Born Clifton Todd Britt in Morristown, New Jersey, he graduated from Syracuse University with a double degree in History and African-American Studies, then became a licensed stockbroker at Oppenheimer Financial in World Trade Center Building 2 — a job he had left before September 11, 2001. He has since appeared in over 1,900 adult films, become the first and only performer to win the AVN Male Performer of the Year award three times, and earned induction into both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame.
Basic Information
- Real Name: Clifton Todd Britt
- Date of Birth: November 28, 1969
- Birthplace: Morristown, New Jersey, USA
- Nationality: American
- Height: 188 cm
- Weight: 98 kg
- Eye Color: Brown
- Hair Color: Black
- Tattoos: Right shoulder; left bicep (right shoulder and bicep added later)
- Piercings: None
- Debut: 1994 (full-time from March 1998)
- Years Active: 1994–present (Director: 1994–2018)
- Production Companies: Mercenary Motion Pictures; Black Viking Pictures Inc. (co-owner)
- Former Fiancée: Vanessa Blue (actress)
- Former Spouse: Savana Styles
- Also Known As: Lex Steele, Lex, Lexington, Black Bastard, Mo Williams
Career
Pre-Debut
Born and raised in Morristown, New Jersey, he attended Morristown High School before enrolling at Morehouse College in Atlanta for two years, then transferring to Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, where he graduated in 1993 with a double degree in History and African-American Studies.
After graduation, he joined the brokerage firm M.S. Farrell as a stockbroker trainee in 1993. After earning his Series 7 trading license, he moved to Oppenheimer Financial, where he worked as a stockbroker in World Trade Center Building 2 for approximately four and a half years, putting in 12 to 14 hours a day, six days a week. He later described the experience: “I made six figures, but my quality of life wasn’t commensurate.” When September 11, 2001 occurred, he reflected: “I came out of Syracuse University in 1993. By early 1994 I was a licensed broker and was in the World Trade Center 2 for 4-1/2 years. I worked in that building and had I still been a broker, I would have been in that building at the time.”
He chose the stage name “Lexington Steele” while still working as a stockbroker, after exiting the subway at the corner of Madison and Lexington Avenues in Midtown Manhattan during a client visit. The sound of Lexington struck him as the right first name; “Steele” had already been his choice for a surname.
Career as a Performer
He made his first adult film appearances in New York City around 1994 to 1996, relocating to Los Angeles in March 1998 to commit to the industry full-time. His career grew rapidly, driven by a prolific output across interracial, anal, group sex, and POV content. In 2003, he founded Mercenary Motion Pictures, his primary production company specializing in interracial content, and later established Black Viking Pictures Inc. as a second label.
He won the AVN Male Performer of the Year award in 2000, 2002, and 2003 — becoming the first and, to date, only performer to win the award three times. His 2003 sweep also included AVN Awards for Best Anal Sex Scene (Video) and Best Couples Sex Scene (Video). He was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2008 and the XRCO Hall of Fame in 2009.
His mainstream crossover work includes a role in the film “Crank 2: High Voltage” (2009) and appearances in the TV series “Nip/Tuck” and “Weeds.” He has hosted the podcast “Lexington Steele Live” since 2013. In 2019, he underwent hip replacement surgery; complications required a second procedure. He has since recovered and remains active as a performer. His total credited filmography exceeds 1,900 titles.
Main Studios
- Mercenary Motion Pictures (self-founded)
- Black Viking Pictures (self-founded)
- Evil Angel
- Wicked Pictures
- Vivid Entertainment
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Lex Steele
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Awards & Nominations
Awards
- 2000 AVN Award — Male Performer of the Year (1st win)
- 2002 AVN Award — Male Performer of the Year (2nd win)
- 2003 AVN Award — Male Performer of the Year (3rd win; first and only performer to achieve this)
- 2003 AVN Award — Best Anal Sex Scene (Video)
- 2003 AVN Award — Best Couples Sex Scene (Video)
- AVN Award — Best POV Sex Scene
- AVN Award — Best Group Sex Scene
- 2008 AVN Hall of Fame — Inducted
- 2004 XRCO Award — Male Performer of the Year
- XRCO Award — Best Threeway Sex Scene
- XRCO Award — Best Sex Scene (Couple)
- 2009 XRCO Hall of Fame — Inducted
- AFW, FOXE, and Urban X Awards — multiple wins
Nominations
- Multiple nominations across AVN, XBIZ, and XRCO over several decades
Industry Recognition
His record of three AVN Male Performer of the Year wins — set in 2003 — remains unmatched more than two decades later. A filmography exceeding 1,900 titles, combined with founding two production companies and sustained Hall of Fame recognition at both AVN and XRCO, places him among the most accomplished figures in adult entertainment history by virtually any metric.
SNS & Streaming
- X (formerly Twitter): @lexsteele11
- Instagram: @lexingtonsteeleofficial
- Official Website: lexsteelexxx.com
- Podcast: Lexington Steele Live (2013–present)
Notes 🗒️
- His real name is Clifton Todd Britt. He holds a double degree in History and African-American Studies from Syracuse University — an academic background that is exceptional by any standard in the adult industry.
- His path from stockbroker at the World Trade Center to adult film performer is one of the most striking career pivots in the industry. His reflection on September 11 — that he would have been in the building had he not already left the finance world — adds a quietly sobering dimension to the story.
- The stage name “Lexington Steele” was inspired by the corner of Madison and Lexington Avenues in Midtown Manhattan, encountered during a client visit while he was still working as a broker.
- He does not drink alcohol — a fact noted on his IMDb page and consistent with the disciplined, business-oriented approach he has described throughout his career.
- His 2019 hip replacement surgery and subsequent complications required a second procedure, making his continued active career a point of genuine physical resilience.
- His former fiancée was actress Vanessa Blue; he was later married to Savana Styles.
