Johnny Rey (November 13, 1963 – January 18, 2006), born Rhett Elliott Palmer, was an American adult film actor, director, columnist, and early internet entrepreneur. He was a prominent and highly influential figure in the gay adult entertainment industry during the 1990s. Celebrated for his distinct aesthetics and camp cinematic style, he earned the industry nickname "The Ed Wood of Gay Porn". Beyond his filmmaking, Rey was an early pioneer of adult web-cam streaming and a dedicated HIV/AIDS activist within the West Hollywood LGBTQ+ community.
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Early life and modeling career
Rhett Elliott Palmer was born on November 13, 1963, in Riverside County, California. His early childhood was marked by severe instability; his biological mother chose not to raise him and placed him into the foster care system. He did not meet his biological father until the age of nine, after which he suffered severe physical abuse.
As a young adult, Palmer relocated to Palm Springs, California, where he found stability working professionally as a hairdresser. Blessed with a striking physical appearance—characterized by his blond hair, hazel eyes, and a lean, muscular "swimmer's build"—he began taking on print modeling work. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he appeared frequently in mainstream gay lifestyle magazines and adult erotic publications, establishing a recognizable public profile before transitioning into film.
Adult film career
On-screen debut (1993)
While living in Palm Springs, a close friend suggested Palmer pursue a career in adult cinema. Shortly after expressing open interest in the field, legendary adult film director Chi Chi LaRue reached out to him. LaRue was in Palm Springs filming her iconic 1993 feature Mirage and cast Palmer on the spot, handing him his debut under the stage name Johnny Rey.
Rey quickly became a highly sought-after performer due to his physical appeal and natural screen presence. Over his acting career, he accumulated roughly 40 to 42 acting credits across major adult studios of the era, including Falcon Studios, Catalina Video, VCA Pictures, HIS Video, Odyssey, and Jocks Studio. His performance in the 1993 adult film Romeo & Julian: A Love Story cemented his star status, earning him critical acclaim within the adult entertainment press.
Directing and "The Ed Wood of Gay Porn"
Rey's true passion lay behind the camera. Within three years of his debut, he transitioned from acting to full-time directing. As a filmmaker, Rey rejected standard, formulaic adult productions in favor of high-concept, theatrical, and low-budget spectacles. He specialized in grand parodies, sci-fi epics, and historical themes, utilizing highly stylized costumes, elaborate sets, and over-the-top camp humor.
Because of his relentless creative ambition contrasted against low-budget production realities, peers and critics dubbed him "The Ed Wood of Gay Porn"—a title Rey proudly embraced. His directorial efforts included Score of Sex (1995), The Island of Dr. Porneaux (1996), and the Babes Ballin' Boys series (1998). The visual ambition of his features was credited by adult trade publications with influencing the creation of dedicated "Best Art Direction" categories at adult award ceremonies.
Technological innovations
Rey was an aggressive early adopter of internet technology for adult performers. In the mid-to-late 1990s, he became one of the first adult stars to launch a dedicated, personal subscription website. He pioneered the use of home webcams for live interactive streaming, setting a baseline model for performer self-promotion and digital independence that would later define the modern adult web industry.
Media, community, and activism
Rey was a central pillar of the Southern California gay community and adult industry social circles. He penned a popular monthly advice and media gossip column titled "Ask Johnny" for the regional LGBTQ+ publication Urge magazine.
He leveraged his celebrity status to champion HIV/AIDS fundraising and community support during the height of the crisis. He was the original creator and host of Cocktails With the Stars at the prominent West Hollywood nightclub Micky's, a regular event that brought mainstream fans and adult performers together to raise money for charity. Additionally, Rey regularly organized and played in community Porn Star Baseball Games and hosted numerous regional benefits.
Illness and death
In late 2005, Rey admitted himself to a hospital after experiencing a rapid, severe deterioration of his eyesight. Comprehensive medical screenings revealed that he was suffering from brain lesions and advanced testicular cancer. The clinical workup also revealed that he was HIV-positive, a diagnosis he had been completely unaware of prior to his hospitalization.
Rey died from medical complications related to cancer and AIDS on January 18, 2006, in Pomona, California, at the age of 42. He died at home surrounded by his mother, Marla Hoffman, and his sister, Shelli Rosa. In March 2006, Adult Video News (AVN) published a major appreciation article honoring his legacy as an irreplaceable innovator, flamboyant icon, and community advocate.