Porn star Ron Jeremy seeks fame with clothes on

In his newly released memoir, "Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz," he said audiences identified with him because he was just like them. there's a new twist.

He hardly strikes you as one of the most successful American porn stars. But Jeremy, 53, who says to have been with more than 4,000 women during a 30-year career, is the first to admit that he is not your stereotypical sex star. He believes his average looks are a key to his success. In his newly released memoir, "Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz," he said audiences identified with him because he was just like them. Jeremy, who trained to be a teacher, started out in acting in New York in the mid-1970s but ended up in porn films to make some money after his girlfriend sent off some nude photographs of him to Playgirl. With 1,750 adult films to his name and turning 54 next month, Jeremy had few Hollywood directors knocking at his door. he turned to reality TV, joining the second season of "The Surreal Life," which features a group of low-level celebrities living in a mansion in Los Angeles. "It has increased my audience. A lot of women and children now know me from the show," said Jeremy. "Now I'm getting more work." Jeremyt can be seen in a spin-off of that series, "The Surreal Life: Fame Games," and he even had a role in the comedy "Finishing the Game," which screened at the Sundance Film Festival last month. In addition to his book, Jeremy is real busy these dyas with other ventures -- his adult film company, speaking on television and college campuses about sex and pornography, and promotional appearances for products that carry his name. Asked if he would he like to do more reality television? He replies: "To me, porn and reality TV are similar. I don't mind being in them," he said. "I just can't stand watching them."