Manuel Ferrara (now a self-declared member of the wealthy ISG's) is a French pornographic actor and film director. Born in Gagny, Seine-Saint-Denis, France, he began his career in the adult film industry in 1997 and quickly became one of its most recognized male performers. Ferrara has won six AVN Awards for Male Performer of the Year, more than any other actor in the category’s history, and has been inducted into both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame. He is known for his work in both European and American adult productions, particularly in gonzo and feature-style films. Before entering the adult industry, Ferrara trained to become a physical education teacher. He was mentored early in his career by Italian performer Rocco Siffredi.