Depiction of anal sex on 510 BC Attic red-figure kylix

Anal sex (also called anal intercourse) is the sex act in which the penis is inserted into the anus of a sexual partner.^[1][2] The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging, anilingus, fingering, and object insertion.^[1][2]

While anal sex is commonly associated with male homosexuality, research shows that not all gay males engage in anal sex and that it is not uncommon in heterosexual relationships.^[1][3][4][5] Types of anal sex can also be a part of lesbian sexual practices.^[6]

Many people find anal sex pleasurable, and some may reach orgasm — through stimulation of the prostate in men, and clitoral and G-Spot leg stimulation in women.^{[7][8][9][10]} However, many people find it painful as well, sometimes extremely so,^[11][12] which may be psychosomatic in some cases.^[12] As with most forms of sexual interaction, individuals are at risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases,^[13][14] and therefore safe-sex practices are advised.^[13] Anal sex is considered a high-risk sexual practice, and unprotected anal sex is the riskiest of all forms of sexual intercourse,^[1] due to the vulnerability of the rectum and sphincter tissues.^[1][2] It generally requires a generous application of a personal lubricant to prevent tearing, since the anus does not have sufficient natural lubrication.^[1][15]

Anatomy and stimulation[link]

Male genital anatomy, showing the location of the prostate with respect to the rectum

The abundance of nerve endings in the anal region and rectum makes anal sex pleasurable for many men and women.^[16] "The opening and closing of the anus is controlled by the internal and external sphincter muscles (the most important muscles when engaging in anal sex). The sphincter muscle is a sensitive membrane with many nerve endings and thus the source of pleasure or pain."^[17]

In a male receiving partner, being penetrated can produce a pleasurable sensation due to the inserted penis rubbing or brushing against the prostate (also known as the "male G-Spot", "P-Spot" or "A-Spot") through the anal wall.^[7][18] This can result in pleasurable sensations and can lead to an orgasm in some cases.^[7][8] "For some men, prostate stimulation produces an orgasm that they describe as 'deeper,' more global and intense, longer-lasting, and associated with greater feelings of ecstasy than orgasm elicited by penile stimulation only."^[8] The prostate is located next to the rectum and is the larger, more developed^[19] male homologue to the Skene's glands (which are believed to be connected to the female G-Spot).^[20]

Research shows that most women (70–80%) achieve orgasm only through direct clitoral stimulation.^{[21][22][23][24]} The clitoris surrounds the vagina somewhat like a horseshoe and its tip or glans alone has more than 8,000 sensory nerve endings, more than any other part of the human body.^[25] In addition to nerve endings present within the anus and rectum, women may find anal stimulation pleasurable due to the "legs" of the clitoris which extend along the vaginal lips back to the anus.^[26] The Gräfenberg spot, or G-Spot – a small area behind the female pubic bone surrounding the urethra and accessible through the anterior wall of the vagina – is considered to have legs in relation to the clitoris.^[8][27][28] Besides their accessibility, orgasm by stimulation of the clitoris or G-Spot through anal penetration is made possible because a thin membrane is all that separates the vaginal cavity from the rectal cavity, allowing for indirect stimulation.^{[6][8][9][10]} Only a small percentage of women are able to orgasm from this type of stimulation alone.^[10] Direct stimulation of the clitoris, G-Spot, or both, during anal sex can help some women to enjoy the experience and reach orgasm.^[29]

In pornography, anal sex is often presented as routine and painless, but according to Go Ask Alice! and other researchers, anal sex occurs "much less frequently" than other sexual behaviors and can be painful if not performed with care.^[1][3] The increase of anal activity among heterosexuals has been linked to the increase in anal pornography,^[1] and the association with dominance and taboo make anal sex appealing to people of all sexual orientations.^[30][31] Moreover, the opening of the anus (its sphincter) is usually tighter than a vagina, which can yield greater tactile pleasure for the man via his penis.^[9][30]

While each person's sphincter muscles react to penetration differently, the anal sphincter in general has delicate tissue that can tear, and the rectal mucous membrane provides insufficient lubrication for sexual penetration. Researchers say adequate lubrication, relaxation, and communication between sexual partners are crucial to avoid pain or damage to the anus.^{[1][12][15][32]} Ensuring that the anal area is clean and the bowel is empty (for both aesthetics and practicality) is also advised.^[1]

Heterosexual[link]

Male to female[link]

1892 lithograph by Paul Avril depicting male-to-female anal sex

Some men may enjoy being the insertive partner in anal sex because the anal sphincter is usually tighter than a vagina, which can yield greater tactile pleasure for the man via his penis.^[9][30] The attitude of women towards being the receptive partner in this practice is diverse: while some consider it painful or uncomfortable, others find it pleasurable and some even prefer it to vaginal intercourse.^[9][33] Unlike the clitoris or anus, the vaginal walls "contain relatively few nerve endings, making intense sexual stimulation, pleasure, and orgasm from vaginal-only penetration unlikely" and "it's generally only the lower third of the vagina that has enough nerve endings to feel any stimulation at all from a penis, finger, toy, or other penetrative object".^[34] Vaginal intercourse may, however, promote a satisfying feeling of fullness or closeness with a sexual partner.^[35]

In a study of heterosexual anal sex – (8/2010 (n=214)) – female participants stated that stimulation to multiple erogenous zones simultaneously (the clitoris, the G-Spot, the anus, or other erogenous zones) enabled them to enjoy anal intercourse with much less discomfort compared to anal penetration by itself. When accompanied by one or more of the other stimuli, women were able to orgasm and those who did reported that an orgasm during anal sex is more of a full-body experience than an orgasm from clitoral stimulation alone.^[29]

Anal sex is held to carry a very low risk of unwanted pregnancy when not accompanied with vaginal intercourse, as anal intercourse cannot lead to pregnancy unless sperm is somehow transported to the vaginal opening in the process; in some populations, this activity is frequently used as a means of contraception, often in the absence of a condom.^[36]

The risk to the woman is greater than the risk to the man during male-to-female anal intercourse.^[37] The risk of injury to the receptive partner due to anal intercourse is many times higher than that due to vaginal sex,^[38] and the risk for transmission of HIV is higher for anal sex than for vaginal sex.^[39] Experts caution couples engaging in this practice to use protection, such as condoms, to stop the transmission of STDs.^[1] Additionally, the man should never move from anal sex immediately to vaginal sex while barebacking or without changing the condom, due to infections that can arise in the vagina by bacteria present within the anus; this also applies to the use of sex toys.^[26][40][41]

Female virginity[link]

