Johnny Dawes (March 22, 1955 – July 25, 1989), born Brian Lee, was an American adult film actor, model, and writer. Active during the 1970s and 1980s, Dawes appeared primarily in gay pornography. Beyond adult film, he worked as a stage actor, photographer, and classical music contributor.

Early life and education Dawes was born Brian Lee in Akron, Ohio, one of five children. He attended local schools and graduated from high school in 1971. Following graduation, he moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue work in film and performance.

Career Adult film and modeling In 1973, Lee began working as a dancer in an all-male erotic revue at the Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles. He entered the adult film industry in 1974 under the stage name Johnny Dawes. Over the next decade, he became a contract actor for studios including Falcon Studios. He modeled for various gay magazines and erotica publications throughout the late 1970s and 1980s.

In 1983, Dawes starred as Steve in the adult feature Pleasure Beach, directed by Arthur J. Bressan Jr. For his role in the film, Dawes won the Best Actor award at the 1984 Gay Producers Association (GPA) Awards.

Dawes retired from the adult film industry in 1986 but he returned to film work briefly in early 1989 to complete a final group of projects.

Theater and scholarly Work Outside of pornography, Dawes worked in the Los Angeles arts and theater community. In 1985, he starred as Richard, the male lead, in the Los Angeles production of Night Sweats at the Fifth Estate Theatre. Written by playwright Robert Chesley, it was one of the earliest theatrical productions to address the AIDS epidemic.

Dawes was also a portrait photographer and classical music enthusiast. He worked as an opera historian, contributing biographical articles to Opera Digest, including a study of the American lyric soprano Alma Gluck. Prior to his death, he was researching a full-length biography of Gluck. He also directed a documentary film titled A Dance with Death and filmed a minor role as a Russian spy in a non-adult feature film.

Death Dawes began experiencing health issues in December 1988. He was diagnosed with AIDS on June 16, 1989. He died from complications of the disease on July 25, 1989, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and he was 34 years old.

Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1978 F Truck Johnny Also known as Dirt Bikes 1979 Bad, Bad Boys B.J. Also known as Bad Boys 1982 Skin Deep Johnny Daws Emerson Films 1983 Games Bob Parker Surge Studio 1983 To Catch a Thief Thief J.R. Productions 1983 Valley Boys Boy Rollo Productions 1983 The Wilde House Blonde Rollo Productions 1983 Doing It Hustler TCS Studio 1983 The Private Pleasures of John Holmes Eric H.A.G. Productions 1983 Revenge of the Nighthawk in Leather Toby Cosco Studio 1983 Pleasure Beach Steve VCA Pictures 1983 Knockout! Bobby Pan Pacific Pictures 1984 Trick Time John Cosco Studio 1984 Daddy Dearest Bob Argos Film 1984 Hot Stuff Handsome Teenager 1986 Soap Studs Marathon 1986 Big Boys of Summer Swimmer SurfSide 7 Productions 1988 A Big Business Office Worker 10/9 Productions 1988 Dude Ranch Ranch Hand Panther Productions 1988 Boys Night Out! Sexy Boy 10/9 Productions 1988 Hard Line Matt 10/9 Productions 1988 Who's Dat Boy Alan 10/9 Productions 1989 Tasting Mr. Goodbar Brad Venus Video 1989 In the End Zone Leon Stallion Video 1989 3-Way Cum, Volume 1 Jon Rawhide Video 1989 Best of Cum 1 Teenager Boy Rawhide Video 1990 Bottom Boys (Hot Shots 31) Boy HIS Video 1995 It's Great Outdoors Nick Le Salon Video 1996 Lets Swap Meat Blonde Also known as Hot Pages: Bound for Lust 1997 Prized Pieces Johnny HIS Video 1997 Bare Boners Johnny HIS Video 2021 Falcon Icons: The 1970s Johnny Dawes Falcon Studios 2024 Custom Cock Commandos Johnny Dawes Posthumous release 2025 Daddy Dearest & Juice Johnny Dawes Posthumous release

Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Gay Erotic Video Awards 1984 Best Actor Pleasure Beach

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