J.D. Phoenix received the Wall of Fame Award at the annual 2022 Grabbys Adult Film Awards in Chicago last week. His frequent collaborator and friend Mr. Pam won the Lifetime Achievement award.

More than just eye candy, Phoenix has spoken at colleges and universities from Dartmouth to the University of Albany about his travails in the adult film world, meth addiction, and PrEP. Hailing from a small town in upstate New York, Phoenix was barely out of high school when he became an overnight success.

Above: Phoenix and Best Newcomer winner Beau Butler

Legendary director ChiChi LaRue introduced Phoenix on stage:

“In the summer of 2011 fresh out of high school when he was just 18 years old and  living in Las Vegas, J.D. was recruited by a scout for legendary site Sean Cody.  After filming two scenes with SeanCody.com, he was confronted with the choice to go bareback or not.  In 2011, having condomless sex on camera was still very taboo so he left his contract and went solo performing for GayRoom and ManRoyale.

In 2012 while visiting his cousin’s punk rock clothing store Trash & Vaudeville on St. Mark’s Place in New York City, he happened to meet mr. Pam, his future GayPornMama!

Joining forces with Pam and NakedSword he subsequently starred in five movies including Hooker Stories, Biggest Catch, The Cover Up, and Fuck You I’m Famous & Sexperiment.

Word got out that he was a versatile twink with an insatiable ass and he went on to star in movies for Falcon Studios, Hot House, Channel 1 Releasing and Dominic Ford—this was all pre-JustFor Fans days!

In 2015, he was swept up in a romance with CockyBoys Exclusive Pierre Fitch which got the attention of Director Jake Jackson and was soon cast in many movies including A Thing of Beauty. Beauty, filmed in Mexico, won Best Picture and inspireda coffee table book.

Following that experience, J.D. dove deeper into his own sexuality, in 2018 he began to film fetish porn like Boys Smoking and Boys Pissing in California.

Ironically, he also dove into high-end acting roles working with Icon Male Director Nica Noelle in upstate New York.

Unfortunately, it was around this time J.D. had to admit that his demons were getting the best of him: he was involved in a horrific car accident. Calling his mom from the side of the road with a totaled car and drugs in his system, reality hit hard.  He finally said, enough is enough and he checked himself into a drug rehab program.

Not going to lie, sobriety has been a battle but J.D. is so happy to report that he has been sober for 3 ½ years now, holding down a steady “clothed” job and just purchased his own home!

J.D. Phoenix looks back on his porn career with a proud smile; appreciating all the amazing people he’s met, places he’s traveled and guys he’s fucked.

Tonight, JD Phoenix is extremely honored to be receiving the Grabby Hall of Fame tonight and would love to dedicate this award to the person who’s stuck with him more than anyone in the world… his mom!”

Watch the speech below:

Recovery was on Phoenix’s mind during much of his trip. He noted “First time in Chicago, sober! Recovery is possible. Just don’t pick up, then the rest is possible.”

Above: Mr. Pam and Phoenix

Phoenix’ cousin and role model, fashion icon Jimmy Webb, who died in 2020, was on his mind too.

Vogue said of Webb following his death from cancer in 2020: “[He] embodied an authentic rocker spirit. You would often see him hanging outside on the store’s stoop or commanding the sales floor with his eccentric energy. His style also exemplified the rough-and-tough wears that you would find inside. (Webb told Style.com in 2013 of his signature skinny jeans, “I’ve been saying the same thing for years: lower and tighter, lower and tighter, lower and tighter. I’m never giving that up.”) Webb’s creative presence at the store also made it a playground for editorial and celebrity stylists to visit, many of whom would drop in to see Webb and pull items for their latest shoots. In 2016, Trash and Vaudeville moved from its iconic St. Marks Place address to a few blocks down to East Seventh Street, and Webb followed the store. “I see it as a new beginning,” Webb told Vogue at the time. “I’ll never say anything bad about St. Marks. It’s been great to me.” In February of this year, Webb had also opened his own rock-themed boutique, I Need More, on the Lower East Side. The opening party for it drew in a number of big names, including performers such as Debbie Harry, Iggy Pop, and more—because where Webb went, rock royalty always followed.

Above: Phoenix, LaRue,and friends.

Back in 2015, Phoenix was cast as the face of a powerful PSA campaign for the then unknown HIV pre-prophylactic drug Truvada. He was a controversial choice.

Phoenix told Plus magazine at the time:

So many people go out and live in this delusion that they can go out and drink, and because they don’t do meth, pot and cocaine that they’re safe. Alcohol is the worst drug possible. This is a fact. Alcohol has killed most of my family members, and even people that I’ve gone to high school with. Schoolmates that I graduated with in 2011, have died from DWIs and alcohol poisoning, so yeah meth is bad, but it’s not even close in comparison. And yeah while I’ve been open about my use, many people are using it in secret, but that is the root of addiction, to deny and lie about it, which allows it to control you.

GayNrd caught up with Phoenix.

You’ve talked a lot about recovery but if you had to sum up your journey in terms of its greatest challenge and greatest strength what would they be? Relocating in a new city yet again for the fifth or so time with two suitcases and moving into a sober house with 13 gay guys was the biggest challenge. My mom was my biggest support and kept me on track with my financial goals. I totaled my car back in New York right before I began treatment and was awarded a DUI to boot, so I owed everyone who had helped me out.

Above: Phoenix and Ty Roberts

We seem to be entering a dark time with anti-LGBT legislation. Why do you think that is? I believe each state should reflect the people that vote in the state. So if these elected officials are putting forth legislation that goes against its own people then those people need to turn out and vote or relocate to a place where their values are represented and respected. It’s a unpopular opinion maybe but until we can actually make federal change we will have to fight and turn out the vote or move.

Above: Phoenix and Pam

How did your cousin’s death both affect and continue to inspire you?  My cousin Jimmy Webb, the famous punk, RockNRoll stylist in NYC showed me how an upstate NY junky could make something of himself, get clean and have a life that is worth living. He would be smiling if he saw me and all my accomplishments from buying a new car, staying sober and buying my first property. He was very against my decision of doing porn and knew something was special in me and I’m now able to really discover what he meant. The best is yet to come I believe and the sky is the limit. I’ve been blessed to have him as a role model.

What advice would you give a young and upcoming gay kid who is just entering into the adult film industry? Have someone that knows the industry that you can trust and is knowledgeable. Making sure they have no skin in your game. People try to always make money at others expense. Find that one person that wouldn’t benefit from your gains.

Photos by Charles Palmer