Although he only appeared in a small number of sexvids, Chance Ryder was definitely one of the most memorable performers in hardcore. He was the only confirmed hermaphrodite to ever strut his stuff for the porn cameras, giving him a place in adult film history that's not likely to be forgotten by anyone who saw him. A hermaphrodite, for those of you without medical degrees, is a person who is born with both male and female sexual organs. It's a very rare disorder, but Chance Ryder made the most of it.

Chance looked for all the world like an average man, with a short, stubbly beard, no breasts and a deep, unmistakably male voice. But when the clothes came off, it was clear that something was different. Chance had a full set of female genitals, and upon closer inspection it was evident that he also sported a penis -- even if it was a rather small one.

Chance showed off his strange-but-true physique in a trio of features during 1995, giving the public a rare opportunity to watch a real-life hermaphrodite in action. Chance's first video was 'Bi And Beyond 6: Authentic.' In that flick, Chance told about growing up with his affliction, then showed that he was still rarin' for amorous action in a trio of sex scenes. He took on Jeanna Fine in the opener, then enjoyed the attentions of gay star Rip Stone, and finally romped his way through a threesome with Candy Vegas and Paige Powers.

His appearance in 'EXXXtra Parts: Interview With A Hermaphrodite,' was pretty much exactly what the title implied. He followed that up with a brief appearance in Gregory Dark's aptly titled 'Sex Freaks.' Chance left the scene soon after, having had arguments and disagreements with almost every producer he worked for. He spent the last part of the 90s looking for more hardcore work, but claimed that the industry wasn't ready for what he had to offer.

Chance chafed at being labeled a hermaphrodite, insisting that they had only one testicle and one ovary. Chance, on the other hand, had two of each. "I'm 100 % male, 100 % female," he claimed. "I know what both sexes go through. I even had a miscarriage!"

Chance spent much of time on the lecture circuit, counseling people about their sexuality. Perhaps because of his condition, Chance was constantly battling health problems. He also fought off depression, seeing psychiatrists in order to help him deal with his crushing emotions. It was after one such session that Chance took an accidental overdose of prescription anti-psychotic drugs. He lapsed into a coma and died a few days later in November 1999. A unique performer who always had a sense of humor about himself and his condition, Chance Ryder was a truly one-of-a-kind character.