Steven Hirsch (born May 25, 1961) is the founder and co-chairman of the adult entertainment company Vivid Entertainment,[1] which he founded in 1984.[2] It has been estimated to be the top adult entertainment company.[3]
Steven Hirsch | |
|---|---|
 Hirsch in May 2009 | |
| Born | May 25, 1961 Lyndhurst, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founder and Co-Chairman of Vivid Entertainment |
Career
Tenure at Vivid Entertainment
The second generation of his family to be in the business, he is credited by AVN as the creative visionary who saw the potential to change the nature of the adult entertainment industry.[4][5] Hirsch and his original partner, David James, an industry veteran with extensive international experience, were later joined by a third partner, Bill Asher, a Dartmouth College graduate with an MBA from the University of Southern California, who has engineered the company's recent financial success through a series of transactions and alliances. The three are co-chairmen of the company.[1]
In addition to a hardcover book with HarperCollins,[6] Hirsch developed Vivid Comix and graphic novels with Avatar Press[7] and erotic novels with Thunder’s Mouth Press.[8] The faces of Vivid Girls have appeared on billboards in high traffic venues such as Sunset Boulevard[9] and Times Square.[10]
Appearances
The 2004 pseudo-documentary TV series Porno Valley, documents Hirsch's private life and family, and interaction between Hirsch and his Vivid dream.
Two additional seven-party reality series were seen on Showtime. Deeper Throat covered the remaking of the classic adult movie and Debbie Does Dallas Again was about the trials of getting permission to remake this all-time favorite.
Accolades
In 2012 Hirsch received the first Adult Video News Visionary Award at a gala ceremony in Las Vegas. According to Paul Fishbein, founder of AVN, "Nobody in the modern era of the adult industry has been more innovative in mainstreaming their company image than Vivid. That made them one of the premier brands in all of Hollywood, adult or otherwise. Steve and the company are truly deserving of this achievement."[11]
Advocacy
Hirsch opposed Measure B, a law passed in Los Angeles County on November 5, 2012 that requires all performers in adult films to wear condoms when filming sex scenes. Hirsch expressed confidence that the law, which was passed by 56 percent of voters, would be overturned on the grounds that it violates filmmakers' First Amendment rights, but stated that failing this, Vivid would move production out of Los Angeles County to survive, commenting, "There have been obscenity prosecutions, but this is something on a whole different level."[12]
Personal life
Hirsch was born in Lyndhurst, Ohio. Hirsch operates his company with his sister, Marci, who was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2015.[13] He is the father of two children (Alexa and Jack Hirsch) with his ex-wife.[14]
References
- ^ a b "Vivid Entertainment LLC: CEOs and Executives", BusinessWeek.
- ^ 25 Years of Vivid
- ^ Forbes.com
- ^ Pulley, Brett (2005-03-07). "The Porn King". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 9, 2005.
- ^ "Vivid's 25th Anniversary: How Steven Hirsch's Company Thrust Porn Into Mainstream America" by Jared Rutter for AVN. Posted September 30, 2009.
- ^ How to Have a XXX Sex Life: The Ultimate Vivid Guide by Vivid Girls from HarperCollins.
- ^ "Vivid Comix launches line featuring Vivid Girls", by Avatar Press, September 19, 2003
- ^ Wells, Jeff. "Vivid Valley' takes reality TV to local adult industry". San Fernando Valley Business Journal. October 10, 2005.
- ^ "Porn Goes Mainstream" by Joel Stein, June 24, 2001. TIME.
- ^ Sullivan, David. Contract Girls Featured On 'Sexiest Billboard Ever'. November 7, 2007.
- ^ "Steve Hirsch to Receive First Visionary Award at AVN Awards". AVN.com. November 10, 2011
- ^ "Porn industry ponders new condom law in Los Angeles". Associated Press/Fox News. November 12, 2012.
- ^ AVN Staff (2014-12-24). "Class of 2015: Meet the AVN Hall of Fame Inductees". AVN. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
- ^ Fox News (26 June 2003). "Steve Hirsch, Vivid Entertainment Co-Founder and Sunrise Adams, Vivid Entertainment Star". Fox News. Fox News. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
CAVUTO: Steve, I think you have a 2-year-old, right? HIRSCH: Yes. Yes, that's correct.