Movies – Brian Ferrari's Blog

Gay Porn Stars We Lost in 2026

In August of 2020, porn star Koldo Goran tweeted about three fellow performers who had recently died. Goran’s tweet was the only public notice that one of them, Dani Rivera, had been murdered. “I realize nobody talks about it, we are unprotected and forgotten;” Goran tweeted “We are humans, people, enough of contempt.”

Most gay news outlets choose to ignore the passing of all but the biggest names in the adult film industry. Porn companies also seem reluctant to broadcast the death of a performer who is still on their roster, forever young and willing in their website content. An obituary is a real boner killer, ya know? Why jeopardize the profit margin?

Adam Awbride recently addressed this issue in a tweet. He filmed content for his OnlyFans page with performers that had recently passed away. He posed the question to his followers: Should the scenes should be released to celebrate their lives? Or should they be left in the can (so to speak)? Not surprisingly, the consensus among his thirsty followers was that he should release them.

Performers who abandon their porn personas and return to life under their real names often pass away unnoticed by former employers and scene partners. Case in point: a reader recently alerted me to the passing of Shane Rockland in February 2025, at age 52. Along with his real-life brothers Vince and Hal, Shane was a high profile performer who worked with Falcon, Hot House, and Studio 2000. Surely some adult film news outlet would have noted his passing, right?

As in previous years, the 2026 list is short on people of color. Why? Is it that few have passed on or that they haven’t been reported? For this reason – and due to continued interest from fans – there are ongoing updates to our posts of porn star passings in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

We remember those that were lost in 2026 to prove Koldo Goran wrong – they have not been forgotten.

1) Buddy Burke, aka Alexander Buchanan was a Pennsylvania native born on February 3, 1997. In November 2024, he started an OnlyFans account to supplement his income as a shipping company manager. He later made a handful of appearances on the RawFuckClub website.

In November, 2025 Burke happily posted about his one year anniversary in the business. He was 28 years old when he passed away two months later on January 14, 2026. An online tribute says that he “was known for his bright smile and outgoing personality. He lived his life to the fullest. He was a bright shining light in our lives and our lives will be forever changed.”

2) Seeingeyepic, aka Ravi Gurne-Mannina was also half of the duo RRbears alongside husband Robear Woods. He was born in Boulder, CO on April 17, 1988. RRbears began sharing content online during the pandemic and went on to appear in approximately 20 scenes with RawFuckClub from 2022-2025.

His partner posted on social media; “Ravi passed away in his sleep on March 20th, he had a terrible flu and bad sleep apnea…. I am beyond grateful and thankful for all the love he gave me over the last 11 years.”

3) Seth Peterson, aka Adam Aguirre was born in Torrance, California on August 27, 1997. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in neuroscience, but decided that it wasn’t his calling. Instead, he made his debut with Helix studios in 2020, subsequently winning the GayVN Award for Hottest Newcomer. Peterson continued to work exclusively with Helix for the next four years. In 2024, he began working with other studios, including Falcon, NakedSword, Next Door, and Men.

Peterson’s death on March 19th was reported a few days later by his boyfriend, performer Cyrus Stark. Although no cause of death was publicly disclosed, Peterson’s mother reported finding drug paraphernalia at the scene. Peterson was 28 years old at the time.

4) Cameron Jacobs was born on December 26, 1993, according to the IAFD site. The website also reports that he was murdered on April 28, 2026, with no other links or information posted.

There were two “Cameron Jacobs” making films in the early 2010’s. This Cameron bore a “New York” chest tattoo and appeared with AJ Monroe in scenes at Pride Studios. He also worked with College Dudes and Jake Cruise. All of his scenes were released in 2015. He was 32 years old at the time of his death.

5) Greco Rai, aka Bradley August was born on August 18, 1996. Between 2015-2017, he appeared in nearly 2 dozen scenes, mainly with Helix and Boycrush. In recent years, he was living in Hawaii where he worked for a nautical tour company. He passed away on June 6, 2026 – two months shy of his 30th birthday.

A loved one memorialized him online, remembering “his vibrant spirit, sense of humor, and ability to light up any room. Many described him as one of the funniest people they had ever met… His words of encouragement and kindness left a lasting impact on those fortunate enough to know him.”

6) Dale Savage was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 25, 1964. He dedicated much of his life to serving others as a firefighter and EMT. After retiring, he decided to serve in an entirely different way as he ventured into the adult film industry as a 50-year-old silver daddy.

He was 62 years old when he died following a stroke on June 19, 2026. Photographer Anthony Duran announced his death on social media a few days later, writing “”I am still in shock and having a hard time finding the words to write this. As a handsome, pansexual muscle daddy, Dale started his career at 50 years old. He quickly rose to become a true superstar in the industry. He absolutely loved his work and collaborated with some of the top studios and actors. After a busy and successful career, he retired about three years ago to enjoy a quiet life in Vail, Colorado.”

7) Andréa High, aka Andrea Gnt was born on March 19, 1998 in Baden-Baden, Germany and later relocated to Paris, France. Andréa would later talk about being uncomfortable living in a masculine body, which manifested in self-destructive behaviors and suicidal thoughts. He began bodybuilding to combat these tendencies while attending college. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in literature, Andréa gave up bodybuilding and started taking hormones. Andréa also had several facial plastic surgeries to soften their look.

