The October 1975 issue of Playgirl featured several nude photos of model/actor Steve Bond. They quickly became the most famous male nude photos in the world (not counting those of Christopher George)
Not because of his size beneath the equator, though he was huge.
Because of the contrast.
The last time anyone had seen Steve Bond, the 14-year old Israeli actor, born Schlomo Goldberg, was making his screen debut: he played Erik in a Tarzan movie (1968) with Mike Henry.
Seven years makes a big difference.
After one or two more guest roles, Steve went back home to Israel, finished high school, and completed his mandatory military service. Now he was in L.A. again, ready to hit the big time. The nude photos came at a moment of desperation, when he was flat broke
Unfortunately, posing in your birthday suit was still controversial in 1975, and Steve found it difficult getting the attention of casting directors. During the next decade, he played some street toughs, some sexploitation studs, a Chippendales dancer, and a forest ranger investigating some teen murders (in The Prey, 1984).
He showed his butt a lot, but only when he was sexing naked ladies.
Finally, hoping that the nude pictures were long forgotten, he landed one of the defining roles of his career, redneck Jimmy Lee Holt on General Hospital (1983-87).
No such luck. In 1985, an eagle-eyed editor at Playgirl discovered the old photos, and reprinted them. Steve was devastated. What would happen when the General Hospital producers found out? Would he be fired?
Answer after the break