Biography: Thomas Bryan Taliaferro, Jr. (Tom Byron) was born on April 4, 1961 in Houston, Texas. Tom grew up in Houston, in a large family of four sisters, and one brother who is openly gay. The shy, soft-spoken and extremely intelligent Byron fast-tracked through highschool and graduated one year early. When he turned 18 he moved to Los Angeles, California and got a job in an adult video/novelty store. The store was located across the street from Jim South's World Modeling Agency. South is a well-known booking agent for adult video actors and actresses. One day in May, 1982 Tom decided to walk in and meet Jim. South was cautious at first, because Tom looked younger than what his driver's license claimed, but he signed him to a shoot. Bobby Hollander's Anything Goes: Gourmet Video 19 was Tom's first shoot. His first scene was opposite Craig Roberts and Lili Marlene and he didn't fare too well under the pressure. Tom decided to stick it out and landed major roles in Private Teacher, All American Girl In Heat and the Marilyn Chamber's vehicle, Up N' Coming. With his extraordinary work in those three films, Byron was thrust into the spotlight. Many adult video producers took notice of the talented 21 year old. Byron, who had been doing a number of loops and magazine still shoots to pay his rent, started receiving hordes of work in front of the camera. He made a name for himself as the consummate professional opposite Ginger Lynn and Traci Lords, for which he once shared an apartment. Along with his two friends, Peter North and Marc Wallace, Byron took the adult video world by storm. Between 1982 and 1990, Byron worked in nearly 1,000 films with virtually every actress working. Some of his finest work included the Brat series where he played the bumbling husband Morty Dickinson, as well as his work in Sizzle and New Wave Hookers. Tom Byron has received countless awards for his scene with Ginger Lynn and Steve Powers in New Wave Hookers, a scene which Byron has referred to as �easy�. It is regarded in adult circles as 'legendary'. By 1991, Byron had established himself as a presence in the adult video world. That was also the same year that the IRS came knocking regarding unfiled taxes. Byron found himself in serious finacial debt and was even looking at some jail time if he couldn't straighten out his problems. In order to pay off his debts Byron took on a rigorous work schedule. In 1991, Byron appeared in over 250 videos (appearing in between two and three scenes each movie) and managed to appear in a number of still magazine shoots for Euro and American publications. Burned out by the end of 1992 and unhappy with the industry, Byron began looking for other diversions. He chose music. He formed a band and began touring the LA music scene while doing porn on the side. He attempted to garner some publicity by demanding a condoms-only policy during his scenes, the first actor to do so. The publicity was short-lived, as was his music career. In 1993, Byron dedicated himself full time to appearing in adult films, he gave up his condoms-only stance. Between the years 1993 and 1996, Byron worked in well over 500 adult videos, often for his old friend Alex DeRenzy. In 1997, Byron signed with a fledgling company called Elegant Angel. Angel head, Patrick Collins (aka Roscoe Bowltree) decided to bring Byron on board as an actor and a director. Byron had directed one of the Brat movies when Paul Thomas, the director, had gone home sick. However, Patrick saw the potential in Byron and pushed him to direct his own video-series. After shooting a scene with Sean Michaels and Nikki Brantz which appeared in Sodomania 17, Byron was on his way directing a series called Cumback Pussy. Byron's directing style was very similar to that of his old buddy Alex DeRenzy. Byron, as well as Elegant Angel, cleaned up at the the Adult Video News Awards. In 1998, Byron, Rob Black, and Van Damage decided to leave the stable of Elegant Angel after they felt betrayed by Patrick Collins. They formed their own company called Extreme Associates. The company promised 'Extreme' adult videos. Tiffany Mynx also left Elegant and became the company's first contract starlet. Byron attempted to convince his good friend, Marc Wallace, to leave Elegant Angel. As well as being a long time friend, Wallace had been one of the guys who helped Byron through his transition from perfomer to director. Wallace had also worked as the editor and cinematographer on many of Byron's early Elegant Angel movies. However, by late 1997, it was revealed that Wallace had contracted the HIV virus and subsequently retired. In 1999, Byron began shooting the Lord Of Asses, Whack Attack and Planet Of The Gapes series, which were very similar to the Cumback Pussy series. He is still going strong and has ventured out, with his bestfriend Rob Black, into the wrestling world. He helped form the Los Angeles based XPW (Xtreme Pro Wrestling) organization which is considered the top wrestling outfit behind WWF, WCW and ECW. In the year 2000, Byron works almost exclusively for Extreme, with the occasional appearence in a Seymore Butts video. To date Byron has appeared in nearly 2,000 adult videos, and as an extra in 52 Pick-Up, and has been inducted into the XRCO and AVN Hall of Fame.
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