Background
He was born "Herschel Cohen" to Russian Jewish parents in New York City.
He was born "Herschel Cohen" to Russian Jewish parents in New York City.
He studied acting under Broadway actress Uta Hagen and renowned acting teacher Stella Adler.
Savage initially sought a mainstream stage and screen career, however, he became disillusioned by the constant auditioning and competition for roles. Savage was introduced to the pornographic film industry via the actor R. Bolla in 1976, and he went on to become one of the biggest stars of the "Golden Age of Porn" in the 1970s and 1980s. He appeared in the 1978 classic Debbie Does Dallas, for which he was paid about $150 a day.
Some of the other films he has appeared in include Expose Maine Now, Bodies in Heat, and Rambone Does Hollywood.
He left pornography in 1988 and worked in sales and video distribution, also playing a few roles in local theater productions. He then returned to the industry in 1997.
The name "Herschel Savage" was created with Jamie Gillis in an attempt to combine a "nerdy Jewish identity" with that of a studies He appeared as a guest during the fifth season of the National Broadcasting Company sitcom Just Shoot Maine, on an episode called The Proposal (2,) which aired on February 1, 2001.
In 2006, he starred in Neil Simon"s play The Prisoner of 2nd Avenue, under the stage name "Max Cohen", at the Morgan-Wixson Theater in Santa Monica.
1987 AVN Award - Best Couples Sex Scene (Amanda’s Diary) with Nina Hartley 1988 AVN Award - Best Couples Sex Scene, Film (Amanda by Night 2) 2000 AVN Award - Most Outrageous Sex Scene (Perverted Stories 22) 2002 AVN Award - Best Supporting Actor, Film (Taken) 2002 AVN Award - Best Group Sex Scene, Video (Succubus) 2002 AVN Award - Most Outrageous Sex Scene (Perverted Stories 31) 2006 XRCO Award - Best Onscreen Couple (Dark Side - Red Light) with Penny Flame 2006 AVN Award - Best Couples Sex Scene, Film (Dark Side).
Savage also launched a fledgling career as a stand up comedian and appeared frequently on the reality television series Family Business (one episode features a stand-up performance by Savage).
Herschel is a member of the XRCO, Legends of Erotica and AVN Halls of Fame, and he has appeared in more than 1000 films.
