3 hours ago
Paddy O'Brian Wins Best Actor at 2026 GayVN Awards
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The 21st GayVN Awards, presented annually by AVN Media Network, celebrated excellence in gay adult filmmaking with Paddy O'Brian taking home the Best Actor award for his performance in "To the Nines", produced by Falcon/MenAtPlay. The ceremony marked the 2026 edition, following a tradition that began in 1998 and resumed regularly after a hiatus from 2011 to 2017.
O'Brian's win positions him as the most recent recipient in the category's history, which has honored 24 actors since inception, with Tony Donovan holding the record for two victories, including consecutive wins. DeAngelo Jackson remains the only man of color to win, for "Blended Family" in 2020, underscoring the category's evolving representation within the gay adult industry.
Other 2026 nominees for Best Actor included Andrew Delta for "Welcome Home" from ASGMax Films/ASGMax.com, Brody Fox for "The Adventures of Brody Fox" from KinkMen.com, and Rocky Heron for "The Manchineel King" from Himeros.tv. Additional contenders were Tim James for "The Way to a Man’s Heart" from Raging Stallion, Michael Klashman also for "The Manchineel King" from Himeros.tv, and Jayden Marcos for "Pledge Daddy" from Disruptive Films/ASGMax.com.
The field continued with MrDeepVoice for "Dawn of the Gladiators" from Men.com, Blain O’Connor for "Wild Game" from NakedSword X Disruptive Films, Ryder Owens for "The Goldenrod Resort 2: Singles Weekend" from ASGMax Films/ASGMax.com, and Eddie Patrick for "Sexerance" from SayUncle.com. Sir Peter was nominated for "The Barcelona Job" from NakedSword X Voyr, Adam Snow for "Deeper Deep Throat" from Carnal+ Originals/CarnalPlus.com/BarebackPlus.com, Paul Wagner for "Wild Game" from NakedSword X Disruptive Films, and Guillaume Wayne for "Below the Belt" from HungFuckers/BarebackPlus.com.
The 2025 nominees, listed for context, featured performers like Hoss Kado for "Honeyguide" from Disruptive Films/ASGMax.com, Derek Kage for "The Goldenrod Resort" from ASGMax Films/ASGMax.com, Jayden Marcos for "No Strings Attached" from Next Door Studios/ASGMax.com, Damian Night for "Cum All Ye Faithful" from Falcon, Sir Peter for "Yes, Sir!" from NakedSword X Sir Peter, Reece Scott for "Staying With Dad" from Gaycest/CarnalPlus.com, Adam Snow for "International Transfer" from Gaycest/CarnalPlus.com, and Carter Woods for "Breaking Frontiers" from Next Door Studios/ASGMax.com.
Recent attendee footage from the 2026 event captured excitement, with one video describing it as "a Blast!" posted by Erick Hall on YouTube, showing moments of performers preparing and celebrating. The transcript snippets include phrases like "We're going up. It's our moment," reflecting the high energy among gay adult industry professionals.
The GayVN Awards provide a key platform for recognizing transgender people, gay men, and other LGBTQ+ performers in adult entertainment, fostering visibility and professional acknowledgment within a niche yet influential sector of media. Studios like Falcon, MenAtPlay, and NakedSword, frequent nominees, contribute to diverse storytelling that resonates with LGBTQ+ audiences globally. O'Brian's win for "To the Nines" exemplifies how these awards celebrate leading roles that advance narratives in gay cinema.
