Sam Tyson

Sam Tyson is an adult film model and highly-credentialed private trainer in Los Angeles. The name Tyson was given by the Mormon church shortly after his birth in his home state of Utah. Sam's meteoric rise as an icon in the world of gay pornography may be explained by his aspirations in early childhood: He found a copy of Playgirl magazine at age 5. At age 13, he opened Sam's Candy, Inc., and later a total of 3 stores in Northern Utah.

Sam's first job out of college was a newspaper reporter in Spokane, Wash. Soon after, Judy Wieder, then-editor-in-chief of "The Advocate" featured him as one of the "30 Best and Brightest Under 30" in a special issue. He became PlanetOut's "Fantasy Man" where he met Derek Hartley and Paul Horne, first partner and moved to Los Angeles and featured in a calendar by Tom Bianchi.

Together, Sam and Paul co-founded HERO Magazine: "The magazine for the rest of us" which rode the tidal wave of the "mainstreaming" of LGBT culture. HERO did not accept adult or tobacco advertising. The publication's loyal following helped it win distinctions as "One of the Top 10 Magazines" in the United States., but ceased production in early 2002.