Andréa delved into films in 2020, working with Boyfun, Crunchboy, and Staxus, among other sites. In the fall of 2021, Andréa revealed on social media that she was transitioning and would continue working in trans adult films. The following year, she announced the end of her film and escort career.

A PinkTV.fr article detailed the ups and downs of Andréa’s life and ultimate end:
“Desiring to turn life around once again while drawing strength from the Catholic faith, Andréa detransitioned by masculinizing himself and underwent a prayer-based detox program to permanently overcome his addictions. This didn’t work: he relapsed. Excluded from treatment, Andréa died a few days later, on June 30 2026, of an overdose.”

Fellow performer Jordan Fox posted on social media: “RIP Andrea High, one of the hottest twinks I’ve ever met. His life was not easy… but we’ll remember as a very sweet and cute boy… I’ll miss him”

8) Christian Styles, aka Zach Jaghab was born in Canton, Michigan on January 17, 1997. In 2021, he quickly became a popular content creator with over a million followers on X. He worked with the top names in the business on OnlyFans and appeared in several scenes for the RawFuckClub website. In 2023, he was the GayVN fan-voted winner of the Favorite All-Male Creator Collab award.

Styles was 29 years old when he died from a fatal drug / alcohol combination at his Michigan home on August 20, 2026.

9) Noah Segsy, aka Riccardo Staudt was a content creator from Germany. Besides OnlyFans, he was also popular on Instagram and X.

He was only 22 years old when he drowned in a shallow swimming pool in Cyprus on August 24, 2026. Since his passing, his social media accounts have been taken down or set to private. A GoFundMe account set up to assist his family with funeral costs raised over $20k.

10) Louie Damazo, longtime producer, director and sometime performer at Grooby, passed away August 29, 2026 at his home in São Paolo, Brazil at the age of 58. According to a statement from Grooby founder Steven Grooby, Damazo died of “natural causes.” “He was my friend, my brother, my compadre and my comic relief for over 25 years,” Grooby said.

Damazo ran Grooby’s Brazilian operation and produced its Brazilian Transsexuals series since 1999. He has been called “The Godfather of Brazilian Trans Erotica.” BrazilianTranssexuals.com producer and friend Andre wrote; “He built something very significant in Brazil over many years. It was not only the websites or the films. It was the people he brought together, the relationships he built, the opportunities he created and the doors he opened for so many trans women who found a place in the industry through the work he developed.”

11) Hunter Hardin, aka Lucas Drake also performed as burlesque dancer LuLu LoveBottom. Born July 8, 1995 into a military family, Hardin lived in many locations before eventually settling in Arizona, where he attended high school.

Sports and exercise offered a stability that his home life lacked. In 2025, he spoke with Out Sports about how it also helped him battle depression. He became a state champion high school athlete, participating in football and later competitive rowing.

Hardin later balanced this athleticism with femininity and a love of dance to become a dynamic burlesque performer. He was also active on OnlyFans and appeared in several scenes earlier this year for RawFuckClub.

On September 7, 2026 Hardin posted a farewell Instagram message to friends and fans. His concerned roommates broke down the door, but he could not be resuscitated. He was 30 years old.

12) Robin Castel was born June 11, 1996 in Lorraine, France. When he was 19, he decided to try his hand at adult films. He later told an interviewer, “It was a personal challenge: I wanted to know if I could push my limits and perform in front of the camera.” Castel appeared in 8 scenes for French Twinks over the next two years before stepping away from the business. He was 30 years old when he passed away on September 8, 2026.

An article on the PinkTV.fr website reports that Castel “had been suffering for years from a profound sense of unease, manifested by professional and romantic instability. Everything suggests that he committed suicide.”

13) WreX Wylde, aka Jeff Tieman was born on August 14, 1986. His film work focused on fisting videos with Club Inferno Dungeon, Hot House, and Raging Stallion from 2019-2022. In the past year, he shared on social media that he had ongoing complications following surgeries necessitated by his extracurricular activities. According to a Go Fund Me set up to cover funeral costs, he “had been battling pain and suffering for the past two years.”

Wylde had recently turned 40 years old when he died by suicide on September 12, 2026.

14) Richard Harrison was not a gay porn star per se, but he was as close as the 1950’s would allow – much like his contemporary Ed Fury, who was included in our 2023 list. Born May 26, 1936, in Salt Lake City, Harrison left Utah for Los Angeles when he was 17 years old. Taking a job at a gym led him to develop an impressive physique.

Like Ed Fury, Harrison started his career as a “posing strap” model for Bob Mizer’s AMG studios as well as other local photographers. He graced the covers of numerous physique magazines before starring in a string of “sword and sandal” films in Europe. He enjoyed a 40-year film career in B-movies – from spaghetti westerns to ninja films. He retired from acting in the 1990s, and passed away at age 90 on September 18, 2026.

15) Kevin Williams, aka Ted Currall was a gay porn legend. As The Randy Report noted, “If you were gay in the 80’s and 90’s, it was nearly impossible not to know his work.” Born on November 5, 1965, in Santa Clara, he was a lifelong Californian with trademark blond surfer-boy looks. Of his entry into adult films, he later said; ““I did it to get laid. I did it to meet hot guys, and all of a sudden, ‘And you’re gonna give me x-amount of dollars?’ I didn’t go into it for the money… It just wasn’t a factor as much as meeting people. I was a sexually-minded person, and it was a real, real neat idea.”

