<Tr> <Th> Country </Th> <Td> United States </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Language </Th> <Td> English </Td> </Tr> <P> The Dirk Diggler Story is a 1988 mockumentary short film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson . It follows the rise and fall of Dirk Diggler, a well - endowed male porn star . The character was modeled on American porn actor John Holmes . The film was later expanded into Anderson's successful 1997 breakout film Boogie Nights . </P> <P> Dirk Diggler (Michael Stein) was born as Steven Samuel Adams on April 15, 1961 outside of Saint Paul, Minnesota . His parents are a construction worker and a boutique shop owner who attend church every Sunday and believe in God . Looking for a career as a male model, Diggler drops out of school at age 16 and leaves home . Jack Horner (Robert Ridgely) discovers Diggler at a falafel stand . Diggler meets his friend, Reed Rothchild (Eddie Delcore), through Horner in 1979, while working on a film . </P>

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