Ronald Jeremy Hyatt (born March 12, 1953), better known by the stage name Ron Jeremy, is a well-known American porn star and director. He is nicknamed The Hedgehog for two reasons: because of his hirsute and overweight body, and because he is capabale of autofellatio (contorting himself the way a real hedgehog does when rolling into a ball, and owing to his large penis, reported to be 9.75 inches, or 25 cm).

Born to a Jewish family in Flushing, Queens, New York City, he took a B.A. in theatre arts and acted off-Broadway before gaining a master's degree. He began a career in special education, but soon decided to quit and become part of the newly formed 1970s New York porn scene following an amateur appearance in Playgirl magazine.

His venture into pornographic movies occurred during the "golden era" of 1975–83 –marked by reasonable production values and scripts, with the movies intended for cinematic release rather than video. However, during this era the production of adult movies was still illegal. Jeremy left New York for California but he was arrested on two occasions and faced a lengthy jail sentence before being reprieved as a result of the Hal Freeman precedent in the United States Supreme Court of 1988.

Despite his unglamorous appearance, he has featured in approximately 1,600 films to date and has directed a further 100. He claims he gets more work when he is a bit on the heavy side, and this is the reason why he does not try to lose weight. He also claims to have had sex with over 4,000 women.

He has also had small roles in mainstream films such as Detroit Rock City, 54, Ronin, Orgazmo, The Boondock Saints and Killing Zoe, though his material is often cut by squeamish studio executives. He also appeared on the second season of the reality show The Surreal Life, and was featured on a special 'news makers' recording of the game show The Weakest Link.

Jeremy was the subject of a 2001 documentary film, .

He also appeared in the Swedish entertainment show High Chaparall in 2003.

His pseudonyms (mostly used when directing) include:

• Bill Blackman
• Lolita Brooklyn
• David Elliot / David Elliott
• Ron Gerimiah
• Ron Hedge
• Ron Hiatt / Ron Jeremy Hyatt / Ronald Hyatt / Ron Hyatt
• Ron Hywatt
• Lulu Latouche
• Nicholas Pera / Nicolas Pera
• Norm L. Pera
• Norm Prestissimo
• Ron Prestissimo

External links

• Internet Adult Film Database entry (WARNING: Contains explicit adult content)