Trivia

He was appearing in off-Broadway plays and driving cabs when he answered an ad in "The Village Voice" for nude modeling, beginning his adult career.

Graduated from Columbia University in 1970.

Ranked #12 in The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time ("Adult Video News", January 2002).

During his sex shows in the 1970s, he read poetry and recited the works of William Shakespeare so the shows would be socially redeeming and not be busted by the police.

The "On The Lookout" segment in Boogie Nights: Juegos de placer (1997) was based on Gillis' pioneering adult video series that began with On the Prowl (1989).

Used the alias Derald Delancey (also Delancy) which was the name of his history professor.