In the early to mids. His two films, Nights in Black Leather and That Boy credited in the latter as Peter Burian helped bring gay male erotic films artistic legitimacy. He is the second of the three children. He received post-secondary education in Germany as a photo-technician.
In his early 20s, he worked as a photographer for an interview program on German television, photographing some of Europe 's celebrities and film stars, including Alfred Hitchcock , Catherine Deneuve , Bridgette Bardot and Klaus Kinski [ 4 ]. Berlin designed and sewed all of his clothing without a pattern. He also was a painter and illustrator. He began photographing himself in erotic poses and making skin-tight clothes to wear as he cruised the parks and train stations of Berlin, and the streets of Rome, Paris, New York and San Francisco.
Many of his designs are now seen in the fashion works of such international designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier. In the early s, Berlin moved to San Francisco and became a fixture on the streets with his highly suggestive clothing and constant cruising. He collaborated with friend Richard Abel on a 16 mm hard-core porn film entitled Nights in Black Leather in which he played the lead role.
Berlin's poster for the film helped make Nights in Black Leather an underground hit. As a follow-up, Berlin directed, produced, wrote, and starred in That Boy He also made four short films in the mid- to lates, which were primarily sold as 8 mm "loops" by mail order. His self-portraits were published and sold. He was also the subject of several Robert Mapplethorpe photographs, five drawings by Tom of Finland , and at least one photograph by Andy Warhol.
He was acquainted with ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev. Although he retreated from the limelight in the s, he continues to make videos of himself and lives quietly in San Francisco , where he is still frequently recognized on the streets.
