Mickey Squires (born Richard Bernstein; December 21, 1952) is an American adult film actor and model who became a defining icon of the "Castro Clone" and "muscle daddy" aesthetics during the 1970s, 1980s and the early 1990s. As a primary star for the Colt Studio Group, Squires helped transition gay erotic imagery from the lean, mustachioed "clone" look of the post-Stonewall era into the hyper-masculine, bodybuilder-influenced aesthetic of the 1980s.
Born in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, Bernstein was the youngest of three brothers and was raised by a single mother in North Long Beach. In contrast to his athletic siblings, he was drawn to the performing arts, often choreographing ballets and conducting imaginary orchestras as a child. He began his professional career in film distribution with 20th Century Fox in the early 1970s, eventually moving to San Francisco as a sales manager just as the city's gay sexual revolution was beginning.
Bernstein began modeling under the pseudonym Mickey Squires after a friend encouraged him to pose nude. His career began with physique photography for clubs like The Probe before he was recruited by Jim French, the founder of Colt Studio Group.
Under the direction of founder and photographer Jim French, Colt Studio Group (founded in 1967) revolutionized gay male visibility by establishing a "hyper-masculine" ideal. In the 1980s, Colt moved away from the "pretty boy" imagery of earlier decades toward a rugged, muscular, and "butch" aesthetic, often utilizing uniforms and outdoor settings to communicate power and assertion.
He was a major star for Colt Films, Zeus, and J. Brian. His notable works include Flashbacks (1980), Red Ball Express (1981), and the experimental military-themed film The Brig (1982) as Jason Sato, directed by Norman Yonemoto. Squires was noted for his ability to maintain a rugged, "all-man" persona on screen, a style that made him a favorite for directors like Norman Yonemoto. The Come On with Jack Packer is cited by Bernstein as his favorite performance due to the genuine chemistry with his scene partner.
During the 1980s, Squires became a central figure in the shift from the lean "Castro Clone" look to a "beefy muscle daddy" aesthetic. Colt Studios utilized Squires to project a rugged, blue-collar masculinity that often featured uniforms, denim, and outdoor settings. He appeared on approximately 20 adult magazine covers, including Mandate and Zipper.
While most careers in the industry were brief, Squires appeared sporadically in videos as late as Butch Bear (2001).
After retiring from adult performance in the early 2000s, Bernstein worked in the hotel industry. He is a long-term survivor of HIV/AIDS, having been diagnosed in 1996. In the 2020s, he returned to the public eye as the subject of the documentary Mickey & Richard (2026). The film, which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, explores the dichotomy between his shy private personality (as Richard Bernstein) and his iconic screen persona (as Mickey Squires). Bernstein resides in Palm Springs, California.
Bernstein worked for years in the hotel industry following his retirement from adult media. A long-term survivor of HIV (diagnosed in 1996), he remains an active member of the LGBTQ+ community in Palm Springs, California. He is a lover of theater and high culture, he often surprised clients and fans by being "really nice" and intellectual, a far cry from the aggressive, silent characters he played on screen.
He is the subject of the feature-length documentary Mickey & Richard (2026), which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The film explores the contrast between his reserved private life as Richard Bernstein and his enduring legacy as the "hyper-masculine" Mickey Squires. He has embraced his status as a historical figure through the documentaries Raw! Uncut! Video! (2022) and the Mickey & Richard.