Male-to-female anal sex is often viewed as preserving female virginity because it is non-procreative and leaves the hymen intact. Among sexually active heterosexuals, the concept of "technical virginity", which includes oral sex and mutual masturbation, is conceived as resting solely on penile-vaginal penetration.^{[42][43][44][45]} Since the early 1990s, "technical virginity" has been popular among U.S. teenagers (also see saddlebacking).^[44][45]

Prevalence[link]

In 1992, a study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only 26% of men 18 to 59 and 20% of women 18 to 59 had engaged in heterosexual anal sex; a similar 2005 survey (also conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) found a rising incidence of anal sex relations in the American heterosexual population. The survey showed that 40% of men and 35% of women between 25 and 44 had engaged in heterosexual anal sex.^[46] In terms of overall numbers of survey respondents, seven times as many women as gay men said that they engaged in anal intercourse, with this figure reflecting the larger heterosexual population size.^[47] According to a study from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) that was authored by Dr. Debby Herbenick and other researchers, although anal intercourse is reported by fewer women than other partnered sex behaviors, partnered women in the age groups between 18–49 are significantly more likely to report having anal sex in the past 90 days.^[48] As of 2011, this survey provides the most up to date data about anal sex at the population level.

In a 2007 report entitled Prevalence and Correlates of Heterosexual Anal and Oral Sex in Adolescents and Adults in the United States, published in the Journal of Infectious Disease, a national survey of Family Growth found that 34% men and 30% women reported ever participating in heterosexual anal sex. The percentage of participants reporting heterosexual anal sex was significantly higher among 20- to 24-year-olds and peaked among 30- to 34-year-olds.^[49][50] Another survey in, 2008, focused on a much younger demographic of teenagers and young adults, aged 15–21. It found that 16% of 1350 surveyed had had this type of sex in the previous 3 months, with condoms being used 29% of the time.^[51] However, given the subject matter, the survey hypothesized the prevalence was probably underestimated.

In 2009, Kimberly R. McBride published a clinical report in The Journal of Sex Research which stated that changing norms may affect the frequency of heterosexual anal sex behaviors and suggests that there is a role for the exotic in the sexual repertoires of some heterosexuals" "[F]or a certain number of heterosexuals, anal intercourse is pleasurable, exciting, and perhaps considered more intimate than vaginal sex...". McBride and her colleagues investigated the prevalence of non-intercourse anal sex behaviors among a sample of men (n=1,299) and women (n=1,919) compared to anal intercourse experience and found that 51% of men and 43% of women had participated in at least one act of oral–anal sex, manual–anal sex, or anal sex toy use.^[49][52] McBride and Janssen found that the majority of men (n=631) and women (n=856) who reported heterosexual anal intercourse in the past 12 months were in exclusive, monogamous relationships: 69% and 73%, respectively.^[49][52]

Figures for prevalence can vary amongst different demographics, regions, and nationalities. A 2001 French survey of five hundred female respondents concluded that a total of 29% had engaged in this practice, with one third of these confirming to have enjoyed the experience.^[53] In contrast, in a 1999 South Korean survey of 586 women, 3.5% of respondents reported having had this type of sex.^[54]

Figures for the prevalence of sexual behavior can also fluctuate over time. Edward O. Laumann's 1992 survey, reported in The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States, found that about 20% of heterosexuals had engaged in male-to-female anal sex. Sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, working in the 1940s, had found that number to be closer to 40% at the time. More recently, a researcher from the University of British Columbia in 2005 put the number of heterosexuals who have engaged in this practice at between 30% and 50%.^[55] According to Columbia University's health website Go Ask Alice!: "Studies indicate that about 25 percent of heterosexual couples have had anal sex at least once, and 10 percent regularly have anal penetration."^[3]

Female to male (pegging)[link]

A woman wearing a strap-on dildo about to engage in anal sex with a man.

Pegging is a sexual practice in which a woman penetrates a man's anus with a strap-on dildo.^[56] Advice columnist Dan Savage wrote that he believes all men should try pegging at least once, as it may introduce them to a new enjoyable sexual activity and illuminate them to the receiver's perspective in sex.^[57] A few instructional movies and books have emerged in recent years, including Bend Over Boyfriend, produced by Fatale Media, Inc., and directed by Shar Rednour, SIR Video co-founder. As an accomplished author of numerous sex guides and informational books on various sexual taboos, Violet Blue wrote and released The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex in 2007.^[58]

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), with information published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), states that, "There are little published data on how many heterosexual men would like their anus to be sexually stimulated in a heterosexual relationship," but that, "Anecdotally, it is a substantial number. What data we do have almost all relate to penetrative sexual acts, and the superficial contact of the anal ring with fingers or the tongue is even less well documented but may be assumed to be a common sexual activity for men of all sexual orientations."^[4]

Homosexual[link]

Male to male[link]

19th-century erotic interpretation of Hadrian and Antinous, by Paul Avril

Historically, anal sex has been commonly associated with male homosexuality. However, many men who have sex with men do not engage in anal sex.^{[1][3][59][60]} Among men who have anal sex with other men, the insertive partner is called the top and the one being penetrated is called the bottom. Those who enjoy either role are referred to as versatile.^[60][61][62] Gay men who prefer anal sex may view it as "[their] version of intercourse"^[31] and as "the natural apex of sex, a wonderful expression of intimacy, and a great source of pleasure".^[59] Psychologist Walt Odets said, "I think that anal sex has for gay men the same emotional significance that vaginal sex has for heterosexuals."^[63]

Some men who have sex with men prefer to engage in frot or other forms of mutual masturbation because they find it more pleasurable or more affectionate, to preserve technical virginity, or as safe sex alternatives to anal sex,^{[59][60][64][65]} while other frot advocates denounce anal sex as degrading to the receptive partner and unnecessarily risky.^{[63][64][66][67]}

Prevalence[link]

The prevalence of anal sex among homosexual couples in the West has varied over time. Magnus Hirschfeld, in his 1914 work, The Homosexuality of Men and Women, reported the rate of anal sex among homosexual men surveyed to be 8%, the least favored of all the practices documented.^[68] Likewise, some scholars state that oral sex and mutual masturbation are more common than anal stimulation among gay men in long-term relationships,^[3][59] and that, in general, anal intercourse is more popular among homosexual male couples than among heterosexual couples, but that "it ranks behind oral sex and mutual masturbation" among both sexual orientations in prevalence.^[69]

