Trivia

His Los Angeles quadruple-murder trial in 1982, in which he was acquitted, was the first trial in American Jurisprudence where videotape was introduced as evidence.

He was so successful as a performer in the adult film industry, and was in such high demand, that if it wasn't for his voracious cocaine habit he would have been a millionaire while still in his 30s.

Appeared in 2,274 pornographic films, more than anyone else.

After running away from home at age 16, he enlisted and served three years in the U.S. Army (1960-63). He was stationed with the Signal Corps in West Germany and was honorably discharged at age 19.

Before his career in porn he worked as a forklift operator in a meat-packing warehouse in Cudahy, CA, from August 1965 to June 1967. He had to quit his job, as the contrast between hot and cold temperatures while driving a forklift in and out of a large walk-in freezer led to severe health problems, including three incidents of lung collapse between seven to nine months during the two years that he worked there.

He devoted much time to environmental causes and often went door to door collecting for the "Save The Whales" Foundation.

Ran away from home and joined the army, after an incident where he pushed his violent abusive stepfather down a flight of stairs.

At the height of his career he had his penis insured by Lloyds of London for $14 million. He reveled in claiming that he was insured "for $1 million an inch".

Made about 2,300 full-length hardcore films and videos, including a 3-D thriller and a film about his life story - Exhausted: John C. Holmes, the Real Story (1981).

Did not tell the porn industry that he was HIV positive and continued to star in films. In 1986, he went so far as to go to Europe to make porno movies because they didn't know he was HIV positive.

He would always sing Gordon Lightfoot's song "If You Could Read My Mind" to his girlfriend Dawn Schiller. The song is played in the movie Wonderland (2003) at the end of the film.

Claimed to have lost his virginity at age 12 to a 36-year-old friend of his mother. He has also claimed to have copulated with more than 14,000 women in his life, both on- and off-screen.

Diagnosed with AIDS in February 1986.

Nicknamed himself Johnny "Cash" Holmes during the early years of his porn career because he would only take his payments in cash since he was supposedly swindled out of $100 by a bad check for his very first porn loop.

His first stepfather Edward Holmes was an alcoholic who often came home drunk and would vomit on the children. The second, Harold Bowman, was bipolar--what used to be called "manic depressive"--and prone to violent rages that he would take out on John.

The exact size of his member has never been confirmed, with reports varying from ten inches to 14 inches.

In 1979 he, with his younger half-brother David Bowman, opened up a locksmith and used furniture store called The Just Looking Emporium in Los Angeles which both managed. However, because of Holmes' escalating drug addiction and a lack of money to operate the store since Holmes was squandering all of his and other people's money to buy cocaine for himself, the business failed by the end of that year.

He often claimed to be a college graduate with majors ranging from physical therapy to political science. The truth was that he never graduated from high school, having dropped out of public school in the ninth grade.

Boogie Nights (1997) is based on his life.

Is portrayed by Val Kilmer in Wonderland (2003).

On 6/26/82 he was found not guilty of the infamous Wonderland gang ("Four on the Floor") murders.

He did not learn the name of his biological father until 1986.

Youngest of four children.

He continued performing in adult films after his trial and did much work as a producer and director.

His mother's maiden name was Barton.

Was stepfather to his second wife Misty Dawn's son.

Was godfather to Bill Amerson's children.