Mark: Sure. I’m a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. I come from a large family that’s very spread out, living everywhere from Australia to Vancouver, Los Angeles to Portland, and even Cleveland! I was born in Vancouver, grew up in Toronto, moved back to Vancouver when I was 17 and then lived in Los Angeles, where my dad is from, between 19 and 22. I now reside in NYC and Vancouver when I’m not traveling. I’ve been a full time model/video producer for the past 7 years. Prior to that I was a certified financial planner with Prudential securities, a position I had taken right out college.

QA: I understand that the photographer Jim French created the name Mark Wolff for you. Who was Jim French and how did you come to be photographing with him?

Mark: A talent scout had approached me at Gold’s Gym in Venice, California, and as a result, a few months later I found myself flying back to California for a 3-day photo shoot with Jim French. Jim, who uses the name Rip Colt, is the man behind what is today Colt Studio

QA: Was that your first physique photo shoot?

Mark: No. My first published photo shoot was the cover and centerfold of Advocate Men magazine in October ’94. About a year later I did my second layout, which was for Colt. I was only 22.

QA: Is there some story or circumstance to the name or did Jim French just look at you and go ‘wolf.wolf.wolf’?

Mark: Well, I don’t know if Jim had anything particular in mind in choosing the name. I think he just thought it sounded like a good all-American name and thought it suited me.

QA: Well, it certainly does. When was that photo shoot? And where?

Mark: The shoot was during the summer of ’95 in LA. It was a very full 3 days, 6 hours a day, with several locations and lots of rolls of film. Jim probably shot 1500 to 2000 photos over the 3 days, though I’ve only seen maybe 20 of them. I remember one of the locations was the home of the late Orson Wells in the Hollywood hills.

QA: And, of course, as they say, ‘the rest is history’ for someone who, since then, is now the most published physique model in the world. How many covers have you appeared on? And do you have a favorite?

Mark: I’ve been on close to 80 covers. My favorite was my first Men’s Workout cover because that magazine is sold everywhere, not just adult bookstores. It gave me a lot of exposure. Also, every time I was on the cover of an international fitness magazine, I was always amazed how many people would stop me in airports or hotels people would stop me and say ‘you look familiar. Are you on a TV show?’

QA: A lot of celebrity has come to you over the past few years from your modeling. At the time of your first photo shoot, you were just 23 years old. What had your life been like up to that point? What was high school like for you?

Mark: My life had been great. I had grown up in Toronto from the age of 7 and then moved back to Vancouver my last year in high school. (My father was an executive with an oil company and was transferred.) I played a lot of hockey from the age of 6 to 18, playing major junior A in British Columbia, though it was my brother who went further, being drafted by the St Louis Blues. Of course, my parents always stressed education first in our family so I was both a jock and a scholar. After high school I attended the University of British Columbia where I received a BA in Marketing.

QA: Obviously you began bodybuilding early. And you’ve won several competitions; among the titles are British Columbia Bodybuilding Champion, Tacoma (Washington) Bodybuilding Champion, Pacific USA Bodybuilding Champion and the Natural Western Canadian Bodybuilding Championship. How did you get into bodybuilding? When did you first begin working out?

Mark: I got into Bodybuilding around 18. I had always fooled around with weights a bit with my brother to get in shape for Hockey, but it was around 18 that I started to work out seriously.

QA: Doing a contest requires a great deal of effort and discipline. What motivated you to compete? Which was your first contest and did you win?

Mark: My first contest was at 21, the Vancouver Bodybuilding Championship. I finished in 3rd place in the Light-Heavyweight division. I had begun to see progress in the development of my physique and was motivated to see how far I could take my physique and how big and muscular I could get. It took me 3 or 4 more years and several more contests to get to the point that I was satisfied with the development of my body.

QA: When was your last competition? And do you plan to compete again?

Mark: My last show was over 3 years ago, the NPC Northwest Bodybuilding Championships. I decided to make this my last show. I felt I had taken my physique as far as I wanted, but who knows? I may compete again. Of course, preparing for a show takes months of very hard work. I still train 5 days a week now and stay in very good shape year round; however, I don’t have the time to dedicate to competition with my travel these days.

