Porn Actor Harry Reems has died at the age of 65.

Reems’ friend, Don Schenk, reported the death on an internet marketing forum Wednesday afternoon.

Reems, born Herbert Streicher, reportedly died on March 19 at a veteran’s hospital in Salt Lake City. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012 and went through chemotherapy and radiation treatment before his health deteriorated.

Reems is best known for his role in the infamous 1972 adult film Deep Throat. He played the role of Dr. Young, who discovers that Linda Lovelace’s clitoris is located in her throat. Schenk relates that Reems was not originally cast in the movie, and that he did not choose his stage name:

The funny thing is Harry was not even supposed to be in the film. He was hired to handle the lighting. Writer/Director Gerard Damiano ran into a casting issue when the fellow hired to play the lead part didn’t show up. Harry was thrust into the job, for which he was paid only $250.

Damiano came up with the name Harry Reems. At first Herbert (Harry) really disliked the name, but in time, as the name became famous, he adopted the name, and continued to use it for the next 40 years – long after he left the adult film industry.

Due to his role in the movie, Reems was convicted in Tennessee on federal obscenity charges. His conviction was later overturned on appeal, and he went on to star in in dozens of adult films in the 70s and 80s.

Reems left the porn business in 1989 and began 12-step recovery for alcoholism. He is reported to have converted to Christianity at that time, though he would later claim to be “spiritual.”

Reems was portrayed by actor Adam Brody in the recently released Linda Lovelace biopic Lovelace.

The interview with Reems seen below is not pornographic, but it does contain adult language.