Williams was a huge star at Falcon and Catalina studios from 1985-1990. After stepping away from the industry for nearly a decade, he returned in the late 1990’s, once again working with Falcon and Catalina. He was inducted into the GayVN Hall of Fame in 2001.

Williams died at his home in San Diego on September 22, 2026 at age 60. The circumstances as initially reported echoed the recent death of Hayden Panettiere.

Richard Stabbert wrote on Instagram: “In remembering Kevin Williams, we also acknowledge a part of gay cultural history too often excluded from conventional accounts. Performers such as Williams occupied a place in the private lives and memories of viewers, offering images of male desire during an era marked by stigma and the devastation of AIDS. His films preserve his public presence, but remembrance should also make room for Ted Currall—the person whose life extended beyond the screen.”

16) Michael Kearns had nine lives. Born January 8, 1950, in St. Louis, Missouri, he studied acting and began working in Hollywood in the early 1970’s. He came out at a time when few actors would, appearing on the cover of The Advocate in 1974. Although he appeared in many nude photo layouts (most memorably for photographer Kenn Duncan), Kearns only appeared in one adult film: the classic L.A. Tool & Die (1979).

Kearns would later say; “I’m happy I made the movie, not that I would go back, and that people know me from that… but there’s so much more to me, and I’m disappointed when I meet someone who wants to keep the communication on that level.”

In the 1980’s he became one of the first actors to publicly acknowledge he was HIV positive while still garnering work in film and television. The activist, author and teacher was 76 years old when he passed away on October 5th.

Click here for our recent profile with photos and interviews in the gay press illustrating the importance of Michael Kearns’ voice in the gay community at the time. He was an unapologetic trailblazer who sometimes made mistakes but wasn’t afraid to talk about them.

17) Fitz Wright, aka Liam Fitzgerald was not a gay porn star but is worth memorializing here, as he certainly catered to the requests of his gay audience on his OnlyFans account. The influencer was best known for the workout and motivational videos shared to his million+ Instagram and TikTok followers. In 2024-25, he was also featured in 8 scenes for the HotGuysFuck website. His girlfriend posted that he was 29 years old when he died following a motorcycle accident in Florida on October 30th.

A social media post from his family stated; “Liam was a shining light. He had a way of lighting up every room he walked into, a personality impossible to forget, and a heart that loved deeply. From family and friends to teammates, strangers, and people around the world, he inspired so many.”

A Collection of Halloween Horrors

Happy Halloween! In keeping with the season, we have collected some spooky stories from the past 10 years – both fiction and non-fiction. Enter if you dare.

Zombie Divas: When an unexplained phenomena reanimates dear departed divas, the strained relationship of a stylish but troubled gay couple is exposed.

Whatever Happened To The Kid Who Boiled John Crouse’s Head? In 1988, a Syracuse University art student walked out of Oakwood Cemetery with the head of John Crouse in a paper bag, intent on using it as a prop for his art. It proved to be quite useful.

The Playground Swing: An unexplained ghostly occurrence at an elementary school triggers the memory of a bigger, more terrifying experience.

If You See Something, Say Something: In our first blog post from 2016, we examined the inaccuracies of the urban legend surrounding the Kitty Genovese murder.

Once again we have The 60 Degrees Girl Group Halloween Shows! Four terrifying hours from East Village Radio featuring rockabilly outlaws, death discs, soul witches, women driven to madness by their guys and much more mayhem.

Tony Ward In Touch Magazine (1985)

Madonna’s triumphant return to the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards contained many blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos during her performance of “Danceteria.” One of those was her ex-boyfriend and music video co-star Tony Ward.

*Ward & Madonna, 1990 (photo: Herb Ritts)*

I had just recently revisited Ward’s cover photo & layout in the March, 1985 issue of In Touch For Men. (The featured John Waters interview will be posted at a later date). Credited by his full name, baby-faced Anthony Borden Ward was 21 years old when the issue hit the newsstands. He already had four years of modeling experience under his belt, working with photographer Herb Ritts and modeling for Calvin Klein. (Although his socks are not visible in the photos, they are credited to CK.)

Ward also appeared in promotional shots for In Touch later that year:

*An outtake from the original photo shoot later appeared in the January, 1990 issue of* In Touch.

Ward went on to appear in Madonna’s videos for “Cherish” (1989, directed by Herb Ritts), “Justify My Love”(1990) and “Erotica” (1992). He also appeared in Madonna’s 1992 book Sex. He starred in Bruce LaBruce’s movie Hustler White (1996), the 1998 documentary Sex/Life In L.A, and dozen other films and music videos.

Besides his work in front of the camera, Tony Ward is also a painter and photographer. He lives in Palm Springs, CA.

Dusting Off The Holiday Favorites (2025)

*Volunteer Santas, NYC (1977) photo: Susan Meiselas*

I know I am not alone when I say that I take comfort in the annual repetition of the holidays: revisiting holiday-themed music, films, television shows… and now internet posts. Dave Holmes’ account of Patti LaBelle’s disastrous performance at the 1996 National Christmas Tree lighting is worth an annual revisit. Trust me.

Not to get meta or anything, but the post you are currently reading has been reworked and updated each year since 2020.

While we’re mining the past and dusting off our chestnuts, here’s the intro to the 1999 holiday episode of Bri-Guy’s Media Surf, an NYC Public Access show that featured yours truly lip-syncing a little Esquivel:

Whenever the song pops up on my holiday playlist, I still do this.