QA: When you were competing and winning in major tournaments, did you ever consider competing professionally?

Mark: No I never had any plans to turn pro, mostly because I feel the pros these days are way out of control and have lost all aesthetic beauty in my eye. I much prefer the physiques of the 80’s and early 90’s. Those competitors looked real and had proportion. Not to take anything away from the pros of today. They are incredible athletes that are underpaid for what they do and put their bodies through. I have many friends who are in the pro ranks now, and most of them are barely making ends meet after all their expenses. Most of them do it for the love of the sport. I love the sport of Bodybuilding myself, it has opened many doors for me in my life, and I will probably work out till I’m 70. I just don’t want to take it to that extreme and have it control me.

QA: Working out and keeping fit requires effort and discipline. Would you share some of your workout regimen?

Mark: I workout 5 a week and use the treadmill at the end of my workout 4 days a week for 35 minutes. I keep my lean protein intake high and my carbs moderate. I don’t believe in cutting out carbs completely. Your body needs them for energy, especially when you are training hard.

QA: And, of course, your continued dedication to keeping fit has paid off professionally. You are the most published physique model in North America and have marketed Mark Wolff successfully on the Internet through MARKWOLFF.COM and MARKWOLFFVIDEO.COM for several years now. Tell us about your websites.

Mark: I have made my living from my web sites MARKWOLFF.COM and MARKWOLFFVIDEO.COM and my modeling and video productions for the last seven years. I love the work. I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t, believe me. I get a great deal of fulfillment in starting something from nothing, in this case markwolff.com, and building it up to the point now where it is one of the largest muscle erotica sites on the web with over 10,000 members in the last five years and still growing fast.

QA: What do you enjoy about your work, the web sites, modeling and video production?

Mark: The work’s great because it allows me to do two of my favorite things: workout, stay in shape and allow people to enjoy my physique and, second, use my business skills to develop my business. With MARKWOLFF.COM now in its seventh year, after being revamped two years ago, and MARKWOLFFVIDEO.COM in its second year, I’m now in development with two new web sites: MACHO411.COM and PROJECTMUSCLE.COM which will be live in September 2004.

QA: As part of your marketing of Mark Wolff you travel extensively. How much time do you spend on the road with personal appearances?

Mark: At one time, several years ago, I was spending twenty days a month on the road, which was crazy, but I still enjoyed it. Now I spend about ten days a month.

QA: Where have your business travels taken you? How much of the world have you traveled promoting Mark Wolff?

Mark: There are not many places in the world where I have not been. A perfect example would be my latest solo video Prototype which was filmed during my 2002-03 world dance club tour. The video includes visits to 13 or 15 cities from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to London, England, to Barcelona, Spain, to Punta Del Esta, Uruguay. And sometimes it seems overwhelming. There have been times when I have awakened in a hotel room and not known what city or even what country I am in for a few minutes! It was scary the first five or six times it happened.

QA: Do you enjoy that aspect of your business? Do you enjoy travel and personal appearances?

Mark: I love seeing new cities for the first time and seeing what they have to offer, what the people are like, the food, the nightlife, just everything. And I have always enjoyed performing and meeting my fans. They are the ones who have supported me over the years and I am grateful to them.

QA: I’m sure your fans enjoy your personal appearances and the opportunity to meet someone whose strong physical presence they admire so. Of course, there is much more to Mark Wolff that just the physique. Would you share some of that by letting us know what are the qualities that you admire in another man?

Mark: I love a good sense of humor, just someone who is confident in himself. I also like a non-conformist, whether it is the way he dresses or acts. I think there are too many conformists out there. I like a guy who is not afraid to be different.

QA: Would you also share your observations about the level of acceptance of homosexuality in the numerous places you have visited throughout the world? Although many of the visitors to Queer-America are from the United States, many come from all over the World, Europe, Asia, South and North America and the level of acceptance of homosexuality in these places varies widely. What have been your observations?

Mark: I think that homosexuality is better in most of Europe, Canada and even South America compared to the United States. I’m not sure why, maybe the culture of those countries is more understanding. The people seem to let everyone be. For instance, most clubs in Europe are a mixed crowd, gay and straight, and everybody has a good time together. In the United States, outside New York City, this is rare. Everything is segregated and that’s too bad.

