Lost Boys: Vintage Images of Michael Cummings

Lost Boys: 

Vintage Images of Michael Cummings

Well, this was a disappointment. I did my best and came up with nothing... not even a birthdate (and that would have to be on file somewhere to show proof of age.)

So, in light of the lack of information, this profile is going to be heavily subjective; observations being all I have to offer. Still, I thought Michael Cummings worthy of a post. He's the first of series of classic bad boys I wanted to feature. 

I was under the impression that Michael Cummings' career in gay porn was quite substantial. His is a face that appeared in a number of films I am familiar with from the classic age of gay porn. 

However, if you look at his filmography, you'll see that his time in the limelight was brief - not that he didn't make the most of it. 

Perhaps that's the key to successfully outliving a career as a gay porn star - make hay while the sun is shining and then? 

Disappear into the night.

Michael Cummings
AKA: Mike Cummings 

Hair Color: Black / Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Height: 5′ 9″
Endowment: 7″ Cut

Years Active: 1984 – 1990
Total: 63
Films: 41
Compilations: 22

Studios: LeSalon, HIS, Surge, Bijou, etc.

Magazine Photo Spreads:

1986

Studflix: December 1985

Inches: January 1986

Hot Male Review: May 1986
Just Men: v04 n01,May 1986 

In Touch: #119, October 1986

Just Men: v04 n04 November 1986
Advocate Men: December 1986

Stars: December 1986

1987
Men of Advocate Men: March 1987
Jock: July 1987
Stallion: July 1987 (v06 n03)
Thrust: v01 n04

Mag Corp: Underwear Freaks

My impression that he was a strong presence in classic gay porn is not wrong; just take a look at his filmography for the years 1985 and 1986. Sixteen films in '85 and a dozen in '86 - to put it lightly, he was a busy, busy boy. 

And it makes sense; he possessed that 'something extra'. There was a mischievousness about him, a charisma. 

I should also say, he was a good actor. Based on the few films I've seen him in, he handled dialogue extremely well. There was energy, motivation, and drive behind his actions - and it lived in his eyes. That makes for a good actor. 

The camera just seemed to love him.

Without getting all pervy, when you look in a young man's eyes it is sometimes easy to see the small child he once was - this was true of Michael Cummings, it was part of his charm. 

His performance in 1986's Chip Off The Old Block remains one of my favorites. While on a camping trip, as his character schemes to get into the pants of his best friend's father, all of Cumming's best attributes are on display.  

1984 

Hot Off The Press

1985 

All The Right Boys
Below The Belt

California Wet

Firsts

Getting Off Campus
Hard Disk Drive
L.A. Boiling Point
More Than a Mouthful
Naked Lunch
Never Big Enough
New Wave Hustlers
Pleasure Peak
Shooting Stars 3: Michael Cummings
Stiff Sentence
Totally Awesome
Two By Ten

1986 

Boys' Camp Memories
Campus Jocks
Cashload
Chip Off the Old Block
Deep Inside
Down To His Knee
Man Size
Nightcrawler: A Leather Sex Fantasy
P.S. Connection 2
Summer Heat
Uncle Mike Meets Howard
Video Games 6: Backdoor to Hollywood

1987 

Good Sex
Hot on His Tail

1988 

Angelo Loves It
Chris Noll's Fantasies

My Best Friend
Out of Bounds
Sextasy
Show It Hard
Throb

1989 

An Excited State
Sex Drive 2020

1990 

Sex Waves

The year 1987 found Cummings taking a well-deserved break from filming, before resuming in '88. I have a feeling the shadow cast by the AIDS epidemic most likely served as an impetus for him to exit the industry. 

Or... perhaps he came up Poz and died a quiet death. In any event, there's no information surrounding what became of him, so this is all speculation on my part based on his career output. 

Sadly, this lack of information also extends to the amount of photos of him to be found on the internet. Despite his numerous magazine appearances, the best I could do was a handful of grainy screen captures from his films; hardly a fitting legacy or one that captures his essence. 

No matter... his impact on gay cinema is undeniable. 

And, if nothing else... I will always have my VHS copy of Chip Off The Old Block to keep his memory alive. 

It should also be noted that some young twink has recently adopted the name 'Michael Cummings'. I found this strange, but then? The world of gay porn moves in mysterious ways.

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That's all for this week. Next week, we'll take a look at another of what I term 'the bad boys of classic gay porn': Jeremy Scott. And his? A juicy story with plenty of details. 

Until then, thank you for reading. 

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Faded - ZHU 

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