Where Are They Now: Bruce Beckham

April 21, 2023
JACK

Catching Up with Bruce Beckham

How do you measure a porn star? By inches (of course...), by Twitter followers, by the number of movies they've made or awards they've won. All these are great indicators of how popular a star is, but what most establishes a unique presence in this business is longevity. Most performers come on the scene and leave within a span of under five years. But then there are a select few whose presence lasts for many years and across a variety of studios and genres. An even more select group are the lasting performers who have made several departures and returns to the industry.

One such legend is Bruce Beckham. Bruce has been in the business for nearly twenty years, with a few breaks in between, and he remains one of the most beloved performers in the industry. With those killer blue eyes, a body by god, and one of the most gorgeous 9-inch cocks in all of porn, it's no wonder why. If this wasn't enough (it totally is) Bruce is a man of great intelligence and heart. While he is proud of his adult work, Bruce really tries to emphasize that this is only one of many aspects that make him who he is. He is far from over in the industry (thank goodness!), but he is also beginning a whole new chapter of his life and career. He is now trying to emphasize his important work as a fitness trainer and life coach.

He joined us for an interview to reflect on his time in business and to update us on where he is now.

Could you tell us about your journey from first joining the industry to becoming famous?

Whew, "Once Upon A Time..." Porn had always been something on my bucket list, so when I found myself single in my early 30s, I thought then was as good a time as any. Porn stars had always been in the upper echelon of sexiness to me, so mostly I think I did it for personal validation. I was peripheral friends with Blue Blake, so I met him at a boxing gym in Hollywood where he was filming a movie. He said "yes" right away to working with me, but I gave it three months to think it over so that I wasn't just jumping right in. I filmed my first scene with Blue in 2004, and the rest is history. In hindsight, I remain VERY grateful for the exposure, opportunities, and appreciation from fans who enjoy my work, but I wonder how my life would have been different if I'd followed a less public, less stigmatized career.

And as far as “becoming famous.” I’ve been doing this for so long, but I lead a pretty private life, so I don’t really think of myself as “famous.” I’m a moderate-sized fish in a small pond. Sometimes people will message or approach me, but it averages once a month. It does feel nice when guys message me saying I was part of their “coming out” journey. That’s gratifying to be a part of.

You are a performer who has been in the business for a long time now, with several breaks in between. Could you tell us about what caused your breaks from the business and has kept you coming back?

Most breaks were just a result of me pursuing other things. Porn can be fun, but with rare cases, it’s not something you can earn a sustainable living with. So I’ve worked on other things and come back to porn when it suited me. I just returned again, doing a scene for Falcon and another for MEN in part to promote my newest venture. I’m establishing myself as a life coach and advocate for older gay men. Advocating for living your dreams at any age, and not listening to others’ beliefs about what you can or can’t do. Fitness, health, a sexy body, gratifying friendships, a social life, and romantic relationships are ALWAYS an option. Because we lost a generation of our brothers to the AIDS crisis, there’s a whole generation ahead of mine missing as an example of that transition. My goal is to reclaim some of the dignity of older gay men and encourage my peers to not give up on their best life.

The industry seems to finally be embracing more mature performers who are maybe not 20-somethings. How do you view this shift and your place in it?

I think it’s great that older guys are being viewed as sexy. One of the things I hear constantly from older gay men is how they’re shunned or mocked by 20-something gay guys for being out at gay bars or wanting to have a sex life past 40. Some younger gay guys are so obviously projecting their own fears of aging onto older gay men who are just living their life. There’s no reason for this. Let people live! I think it’s one of the hurdles we need to get past in our community. For a marginalized community, we still have a lot of work to do around racism, transphobia, misogyny, and ageism. Living the life of our dreams is our right at any age.

Who are some of your favorite fellow performers and performers you admire?

Admire? None.

Lol, I’m joking. I admire the ones that have built up a lasting business of their own, like Ryheim or Austin Wilde. It takes a monumental amount of behind-the-scenes work to build and sustain that kind of brand. I really respect that level of determination and consistent work, traits I try to develop and build in my clients. In terms of pure sexual attraction though, Jason Vario is always at the top of the list, and Axel Rockham and Harold Lopez could def pound me out whenever they wanted.