QA: From your travels what do you think are the best countries relative to gay life and acceptance in the country’s society?

Mark: The best countries from the perspective of society’s acceptance are Australia, Canada and Spain.

QA: Your home country, Canada, has recently moved toward amending the national constitution to recognize same sex marriage. In fact such unions are now legal in three provinces. Do you think this is important?

Mark: Yes, I think that gay marriage is important. Hopefully this law will be adopted in the United States soon.

QA: And, of course, success in marriage, gay or straight, depends on a successful relationship between the two persons. For you, what is the most important aspect of a relationship?

Mark: Trust. I think, by far, trust is the most important aspect of any relationship.

QA: And as far as giving validity to relationships, why do you think Canada has moved much more quickly toward equality for gays and lesbians than the Untied States?

Mark: I just think Canada is a more compassionate country. We are much more liberal minded on everything, from sex to drugs. It has just been a part of our society for a long time. Of course, I think the United States is a great country. As I said, I have family in the U.S. and, being a dual citizen, I spend a lot of my time in the United States. And, from what I’ve observed, I think there are a lot of very conservative states in the U.S. that want their voice to be heard as well, so it creates conflict in how people perceive something like gay marriage. Canada is much smaller and we have much less of this conservative voice.

QA: Are you politically active?

Mark: I’m moderately politically active. I vote and know the candidates and what they stand for. I think the main thing is that people take the time to read the paper and watch the news and find the candidate that’s right for them and vote, whether it’s Republican or Democrat, the most important thing is to vote.

QA: Between travel, personal appearances, and the development of your company business, you’ve a very busy man, Mark. Does your life have any leisure to it? Do you have time for hobbies?

Mark: My hobbies are reading, mostly non-fiction business books and Dj-ing, spinning house music. In addition I’m also into cars.

QA: In fact, MARKWOLFF.COM lists customizing German automobiles as one of your hobbies. To what extent do you get involved in the actual body and mechanical work?

Mark: Not much. The German cars these days are really complicated. You need an engineering and computer degree to replace an air filter! Everything is computerized, so I leave it to the pros. Also, I have friends in the tuning and custom business that do my work in Los Angles.

QA: What car do you drive?

Mark: The car I drive right now is a Mercedes S600 V12 AMG. It has a perfect blend of luxury and sport. I’m in the process of customizing a ’69 Boss Mustang fastback like the car Steve McQueen drove in the movie Bullit. I’ve wanted that car for a long time; so if you’re in LA when it’s ready for driving, better keep off the sidewalks!

QA: I will. And thanks for the notice! Thanks also, Mark, for sharing these very personal aspects of the man who is Mark Wolff and your experiences while promoting Mark Wolff. If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate asking some questions about Mark Wolff productions?

Mark: Sure.

QA: As you’ve said, your personal appearances have taken you all over the world. Of course, your travels are only a part of your marketing of Mark Wolff. You also produce your own videos. In fact, you’ve been doing videos for several years now and have created a unique niche for yourself. In 1998 you won a Probe Award for Best Solo Video (Rock Hard) and were nominated in both 1998 and 1999 for AVN awards (1998 Best Solo Video – Rock Hard; 1999 Best Solo Video and Best Solo Performance – Feel the Power). What was your first feature?

Mark: My first feature was Mark Wolff Exposed (1997). It was a solo, muscle worship, JO video. From there I have been releasing three or four videos per year. They range from solo videos to nude wrestling and muscle worship. I now have over 100 models that have worked for me. Many are exclusive to Mark Wolff Productions.

QA: And, of course, you create your own videos, often with models from other countries. For those who haven’t seen them, would you describe a Mark Wolff video?

Mark: I have been filming a lot of my videos in South America lately. There is an abundance of hot guys down there. My latest video Nubreed (2004) was shot in Brazil and is a solo video that captures two hot Brazilian bodybuilders workout out on the beach, then hitting the shower and finally jacking-off for the camera. I also shoot a lot of nude wrestling videos. It’s Greco-roman style and pro style wrestling. Wrestling is a great way to display the male physique. And, at the end of the match the guys jack-off. It’s very hot.