I find it interesting that we immerse ourselves in certain pop culture favorites for exactly 6 weeks of the year and then pack them up in mothballs with the ornaments until next year. I mean, Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” is currently at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Burl Ives, Bobby Helms and Andy Williams are also in the top 10. Are any of them on your 4th of July playlist? They aren’t on mine.

*Gabe Pressman (left) with Marilyn Monroe (1956)*

I used to look forward to the annual Christmas Eve tradition on NBC New York’s evening news when reporter Gabe Pressman would read “Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus.” I taped it in 2011, knowing that the tradition wouldn’t last forever. The self-described “little Jewish kid from the Bronx” was 87 years old at the time and continued to work at NBC until his death at age 93.

NBC New York reporter Gabe Pressman’s annual segment on Virginia O’Hanlon’s 1897 letter to the New York Sun Newspaper.

But wait! There’s more: My other blog posts of Christmas past are back to haunt you like A Christmas Carol, Mr. Scrooge.

I recently updated Your Guide To Gay Disposable Holiday Movies, highlighting 16 of the gayest Lifetime/Hallmark/Netflix movies of the past few years:

We now have four 60 Degrees Girl Group Christmas playlists! These have been running each week this month on East Village Radio. Click here for streaming:

11/30/2025 Christmas Show #1: Holiday 60’s chicks and girl groups featuring lots of songs about snow and snowmen, winters warm and cold, blue holidays and Christmas trees.

12/7/2025 Christmas Show #2: The Classic Christmas Episode – our first holiday show from 2008. Featuring Darlene Love, Carla Thomas, The Supremes, Honey & The Bees and more.

12/14/2025 Christmas Show #3: British singers, obscure soul Christmas tracks, favorites from the Spector stable of artists, Motown and more!

12/21/2025 – Christmas Show #4: Featuring soul divas, duets, a boogie woogie Christmas, country ladies, Chess gospel soul and some ladies that really want a Beatle for Christmas.

I recently posted about Truman Capote’s classic short story A Christmas Memory, which includes the entire text, Capote’s 1959 reading of the story, and a link to watch the Emmy Award-winning 1966 television version starring Geraldine Page. Highly Recommended.

There’s a new Motown Christmas Special this year that has already aired in prime time this month, featuring Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and The Temptations. Here is my take on the 1987 Motown Christmas Special – which featured very few Motown acts.

Here are 10 Things You May Not Know About March of The Wooden Soldiers, the Laurel & Hardy classic holiday film.

My Canine Christmas Tail is a true story about my dog Sunshine, a basset hound with an appetite for tinsel.

Have you watched Christmas In Connecticut yet this year? How about that delivery woman? After years of speculation, last year I was able to identify the actress as Daisy Bufford.

The original version of “¿Dónde Está Santa Claus?” is featured in “Llamacita,” a 2024 Amazon Prime holiday commercial. Here’s a little backstory on the song & Augie Rios, who sang the original version.

Also – would you like to hear my Spotify holiday playlist?

Way back in 2002, when Limewire was a thing and people listened to music on silvery discs, I started creating Christmas CD mixes that I would mail out or give to people. These were received with a heartwarming combination of feigned delight, veiled indifference and deafening silence. None of these CDs had a pressing of more than 20 copies. I’d like to call them “much sought after” – but no, that’s not really the case, although every once in a while, someone really got into them and would ask for copies of other volumes.

And so, I’m offering this simple playlist…. for kids from 1 to 92. Unfortunately some of the tracks on these dozen CDs are not on Spotify, but I keep adding songs that would be on the current CD volume… if there was one. And now the playlist is over 18 hours of holiday tunes. I recommend listening on shuffle – there’s something to irritate everyone. Enjoy!

Here’s one more nugget to stuff in your stocking: This vid went viral in 2011. Choreographed and performed by Alex Karigan & Zac Hammer of the Amy Marshall Dance Company, it was filmed in one continuous take at the New 42nd St. Dance Studios. There’s something infectious about it: the joy, the corniness, the celebratory queerness of it all. It makes me want to dust off my jazz shoes. Once a year.

Truman Capote’s Christmas Memory

“It’s fruitcake weather…”

A recent rerun of This American Life featured Truman Capote reading an edited version of his short story A Christmas Memory. Originally published in Mademoiselle magazine in December 1956, Capote’s reading was released on a 1959 LP:

The largely autobiographical story is set in early 1930’s Monroeville, Alabama and describes a holiday season in the lives of the seven-year-old narrator and an elderly woman who is his distant cousin and best friend. This classic holiday story has been broadcast, recorded, filmed, and staged multiple times.

You can find the entire text here.

A 1966 television version won the Peabody Award as well as Emmy awards for the teleplay and lead actress Geraldine Page. You can watch the entire 48 minute film on YouTube:

Biopics and the recent television series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans have focused on Capote’s later life and the mess that he became. It’s nice to revisit one of his finest early pieces of writing and remember what a brilliant talent he was.

