Jon King

Biography

Jon King (born John Nelson Gaines; January 12, 1963 – March 8, 1995) was an American adult film actor and model, renowned as a prominent figure in gay adult cinema during the 1980s and early 1990s for his athletic build and "boy-next-door" appeal.

== Early life == He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to Thomas and Katherine Gaines, Gaines moved to Los Angeles in 1980 at age 17 after an early teenage interest in the adult film industry.

== Career ==

=== Rise to prominence and legal hiatus (1981–1982) === He was discovered in Los Angeles, Gaines made his debut in William Higgins's Brothers Should Do It (1981). Marketed under the stage name Jon King due to his resemblance to performer J.W. King, he became a staple in Higgins' works while working side jobs like waitressing. His career paused in 1982 following criminal charges and an 11-month prison sentence in Florida, which he later viewed as a major turning point.

=== Stardom, modeling, and retirement (1983–1995) === He returned to Los Angeles in 1983, King achieved peak stardom working with studios like Falcon Studios and directors like Kristen Bjorn. Notable films included Screen Play (1984) and Perfect Summer (1988). He was also a ubiquitous print model in adult lifestyle magazines. He later retired from full-time adult films in 1989 to train as a chef in Atlanta, though he returned for brief projects in the early 1990s, with posthumous releases extending into 1995.

== Personal life == Gaines maintained a highly private personal life despite his public profile. In interviews, he occasionally expressed discomfort with the scale of his adult industry fame, noting a strong preference for being recognized for his true character rather than his "Jon King" screen persona. He maintained a long-standing friendship with fellow adult film actor Shawn Mayotte.

== Death == After being diagnosed HIV-positive and experiencing declining health, he moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He died there from AIDS-related complications on March 8, 1995, at age 32. Per his wishes, his remains were cremated, mixed with his dog's ashes, and scattered in the Atlantic Ocean.

== Filmography ==