Derek Kage had it rough in his early years. Born and raised just outside of Huntsville, Alabama, he had trouble fitting in. Worse, he grew up in an abusive household, and most of his memories of that time are traumatic. He never felt like he had a safe place to be, which caused him to become severely depressed and even suicidal.
“I wasn’t religious, and I was discovering my homosexuality in a place that wasn’t supportive — of anything I was or wanted to be,” he reflects.
As for how he became an adult performer, Kage says it happened in a somewhat roundabout way.
“I always wanted to be an actor,” he recalls. “I remember being very young and saying that to anyone who would listen. I always liked performing in front of people. My dream has come true, just not in a way I ever expected!
“I’ve also always been comfortable with my body, comfortable with exploring my sexuality,” he notes. “I mention all of that because when the opportunity came for me to be in a scene for a porn studio, I didn’t hesitate… and found out I was right at home in front of the camera.”
Since then, Kage has transmuted his dark upbringing into a catalyst for resilience, evolving professionally and personally with determination. Such a background also taught him the value of learning to love himself — and everything about himself — to the fullest.
“I used to give so much of myself to unworthy romantic relationships and toxic people in my life, but not anymore,” he shares. “I now commit the vast majority of my time, energy and resources to myself and to people that bring out the best in me.
“It’s hard to deny that I have evolved professionally too, with this recent win for XBIZ Gay Performer of the Year!” Kage adds. “To be recognized for my performances in my first full year in the adult industry is a testament to how quickly I adapted and grew as a performer.
“I learn from every director and performer I work with, on how to improve my own performances and style,” he elaborates. “No opportunity is ever wasted to learn and become better. I’ve evolved so much professionally that directors and studios even write roles and scenes specifically for me to lend my talents to!”
Eager to merit such trust, Kage has developed a strong work ethic, something he also credits in part to how miserable he was in his previous career. He found the 9-to-5 desk job life to be soul-sucking.
“Now that I work in a profession that I am so passionate about, with genuinely wonderful people involved, I always show up to set with a smile on my face!” Kage says. “I feel the directors notice this and it gives them a positive energy to work with. As far as the unique demands of each scene, my hypersexual nature, my curiosity and my ability to be whatever the occasion calls for make it easy for me to adapt. Whatever performance the director wants, within reason, the director shall get.”
To improve his acting, Kage has researched great actors and their methods, finding references to help him prepare for more involved roles. He has even taken improv and voice acting classes to hone his abilities.
“I always speak with the writers and directors to get as much information as possible about their vision for what the character should be,” he says. “When Ben Rush asked me to be the lead in ‘Overdrive,’ we spoke about Hollywood references, my mannerisms, my facial expressions, even down to my voice acting for specific lines.
“Believe me when I say I showed up to set well-prepared for that role!” Kage adds. “I think it really shows how intense the acting was for that part because that role is the exact opposite of how I am as a person. The character is uncomfortably intense, has no empathy and doesn’t think twice about violence. It is a testament to how much acting does go into adult films.”
When he is not on set, Kage is active on social media, engaging with fans across multiple platforms, including X.com for sexually explicit content posts and arranging collabs, Instagram stories for AMAs and TikTok for sillier fare.
“The importance of interacting with fans cannot be understated in this day and age,” he says. “You absolutely must interact with your fans if you want to remain relevant.”
He also loves to travel — he recently began learning Portuguese after visiting Brazil over New Year’s — as well as hiking, camping, backpacking and climbing in the mountains and desert of northern Utah, where he lives and takes full advantage of the natural splendor in his own backyard.
Fitness and overall health are likewise extremely important to Kage, who finds that if he does not get plenty of rest as well as plenty of exercise, then his overall health begins to suffer.
“I will start to feel anxious and depressed,” he says. “I strive for eight hours of sleep a night and if I can fit in a nap during the day, then I will absolutely take that nap. My exercise routine incorporates plenty of cardiovascular exercise — usually running, assault bike, row machine, etc. And I incorporate plenty of conditioning exercises like kettlebell swings, burpees, plyometrics and a circuit of multiple exercises to keep my heart rate up.”
As for downtime when he’s not exercising or traveling, Kage describes himself as a simple man who loves to cook.
“There is something very therapeutic and relaxing about it,” he states. “I love to have my close friends come over to my house. I’ll cook for them and, if they drink, make cocktails for them. I am an entertainer, after all! I also love to read and play video games. People may not know this about me, but I’m much more of an introvert and I value my alone time — so I enjoy solo activities. Did I mention I absolutely love to sleep?
“As far as creative endeavors go, I have also started the process of writing an autobiography,” Kage reveals. “I have a couple of friends in the literary world who have told me I absolutely must write one, so I’m working on that.”
His life today is a far cry from the turbulence of his youth. In his acceptance speech for XBIZ Gay Performer of the Year, Kage said that it would be impossible for him to thank everyone in the industry who has contributed to his success and had a positive influence on his life — but that doesn’t stop him from listing the ways he feels blessed by his colleagues and collaborators. He praises the directors with whom he has developed a strong rapport, and who he knows will devote the effort necessary to create the best possible product. He is equally enthusiastic about the performers he has worked with, who “know what they are there to create,” work as hard as they can to make the best scene possible and end up becoming genuine friends.
“Winning the 2024 XBIZ Gay Performer of the Year was, and I’m not being facetious, one of the greatest moments of my entire life,” Kage reflects. “I mentioned earlier that I had a very unenjoyable life prior to joining the industry. I began my career in adult almost two years ago, when I was also going through a horrible depression and struggling with alcoholism. I’ve been open about the fact that during this time I even attempted suicide. I’m thankful I was unsuccessful.
“The adult industry gave me a new focus and energy for life and gave me a career I genuinely love,” he says. “I say all of this because the moment my name was called as the winner, every ounce of that emotion hit me.
“I had come out of such a dark place in the best and most successful way possible,” he affirms. “Winning that award was complete validation that I have arrived and established myself as a major performer in the adult industry. To achieve that feat so soon after going through one of the worst times of my life is nothing short of incredible. I felt every ounce of happiness when I held that award in my hand.”
After winning, Kage recalls, he had a moment where he asked himself, “What now?” The answer came to him pretty easily: He plans to keep doing what he is doing and lend his talents to as many studios and productions as will have him.
“This award put a spotlight on me for some of the best and most talented people across the entire adult industry to notice me,” he says. “This win has set me up beautifully to perform in every area of the industry. I’m looking at it this way: I’m going to take this award win and have it be a reminder that I’m a damn good performer, and that the industry got it right in choosing me as Gay Performer of the Year.
“I plan on using my platform and my voice to advocate for the success of adult entertainment,” Kage concludes. “I want to do what I can to make sure the industry I love, which brings so much pleasure and enjoyment to consumers, continues to thrive.”