*The infamous book jacket photo of Truman Capote from* Other Voices, Other Rooms. One critic commented, “He looks as if he were dreamily contemplating some outrage against conventional morality.” (1948)

Your Guide To Disposable Gay Holiday Movies (2025)

Since 2020, a few gay holiday films have dribbled out each December – not just on The Hallmark Channel but also on Lifetime, Netflix and elsewhere. I’m not here to crap on the genre, but there is a conveyor belt feel to these films. With the similar actors, sets, and plots, it can be difficult to remember which one had which fading star of yesteryear playing the mom. Obviously, if I didn’t get some enjoyment out of watching them, I wouldn’t tune in. But I don’t go all in for them, either. Please give me a combination of humor, wit, romantic chemistry, decent acting and/or a plot twist and I’ll stick with it. Check off more than a couple of those boxes and I might watch it again next year… if I can remember the title and what channel it was on.

In 2022, I put together a list of these movies to try and keep them straight, so to speak. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the following years would bring less, not more entries in the genre.

In December 2023, Queerty posted an article proclaiming, “The Hallmark Channel is gayer than ever this year!” As evidence, they had a massive list of exactly THREE movies that they considered gay. The first one, Catch Me If You Claus starred Luke Macfarlane in his 16^th movie for the network. Yes, the Bros co-star is gay in real life, but the character in the film is not. Kudos to him for continuing to be cast in straight roles, but… do we then count this as a gay film?

As a reminder: The Hallmark Channel premiered 42 – FORTY-TWO – new Hallmark Christmas movies that season. And we’re supposed to kvell because TWO of them are gay-ish? Honey, please.

The 2024 holiday season garnered even less results: A sequel to an ensemble film from 2023 with Hallmark’s resident gay Jonathan Bennett in the cast. He must have an ironclad contract.

In retrospect, 2020-2022 is beginning to look like the lavender age of inane gay holiday movies. Let the nostalgia begin!

Fortunately, with so many different streaming services, you can now find some of these movies on multiple outlets, giving evidence that maybe they weren’t quite so disposable after all.

1) The Christmas Setup (2020) – Lifetime, Hulu, Sling TV

Older star playing a parent: Fran Drescher
Romantic chemistry? Yes – this real-life couple generate a believable amount of TV movie warmth.

The Christmas Setup follows the story of New York lawyer Hugo (Ben Lewis) who heads to Milwaukee with his best friend Madelyn (Ellen Wong) to spend the holidays with his mom Kate (Fran Drescher). Kate arranges for Hugo to run into Patrick (Blake Lee), his high school friend and secret crush, who has recently returned after a successful stint in Silicon Valley. Hijinks begin.

2) Dashing In December (2020) – Amazon Prime

Older star playing a parent: Andie McDowell
Romantic chemistry? Some. I guess. It’s an enjoyable movie but I don’t see these boys staying together.

After Wyatt (Peter Porte) comes home for the holidays to try to convince his mother (Andie MacDowell) to sell the family’s Colorado ranch, he finds romance with the dashing new ranch hand (Juan Pablo Di Pace) who dreams of saving the property and its magical Winter Wonderland attraction.

It’s a nice surprise to see Andie McDowell here, but I am reminded of when comedienne Paula Poundstone described her face as “an egg with a smile drawn on it.”

3) Happiest Season (2020) – Hulu

Older stars playing the parents: Mary Steenburgen & Victor Garber
Sapphic chemistry? Yes, but not between the two that we’re supposed to root for.

This is the one with Kristen Stewart, Aubrey Plaza & Dan Levy. Stewart’s girlfriend invites her home for Christmas but fails to mention that she’s not out to her family and they must pretend to be friends. Hilarity ensues. A cut above Lifetime/Hallmark movies but I’m including it because it satisfies the same itch. Same genre, but overall higher quality thanks to the cast and Clea Duvall’s writing & direction. One caveat: I wanted Kristen Stewart’s character to end up with Aubrey Plaza. But that doesn’t fit the formula, does it?

Bonus points: Jinkx Monsoon & BenDeLaCreme are on hand for a couple of holiday songs.

4) The Christmas House (2020) – Hallmark+, Amazon Prime & Others

Older stars playing the parents: Treat Williams & Sharon Lawrence
Romantic chemistry? The gay married couple is peripheral here, so it’s not required. They’re fine.

This was the first Hallmark movie to feature a gay couple, even if they are supporting players. Jonathan Bennett is the gay son with Brad Harder as the devoted husband. They want to adopt kids – that’s their side plot. The straight brother has the romantic interest storyline, while the parents have decided to give up their traditional grand ole “Christmas House” which, like all the other houses in these movies, looks like a realtor’s model home with decorations recently purchased at Kohl’s.

5) The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls (2021) – Hallmark+, Amazon Prime & others

Older stars playing the parents: Same as above. R.I.P. Treat Williams. ☹
Romantic chemistry? Maybe I’m being a sap, but this couple grew on me.

The sequel to the above film. This time the brothers are competing on a reality show to create the best Christmas House. It’s harmless fun.

6) Clusterfünke Christmas (2021) – Paramount+, Roku, Amazon Prime

“A no-nonsense hotel exec buys a family inn in northern Maine, but the town’s Christmas spirit clashes with her cosmopolitan values.” This one’s actually a spoof of the genre written by and co-starring Rachel Dratch & Ana Gasteyer as the innkeepers. Out actor Cheyenne Jackson plays the straight romantic lead. If Queerty can claim the Luke Macfarlane movie as gay, then we get this one, if not for Jackson, then just for pure camp value.