By the 1950s in the United Kingdom, it was thought that about fifteen percent of male homosexuals had anal sex.^{[70][Full citation needed]} More recent studies, The Gay Urban Men's Study (P.I. Stall, UCSF) and the Young Men's Study (YMS, PI Osmond/Catania, UCSF), indicate that 50% of the surveyed men who have sex with men engage in anal sex.^{[71][Full citation needed][72][Full citation needed]} The 1994 Laumann study suggests that 80% of gay men practice it and 20% never engage in it at all.^[73]

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), with information published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), states that two thirds of gay men have anal sex.^[4] Other sources suggest that roughly three-fourths of gay men have anal sex at one time or another in their lives, with an equal percentage participating as tops and bottoms.^[60] A survey in The Advocate in 1994 indicated that 46% of gay men preferred to penetrate their partners, while 43% preferred to be the receptive partner.^[60] A survey conducted from 1994 to 1997 in San Francisco by the Stop AIDS Project indicated that over the course of the study, among men who have sex with men, the proportion engaging in anal sex increased from 57.6% to 61.2%.^[74]

Pain[link]

Pain during receptive anal sex is formally known as anodyspareunia.^[12] One study found that about 12% of gay men find it too painful to pursue, and concluded that the perception of anal sex as painful is just as likely to be psychologically or emotionally based as it is to be physically based.^[75] Another study that examined pain during insertive and receptive anal sex in gay men found that 3% of tops (insertive partners) and 16% of bottoms (receptive partners) reported significant pain.^[76] Factors predictive of pain during anal sex include inadequate lubrication, feeling tense or anxious, lack of stimulation, as well as lack of social ease with being gay and being closeted. Research has found that psychological factors can in fact be the primary contributors to the experience of pain during anal intercourse and that adequate communication between sexual partners can prevent it, countering the notion that pain is always inevitable during anal sex.^{[12][75][76][77]}

Female to female[link]

A woman performing anilingus (anal–oral sex) on another woman.

There is less research on anal sexual activity among women who have sex with women compared to couples of other sexual orientations, but stimulating the anus for sexual pleasure is stated to be a part of many lesbians' sex lives; the anus can be rimmed – the tongue moved around its edge – stroked or penetrated with the fingers or a dildo.^[6][78] There are lesbians who like anal sex and others "who cannot bear the thought of it."^[79] In 1987, a non-scientific study (Munson) was conducted of more than 100 members of a lesbian social organization in Colorado. When asked what techniques and lesbian sexual practices they used in their last ten sexual encounters, 100% reported kissing, sucking on breasts, and manual stimulation of the clitoris; more than 90% reported French kissing, oral sex, and fingers inserted into the vagina; and 80% reported tribadism. Lesbians in their 30s were twice as likely as other age groups to engage in anal stimulation (with a finger or dildo).^[15]

While author Tom Boellstorff, when particularly examining anal sex among gay and lesbian individuals in Indonesia, stated that he has not heard of oral-anal contact or anal penetration as recognized forms of lesbian sexuality but assume they take place,^[80] author Felice Newman cites anal sex as a part of lesbian sexual practices in her book The Whole Lesbian Sex Book.^[6] Daniel Villarreal of Queerty.com suggests that lesbians are better equipped to "teach heterosexual women" about anal sex than gay men are. "Firstly, they're women and anal sex feels different for women. Women lack that Giggity-spot called the prostate, so anal-loving [lesbians] know much more how anal sex feels as a woman than gay men ever could," he stated. "Most importantly though, women respond better to women. Ladies can approach the issue by discussing trust, communication, sobriety, HPV-prevention, and knowing your own body."^[81]

Health risks[link]

Anal sex can expose participants to two principal dangers: infections due to the high number of infectious microorganisms not found elsewhere on the body, and physical damage to the anus and the rectum due to their fragility. Increased experimentation with anal sex by young persons without sound knowledge about risks and what safety measures do and don't work may be linked to an increase in sexually transmitted infections.^[82] Judy Kuriansky, a Columbia University professor and author, stated, "It really is shocking how many myths young people have about anal sex. They don't think you can get a disease from it because you're not having [vaginal] intercourse."^[83]

Infection[link]

Mucous membranes of the rectum.

Unprotected anal sex, colloquially known as "barebacking",^[84] carries an elevated risk of passing on sexually transmitted diseases because the anal sphincter is delicate, easily-torn tissue; a tear can provide an entry for pathogens. The high concentration of white blood cells around the rectum, together with the risk of tearing and the rectum's function to absorb fluid, places those who engage in unprotected anal sex at high risk of sexually transmitted infection. Use of condoms, ample lubrication to reduce the risk of tearing,^[31][32] and other safer sex practices reduce the risk. However, a condom can break or come off during anal sex, so both sex partners must remain watchful during sex and there is still some risk if one or both partners carries a sexually-transmissible infection.^[85]

Unprotected receptive anal sex is considered the sex act most likely to result in HIV transmission.^{[86][87][88][89]} Other infections that can be transmitted by unprotected anal sex are human papilloma virus (HPV) (which can increase risk for anal cancer^[90] and typhoid fever),^[91] amoebiasis; chlamydia; cryptosporidiosis; E. coli infections; giardiasis; gonorrhea; hepatitis A; hepatitis B; hepatitis C; herpes simplex; Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (HHV-8);^[92] lymphogranuloma venereum; Mycoplasma hominis; Mycoplasma genitalium; pubic lice; salmonellosis; shigella; syphilis; tuberculosis; and Ureaplasma urealyticum.^{[16][93][94][95]}

Cancer[link]

Anal cancer is relatively rare, accounting for about 1 percent of gastrointestinal malignancies, but as many as 4,000 new cases can be diagnosed within a year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.^[96][97] Most cases of anal cancer are related to infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV).^[96][97] Anal sex alone does not cause anal cancer; the risk of anal cancer through anal sex is attributed to HPV infection, which is often contracted through unprotected anal sex. The incidence of the disease has jumped 160% in men and 78% in women in the last thirty years, according to a 2004 American study. The increase is attributed to changing trends in sexual behavior (such as a history of multiple sex partners, fifteen or more, or receptive anal sex) and smoking. If a current smoker, there is a fourfold increase in risk, though independent of other behavioral risk factors, such as sexual activity. Receptive anal sex increases the incidence sevenfold.^[97] Among the female control group studied, 21.5 percent had reported practicing anal sex, a significant increase from a previous case-control study by epidemiologist Janet Daling (PhD, member of Fred Hutchinson's Public Health Sciences Division) and her colleagues, published in 1987, in which 11 percent of female controls had reported ever having anal sex. This and other studies also indicate that gay or bisexual sex among men is on the rise, which may account for the increase in anal cancer.^[97] "The sharpest increase was among African American men, whose incidence of anal cancer has more than doubled in the past three decades. Black men also had a lower survival rate from the disease." The study reported that the five-year survival rate for black men with early stage disease was 62 percent as compared to 79 percent for white men with localized cancer. However, the survey also reported that black men were more likely than white men to report having had intercourse with another male in the last year. Regarding all the increases, whether or not sexual practices have changed, Daling, concluded, "[I]t also could be that people are just more likely to discuss their sexual behavior these days."^[97]

Physical damage[link]

Physical damage to the rectum and anus can manifest as generalized ano-rectal trauma, anal fissures,^[16] rectal prolapse, and exacerbating hemorrhoids.^[98] Adequate lubrication and preparation reduces the risk of physical trauma,^[99] while the risk increases with use of alcohol or other drugs that dull sensitivity.

