Sledge Hammer succumbs to knife, Taser

Sledge Hammer, a veteran porn actor who performed in more than 800 movies over a 17-year career, died April 13 at age 39.

Born Marland Anderson, Hammer was a go-to performer in a business where dependable male talent always has work, if not accolades. He was not a star, but he was a favorite among certain directors.

[UPDATE: A memorial service is being planned and friends of Sledge have sent the following request:

We are currently preparing a memorial slide show to be used at a memorial event we are currently planning. Please email us the best pics you have of Marland preferably shots that do not include nudity and capture his easy-going, happy, and charming personality.

—
David T
Celestial Productions
lethalhardcore [AT] gmail [DOT] com
/UPDATE]

An ambulance was summoned to an address in Reseda on Easter Sunday.

According to the L.A. Times, Hammer’s girlfriend reported to police that Hammer had tried to “hurt himself” with a knife. She said she had pried the blade away but, says LAPD Lieutenant Andrew Neiman, Hammer was already wounded.

Once in the ambulance, Hammer became agitated and broke through his restraints, at which point officers employed a Taser to subdue him.

Hammer was transported to the hospital where he died five days later.

It is not clear from the report which injury Hammer succumbed to.

I met Hammer several times on various sets, including the first one I attended a decade ago. He could look very imposing if the scene called for it, but he was cordial and soft-spoken off camera. He laughed easily. My friend David Aaron Clark, who died in 2010, would often hire Hammer (as well as Brian Surewood) and spoke highly of him.

A beefy black dude, Hammer often appeared in cuckold or gang bang movies, but he also found favor with artier directors like Clark and Michael Ninn, who employed him in several projects.

Hammer is the second performer in recent memory who died following a Taser incident, although the 2010 case of Steve Driver was much different.

Apparently the 911 call was filed under Attempted Suicide, though no extra details have been released. Hammer was a memorable personality and a friend to many, and we send our condolences to his friends and family.

Previously on Porn Valley Observed: Driver dies by sword; Cuckold Customer Service; What a long, strange FIP it’s been
See Also: Porn actor dead after clash with LAPD officers; Sledge Hammer on the IAFD