7) Under The Christmas Tree (2021) – Lifetime Movie Club, Amazon Prime, Roku

Older stars playing the parents: Wendy Crewson & Enrico Colantoni. Ricki Lake is also on hand.
Sapphic Chemistry? Yes

As described in Vulture: Lifetime’s new and first-ever lesbian Christmas movie is a legitimately good queer film in which the main character, Alma (Elise Bauman), is not only accepted by her Maine-based, small-Christmas-business-owner parents for being a lesbian but encouraged to fall in love with out-of-town stranger Charlie (Tattiawna Jones). Cheesy as it is, the premise is as sweet as it is predictable with plenty of fun, memorable scenes and unexpected moments thrown in.”

8) Single All The Way (2021) – Netflix

Older stars playing the parents: Kathy Najimy & Barry Bostwick with Jennifer Coolidge as the diva aunt.
Romantic chemistry? Yes

Peter (Michael Urie) finds out his boyfriend is married. They break up and he invites his best friend home with him for Christmas to pretend they’re a couple. His mom tries to set him up with Luke Macfarlane anyway. You’ll never guess who he ends up with. This one beat out Under The Christmas Tree to win the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie. Probably the best of the bunch, and not just for this monologue:

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9) The Holiday Sitter (2022) – Hallmark+, Roku, Amazon Prime & others

Older stars playing the parents: NONE
Romantic chemistry? Not that I recall.

Another Hallmark movie with resident gay Jonathan Bennett. Now he’s a workaholic from the big city who gets stuck watching his sister’s kids because of a snowstorm and she’s pregnant and going into labor or something. He recruits hunky neighbor Jason (George Krissa) to shepherd the precocious children through an endless list of absolutely necessary holiday activities. Bennett’s first major role years ago was in the movie Mean Girls. He also co-wrote this script, in which he actually tells the family dog “Stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen.” I have nothing more to say.

10) A Christmas To Treasure (2022) – Lifetime, Hulu

Older stars playing the parents: Nobody I recognize. Maybe they’re big in Canada?
Romantic chemistry? NONE.

A real-life gay couple with no chemistry try to find a hidden treasure… before it’s too late! 33-year-old Tyler Frey and 41-year-old Kyle Dean Massey are supposed to be high school sweethearts reunited with each other and their friends: two racially diverse straight couples. Everyone’s on an elaborate treasure hunt somehow engineered by a beloved frail old neighbor just before she croaked. However, nobody really needs the money except Frey, who wants to save the grand ole Marley house (again, a model home decorated at Kohl’s.) Someone actually says “I don’t need the money. I’m here for the cocoa.”

This one broke me. Who are these people? This movie is a painful reminder that a film can be racially diverse, but it certainly isn’t class-wise. If everyone’s so damn rich, why don’t they just give Frey the money to save the house? This one caused me to take a long break from viewing these movies. But now it’s a new season, and here we are.

11) Holiday Exchange (2024) – Tubi, Roku, Amazon Prime

Older stars playing the parents: Real Housewife Kyle Richards plays Mom.
Romantic chemistry? Varying between the two couples.

The aforementioned Tyler Frey wrote the screenplay and stars in this gay version of the Kate Winslet/Cameron Diaz rom-com The Holiday. There are two budding romances, with Frey’s real-life husband Kyle Dean Massey left to play his ex-boyfriend. Rick Cosnett plays the Winslet role – a Brit transplanted in L.A. Maybe it’s the wine, but I found this one rather enjoyable.

12 & 13) Christmas on Cherry Lane / Season’s Greetings From Cherry Lane (2023/2024) – Hallmark +

There are actually four of these Cherry Lane Christmas movies – all are centered on the same house is different eras. Omnipresent Jonathan Bennett plays opposite Vincent Rodriguez III in two of them.

14) Friends and Family Christmas (2023) – Hallmark+ and others.

This one centers on lesbian friends (Humberly Gonzalez & Ali Liebert) who must pose as a couple for the holidays… and you’ll never guess what happens!

15) A Keller Christmas Vacation (2025) – Hallmark+

This ensemble piece stars (surprise!) Jonathan Bennett as one of three adult siblings who reluctantly join their parents on a Danube river cruise for Christmas, leading to family bonding, unexpected romance, and resolving old issues amidst European Christmas backdrops. The movie focuses more on family dynamics than typical Hallmark romance.

16) The Christmas Baby (2025) – Hallmark+

Hallmark’s singular gay-centric movie of 2025 is set to premiere on December 21st. Ali Liebert and Katherine Barrell play a lesbian couple who find a baby left on their doorstep. This leads them to explore fostering and adoption during the holidays.

Happy Holigays!

March of the Wooden Soldiers: 10 Things You May Not Know About The Classic Film

It’s hard to believe that the Laurel & Hardy holiday classic March of the Wooden Soldiers debuted 91 years ago. Originally released as Babes In Toyland on Nov. 30, 1934, the holiday perennial was based on Victor Herbert’s popular 1903 operetta. The film came out of Hal Roach studios and was co-directed by Gus Meins and Charles Rogers.

Here’s the trailer:

I originally posted this celebration of the film on the 85th Anniversary. Here is an updated and expanded version:

10 Things You May Not Know About March of The Wooden Soldiers

1) In addition to Babes In Toyland, the film was also re-released under several different titles, including Laurel and Hardy in Toyland and Revenge Is Sweet. This was sometimes due to the estate of Victor Herbert withholding rights to the original title. In the book March of the Wooden Soldiers: The Amazing Story of Laurel & Hardy’s Babes In Toyland, Randy Skretvedt writes; “Ella Herbert Bartlett detested the film and didn’t want the name Babes In Toyland to be further besmirched by its association with Laurel and Hardy.”