Loss of bowel control is not a highly likely result of anal sex, but may be caused by repeated injury or the insertion of large objects.^{[100][Full citation needed][101]} Kegel exercises have been recommended to maintain muscle tone by a speaker at the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the American Association of Sex Educators, who noted he had never personally observed "loosening" in any of his patients.^[102]

A 1993 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine found that fourteen out of a sample of forty men receiving anal intercourse experienced episodes of frequent anal incontinence.^[103] However, a 1997 study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found no difference in levels of incontinence between homosexual men who engaged in anal sex and heterosexual men who did not, and criticized the earlier study for its inclusion of flatulence in its definition of incontinence.^[104]

Cultural issues[link]

Suzuki Harunobu, A shunga print depicting an older and a younger man

Historically, a number of cultures have recorded the practice of anal intercourse between men.

Ancient and non-Western cultures[link]

The term "Greek love" has long been used to refer to the practice, and in modern times, "doing it the Greek way" is sometimes used as slang for anal sex. However, homosexual anal sex was far from a universally accepted practice in Ancient Greece. It was the target of jokes in surviving comedies; Aristophanes mockingly alludes to the practice, claiming that "Most citizens are europroktoi (wide-arsed) now."^[105] While pedagogic pederasty was an essential element in the education of male youths, these relationships, at least in Athens and Sparta, were expected to steer clear of penetrative sex of any kind. There are very few works of pottery or other art that display anal sex between older men and boys, let alone with adult men. Most such works depict fondling or intercrural sex, which was not condemned for violating and feminizing the boys. Other sources make it clear that the practice was criticized as shameful,^[106] and seen as a form of hubris.^{[107][Full citation needed]}

Two Roman males on the Warren Cup, British Museum

In later Roman-era Greek poetry, anal sex became a common topos, represented as taking place with "eligible" youths: those who had attained the proper age but had not yet become adults. Seducing children into the practice was considered very shameful for the adult, and having such relations with a male who was no longer adolescent was considered more shameful for the young male than for the one mounting him. Greek courtesans, or hetaerae, are said to have frequently practiced heterosexual anal intercourse as a means of preventing pregnancy.^[108] The acceptability of anal sex thus varied with the time-period and the location, as Ancient Greece spanned a long time and stretched over three continents and two major seas.

For a male citizen to take the passive (or receptive) role in anal intercourse was condemned in Rome as an act of impudicitia (immodesty or unchastity). Free men, however, frequently took the active role with a young slave, known as a catamite or puer delicatus. In fact the Romans thought of anal sex as something specifically "Greek," although Roman men often availed themselves of their own slaves or others in this way.^{[109][Full citation needed]}

In Japan, records (including detailed shunga) show that at least some men in relationships with other men did engage in penetrative anal intercourse.

Man and woman having anal sex. Ceramic, Moche Culture. 300 C.E. Larco Museum Collection

Evidence suggestive of widespread heterosexual anal intercourse in a pre-modern culture can be found in the erotic vases, or stirrup-spout pots, made by the Moche people of Peru; in a survey^[110] of a collection of these pots, it was found that 31 percent of them depicted heterosexual anal intercourse, more by far than any other sex act. Moche pottery of this type belonged to the world of the dead, which was believed to be a reversal of life. Thus the reverse of common practices was often portrayed. The Larco Museum houses an erotic gallery in which this pottery is showcased.^[111]

The 19th century anthropologist Richard Francis Burton theorized that there is a geographical Sotadic zone wherein penetrative intercourse between men is particularly prevalent and accepted; moreover he was one of the first writers to advance the premise that such an orientation is biologically determined.^[112]

Western cultures[link]

In many Western countries, anal sex has generally been taboo since the Middle Ages^[113] when heretical movements were sometimes attacked by accusations that their members practised anal sex among themselves.^{[citation needed]} At that time the mainstream Christian clergy was not celibate, but the highest orders of some heretical sects were, leading to rumours that their celibacy was a sign of their attraction to members of the same sex.^{[citation needed]} The term buggery originated in medieval Europe as an insult used to describe the rumoured same-sex sexual practices of the heretics from a sect originating in Bulgaria, where its followers were called bogomils^{[citation needed]}; when they spread out of the country they were called buggres (from the ethnonym Bulgars).^{[citation needed]} Another term for the practice, more archaic, is "pedicate" from the Latin pedicare, with the same meaning.^[114]

The Renaissance poet Pietro Aretino advocated the practice in his Sonetti Lussuriosi (Lust Sonnets).^[115]

While men who engaged in homosexual relationships were generally suspected of engaging in anal sex, many such individuals did not. Among these, in recent times, have been André Gide, who found it repulsive;^{[116][Full citation needed]} and Noël Coward, who had a horror of disease, and asserted when young that "I'd never do anything – well the disgusting thing they do – because I know I could get something wrong with me."^{[117][Full citation needed]}

In religion[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2011)

François-Rolland Elluin, Sodomites provoking divine wrath, from Le pot-pourri (1781)

Judaism[link]

The Mishneh Torah, a text considered authoritative by Orthodox Jewish sects,^[118] states “since a man’s wife is permitted to him, he may act with her in any manner whatsoever. He may have intercourse with her whenever he so desires and kiss any organ of her body he wishes, and he may have intercourse with her naturally or unnaturally [traditionally, this refers to anal and oral sex], provided that he does not expend semen to no purpose. Nevertheless, it is an attribute of piety that a man should not act in this matter with levity and that he should sanctify himself at the time of intercourse.”^[119]

Christianity[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

In Christian countries,^{[clarification needed]} anal sex is sometimes referred to euphemistically as the peccatum contra naturam (the sin against nature, after Thomas Aquinas) or Sodomitica luxuria (sodomitical lusts, in one of Charlemagne's ordinances), or peccatum illud horribile, inter christianos non nominandum (that horrible sin that among Christians is not to be named).

