Randy West, a veteran performer and director in the adult industry, passed away on Friday, September 20, 2024, in Las Vegas at the age of 76. His death was attributed to heart and kidney failure.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born Andrew Jay Abrams on October 12, 1947, in New York City, West later adopted the professional name Randy West. He grew up in New York City and moved to South Florida in the late 1960s. West initially pursued a career in professional baseball, attending the University of Miami on a baseball scholarship. He then shifted his focus to music, performing in several rock bands for a decade. During this period, he also worked as a nude art model.

West moved to California in 1979 and became a Chippendales dancer, performing for private events between 1980 and 1992. His entry into film began with a non-sexual role in 1977’s Emanuelle: Perche Violenza alle donne?, also known as Emanuelle Around the World. A year later, while still living in Florida, he appeared in the pornography film Mystique. In August 1980, West gained attention as the first model to appear with an erection in the centerfold of Playgirl magazine.

Adult Industry Contributions

West began his performing career in the mid-to-late 1970s. He appeared in over 1,200 productions, with some sources stating well over 1,500 adult releases from 1977 to 2010. He was known for performing with numerous actresses early in their careers, including Seka, Jenna Jameson, and Tera Patrick. Later in his career, he was cast as Robert Redford's body double in the 1993 Paramount Pictures film Indecent Proposal.

In the 1990s, West expanded his career into producing and directing. He was particularly recognized for his "Up & Cummers" gonzo series, which was distributed by Evil Angel. This series, like Dirty Debutantes, specialized in interviewing and filming new performers, a popular trend in the early 1990s. His flagship Up and Cummers line included 129 volumes. John Stagliano, founder of Evil Angel, noted that West was "the first really good looking guy who could perform well in the porn features shot then. And he could act!" Stagliano also mentioned that West performed "with no medical assistance," calling him "a true hero to us porn fans." West retired from the industry in the early 2010s.

Health and Final Days

West experienced a heart attack in June 2009. At the time, he told XBIZ that he had symptoms while playing golf and recognized them because his father and grandfather both died from heart attacks. He initially dismissed the symptoms as "some kind of weird heartburn thing" due to his perception of being in good shape. However, after a workout at the gym, the symptoms persisted, leading him to the emergency room.

In the months leading up to his death, West had been experiencing difficulty getting around, with his legs swelling up. He admitted himself to a hospital in Las Vegas earlier in the week of his passing. His death from heart and kidney failure was confirmed by his best friend and caretaker, former performer Hank Armstrong. Armstrong stated that West "knew it was coming" and "told me he was ready to go." Armstrong, who had been friends with West for over thirty years and sold him a house when West first moved to Vegas, had been assisting West with shopping and errands in the months prior to his death. Michael Mark, West's business manager since 1994 and a longtime friend, announced West's passing on social media.

Key Facts

  • Randy West, born Andrew Jay Abrams, passed away on September 20, 2024, at the age of 76.
  • His death in Las Vegas was caused by heart and kidney failure.
  • West began his performing career in the mid-to-late 1970s and later became a producer and director in the 1990s.
  • He was known for his "Up & Cummers" series, distributed by Evil Angel, and appeared in over 1,200 productions.
  • West retired from the adult industry in the early 2010s.
  • His passing was confirmed by his best friend and caretaker, Hank Armstrong, and announced by his business manager, Michael Mark.