Matt Gunther (born Steven Matthew Lang; May 28, 1963 â May 27, 1997) was an American pornographic actor who became a prominent star in gay adult cinema during the late 1980s and 1990s. Of mixed Mexican heritage, he was noted for breaking into mainstream gay adult studios at a time when Latino performers were often limited to niche "B-list" labels.
Born in Garden Grove, California, Gunther was known in his personal life as Steve Lang. He moved to West Hollywood in 1988 at age 25 to pursue a career in adult film.
Gunther debuted in 1989, notably appearing in To the Bone (1990). He quickly rose to fame, working with the industry's most influential studios, including Falcon Studios, Vivid Video, and Catalina. Throughout his career, he appeared in approximately thirty films. Some of his most recognized performances include Powerful (1989), a sequel to Powertool starring Jeff Stryker, Abduction (1990), a BDSM production by Falcon, Idol Eyes (1990), featuring Ryan Idol, Buttbusters (1992), Straight to the Zone (1993). He became a fixture of the West Hollywood scene and was recognized for his athleticism and screen presence.
Beyond acting, Gunther was a frequent model for gay and adult magazines, recognized for his "boyish yet muscular" look.
In his final year, he became an advocate for AIDS awareness, serving as a presenter at the 1996 Probe Awards and participating in the West Hollywood Gay Pride parade on an AIDS hospice float.
Due to deteriorating health, he was reportedly cared for in an assisted-living facility funded by the state of California toward the end of his life. He died of heart failure related to AIDS complications on May 27, 1997, in Huntington Beach, California, just one day before his 34th birthday. Following his death, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.