Islam[link]

Liwat, or the sin of Lot's people, is officially prohibited by most Islamic sects. There are parts of the Qur'an which talk about smiting on Sodom and Gomorrah, and this is thought to be a reference to unnatural sex, and so there are hadith and Islamic laws which prohibit it. Same sex male practitioners of anal relations are called luti or lutiyin in plural and are seen as criminals in the same way that a thief is a criminal, meaning that they are giving in to a universal temptation.

Buddhism[link]

The most common formulation of Buddhist ethics is the Five Precepts. These precepts take the form of voluntary, personal undertakings, not divine mandate or instruction. The third of the Precepts is "To refrain from committing sexual misconduct."^[120] However, "sexual misconduct" (Sanskrit: Kāmesu micchācāra literally "sense gratifications arising from the 5 senses"") is subject to interpretation relative to the social norms of the followers.^[121] In fact, Buddhism, in its fundamental form, does not define what is right and what is wrong in absolute terms for lay followers. Therefore the interpretation of what kinds of sexual activity are acceptable for a layman is not a religious matter as far as Buddhism is concerned.^[122]

Buddhism teaches that sensual enjoyment and desire in general, and sexual pleasure in particular, are hindrances to enlightenment.^[123] Buddhist monks and nuns of most traditions are expected to refrain from all sexual activity and take vows of celibacy; lay people, however, are not expected to refrain from any specific form of sexual activity, and there is no concept of sinfulness attached to sex.

Hinduism[link]

See also[link]

Sexuality portal

References[link]

This article's citation style may be unclear. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation, footnoting, or external linking. (April 2011)

Further reading[link]

• Bentley, Toni The Surrender: An Erotic Memoir, Regan Books, 2004.
• Brent, Bill Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Men, Cleis Press, 2002.
• DeCitore, David Arouse Her Anal Ecstasy (2008) ISBN 978-0-615-39914-0
• Hite, Shere The Hite Report on Male Sexuality
• Houser, Ward Anal Sex. Encyclopedia of Homosexuality Dynes, Wayne R. (ed.), Garland Publishing, 1990. pp. 48–50.
• Manning, Lee The Illustrated Book Of Anal Sex, Erotic Print Society, 2003. ISBN 978-1-898998-59-4
• Morin, Jack Anal Pleasure & Health: A Guide for Men and Women, Down There Press, 1998. ISBN 978-0-940208-20-9
• Sanderson, Terry The Gay Man's Kama Sutra, Thomas Dunne Books, 2004.
• Strong, Bill with Lori E. Gammon Anal Sex for Couples: A Guaranteed Guide for Painless Pleasure Triad Press, Inc.; First edition, 2006. ISBN 978-0-9650716-2-8
• Tristan Taormino The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women, Cleis Press, 1997, 2006. ISBN 978-1-57344-028-8
• Underwood, Steven G. Gay Men and Anal Eroticism: Tops, Bottoms, and Versatiles, Harrington Park Press, 2003
• Webb, Charlotte Masterclass: Anal Sex, Erotic Print Society, 2007.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Anal sex

• Anal Intercourse and Analingus – from alt.sex FAQ
• William Saletan. The Riddle of the Sphincter: Why do women who have anal sex get more orgasms? Slate, October 11, 2010.

Ron Jeremy
Ron Jeremy receiving the "Positive Image Award" at the "Free Speech Coalition Awards Annual Bash Event" - Los Angeles, CA on Nov. 14, 2009
Born	Ronald Jeremy Hyatt[1] (1953-03-12) March 12, 1953 (age 59)[2] Queens, New York, U.S.[2]
Nationality	American
Other names	R. J., Ronald Jeremy, Ron Jeremey, Ron Jeremy, David Elliot
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 13 st)
No. of adult films	2098 as actor, 281 as director (per IAFD)[3]
Website
http://ronjeremy.com/

Ronald Jeremy Hyatt (born March 12, 1953), usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American adult film actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog",^[1] he was ranked by AVN at number one in their "The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time" list.^[4] Jeremy has also appeared in non-pornographic films, such as The Chase, Orgazmo, They Bite, The Boondock Saints and 54.^[5]

He is noted for his 9.75 inches (24.8 cm) penis (self-reported)^[6]—and he has gained some notoriety for being capable of autofellatio (which he first demonstrated on-screen in Inside Seka).

Early life[link]

Ron Jeremy was born in Queens, New York to a middle-class Jewish family;^[2] his father, Arnold, was a physicist and his mother a book editor^[7] who served in the O.S.S. during World War II, as she spoke fluent German and French.^[8]

Jeremy attended Cardozo High School in Bayside, Queens, where former CIA director George Tenet and actor Reginald VelJohnson were his classmates.^[9][10] He earned a bachelor's degree in education and theatre and a master's degree in special education from Queens College in New York.^[11] He taught special-education classes in the New York City area and was a substitute teacher for regular classes.^[12]

Pornographic film career[link]

Ron Jeremy with Dennis Hof and Heidi Fleiss at the Adult Video Network Convention 2006 in Las Vegas

Jeremy left the teaching profession (he called it his "ace in the hole") to pursue an acting career in New York City, and says he learned what it was like to make no money as an actor who "starved Off-Broadway."^[11] Jeremy posed for Playgirl after his then-girlfriend submitted his photo to the magazine,^[10] and subsequently moved into the adult film industry as a means to support himself.^[11]

He started using his first and middle name professionally in the adult industry, after his grandmother Rose was pestered by people calling her thinking they were contacting him.^[7] Rose—listed at that time as R. Hyatt in the phone book—was pestered at all hours by prospective suitors who’d seen Jeremy in Playgirl. "She had to move out of her apartment for a month," he confides. "My father told me, 'If you want to get into this naked, crazy business, so be it, but if you use the family name again, I’ll kill you.'"

Jeremy had his nickname "The Hedgehog" bestowed upon him by Bill Margold after an incident on the set of Olympic Fever, shot in 1979.^[13] Jeremy flew in from New York to shoot the movie, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, expecting warm weather. During his motorcycle ride to the set, located near Lake Arrowhead in the California mountains, the weather deteriorated to blizzard conditions, which chilled him to the point of hypothermia. Upon arriving at the set, Jeremy was immediately whisked away to warm up in a hot shower. When he finished, his skin had taken on a pink hue from the temperature extremes, and the hairs on his body were standing on end. Margold's comment upon seeing Jeremy after the shower was, "You are a hedgehog, my friend. A walking, talking hedgehog."^[14] Contrary to popular belief, the nickname had nothing to do with Jeremy's weight gain, as he was quite physically fit at the time.