Because all the fans ask, what was your favorite scene and why?

I've had great sexual chemistry with many of the guys I've filmed with, guys I was total strangers with prior to the day of filming. It's an earmark of a naturally skilled porn performer to create that chemistry 90 minutes after saying "hi" and filling out tax paperwork. I don't think a lot of fans realize how much of a by-the-numbers production porn is behind the scenes.

However, HANDS DOWN, my favorite day of filming was with Matt Bosch for TitanMen. He'd just flown in late the night before to Palm Springs, so he was a bit cranky and tired, so I was dreading our scene the next day. After he got a night's sleep though, we had such a natural, organic rapport. Same sense of humor, similar interests, and a lot of chemistry. It didn't feel like a shoot with a production crew and a schedule, it felt like two friends hanging out. We even briefly considered dating long-distance, but Boston to LA didn't make sense, and we decided we were much better friends. We're still good friends to this day. He's one of two guys from the industry I know I can turn to for good advice and vice versa.

Who is the man behind the body?

Lol, I give clues, but most of the real Bruce is intentionally reserved for real life and real relationships. “Bruce Beckham'' and porn are both fantasies, but real humans are (hopefully) much more complex. Overall though, I’d say I’m a hardworking guy who doesn’t give up, has pretty down-to-earth interests and tastes, and is passionate about living a healthy, well-rounded life. Particularly important to me is to show up for other people, even when it might be difficult. We’re all doing our best with the circumstances we were given.

What is your life like outside of the industry?

Pretty great honestly. I’m lucky enough to live in NYC, arguably the best city on the planet. Everything in the world is just a subway ride away. I personal train and do fitness and life consulting for a living so I get to meet a lot of different people. I go to the gym daily, cook for myself often, go out to parties, see movies and live theatre, date judiciously, and try new things as often as possible.

What are some of your future ambitions in and outside of the business?

I’m really excited about becoming an advocate for and an example for my generation. A gay man over 50 who’s on a pretty non-traditional path, but who’s still thriving, in excellent shape, building relationships of all kinds, and living a fulfilling life. My first step toward this is a free, weekly newsletter called “TBD, The Bruce Diaries.” It’s a fun, weekly collection of the thoughts that keep me motivated, gym tips, health hacks, and overall all the positive things helping me thrive. It’s linked all over my social media, and your readers can click this link NOW to sign up for it. http://eepurl.com/imfTa6

Photo courtesy of The Bruce Diaries.

Could you share with us about your new fitness and life coaching business?

Sure! I’ve been working out for decades, and I’ve learned that what works to get in shape changes over time. I think it’s relatively easy to be in shape when you’re younger. I’m way more impressed by older guys who are still prioritizing their health and haven’t given up when things got harder. I’d argue I’m the best candidate to help guys of all ages get into shape because I’ve been all ages. What works at 20 or 30 isn’t what works at 40 or 50, and I have first-hand experience that a younger trainer won’t. Plus, I have decades of experience motivating myself and my clients to keep going and believe in themselves. That’s a HUGE part of the equation as well.

I train clients in person in NYC, but I also have a consulting business where I spend one on one time with my clients on the phone or on FaceTime. I help them set a plan for the following week, strategize with them to overcome hurdles, and encourage them toward their goals. Sometimes, all we really need is someone to believe in us and cheer us on, and that’s what I do for my clients. It’s a more personalized experience than “download my workout plan.” Real fitness is about more than just picking up and putting down weights. It’s about developing self-esteem, self-worth, and a belief in one’s own potential. So I try to be a voice for that, combined with my decades of experience.

What challenges have you faced trying to build a career outside the industry?

Doing anything new can be unfamiliar for me AND my fan base who’ve come to know me for one type of thing. I’m hoping people join me for this next chapter that’s just as sexy, but a more well-rounded look at ways I can help them feel better, even after they’ve jerked off. Life is amazing. I’d love to help more guys embrace all types of experiences that are pleasurable and enriching.