Born in Los Angeles, California, USA, Buck Angel is a pioneering transsexual activist, multifaceted film actor and producer, and a charismatic public speaker. Prior to embarking on his remarkable journey, Angel struggled with years of gender dysphoria, which ultimately led him to attempt suicide and succumb to addiction. However, at the age of 28, he began his gender reassignment therapy, marking the beginning of a transformative period in his life.
During this time, Angel was working as a female model, but his unhappiness as a woman was palpable, and he was contemplating suicide. His decision to undergo female-to-male transgender reassignment therapy, which he would later describe as being the "guinea pig" in the process, allowed him to achieve satisfactory results, enabling him to live as a man.
Angel's journey, however, was not without its challenges. He realized that he would not be able to have a fully functional penis, which led him to forgo bottom surgery. This decision would later become a defining aspect of his adult film career, as he would describe himself as "the man with a pussy."
As a producer, Angel went on to create a number of adult films under the imprint Buck Angel Entertainment, including the critically acclaimed porn spoof of Brokeback Mountain, titled Buckback Mountain (2007). His groundbreaking work in the adult film industry earned him numerous accolades, including the AVN Award for Transsexual Performer of the Year, making him the first and only trans man to date to receive this honor.
In addition to his work in the adult film industry, Angel has also made a significant impact through his advocacy and activism. He has appeared as a guest speaker at various events, including Ideacity in Canada, where he discussed the social construct of masculinity. His tireless efforts to educate people about sex, gender, and related issues have led to his appearances in several documentaries, including Mr. Angel (2013) and The Trans List (2016),which features a collection of interviews with individuals on the transgender spectrum.
Angel's dedication to his work has also led him to create an online dating website for transgender men, BuckAngelDating, as well as the world's first sex toy designed to reduce gender dysphoria. He has been married twice, first to dominatrix Karin Winslow aka Ilsa Strix from 1998 to 2001, and then to body piercer Elayne Angel from 2003 to 2014.
