Rick Kelson: A Muscle Daddy’s Muscle Daddy

April 23, 2025
JACK

Rick Kelson: A Muscle Daddy's Muscle Daddy

The "Muscle Daddy" continues to be one of the most popular types in gay porn. It now takes a performer with an extra, extra high libido and a level of intensity that they bring to their performances that makes them stand out among the wolf pack. One such performer is Rick Kelson. Rick and his gorgeous, hairy muscle-bod came to the industry much later in life after a completely different career. Though he's already been performing for a few years, he seems on the verge of a heightened level of success and is super ready for it. He joined us for an interview to reflect on his life and career thus far and how he plans to rev things up even more.

Photo provided by Rick Kelson

Let's start with a few basics: Name? Age? Hometown? Occupation?

Rick Kelson, 57, from Houston, TX, formerly a mechanical engineer, now a masseur and “actor”

How did you create your stage name?

The last name is derived from a character in a favorite fantasy series of mine. I just started trying it with various first names until something sounded right.

Could you share some of your background with us? How did you get where you are today?

I was born and raised in Texas, moving around a fair amount during my youth. I went to college at the University of Texas at Austin, where I earned my degree as a mechanical engineer. During that time, I came out as gay and also started working as a stripper for clubs around Texas and Louisiana. I continued working as a stripper part-time after college because I enjoyed the travel, the experience, and the extra money. I eventually stopped once the demands of my regular job began demanding more of my attention.

I worked as an engineer for NASA and in the oil & gas industry for about 25 years. I began doing porn in 2019 and left engineering in 2021 to do something that was less stressful and that I enjoyed more. I now support myself through content creation and doing massages.

You have come to the porn industry later in life and after a very successful (and very different) other career. Was this challenging? How so?

Getting started later has definitely made my experience different from that of many other guys in the industry. I knew that if I was going to get the attention of any of the studios, I’d need to demonstrate that there was an audience for me and that I could be marketable. Fortunately, I have a good friend in the industry, Silver Steele, who was hugely supportive and connected me with a lot of great guys in the industry to help me launch my JustForFans and OnlyFans. These connections and cross-promotions on social media gave me the chance to get a foothold in the industry.

Do you think you have any special advantages coming to the industry after a successful prior career? Which ones?

I think that I had a definite sense of my capabilities and limitations that helped guide me in my decision-making that I might not have had earlier in life. And I had a sense of security as I explored this new opportunity because I was, at the time, still working as an engineer.

Could you tell us about your previous career with NASA? (Share as much or as little as you are comfortable.)

Working at NASA was simultaneously one of the most fulfilling and most frustrating things that I’ve ever done. For the majority of my time there, my job was to break other people’s stuff. It was the perfect job for me. I worked as a test engineer, my job was to evaluate new tool and equipment designs to make sure that they could do what was needed under actual working conditions.

One of the best things about working at NASA was the enthusiasm of the people working there for the work being done. Most people are there because they have a genuine passion for the idea of space exploration. For many, their whole lives have been filled with a dream of pushing past the current limits and seeing what else is out there. And this shared excitement creates some amazing results.

But, you are also dealing with a lot of very intelligent people with some very strong opinions about how things should be done and sometimes ego can get in the way of finding workable solutions to the thousands of critical issues that need to be addressed every day in the quest to move out into such a harsh and unforgiving environment.

Photo provided by Rick Kelson

How did this transition to gay porn? How long have you been in the industry now?

Doing porn started as a “why not” sort of side gig. An opportunity to express my exhibitionism and maybe have some fun and make a little money. I started making content for my fan sites in early 2019 after Silver Steele convinced me that there was a market for mature guys and that I had a good look for it. My first studio scene was in September of 2019 and was the result of pure serendipity.

Had you been interested in the industry before? Any studios or performers you consider particular favorites or influences?

I had briefly entertained the thought of trying out the industry when I was working as a stripper. I had a chance to meet several porn stars during that time, but at the time I didn’t feel confident enough to take the plunge. As far as performers who’ve influenced my work, my friend Silver Steele who suggested and encouraged me into giving porn a try is definitely at the top of the list. But also Dallas Steele and Lance Charger, who helped me figure out how to be a Daddy.

What are your thoughts on the new popularity of the “muscle daddy” type? How do you think you fit in with this new archetype?

I don’t think that interest in the “muscle daddy” is new, but we lost so many men during the AIDS crisis that would fit into that category, and so what we are seeing now is a re-awakening of that interest, now that we have more guys who fit that description visible. And fitting into that niche is certainly something that I aspire to. I like working out, both for how it makes me feel and for the confidence it gives me.

You have begun revving up your presence in the studio world. How do you like studio work vs OF work? Any preference? Why?

For me, studio work and creating content for my own sites are very different experiences, and I enjoy them both for very different reasons. Creating site content allows a lot of freedom with regard to who I work with and how we approach the scene. We can be as silly or ridiculous as we want to be, or as hardcore and raunchy. With studio work, I’m helping someone else express their vision, so you have to listen and pay attention so you can understand and help them to the best of your ability. Also, studio work can help push you to expand your horizons in ways you may not think to do on your own.

What are your plans and ambitions in the industry moving forward? Any dream scenarios? Scene partners?

I intend to keep working in this industry for as long as I’m enjoying what I’m doing. Once it stops being fun, it will be time to re-evaluate. There are several studios that I’d love to work with if the opportunity ever presents itself: Carnal, Raging Stallion, and Kink.com, for example. But I understand that studios have a vision for their brands, and if I’m not a fit, that’s just how it is. As far as scene partners, I’d love to shoot with Lawson James. I’ve spoken with Reese Rideout at a few events, and he’s awesome, so shooting with him would be great.

Tell us a little bit about yourself outside of porn. Interests? Hobbies? Beliefs?

In my free time, I enjoy reading, mostly high fantasy but also a little bit of everything. When I can, I love to get lost playing video games for a few hours at a time, mostly RPGs, because I am the worst at first-person shooters. I do a little bit of woodworking and leatherworking as creative outlets. I love to travel, which I get to indulge in more lately. I’m not really a religious or spiritual person, but I do try to focus on being the best person that I can be, and I try to treat people as least as well as I would want to be treated.

Who is the real Rick

Interestingly, Rick is not all that different from not-Rick, except that Rick has an easier time forgetting about his baggage and the inhibitions that might limit him.

You have shared that you are in a relationship and that your partner actually assists you in your porn work. Could you share with us how that works? Any challenges or advantages?

I’m very lucky that my partner Dante is my number one fan, and he is also my cameraman and editor for a lot of the content for my fan sites. A big part of what makes it work for us is that he’s very much a voyeur, and he loves watching me with other people. This was a part of our relationship even before I started doing porn. And he’s very meticulous about the technical aspects of filming, and he has a great eye for lighting and camera angles. Occasionally we’ll have differences of opinion about how a scene should be done, but we’re usually able to figure it out together and make some hot porn

How do you define a true "Porn Star"? Is Rick Kelson one?

I genuinely have no idea how that would be defined. Years in the business? Number of scenes done? Have you worked with major studios? What awards have you won? Personally I just think of myself as a guy who does porn, and has a damn good time doing it.

What is your favorite thing about sex?

So this is going to sound ridiculously cliche, but my favorite thing about sex is finding out what makes the person I’m with say, “Oh my god, do that again”. Finding what gives someone pleasure is a HUGE turn-on for me. And I try to bring that into my work by trying to create a real connection with my scene partner so that we’re having a good time together, and hopefully the people watching our scene will see that.