2) Although the 1934 film includes many of the characters in the original operetta, the plot is almost completely different. Six musical numbers from the original stage score are featured: “Toyland”, “Never Mind Bo-Peep”, “Castle in Spain”, “Go to Sleep (Slumber Deep)” and the instrumental “March of the Toys”. Additionally, an instrumental version of “I Can’t Do The Sum” is used to underscore many scenes.

3) The villainous Silas Barnaby was played by 22-year-old Henry Kleinbach. He later changed his name to Henry Brandon and appeared in over 100 films throughout his 60 year career.

Brandon played essentially the same character as an opera impresario who torments poor, poor Alfalfa in Our Gang Follies of 1938.

20 years later he played Acacious Page in film Auntie Mame.

Another fun fact: Brandon’s partner for the last 25+ years of his life was Mark Herron, who was briefly the 4th husband of Judy Garland.

In 2018, Bill Cassara and Richard S. Greene published Henry Brandon: King Of The Bogeymen.

You can also find out more about Henry Brandon here

4) Our Gang (aka The Little Rascals) also filmed at Hal Roach studios. Several of the kids appear as schoolchildren in Toyland, although not dressed in their Our Gang costumes as in this photo atop Mother Peep’s Shoe-house.

Laurel & Hardy introduce Spanky to “pee wees” in this promotional photo shoot.

One of the most popular Our Gang / Little Rascals shorts, Mama’s Little Pirate was filmed the same year and has an extended sequence shot in the caves of Bogeyland. Gus Meins directed both films.

Another Our Gang connection: two graduates of the silent era, Johnny Downs and Jean Darling appear as Little Boy Blue and Curly Locks:

*Johnny Downs and Jean Darling as Little Boy Blue and Curly Locks*

*Queen of Hearts Alice Moore with a couple of Little Rascals.*

5) Felix Knight played romantic lead Tom Tom and fell in love with co-star Alice Moore, who played the Queen of Hearts. They were married the following year.

Behind the scenes, l-r: Alice Moore (Queen Of Hearts) Charley Rodgers (Simple Simon and the film’s co-director), Felix Knight (Tom Tom), Charlotte Henry (Bo-Peep) and Henry Brandon (Barnaby). Note the Three Little Pigs masks and padding hanging in the background.

Knight also appeared with Laurel and Hardy in their 1936 film – The Bohemian Girl:

6) Marie Wilson makes an early film appearance as Mary Quite Contrary. Her later work in film, radio and television (most notably My Friend Irma) garnered her three stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

“NO, I haven’t seen them!” Marie Wilson as Mary Quite Contrary

7) Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf? An instrumental version of this song is used to underscore scenes with the Three Little Pigs. However, the song is not from the Babes In Toyland operetta – it was originally featured in the 1933 Disney short Three Little Pigs and has been covered by everyone (surprisingly) from Barbra Streisand to LL Cool J.

8) About those pigs…. Elmer, the kidnapped pig was played by a little person – 2′ 11″ Angelo Rossito. He appeared in 70 films spanning from the silent film era to his role as “The Master” in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985).

*Angelo Rossitto in* Freaks (1932) and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome *(1985)*

The two other pigs were played by child actors:

Payne B. Johnson has said that he was cast as Jiggs because, unlike the other children auditioning, he didn’t complain about the heavy mask and padding. Although only four years old, this was his eleventh film credit. He would later appear in a handful of Our Gang shorts, including Our Gang Follies of 1938 with Henry Brandon.

The last surviving major player from the film, Payne B. Johnson passed away at the age of 94 on June 30, 2024.

*Edward Earle Marsh toured as a child prodigy pianist/composer.*

And THIS little piggy…. was a porn star! Willie was played by Edward Earle Marsh, a child prodigy pianist/composer who later performed on Broadway with the stage name Edward Earle. In 1969, he reinvented himself as Zebedy Colt, a gay cabaret singer. He kept the name as he directed and performed in both straight and gay adult films through the 1970’s & 80’s.

Someone needs to write a book about this guy.

9) The film became a broadcast television staple on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day in the early 1960’s. I grew up watching the film on NYC’s WPIX Channel 11, which continues to air the film to this day. In 1990 they switched to the colorized version, and in 2018, due to viewer requests, they began airing restored black and white and colorized versions at different times during the day.

Some may remember a shorter version of the film airing on television years ago. This 73-minute edit was trimmed for theatrical re-release in 1950. Due to the objections of Victor Herbert’s estate mentioned above, the title of the film was changed and the opening sequence shortened to omit “Babes In Toyland” from Mother Goose’s book.

Motion picture censors in 1950 objected to the unmarried Tom Tom and Bo Peep snoozing together at the end of the song “Go to Sleep (Slumber Deep).” The whole sequence was cut.

This edited version of the film had fallen into public domain and was broadcast on television in the 1980’s. Any susequent restored prints or colorized versions of the film run at the original 79 minute length.

If it isn’t broadcast in your area, you can watch the full movie here:

10) Bearing in mind that the source material is the original operetta and not this film, there have been numerous wildly different versions of Babes In Toyland:

Between 1950 and 1960, there were three television productions broadcast during Christmas seasons, including one featuring Barbara Cook and Dennis Day in 1955.

