career: 

Eric Ryan. 

Born June 5th, Eric Ryan was a true Gemini; Straight, Bi, Gay, Top, Bottom... to say he was a versatile performer would be an understatement. He even appeared in two piss films, one bondage film and one where he autofellatio-ed himself. Handsome, muscular, well-built and well-hung... when the adult industry came a'knockin'? 

Eric Ryan answered the call!

AKA: Craig Holt Ambler, Eric Ryan

Height: 5' 10"
Birth: June 5, 1947
Birth Place: Los Angeles, CA 

Death: May 10. 1993

Years Active: 1977-1992

49 Films
31 Compilations

Craig Holt Ambler was born on June 5, 1947 in Los Angeles. He was a typical California boy who spent his time skiing, surfing, and riding motorcycles. Throughout his life, true to his astrological sign, his interests were varied and many. A talented musician and composer, he spent time living in New York, pursuing that dream. His love of music, composing and playing would accompany him throughout his life.  Back home, in LA, he would open and run a successful health food store. 

As mentioned, when it came to porn, his interests were no less varied. For these ventures he adopted the name Eric Ryan. During 1980 and 1981, he would appear in three hetero-oriented porn films: Games Women Play, Velvet High, and Dallas Schoolgirls. (Gay porn superstar, Jack Wrangler, would appear in two of these, as well.)

While a constant presence in gay porn throughout the 80s, during its latter half, Ryan would appear in and become quite popular in four bi-oriented films. In addition, he dabbled in piss play, bondage and autofellatio. When he performed in gay films he was happy to top or bottom, but revealed in an interview, in his personal life, he preferred to top. During his 15 year porn career, he would appear in an astounding 49 features.

1977 
Adonis Cockplay 16

1978
Dynamite

1979 
Boys of Venice
Just Blonds

1980 
Games Women Play
Velvet High

1981 
Centurions of Rome
Dallas Schoolgirls
New York Men
Tough Guys: Getting' Off

1982
Hollywood Hunks
Mustard Hanky Left
X-tra Large!

1983 
Blue Hanky Left
Bullet Videopac 6
Giants
Leo And Lance: The Good Times are Here

1984
Body Scorcher
H.E.A.T.
Job Site
Non-Stop
Screen Play (II)
Young Yankees
Juice

1985 
Century Mining
Hot Roomers
Sighs
Stiff Sentence

1986 
Size Counts
Tough Iron

1987
Bi Heat 3
Bi Heat 4
Bi Heat 5
Eric Ryan's Grand Opening
Master Hyde
Old Reliable 37: Superior Men
Old Reliable 45: J/O Collection
Old Reliable 59: Some Old Friends 2
Shaft

1988 
Bi Heat 8
Days Gone Bi
Tech Sex

1989 
Old Reliable 115: All Grown Up
Texas Size 12

1990 
Glory Hole of Fame 1
Lewd Conduct
Old Reliable 197
Tightropes 13

1992 
Old Reliable 241: Starting At The End

Ryan worked with a number of the top studios including: Old Reliable, Zane Entertainment Group, HIS, Adonis, Bijou, and Le Salon. A number of the adult films he appeared in are considered classics of the age - such as The Boys Of Venice, Centurions of Rome, Leo & Lance, Lewd Conduct, and Stiff Sentence. His handsome face and muscular body was featured in photo spreads for Honcho (Sept. 1980 and March 1984) and Inches, as well as the photo mags that would accompany his films.

Of note: Ryan appears in an uncredited role as a bar patron in Al Pacino's Cruising (1980). 

After coming up HIV positive, Ryan would leave the industry in 1992. 

I found this note on a message board:

"An SF (San Francisco) friend said he showed up as a potential roommate in 1992, was impoverished and offered sex in exchange for lower rent. He was already thinner and sick. My friend turned him down. Eric died a year later."

He would live in LA and San Francisco until his death from lymphoma and HIV in 1993. His remains were cremated. He was 45years old.

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I couldn't remember where I knew his face from until I saw his filmography. 

He was a featured performer, on the cover of the VHS boxes for the Zane Entertainment Groups Bi-Heat series. I would re-shelve them at the video store on Lake Street. In particular I remember him appearing with an actress named Sharon Mitchell. She was a rather severe looking woman and the image of them (along with another man) always struck my interest. That was a rather unique sub-genre. I always wondered who rented those. 

I loved his look... dirty blonde, flyaway locks, fruity pout, ripped bod. It was his facial expressions that got to me. Sometimes he'd appear very traditionally handsome and other times... well, let's just say he didn't seem to have a thought in his head. 

But that certainly was not true. I was surprised to learn about his love for music and composition. He truly lived a full life and I'm sure his music brought him great comfort. 

I wonder where unpublished music goes once its composer is no longer here to keep it alive?

That's all for now.

Thanks for reading.

Someone's Final Song - Elton John

Some Like It Hot - Power Station