profile

Robert Lombard

I can't recall exactly when I first met Robert Lombard, but I remember very clearly the first time I heard about him. I was arguing that not since the 1980s has any band been worthy of praise and love. My example of greatness was the early years of Van Halen. "You and your fucking Van Halen!" director Barrett Blade barked. "You know, you should really meet Robert Lombard."

Lombard was once a pivotal member of the Van Halen camp, collaborating on some of their celebrated music videos, such as "Jump" (producer, nominated for three MTV Awards, 1984) and "(Oh) Pretty Woman" (director, banned from MTV).

Upon first meeting the 61-year-old, white-haired Lombard, one would never guess he's a major player in the adult business.

He's charming, generous and honest.

Born July 1, 1945, in Rockford, Ill., Lombard spent his early years just like any normal American boy, dreaming first of becoming a fireman or policeman and later thinking he wanted to pursue medicine or law.

"My special dream," Lombard says, "the one that always seemed to surface alongside the occupation or career dreams I had at the time, was to always be liked and respected." He pauses, smiles and adds: "And famous, too!" Lombard's early aspirations soon became a memory (except for one year of law school), and he found himself doing pretty much the opposite of what he hoped he would.

"I was selling packaging and labeling," he reminisces. "Around my eighth year with the same company, I was promoted to sunny California to start up their West Coast division developing clients like Arrowhead Water and Farmer John Meats. I started calling on the record labels to see if I could sell them their disc labels, album promotion stickers and the like. That is where the desire to be in the record business came into focus.

"I applied to a company called Compact Video [now called Laser Pacific] to become a salesman, calling on various production companies and producers to sell them on the idea to use Compact Videos' remote video trucks and post-production facilities."

This was an insane time in Lombard's life, what with it being the decadent '70s in Los Angeles, where all the best music and drugs seemed to be. Through some connections at Warner Bros. Records, Lombard rubbed elbows with the musical elite, eventually leading to a starter-level gig as a production assistant for a well-known music director.

Lombard quickly moved up the ladder and soon was the production executive for a Fleetwood Mac concert, which led to a short stint filming the band's tour.

From 1978-1990, Lombard worked with many rock bands, including Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pink Floyd and Van Halen. He lived the rock 'n' roll life, taking mass amounts of drugs and alcohol. But all the good times ended quickly, and by early 1990, Lombard found himself a complete mess, broke and unemployed, an alcoholic at the end of the line.

Something had to change. First step: quit the drugs. Second step: find a new career.

Lombard has been sober now for 17 years. He credits it for his ability to pick up the broken pieces of his life and succeed again, this time in a new medium: pornography.

"I was broke and busted," Lombard says. "I was not to be trusted, trying to stay on a path of recovery from drugs and alcohol. I started working for a management company — for $10 per hour — that represented actors, character-actor types. A girl [Monique Parent] walked in who reminded me of Ava Gardner, and on her register sheet she stated she was comfortable with nudity, both partial and full, along with performing simulated sex on camera.

"Seeing the breakdowns every day, I was always noticing many roles available for actresses who were comfortable with nudity and simulated sex. This was appearing to be another career break, or what I was calling things like this being sober, a 'God shot.'"

Lombard quit his job and began managing Parent on his own. Soon more girls came aboard, and Creative Image Management (CIM) was born.

Not one to blend in with the herd, Lombard took a detour on the hardcore porn expressway, instead setting up shop as a casting director and producer following the recommendation of MRG Entertainment, which is now owned by New Frontier Media, to handle the casting and some producing duties for its late-night erotic cable programs on HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, the Movie Channel, BSkyB, iNDemand and Starz. Most recently, Lombard worked with a new player on the block, Dusk Till Dawn Entertainment.

Representing and casting much of the sought-after adult stars for their softcore gigs, Lombard has made a major name for himself as a no-nonsense, fun and energetic component to the late-night sex game.

In a business overflowing with sleazy, greedy tyrants, Lombard has remained a gentleman throughout his 17-year career in the skin trade, which is why such key talents as Monique Alexander, Jessica Drake, Kirsten Price, Kaylani Lei and Sydnee Steele have joined forces with CIM to act in late-night cable programs. Lombard was the first to use porn stars in the R-rated cable business and is likely the best at what he does. Everyone has kind words to say about the man; Barrett Blade referred to him as "the most wonderful and generous person in porn," and Wicked's Kirsten Price asserted that he is "beyond sweet... a real joy to be around."

With 100-or-so movies under his belt, Lombard has certainly grown from the boozing loser he says he was in 1990 before he found sobriety and a new calling in the adult entertainment business.

The series "Confessions of a Porn Star" is one of the most viewed softcore series in the world, and the "Best Sex Ever" series played on HBO for 26 episodes over a two-year span.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

WIA Profile: Rae Threat

Threat is completely self-taught. Shooting nightlife was how she learned photography and honed her skills, experimenting with ways to shoot low-light action shots without a flash. She notes that these nightly adventures also helped her acquire social and networking skills. One thing led to another, and she soon found herself working in the adult biz.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Girlsway Celebrates a Decade of Acclaimed Sapphic Erotica

When Girlsway launched back in 2014, Bree Mills had a plan. As head of production for Gamma Entertainment, she set out to up the stakes of all-girl content with the new imprint — and to continually, proactively reinvent the brand and its offerings along the way.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

TeamSkeet Debuts Swappz Channel, 'Swapception' Feature

Chief Revenue Officer Brandon explains, “The inspiration behind ‘Swappz’ emerged from a growing market demand for niche adult content that pushes boundaries and explores the taboo themes and deal-striking handshakes of swaps.”

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

Brittney Kade Talks Big 'Career-First' for Adult Time

Brittney Kade’s first gangbang originated as an Adult Time “Director Showcase,” a creative opportunity the production team offered to Jim Powers, one of the studio’s regular producers.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

On the Set: Welcome to Adult Time's 'Futa World'

Dressed revealingly in a yellow waitress uniform, Lauren Phillips greets eager customers Hailey Rose and Chloe Surreal. On a sign announcing the grand opening of “Dick’s Diner,” the apostrophe between letters k and s bears a striking resemblance to an ejaculating penis.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

Hayley Davies: From New Zealand Math Nerd to Fast-Rising Adult Star

Growing up, New Zealander Hayley Davies was a proud nerd who participated in mathematics competitions against students from much higher grades. Her good looks turned out to be a kind of secret weapon, causing peers to underestimate her intellectual acumen.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

WIA Profile: Inka Winter

Award-winning erotic filmmaker and ForPlay Films founder Inka Winter knows what she wants her films to be, and what she doesn’t want them to be. She seeks to depict sexuality that is mindful, based in human connection and trauma-informed.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Free Agent Auteur: Casey Calvert Expands Her Directing Horizon

Now, having brought that highly-awarded polyamory trilogy to a close, Calvert is concluding the exclusive Lust Cinema directing chapter of her career and charting a new course out into open creative waters as a free agent.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

Collaboration Done Differently: Adult Time Discusses Ambassador Program

Since the launch of Adult Time in 2019, award-winning director and chief creative officer Bree Mills has actively explored collaborative opportunities with members of the performer community, seeking out talent whose values align with the company’s and who appreciate the type of content Mills creates for the multibrand platform.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

WIA Profile: Siouxsie Q.

Siouxsie Q has long been a committed artist and organizer. This dual path has garnered her significant recognition for both her creative works and her advocacy. Yet one thing that stands clear in Q’s story is that her motivation transcends mere acclaim.

Women In Adult ·
Show More