Chris Salvatore is More Than A Naked Boy Singing

It has been more than a decade since Chris Salvatore first hit the screen in the Eating Out Series, making his debut as dreamboat Zack. Before social media was a thing, his splash into the gay entertainment scene went viral. Now, with the power of social media, his continued career evolutions, and his inability to age, Chris remains a fixture on the scene as an actor, model, musician, and activist. His latest project, Vegas’ Naked Boys Singing, is a celebration of all those attributes.

It was an All-American childhood and early bite from the performance bug that would be Chris’ inspiration for his extensive career.

I grew up in Bucks County, PA which is about 30 minutes north of Philadelphia. It wasn’t the smallest of towns, but life was pretty simple. A lot of farmlands around, lush green trees, and plenty of space. I was really close to all the kids in the neighborhood and we were quite the active bunch. I remember one summer we put on a play that we all wrote and charged something like ten cents for a ticket! [Laughs]

When I was in elementary school I loved to sing in the choir and that led to singing and acting in the school plays. I loved Broadway musicals. My parents were always taking my siblings and me to NYC to see the shows. Phantom of the Opera was one of my favorites when I was younger. That was the first bite!

His musicality that would later lead to singles, plays on MTV, and popular YouTube covers started at an incredibly early age, writing his first song at age 15.

I was taking piano lessons and my piano teacher was such a supportive role model for me at that time, musically. I wrote a song called “One Strike.” It was about only having one strike in a relationship and you are out. I think it even had a sample of that song that goes ‘take me out to the ball game‘ in the beginning. I never released it, but I should find it on an old computer and have a good laugh.

There is a gentle strength about Chris, whether you have chatted with him in person or seen him on stage. That confidence came over time as he dealt with his burgeoning sexuality.

I was always a very shy kid. I only really had girlfriends in elementary school and for some reason, our lunch auditorium was split up with boys and girls at different tables. I was the only boy in the whole school that was allowed to sit with the girls. I knew that I was different but at that age, I didn’t really know I was gay – just different.

I came out when I was 20 years old to my family – my Italian grandmother first. She took me out to lunch when I was home visiting from LA. She opened up to me about relationship stuff when she was younger so, in turn, I felt safe being vulnerable with her and telling her that I was gay. She told me she always knew that I was special and that she hoped that I bring home a nice Italian man. [Laughs] As soon as I returned from lunch to my parents’ house, I wanted to share with them as well. My parents at the time were very involved with the Catholic Church so they had a tough time with it. But after a few months, they came around and just wanted me to be happy. They met my first boyfriend and fell in love with him, so I think that really helped ease their concerns and fears and, if I was happy, that was all that mattered in the end. I am incredibly grateful for the way my family did the work becoming more open-minded regarding sexuality.

The entertainment world was calling; it was time to expand his horizons. Chris moved from a smaller town living to the high-paced and diverse world of New York City, attending New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. It was his flair for the dramatic that would be his early love.

I think coming from a smaller town where things move slower was the hardest adjustment for me living in NYC. Everything is so fast-paced and, phew, that fifth-floor walk-up was brutal especially after a long day of drama school.

The best classes were the ones where we got to do more dramatic stuff. Like scene study. I always felt more comfortable being sad than silly back in the day. Although nowadays I enjoy being silly/comedy way more. The worst class was the ballroom classes. I have two left feet!

Looking for more of a film career, Chris then moved to Los Angeles and was immediately cast in Eating Out 3: All You Can Eat. Where most actors would have been concerned about coming out in their career at that time, he was more nervous about filming his first on-camera full-frontal scene, a scene they shot on the first day. With today’s boom in mainstream and independent LGBTQ films, it is easy to forget how scarce gay films were ten years ago, especially those films that celebrated gay sex. Despite the comedic aspect of the films, they lay the foundation for other filmmakers and actors to hit the scene as openly gay creatives.

Eating Out was such a staple for so many young gay men at the time. I still get messages today about it. It is always heart-warming hearing their stories and how Eating Out helped them come out or even realize that they were gay. The success of the Eating Out films I am sure contributed to more production companies having faith that gay films can be popular and that there is a market for them.

Now recently on stage with Naked Boys Singing, once again sharing his… assets with an audience, have the nerves about going full frontal subsided?

I forgot so many of my lyrics the first 2 weeks of the show. It was a very new thing to adjust to. Now when I am on stage it feels no different than singing in my shower. Singing on stage in all your glory has been a very confidence-boosting thing to do. If I can do this, then any job after this is going to be a piece of cake!

With all those hot boys in the cast, no clothes, and sharing a dressing room…are there any shenanigans going on?

Wouldn’t you like to know! [Laughs] We have a lot of fun backstage. By the end of the show, my cheeks hurt from cracking up so much. The boys are all hilarious and amazingly talented!

The line between sexuality and professional career in the gay community has changed. Addressing gay sex and sexuality in the media has become more mainstream and the stigma surrounding nudity has diminished. Chris, like many of his peers, has launched an OnlyFans to share that side of himself with his audience base.

People have a lot of sexual shame from their upbringing or religion that they love to project onto others. I try not to pay attention to any of that. I am having a blast on OnlyFans. I was nervous, for like a minute, when I launched but people have been so supportive on the platform, and I am so appreciative of that.

Beyond Chris’ career, he has had a voice in the activism world. He has supported The Gay American Heroes Foundation and has also taken part in the video campaigns for the It Gets Better Project. His efforts went viral as the media embraced the story of his unlikely friendship with Norma Cook, an 89-year-old neighbor, whom he would welcome into his home, raise money for, and care for until her passing.

She taught me that caring about what other people think will only ever hold you back from doing what you love in life and stop you from being your most authentic self, which is what is the most captivating to others. It really stunts your growth. I miss our champagne and pizza nights where we would just tell stories and laugh together. It was always so amazing to hear the perspective from someone who lived in a completely different generation.

Chris’ eye is on the future, with new music on the way and with Vegas credits added to his resume, who knows what project he will pop up in next? Although he is a devoted fan of horror, he would love to play a superhero. His fans would no doubt love to see that spandex costume. Reflecting on his career thus far, he has come a long way from that shy boy at the school lunch tables.

Experience builds confidence. I always had so much anxiety and self-doubt but the more you try, fail, and try again, the stronger your wits get, and it takes guts to be in this industry. You cannot let the haters get you down. Keep on keeping on and doing good work and good for others.

His message to his fans reads like lyrics to one of his songs:

Live your life for you and nobody else. Stay sweet and be grateful to just experience all that encompasses life – the good and the bad. It is the challenging times that make us grow the most. Also, I love you all so much and I am so grateful for all your support and to being on this journey with all of you. Happy Holidays!