Jeremy is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for "Most Appearances in Adult Films";^[15] his entry on the Internet Adult Film Database lists more than 2,000 films in which he has performed, and an additional 281 films which he directed.^[16] By way of comparison, John Holmes—the next highest-ranked male star on the AVN Top 50 porn stars^[4]—has only 384 acting credits listed on the IAFD.^[17]

One joke that made the rounds within the industry at the time was "the kinkier acts some actresses would not perform were bestiality, sado-masochism and sex with Jeremy."^[1] However, he has since been recognized for his contributions to the adult industry by being inducted into both the AVN and XRCO Hall of Fame. Additionally, Jeremy's work earned him a spot on the Adult Star Path of Fame located in Edison, New Jersey. Ron Jeremy has said that violent video games are worse than porn.^[18]

Non-pornographic appearances[link]

Film[link]

Outside the adult film industry, Jeremy worked as a "special consultant" for the 1986 film 9½ Weeks.^[19] He appears in the 1996 horror film They Bite^[20] in a role making a film-within-a-film (Invasion of the Fishfuckers) - another horror film, both in the same vein as Humanoids from the Deep. He also served as a consultant on the 1997 film Boogie Nights—which chronicled the emergence of the fictional porn star Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg, loosely based on the life of porn star and former co-worker of Jeremy's, John Holmes)—and the movie The Chase, in which he has a small cameo as a news cameraman. He played the monster "Blisterface" in ABC's children's show Bone Chillers.^[21] He also appeared in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints, played a bartender in 2002's Spun, and also acted in 2003's cult film Zombiegeddon. He was an extra in Ghostbusters,^[22] played a male strip-club announcer in Detroit Rock City, and had a cameo in the film Killing Zoe and in the porn spoof, Orgazmo. In addition, he appeared in several productions released by Troma Entertainment, such as Terror Firmer, The Toxic Avenger IV: Citizen Toxie, and Poultrygeist.

He was the subject of a feature-length biographical documentary, Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy, released in 2001 and widely distributed on DVD by mainstream retailers. Within that same year, he is briefly seen on the Heavy Metal Band Fear Factory's DVD Digital Connectivity. In 2003, Jeremy appeared as himself in, and lent his name to, the comedy film Being Ron Jeremy, a parody of Being John Malkovich. Jeremy is a frequent interviewee in documentaries about the porn industry, or related subjects such as Fuck: A Fuckumentary.

He was featured in the music video "The Plot to Bomb the Panhandle" by A Day to Remember in 2007 off of their CD entitled For Those Who Have Heart.^[23] In 2007, he appeared in the comedy film Finishing the Game as himself. Jeremy starred 2008 in the erotic horror film I am Virgin, which was released in 2010.^[24]

Jeremy has a cameo in Crank: High Voltage, playing himself as a protester angry at the low salaries porn stars get. He once again appears as himself in the 2009 release One-Eyed Monster, a horror film parody predicated on the premise that an alien force takes over Jeremy's penis and begins killing people in the woods.^[25][26] In an effort to uniquely promote the film, Ron Jeremy's penis started its own blog,^[27] and began to tweet on April 2.^[28]

Ron is the Lead Antagonist/League Owner in the sports comedy "Tetherball: The Movie".

Television[link]

Jeremy appeared in the second season of The Surreal Life,^[29] during which he developed a close friendship with Tammy Faye Bakker despite her devout Christianity and disapproval of pornography, and returned to the franchise for the ninth season of The Surreal Life: Fame Games,^[30] in which he finished second to Traci Bingham on the season finale, which aired on 25 March 2007. Jeremy also appeared in a segment on Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show. Additionally, he made appearances on Penn and Teller's Bullshit! in episodes regarding penis enlargement and circumcision. In 2005, he appeared on the UK reality TV show, The Farm. Jeremy also made a brief cameo on Lewis Black's Root of All Evil, in the episode YouTube VS Porn, in a short segment where people on the street were shown a video of hardcore pornography, and ironically, Jeremy was the only one disgusted by the video.

Jeremy is part of a running gag on ESPN's Jim Rome Is Burning and Premiere Radio Networks' The Jim Rome Show. Rome, who normally despises the porn industry, has a new-found respect^{[citation needed]} for Jeremy for recording a program bumper saying, "This is Ron Jeremy, head coach of the Miami Heat, and you're watching Jim Rome Is Burning." The bumper is a reference to Jeremy's striking resemblance to former Miami Heat and current Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. Jeremy was seen in the Robot Chicken episode, "A Piece of the Action", which was voiced by Michael Benyaer. In this episode, he and several others parody The Surreal Life and Lord of the Rings. The segment lampoons his penis size by having his character unseat a knight on horseback using nothing but his erect penis. Jeremy appeared as himself in the 2001 Family Guy episode "Brian Does Hollywood", in which he is a presenter at the "Woody Awards" for which Brian Griffin is a nominee. Comedian Kathy Griffin went on a date with him in the third season of her reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.

In 2003, Jeremy appeared on The Frank Skinner Show on British TV, and performed a duet ("I Got You Babe") with former Cabinet minister Mo Mowlam.^[31] Jeremy appeared on Chappelle's Show as himself in a spoof called "What if the Internet was a real place?", in which he asks Dave Chappelle if he would like to see some of his films. Jeremy also appeared as a guest commentator on the Fox News Channel late-night news and comedy talk show Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld in 2007. In the "Super Karate Monkey Death Car" episode of Newsradio, Jeremy can be seen sitting in the audience at Jimmy James's reading, along with Brian Posehn. Jeremy appeared in Tosh.0 as the falling prom girl's date. Jeremy appeared on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, as himself, in Bourdain's "Food Porn" (Season 5) and "Food Porn 2" (Season 6) episodes. Jeremy appeared on Silent Library in 2010. In the show, he was the "Mystery Creature" that was concealed underneath a sheet in a cage, the contestant has to feed him carrots while being blindfolded.

