Tyson Cane is an African-American gay pornographic actor who appeared in pornographic films and magazines in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He then moved on to create his own short-lived film production company. He currently works as a director.
Early life, education, and early career
In a More Starz interview Cane's birthplace was identified as Dalton, Georgia; in a Black Inches interview a few years earlier, however, he gave Dolphin, Alabama as his place of birth. Cane has stated he served in the military as a tank operator in the 13th Bravo Field Artillery. Cane says that he entered the gay adult industry after encountering Kristen Bjorn in Florida. One of the first films in which he appeared was The Anchor Hotel by Kristen Bjorn Productions. This movie appeared alongside numerous others in the late 1990s. Early on in his career, Cane was featured on the cover of Black Inches, which ran a pictorial shot by glamor photographer .'
Career
Cane has worked for some of the best-known gay film companies: Falcon Entertainment, Lucas Entertainment, Channel 1 Releasing, and Bacchus, among others. Cane acted both as a top and as a bottom; he never made an appearance in films featuring bareback or other unsafe sexual practices. In February, 2003, Cane teamed up with Enrico Vega to found Tyson Vega Videos, which released its first production, Manhattan Fantasies, in December of that year. The association with Vega did not last long, however, so that Tyson Vega Videos soon became Tyson Cane Videos. After producing several films, Cane sold his interest in the company to RAD Video in March 2007. As of late 2008, he is active as a director for a company called "Alpha Dawgz."
Views
Two factors appear to have driven Tyson Cane's career. On the one hand, he has emphasized his desire "to try and change the industry and the image of African American models. That's why I worked with Falcon. I was the first black person to work with Falcon as a model. … I went after companies that purposely didn't work with black guys …" Even if Cane's claim about being Falcon's first black model is not true, there can be little doubt that the gay adult industry continues to be racially segregated. Cane seems to see himself as a pioneer in breaking up stereotypes. In this context, he has supported the New York chapter of Men of All Colors Together. His videography shows, however, that the reality of the gay adult industry has forced him back into all-ethnic productions. Cane's second motivation is connected with the first: instead of appearing in "videos from the black companies were cheaply done,", Cane wanted to work for "the top companies," "the best companies." He claims that he had to promise his parents to excel to make them accept his career choice.
