Latino Porn Legend – Joe Romero RIP
November 13th, 2007
Today, the industry has received news that latin porn veteran Joe Romero has passed away.
This article from GayPornTimes.com …
“He passed of “HIV complications; his body just couldn’t handle everything.” [According to his partner he died on October 30th.] Although quiet in recent years, for a time Joe Romero was one of gay adult’s most colorful, and prolific, personalities.
He made dozens of films between 1994-2006 and carved out an alternative career as a musician as well as an outspoken activist for HIV/AIDS organizations and the leather community. He is survived by his partner, father and two sisters.
My own personal memories of Joe Romero are from the 4-hour compilation VHS tapes that I used to pick up in the mid ’90’s. Back when I couldn’t afford a $50 movie, the $9.99 “Best of” tapes are what kept this porn aficionado going.
As much as I loved watching him in action, I honestly can’t name more than 3 of his videos off the top of my head. Latin porn back then was all about “scenes.” Just get two guys together in a motel room, or a warehouse, or somebody’s apartment, and roll the camera. Joe Romero was the rough and ugly top who gave out rough and ugly fucks. And the studios (and fans) couldn’t get enough!
I do remember his performance in Married Cops Do. (I rented it on VHS after seeing a pictoral from the movie with Joe and his muscular co-stars in SkinFlicks magazine.) It was a career high at a time when latino porn stars like Mike Lamas, Johnny Rahm, and Gino Colbert were breaking into the mainstream.
After he went into bareback porn, the only Joe Romero video that I bought was Bareback Orgy 2, and boy was it hot! He had always played the macho top, and over the years he matured perfectly into the latin daddy role. Joe will be missed.