A proper legend has left us.

[Dave Wells]

I not only admired his acting skills (he was a real actor that did porn) but his style of filming (Fresh Meat & The Voyer stuff) was unique and always interesting but I was fortunate to know him having met him on a few occasions. He was a kind, generous even humble man and a real proper porn legend !

R.I.P. John Leslie.

[planeterotica]

Yes i agree a real legend, sad news R.I.P.

[andy ide]

Oh Jesus. I can't believe it. That's so sad. Thanks for posting this, Dave. As well you know, I thought he was a fucking god. He really was my inspiration when I was starting out.

The way he set his scenes up and shot and edited them, for me, that was the only approach you could take making porn. Use natural light, move around 360, zoom in and out. He used some great disorientating tricks to make you feel like you were really floating and flying inside the action, he wasn't scared of abstraction, and all his creativity amplified the horn rather than getting in the way of it -- no special effects, just a visionary, supremely talented guy holding a camcorder.

But his take on how to set a scene up was unique and wonderful as well. Nothing was explained, his performers wouldn't speak much. You'd just find yourself dropped into a surreal situation and he'd slowburn things beautifully and dramatically. Through this, and the blues he used to soundtrack the start and end of his movies (played by his own band), he brilliantly conveyed the sense of a kind of neo-noir Los Angeles. And of course he loved slightly older women, mid 20s to early 30s, he dressed them simply and elegantly. I'd actually lay money on Jack Vettriano having watching his stuff in the 90s and being heavily influenced by him. And hey, trick of the trade, he gave his performers the space to really enjoy themselves, and he shot them as people, never letting a gyno shot outlast its welcome before bringing a face back into the frame.

He made the best of his stuff during the first half of his directing career. The spark isn't really there in much of his recent work. A lot of performers faking, a reduction in innovation. But who cares? We all burn out.

The guy was a fucking artist. In fact, I'd say he was the only artist who's ever made video pornography, with a vision unique to him and the ability to execute it. And, Jesus Christ, could his stuff turn you on.

Thank you, John. Rest in peace.

[Peter]

I think he was in the only porn film which I actually cared about the plot, which is very hard to achieve!

[andy ide]

That's a very good piece from AVN.

[one eyed jack]

Fucking hell Andy. You snatched every word out of my head ...and didnt make any spelling mistakes!!!!

Wot he said guv and RIP John Leslie. I remember this guy from many years back before I even fell into porn. Have to agree with you there, John Leslie is a legend and I dont use the term lightly either.

If there is a Porn Hall Of Fame then John Leslie should be in it.

[number 6]

he starred in the first blue movie i ever saw,and saw in him many over the years. RIP

[jimslip]

In the 80's he seemed to be in every VHS porn film I ever saw, together with that other legend Ron Jeremy.

He's died quite young really, shame. RIP

[steve56]

Yeah i recall him was in a few soft ones too EG Electric Blue titles