Thursday, September 20, 2007

RIP: Porn Star Mike Henson (1963 - 2002)

An obituary about my former roommate Ken Seymour, who was also a sweet friend:

Oct. 4, 1963 - Sept. 6, 2002

One of the more popular performers in gay adult videos during the late '80s and early '90s, Mike Henson was born Kenneth Seymour in Sacramento (or Salinas, depending on your source). After a stint in the Army, he settled in Los Angeles. His clean-cut good looks and natural athletic body soon found him work with David Forest's Brad's Buddies service, and soon after followed his debut in gay adult films, most notably in "Big Guns" (1987), with Kevin Williams, "In Hot Pursuit" (1987), with Jeff Stryker, and "Two Handfuls" (1986) with Brian Maxon, Steve Wright, and Kevin Wiles. Henson's final scene with Maxon in "Two Handfuls" is considered one of the best in the history of the industry. In 1990 he appeared with Joey Stefano in "More of a Man: The Safe Sex Video," the first gay adult video to emphasize the use of condoms. According to legend Stefano, known for his encyclopedic knowledge of those in the industry, specifically requested Henson for his co-star. Throughout this time, Henson was a frequent sight in bars and clubs in both L.A. and San Francisco, and was readily available and cordial to his fans.


Drug addiction, the discovery that he was HIV positive, and his desire to pursue a degree in computer science led to Henson's departure from adult videos in 1991, though he made intermittent returns over the next five years, most notably in "Score 10" and "Powertool 2," the latter with Lex Baldwin. In 1994 he graduated from the UCLA School of Computer Sciences, and later helped set up computer operations for David Forest's business enterprises. Drug problems continued to plague him, and a comeback attempt in 1998 failed when fans reacted negatively to the toll drug use had taken on Henson's once youthful good looks, though his body remained in remarkably good shape. He eventually settled in Pennsylvania with a former army buddy who was also his longtime lover. After four years of sobriety, the former porn star died from a heroin overdose. Initial reports were that he was with friends and had taken the heroin "to celebrate his long-term sobriety," dying because he had both miscalculated the dosage and had not considered the enhanced toxic effect heroin can have on those who have remained clean for so long. Later reports were that Henson/Seymour's boyfriend had come home from work to find him dead in his bedroom, a Bible in his hand. Whichever scenario is true, Henson's was a tragic and senseless end for a beautiful and talented young man.


Mike Henson's credits include: "Big & Thick" (1984); "Two Handfuls" (1986); "In Hot Pursuit" (1987); "Hot Rods: Young & Hung 2" (1987); "Big Guns" (1987); "My Best Buddy: Top Of The Pack" (1988); "A Lesson Well Learned" (1988); "Full Load: Maximum Oversize" (1988); "Bulge: Mass Appeal" (1988); "Bad Boys Club" (1988); "More Of A Man" (1990); "The Best Of Mike Henson" (1990); "Score 10" (1991); and "Powertool 2: Breaking Out" (1991).


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

ele é muito bonito e simpático. se eu potesse volta ao passado queria conhecelo. o mike ele seria um namorado super.

ed junior said...

after either Joey Stefano died at age 24 of an overdose. mike henson had made a porno with



inglês

espanhol

português











ainda sinto sua falta na queles tempos de 1997. fiquei imaginado ele amei. mais o seymour estava se aviciADO NA DROGAS PESSADAS. E NISSO FOI FICADO ELE. FOI NA WEST ELE DESAPARECEU. SOUBE QUER MORREU EN 2002. FIQUEI TRISTE FOI AO TUMULO DELE E COLOQUEI UMA FLOR. ATE HOJE VISITOU O SEU TUMULO. SEU EX. COMPALHEIRO DESAPARECEU. SINTO SAUDADES DE AMOR QUER SE .FOI. RESTA EN PAZ SEYMOUR






























I still miss the times queles 1997. I thought he loved. more seymour was aviciADO ON DRUGS.

AM FAN OF HIM. AND HE IS TOO CUTE AND ATLETICO a muscular body. PENALTY IS A STAR WANTS TO FLY IN HEAVEN. NÃ BACK AND MORE. PEACE AND LEFT Seymour

him.x

Mike Lover said...

I was/am absolutely in Love with Michael. Those eyes, that face, that body. I first saw him at the Bijou Theater in Chicago in the mid 80's. It was my first time in any porn place, and OMG what an experience that was in and of itself. But it was where I saw Mike and Kevin Williams together. Then with him, Kevin Whiles in that Movie Theater scene. WOW. I guess all I can say is O M G. I hated to learn of his drug problems. RIP Brother.

BodyByJerry said...

Thank you for sharing this. I'm such a big fan of Mike Henson, all these years later. Do you have any personal photos of him you would be willing to share? I just wish there were more out there, but it was a different era.

BodyByJerry said...

Thank you for sharing this. I am such a big fan of Mike Henson all these years later. Do you have any personal photos of him you would be willing to share? I wish there were more out there, but it was a different era.

Titan said...

It was such dark period. If you on covers porn you were considered the lucky one. When in honesty none were lucky. And died within ten years. The only one that made it is JEFF STRYER .but he charges you forchine to be with him. What kind guy is that its all about me me me. Never about your fellow man. Its why most of them is gone. I think of all the guys I look at on this time are all gone. The system lied that's for sure poor MIKE HANSON TO TAKE HERION YOU NEVER REALLY SHAKE THE DRUG. WITH LOOKS LIKE THAT I WOULD NEVER RUIN MY SELF. THERE EMPTY INSIDE. THEY COULD HAD WORLD.

TallThomas said...

Hi. I have just now in Sept of 2019 come across your post. Thank you very much for writing it. He was always (and remains) one of my favorite gay porn performers. I appreciate you taking the time to write about your friend.

Unknown said...

Acccording to Ancestry.com, Mike Henson (real name: Kenneth John Seymour) had suffered the loss of his mother in the prior month. His grief over her loss could have contributed to his frame of mind leading to his own death.

Anonymous said...

Great looking guy. I read that he was best friends with Jeff Quinn, do you know if that was true?

Wintw said...

Was/is that a Skeletor tattoo on his arm?! SO amazing! Maybe it is a variation of Skeletor? It looks really scary to be honest as in something very dark and disturbing using his image to the point of being intimidating I think. What do you all or anyone else think? I'm fascinated by it for and or from the time period! Wow! Such a sad story with him. I wish we could see and hear more about gay porn people show survived the 1980's and '90's for that matter. What would that be? Ten people tops at the most? Sigh.

Wintw said...

What is the c.d. cover?! That's not real, right?

Wintw said...

How was he making comeback in porn in 1998 if he had h.i.v. mere less A.I.D.S.?!