Page 47 - AVN Magazine March 2025

LAST LAUGH: GETTING ‘NEAR SEX FOR WORK’ WITH
DANIEL SHAR
It’s not many times you can see a tell-all show with a real, live porn star who never has taken off
his clothes in any of the scenes he’s ever been in during his stellar career in the industry. Not until
Daniel Shar presents his one-man show “Near Sex for Work,” which was recently performed at
The Lyric Hyperion Theater in Los Angeles. This interactive show, complete with non-explicit and
censored adult industry images and videos, hysterically highlight his personal stories about finding
love, losing love, losing his virginity, counting how many times he had sex (there weren’t that many!),
all while weaving his honest, comedic observations about his life throughout his journey into porn.
Shar, a native of North Carolina who lived in Chicago for many years, traded in the cold weather
to make it big as a comedian in Los Angeles, sharing his decidedly unpredictable journey into the
porn industry. So how did he do that?
While working on developing his comedy chops in Chicago, Daniel answered a Craigslist ad,
from a company looking for staff at a store he would have never considered applying to. Trying to
amuse himself and his doubting friends, he unknowingly began his adult industry career by working
at the sexuality boutique, Tulip, in Chicago, in 2011. Selling himself as the only virgin on the staff,
and with his comforting and humorous outlook on life, he was able to apply his comedic talents to
make buying sex toys comfortable and fun. He stayed with the company for four years, deciding to
move to Los Angeles in 2016.
Once here and becoming one of the masses who come to LA to hit it big, he again ventured onto
Craigslist and found a job working for one of the major fan sites. He was one of many, anonymous
staffers, replying to clients’ personal interactions with their favorite cammers, unbeknownst to the
clients that he was not the gal they thought they were chatting with. He was the “personal” contact
for intimate conversations to explore their deepest desires and Daniel highlights many of these
conversations during his captivating show. One of the most enjoyable parts of the show is when
he engages with audience members to speak the projected lines of what clients asked, going into
intimate detail without realizing a straight comedian was the one on the other end of the text line.
These interactions were one of the funniest parts of the show!
As with almost everything in the entertainment industry in L.A., Daniel stumbled across a casting
call on Craigslist for background actors, which sometimes means “actors for porn movies.” He didn’t
feel comfortable as a naked and fucking porn star but realized there was a role for someone who
would play “the straight man,” someone who didn’t have sex but played a key part in the plot of the
movie. He sent them his website (DanielShar.com) and they offered him a speaking role.
Given his comedic and acting talents, he quickly became a regular in the genre, a popular porn
star without taking off his clothes!
≠ STORY: KIM AIRS
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