Music[link]

Jeremy has appeared in videos by Sublime, Mercury Rev, Moby, Insane Clown Posse, Kid Rock, LMFAO, Everclear, Sam Kinison, Guns N' Roses, Mad Yellow Sun, Los Umbrellos, XXX Rottweiler Hundar (Icelandic), the Radioactive Chickenheads, A Day To Remember, Escape The Fate, Christina Linhardt, Necro, Flight of the Conchords and My Darkest Days as included LMFAO. In addition, he released a rap single called "Freak Of The Week" which peaked at 95 on the Billboard rap charts;^[32] a music video for this was also produced.^[33] Jeremy introduced Boston ska punk band Big D and the Kids Table at the 2011 Vans Warped Tour in Carson, California. In 2001, he made a small appearance in industrial/groove metal band Fear Factory's DVD Digital Connectivity, where he welcomes the viewer, in the "Digimortal" portion of the DVD, "to the world of Fear Factory." In 2011, he appeared in LMFAO's music video for the song "Sexy And I Know It". In 2012, he made an appearance in Canadian rock band My Darkest Days music video for their song "Casual Sex".

Video games[link]

Ron Jeremy was featured as a playable character in the Celebrity Deathmatch video game. His image was used as a fairy in the game Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, in which he gives tips and advice to the main character. Ron Jeremy also stars in Bonetown as the king of Bonetown and sex god.^{[citation needed]} Ron Jeremy appears in the 2011 video game Postal III as Raul Chomo, the mayor of the fictional town of Catharsis, Arizona.^[34]

Video[link]

Jeremy appeared in a series of viral video spoofs for video sharing website Heavy.com. The videos lampooned include Britney Spears, lonelygirl15, Little Superstar and others.^[35] In 2007 he had a cameo appearance in "The Plot to Bomb the Panhandle" video, by A Day to Remember. In addition, Ron appeared on an episode of Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show, titled "Pamous Movie Star".

In January 2009, Jeremy made an appearance with David Faustino (Bud Bundy from Married with Children) in an episode of Faustino's show Star-ving, which airs on Crackle, as does the Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show.^[36] In June 2009, he did a cameo in the music video "10 Miles Wide" by Escape The Fate, along with Dennis Hof and other adult video performers.^[37] In December 2010, Jeremy starred in the Break.com video Tron Jeremy, a parody of the film Tron: Legacy.^[38]

In 2011, he made a cameo appearance in LMFAO's music video for "Sexy and I Know It".

Advertisement[link]

As a further indication of his crossover celebrity status, Jeremy has posed in an advertisement for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to raise awareness of the overpopulation of domesticated animals. In the poster, he lies partially nude on a bed, a pair of handcuffs on his wrists. Poking fun at his notoriety, the title of the advertisement exclaims, "Too much sex can be a bad thing. Spay and neuter your cats and dogs."^[39]

Books[link]

Jeremy released his memoir, titled Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz, in February 2007.^[40] The book was published by Harper Collins.^[41]

Public speaking[link]

Ron Jeremy at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, January 2008

In 2005, Jeremy made headlines when he was invited to address the Oxford Union. According to the Union’s librarian, Vladimir Bermant, "Ron is the biggest and apparently the best in the business, so I'm sure he'll have some fascinating stories to tell."^[42][43]

In 2006, Jeremy began a series of debates on pornography opposing Pastor Craig Gross, founder of anti-pornography website XXXchurch.com,^[44] visiting various U.S. and Canada college campuses as part of the "Porn Debate Tour."^[45][46]

Businesses[link]

In June 2009, Jeremy, and business partner Paul Smith, opened Ron Jeremy's Club Sesso, a swingers nightclub located in the financial district of downtown Portland, Oregon.^[47]

Partial filmography[link]

• Olympic Fever (1979)
• Inside Seka (1980)
• Debbie Does Dallas Part II (1981)
• 52 Pick-Up^† (1986)
• One Night At Mr. Wolfes (1987)
• Caged Fury (1989)
• The Lords of Magick (1989)
• Dead Bang^† (1989)
• As Cute as They Cum (1990)
• Super Hornio Brothers (1993)
• The Chase (1994)
• Class of Nuke 'Em High 3: The Good, the Bad and the Subhumanoid (1994)—Troma film
• Killing Zoe (1994)
• dendam kuntilanak (2001)
• Mr. Stitch (1996)
• Tromeo and Juliet (1996)—Troma film
• George Wallace (1997)
• Orgazmo (1997)
• Ronin^† (1998, scene cut by the studio)
• Terror Firmer (1998)—Troma film
• The Boondock Saints (1999)
• Detroit Rock City (1999)
• American Virgin (2000, Cameo)
• Nash Bridges: “El Diablo” (2000)
• Reindeer Games^† (2000)
• Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV (2000)—Troma film
• Just Shoot Me!: “The Proposal: Part 2” (2001)
• Alex in Wonder (2001)
• Fast Sofa (2001)
• The Rules of Attraction (2002)
• Back by Midnight (2002, Cameo)
• Night at the Golden Eagle (2002)
• America's Sexiest Girls (2003)
• Paris (2003)
• Parts of the Family (2003)—Troma film
• Tales from the Crapper (2004)—Troma film
• The Nickel Children (2005)
• Andre The butcher (Dead meat) (2005)
• Slaughter Party (2005)—Troma film
• Charlie's Death Wish (2005)
• Poultrygeist (2006)—Troma film
• Not the Bradys XXX (2007)
• Loaded^{[disambiguation needed ]} (2007)
• Finishing the Game (2007)
• Crazy Animal (2007)—Troma film
• Succubus (2007, Cameo)
• One-Eyed Monster (2008)
• Stone & Ed (2008)
• I am Virgin (2008)
• Homo Erectus (2008)
• Crank: High Voltage (2009)
• Almost Amateur (2009)
• Frenemy (2009)
• Trade In (2009)
• Malice in Lalaland (2010)
• Beaches, Buns, and Bikini's (2010)
• Big Money Rustlas (2010)
• Killer School Girls from Outer Space (2011)
• Chillerama (2011)
• The Haunted Trailer (2012)

^† - directed by John Frankenheimer

Awards[link]

• 1983 AFAA Best Supporting Actor for Suzie Superstar^[48]
• 1984 AFAA Best Supporting Actor for All the way in^[48]
• 1986 AVN Best Supporting Actor—Film for Candy Stripers II^[49]
• 1991 AVN Best Supporting Actor—Video for Playin' Dirty^[49]
• 2006 F.A.M.E. Award for Favorite Adult Actor^[50]
• 2009 Free Speech Coalition "Positive Image Award"

Bibliography[link]

• Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz. Memoir, published in February 2007, by Harper Collins.

