According to America, he met artist Andy Warhol at Ondine, a New York City discotheque in mid-1965.

[1] Warhol invited America back to his studio called The Factory located at 231 East 47th Street.

My Hustler was the first of Warhol's experimental films to utilize camera movements and to feature a loosely structured plot.

[4] The role propelled America to fame and would eventually earn him the title of gay icon.

[5] In an interview with The New York Times shortly after the film was released, America claimed he had "was completely unaware of what 'My Hustler' was all about.

[5] While America's work at the Factory was limited, his good looks and generally docile nature made him a popular staple.

Warhol, who never paid the actors who appeared in his films, eventually agreed to pay America $1,000 in several installments.

[6] Later that year, America was cast opposite Edie Sedgwick in John Palmer and David Weisman's film Ciao!

While shooting a scene at the Pan Am Building in which America drops Jane Holzer off, he became frustrated after numerous takes and simply drove away.

A year later, the filmmakers discovered that he had driven to his brother's farm in Allegan, Michigan and was imprisoned there on drug-related charges.

Colacello recalls that Warhol became frightened due to America's disheveled appearance and "terrifying stare" and retreated to a back room.

[15] On October 19, 1982, Paul America was struck by a motorist and killed while walking home from a dental appointment in Ormond Beach, Florida.