Larry David Paciotti (born November 8, 1959) is an American director of pornographic films. He appears as the drag-divapersonaChi Chi LaRue (/ˈtʃiːtʃiːləˈruː/), and has been credited as director under the names "Lawrence David" and "Taylor Hudson".[1]
Paciotti began performing as "Chi Chi LaRue" when he moved to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area and started performing in drag as one-half of "The Weather Gals", a "hag drag" revue.[2] He and a friend moved to California, where LaRue was hired by Catalina Video as an administrative assistant and publicist because of his knowledge of porn and the workings of the porn industry.[3] Even as a "DJ" ("DJ Paciotti"), Paciotti conducts most public business as "Chi Chi LaRue", particularly in the pornographic film industry.[2] LaRue has directed hundreds of gay porn films since 1988, mainly for Falcon Studios.[4] He now owns Catalina Video, a label under his umbrella company Channel 1 Releasing.[2]
In 2003, LaRue began to divide his directorial attention between two porn studios: Vivid Video, where he worked with Jenna Jameson and Tera Patrick, and his own Rascal Video.[4]
In March 2004, LaRue was preparing to leave to travel to London to direct Taking Flight when he had a mild heart attack. Instead of abandoning the production, Falcon hired Chris Steele, the script's author, to direct. In 2005, LaRue shot his last film for Falcon, called Heaven to Hell. It was the only movie ever to be cast of Falcon exclusives.[4]
In 2006, LaRue announced that he would no longer produce films for Vivid Video because they were featuring actors and actresses having sex without condoms.[5]
In 2007, LaRue was chosen as one of Out magazine's Top 50 most influential people in the LGBT community.[2]
In August 2008, he directed the controversial bisexual film titled Shifting Gears. LaRue coined the term "straight-for-pay" (a play on "gay-for-pay"), to describe performer Blake Riley's first encounter with a woman.
In 2015, LaRue admitted himself into drug and alcohol treatment in Minnesota, feeling he was "near death", according to friend Kevin Molin.[7]
On January 11, 2020 LaRue re-opened the historic Circus Of Books - a West Hollywood book and gay pornography store originally opened in 1960 and operated until the owners decided to sell to Channel 1 Releasing, a company led by Rob Novinger who was also a partner in Chi Chi LaRue's originally opened in 2009 a few blocks away.[8][9]
In January of 2022 Chi Chi LaRue's Circus was renamed back to Circus of Books, removing Chi Chi LaRue's name due to the partnership between LaRue and Novinger being dissolved. Their original store a few blocks away was closed. [10]
1990 Dave Awards winner of Best Video and Best Director for "More of a Man" (All Worlds Video).[citation needed]
1991 AVN awardBest Director (Gay Video) – "The Rise" (as Taylor Hudson), Catalina Video.[11]
1991 AVN Award Best Non-Sexual Performance–Bi, Gay, or Trans Video – "More of a Man", All Worlds Video.[11]
1992 Gay Erotic Video AwardsBest Director – "Songs in the Key of Sex", HIS Video (tied with Jerry Douglas, "Kiss-Off", All Worlds Video).[citation needed]
1993 AVN Award Best Director (Gay Video) – "Songs in the Key of Sex", HIS Video.[11]
1993 Gay Erotic Video Award Best Special Interest Video – "Chi Chi LaRue's Hardbody Video Magazine", Odyssey Men.[citation needed]
1993 Gay Erotic Video Award Best Gender Bender – "Valley of the Bi Dolls", Catalina Video.[citation needed]
1994 Gay Erotic Video Award Best Non-Sexual Role – "Revenge of the Bi-Dolls", Catalina Video.[citation needed]
1995 Gay Erotic Video Award Best Director – "Idol Country", HIS Video.[citation needed]