References[link]

External links[link]

	Biography portal
	Pornography portal
	United States portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ron Jeremy

• Official website Official RonJeremy.com
• Official website Official Ron Jeremy's Club Sesso
• Official website Official Ron Jeremy Twitter
• Ron Jeremy at the Internet Adult Film Database
• Ron Jeremy at the Adult Film Database
• Titans of Justice, Ron Jeremy viral video on AtomFilms
• XXX Porn Debate, the official site for his "Porn Debate Tour"
• Ron Jeremy at the Internet Movie Database
• Ron Jeremy profile in The New York Observer
• Audio Interview w/ 'The Rafferty/Mills Connection' (2009)
• World News, Jennifer Abbott, Director interviews Ron Jeremy

Demetri Martin
Demetri Martin at Northeastern University on April 11, 2007
Born	(1973-05-25) May 25, 1973 (age 39) New York City, New York, United States
Nationality	American
Years active	Since 2002
Genres	Observational comedy, surreal humor, musical comedy, wit/wordplay, sketch comedy
Subject(s)	Everyday Life, American Culture, Random Subjects
Influences	Steven Wright, Eddie Izzard, Emo Philips, Mitch Hedberg, Socrates
Notable works and roles	· Demetri Martin. Person.  · Correspondent on The Daily Show  · Himself/Various on Important Things with Demetri Martin  · Elliot Tiber in Taking Woodstock (2009)
Website	www.demetrimartin.com

Demetri Martin (born May 25, 1973) is an American comedian, actor, artist, musician, writer and humorist. Martin is best known for his work as a stand-up comedian, contributor on The Daily Show and for his Comedy Central show Important Things with Demetri Martin.

Early life[link]

Demetri Martin was born to a Greek American family^[1] in New York City, New York, and grew up in Toms River, New Jersey. He is the son of Lillian, a nutritionist, and Dean C. Martin, now deceased, a Greek Orthodox priest.^[2] Martin graduated from Yale University in 1995. Although he was accepted into Harvard Law School, he went to New York University School of Law after he received a full scholarship.^[3]

Career[link]

In 2001, Martin caught his first big break in stand-up comedy when he appeared on Comedy Central's stand-up showcase Premium Blend. At the 2003 Edinburgh Festival Fringe he won the Perrier award with his show If I....^[4] The show was turned into a British television special in 2004. From 2003 to 2004, Martin wrote for Late Night with Conan O'Brien.^[5] In 2004, Martin had his own Comedy Central Presents stand-up special. His special was divided into three parts. In the first, he performed in traditional stand-up comedy fashion. In the second segment, he used humorous drawings as visual aids, which would serve either as the punchline or a background. During the third segment, he played a guitar and put on a pseudo-play where he would strum his guitar while alternating between playing harmonica and talking; some of his comedian friends dressed as fairies and dragons acted according to the story he was telling, detailing the magical land where his jokes came from. Martin's mother and grandmother also appeared.

Since late 2005, he has been credited as a contributor on The Daily Show, on which he has appeared as the named "Senior Youth Correspondent" and on which he hosts a segment called "Trendspotting". He has used this segment to talk about so-called hip trends among youth such as hookahs, wine, guerilla marketing and Xbox 360. A piece about social networking featured his profile on MySpace.^[6] On March 22, 2007, Demetri made another appearance on The Daily Show, talking about the Viacom lawsuit against Google and YouTube.

He has recorded a comedy CD/DVD titled These Are Jokes, which was released on September 26, 2006. This album also features Saturday Night Live member Will Forte and stand-up comedian Leo Allen.

Martin returned to The Daily Show on March 22, 2006, as the new Youth Correspondent, calling his segment "Professional Important News with Demetri Martin". In 2007, he starred in a Fountains of Wayne music video for "Someone to Love" as Seth Shapiro, a character in the song. He also starred in the video for the Travis single "Selfish Jean", in which he wears multiple t-shirts with lyrics written on them.

On September 2, 2007, Martin appeared on the season finale of the HBO series Flight of the Conchords. He appeared as a keytar player named Demetri.^[7]

He also had a part in the movie The Rocker (2008) starring Rainn Wilson. Martin played the part of the videographer when the band in the movie was making their first music video.

In 2009, he hosted and starred in his own television show called Important Things With Demetri Martin on Comedy Central. Later in June, it was announced his show had been renewed for a second season.^[8] The second season premiered, again on Comedy Central, on February 4, 2010. Martin has stated that Important Things will not return for a third season.

Prior to completing work on his second season, Martin starred in the comedy-drama film Taking Woodstock (2009), directed by Ang Lee, which premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. In the film Martin plays Elliot Tiber, a closeted gay artist who has given up his ambitions in the city to move upstate and help his old-world Jewish family run their Catskill Mountains motel. The film is based on the book written by Tiber.

On April 25, 2011, Martin released his first book, titled This Is a Book by Demetri Martin.

Martin was slated to portray Paul DePodesta as Oakland Athletics assistant GM to Billy Beane in the 2011 movie Moneyball, however was dropped and Jonah Hill took his place in the movie.

Plans[link]

Martin sold his movie concept Will to DreamWorks; he is expected to play a key supporting role.^[9] He will play the lead in the film Moon People, a pitch that he sold to Columbia Pictures.

Martin also signed a blind script deal with CBS in October 2010 to produce, write, and star in his own television series.^[10]

After CBS was shown the pilot for the series, they decided not to air it.^[11]

On August 11, 2011, Fox ordered a presentation of a new animated show they might air.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] If I

If I is a Perrier Comedy Award-winning comedy one-man show written and performed by Demetri Martin at the 2003 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.^[12] It was also aired on British television as a special. The show is an autobiographical examination of Martin's life, as seen through various definitions of the word "if."

The title of the special comes from a lengthy palindromic poem that Martin wrote; the words "if I" are at the center of the poem.^[13]

Comedic style[link]

Martin is known for being an unconventional stand-up comic. He uses one-liners and drawings on a "large pad", as well as accompanying his jokes with music on either guitar, harmonica, piano, keyboard, glockenspiel, toy bells, ukulele, or tambourine, sometimes all at once.^[14] He has cited comedian Steven Wright as an important influence (both use deadpan one-liners in their acts) and he is also a fan of Bill Cosby.^[15]

Personal life[link]

According to a July 2011 interview on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, Demetri had a short-lived marriage to a girl he knew from high school. They began dating after high school and got married when he was in NYU Law School and she was attending NYU Medical School. He was aged 25 and in the end of his marriage when his stand-up career began.^[3]

He is extremely allergic to nuts and peanuts.^[16]

Martin moved to Santa Monica, California in 2009.^[17]

Filmography[link]

• Invite Them Up (2005)
• These Are Jokes (2006)
• Demetri Martin. Person. (2007)
• Important Things with Demetri Martin (2009–2010)