Jamie Gillis, a native of New York City, embarked on a career in legitimate acting, only to find himself gravitating towards the adult film industry in the early 1970s. Throughout the late 1990s, he continued to work in this field, occasionally making appearances in mainstream films, such as a cameo in the 1981 movie Nighthawks.
Despite his occasional forays into "legitimate" cinema, Gillis remained closely associated with the porn industry, and is widely regarded as one of its most prolific and potent actors. During his time as one of the "Nasty Bros." in producer Ed Powers' "Dirty Debutantes" series, Gillis began to expand his creative horizons by producing his own homemade porn videos, some of which were shot in France, where he showcased his proficiency in the French language.
Openly bisexual, Gillis made his debut in all-gay porn in 1997 with an adom-masochistic video, in which he played a commanding figure, issuing orders to the other cast members, rather than participating in actual sex acts.
