Rod Phillips (born Gregory Leslie Patton; August 23, 1960 â May 24, 1993) was an American adult gay film actor and jeweler who appeared in gay pornographic films from 1982 to 1993. He was recognized for his "All-American" athletic physique and blond hair, becoming a prominent figure during the "Golden Age" of gay cinema.
Gregory Leslie Patton was born in El Centro, California. He developed a fascination with jewelry making at a young age, learning basic gem polishing and pearl knotting by age 12. He graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1978.
Following high school, Patton moved to Paris, Texas, to study jewelry making and gemology at Paris Junior College. He briefly lived in Midland, Texas, before returning to Santa Barbara in 1980.
In late 1982, Patton met adult film star Lee Ryder at the Boom-Boom Room in Laguna Beach. The two began a relationship, and at Ryder's urging, Patton entered the adult industry under the stage name Rod Phillips. He was also occasionally credited as Ron Greer.
Phillips was noted for his athletic build and "All-American" appearance, which led to extensive modeling work for Modernismo Publications and other publishers. He appeared in magazines such as Honcho, Jock, Torso, and Just Men.
He retired from the industry in the mid-1980s but made two separate comebacks, once in 1990 and again in 1993. During his 1990 return, he briefly dated and performed with Joey Stefano.
Outside of film, Phillips was a skilled jeweler. He worked for Diamonds on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills for several years. In his final year, due to declining health, he took a freelance position at The Gauntlet, a famous body piercing boutique in West Hollywood, because it was within walking distance of his home.
Phillips was in a long-term relationship with Lee Ryder until approximately 1985. In 1992, he was diagnosed with HIV-related lymphatic prostate cancer. Despite undergoing extensive chemotherapy, he continued to maintain a fitness regimen until early 1993.
Phillips died on May 24, 1993, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood at the age of 32. While rumors of suicide by overdose circulated within the industry, his death was officially attributed to rapid health decline from AIDS-related complications. He is memorialized on The AIDS Memorial.