QA: Do you consider your videos to fit within the label ‘porn’?

Mark: Not really. I have only produced one video that had sex in it. That was a video called Lords of the Locker Room where Billy Harrington, another Colt model who was Colt’s Man of the Year then, has two sex scenes. Beyond that one, my other videos are only solo.

QA: Who do you see as the audience for your videos?

Mark: My videos appeal to the person who wants to see well-developed guys show off their bodies in a physical way. I also have a voyeuristic appeal in my solo and muscle worship videos.

QA: And, of course, the nude wrestling videos have a particular appeal though some fans of your physique photos may not be familiar with the eroticism of wrestling. Would you explain something of why this is sexually exciting to you?

Mark: I just think when you get two in-shape and muscular physiques grappling and showing off each other’s bodies, it’s hot! I think people have to see it for them, to see if they like it. I know a lot of my customers can’t get enough and beg me to release more videos every year.

QA: When doing a video are you sexually stimulated by the action? Or is that acting?

Mark: It depends on the video. When I do solo scenes I am always turned on by the fact tat people will be watching this video and getting off with me. I’m very horny by nature, so I’m always charged up about getting off!

QA: In an interview you were once asked what was the most unusual sexual thing a director had asked you to do and you replied maintaining an erection throughout a wrestling match, which you did, as you said, ‘very carefully’. Now that you are involved in the production of your own videos, what’s the most unusual sexual thing you’ve asked of yourself or of one of your models?

Mark: We usually shoot the videos in a pretty much-controlled environment these days. Not much that is unusual although I did just shoot a model in Argentina who told me that he could suck himself off, so being the type of guy who likes to see new things, I had him do it on video. It came out great!

QA: How much of the production of Mark Wolff videos do you oversee?

Mark: I try to oversee most of it. And, unless I’m in front of the camera, I shoot probably 70% of the videos. However, I have started to train a photographer in Brazil to shoot models for me and mail me the tapes. I am expecting the tape of his first few models in the next couple of weeks, so we’ll see how it works out. But, as for scouting models I have found in the last year more models contacting me looking to do some video work, which makes things easier because the hardest part of this business is getting high quality models.

QA: Of course, you yourself are the standard of high quality as a model and from that you have set a very high standard in the production of Mark Wolff videos for which your fans are certainly grateful.

Mark: Thanks! As I said it gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to have other people admire my physique and I certainly enjoy entertaining my fans!

QA: Finally, Mark, a couple of quick and slightly off the wall questions to get at the personality behind the model, businessman and porn star. First, once, when asked if you could be a famous person for one day, whom would you choose, you responded Col. Sanders (the trademark icon of Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises). Why Col. Sanders?

Mark: (Laughing) The Col Sanders thing is a bit of an inside joke with some friends of mind. I’ve always found Col Sanders kind of a cool guy in some strange way. I read a biography on him several years ago and was impressed with his business skills. He also used to swear like a sailor which I think would look funny if you saw him swearing in the white suit and all. Another little know fact about Mark Wolff is I was made an official Kentucky Colonel three years ago. Don’t ask me how. I can’t go into the details but I am a Colonel just like Col Sanders!

QA: Minus the white beard and fried chicken, of course! Ok, as a final look at Mark Wolff’s personality, would you respond to these items: favorite food?

Mark: Steak

QA: What turns you on?

Mark: Oil massage

QA: What turns you off?

Mark: Attitude

QA: What sound do you hate?

Mark: My alarm clock

QA: What sound do you love?

Mark: Good electronic music

QA: And if you could have any other career other than yours, what would that be and why?

Mark: Of course I love what I’m doing. Developing Mark Wolff, creating my websites and video company and seeing them through development to completion is very fulfilling. But if I weren’t doing this, I’d want to be an architect. I’ve always wanted to create a physical structure that would live on.

QA: Well, the physical entity that is Mark Wolff is certainly impressive in itself, as is the man embodied within it. Thanks, Mark, for so graciously sharing yourself with us.