Walt Disney’s Technicolor™ 1961 film version starred Annette Funicello and Ray Bolger.

A 1986 made-for-television version featured Drew Barrymore, Keanu Reeves and “a royal legion of tacky trolls” with only two songs from the Victor Herbert score, a new plot, and new songs by Leslie Bricusse.

Click the link to see the full movie on Youtube:

An 1997 animated film version, with a new plot and only one of the original songs, featured the voices of Christopher Plummer and Lacey Chabert.

These other versions come and go, but none feature Stannie Dum and Ollie Dee… a gay wedding… nightmare-inducing pig masks … a monkey inside a knockoff Mickey Mouse costume… or carpet-clad Bogeymen with visible zippers and padding.

Join me in wishing a happy 91st birthday to a Hollywood holiday classic!

For more information, I highly recommend the book March of the Wooden Soldiers: The Amazing Story of Laurel & Hardy’s Babes In Toyland by Randy Skretvedt.

Gay Porn Stars We Lost in 2025

Most gay news outlets choose to ignore the passing of all but the biggest names in the adult film industry. Porn companies also seem reluctant to broadcast the death of a performer who is still on their roster, forever young and willing in their website content. An obit is a real boner killer, ya know? Why jeopardize the profit margin?

Note that at least two of the men listed below have had studio content posted months after their passing without any mention of the fact.

Additionally, performers who abandon their porn personas and return to life under their real names often pass away unnoticed by former employers and scene partners. Case in point: A reader recently alerted me to the passing of Trent Locke in July of 2022 at the age of 32. Locke was a high profile performer with a 5 year career working for Colt, Falcon, Raging Stallion, Next Door, Hot House, Lucas Entertainment, Cocksuremen and several others companies. Surely some adult film news outlet would have noted his passing, right?

Once again, this year’s list is short on people of color. Why? Is it that few have passed on or that they haven’t been reported? For this reason – and due to continued interest from fans – there are ongoing updates to the lists of porn star passings in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

We remember those that were lost in 2025 to prove Koldo Goran wrong – they have not been forgotten.

1) Daddy Dan, aka D.Dan was born July 16, 1978 in Switzerland. He was late to the adult film industry, making his debut at age 44 and winning the Grabby EU Newcomer of the Year for 2023. In two years, he racked up over 25 appearances with Kristen Bjorn, Raw Fuck Club and MenAtPlay, among other outlets. He died in early 2025, reportedly of a “heart attack.”

2) Chris O’Donnell, aka creeohdee was born on June 18, 1993 and lived in Phoenix, Arizona. He was a popular TikTok influencer and also active on Onlyfans from 2022-2024. While best known for his fitness videos, he was also candid about his battles with mental health and substance abuse issues.
He committed suicide at age 31 on January 11, 2025.

3) Shane Rockland was the oldest of the three Rockland brothers but the last one to join the gay porn industry. He was born in Darmstadt, Germany to a Hungarian father and Guatemalan mother on December 23, 1972. A military family, Shane served in the Marines during the Gulf War. For a brief time in 1996-97, brothers Shane, Hal and Vince Rockland were all active in gay films, culminating with the award winning Three Brothers and a cover feature in Men magazine.

By the time the magazine went to press and the film was released, Hal and Vince had experienced some sort of religious epiphany and left the biz, with older brother Shane the only one still camera-ready. Although he only appeared in a handful of films, they were all with top companies: Falcon, Hot House, Studio 2000 and New Age.

Vince, the most versatile and experienced of the trio, later resumed his career for a few more years. By that time, Shane had moved on to other endeavors. A reader alerted me that he passed away in Gresham, Oregon on February 16, 2025, age 52.

4) Roman Mercury was born Hermes Sant Anna Filho on June 22, 1979 in Sao Paulo, Brazil and died of a “heart attack” in late February, 2025 at age 45.

Based in Las Vegas, Mercury was 42 years old when he made his studio debut in 2022 with Raging Stallion’s Heavy Load Movers. His IAFD profile lists 93 titles in the past three years. He earned two GayVN Award nominations at this year’s show.

Friend and co-star Gregg Dixxon paid tribute in an Out magazine interview and on social media, writing; “Roman left us unexpectedly, leaving behind a legacy of passion, talent, and kindness that touched the lives of so many around the world…. His family will spread his ashes in the ocean near his favorite place to live in Southern California. Roman, you will always be missed, but never forgotten!”

5) Tim Kruger, was 44 years old when he died following an accident at his home on March 1, 2025. Born Marcel Bonn on January 25, 1981 in Dusseldorf, Germany, the adult film actor, producer, and director appeared in his first film back in 2006. Of course, he was best known for his website TimTales, which he started with the help of his partner, Grobes Gereat, in their hometown of Berlin in 2009.

A statement written by Grobes was posted on the TimTales blog :

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share the news of the passing of our beloved Marcel, the man you all knew and loved as Tim Kruger. To the public, he was the ultimate ginger pornstar; to me, he was a sweet, caring partner of over 20 years. He was also my best friend. He touched the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

“I am very aware of the stigma that surrounds deaths in the porn industry, so let me make this very clear to hopefully cut down on the inevitable speculation: Tim’s death was a tragic, yet simple accident at home. There were no drugs involved, nor was there any indication of foul play or suicide. Though my heart is broken into pieces, I find solace in the countless memories he gifted us. And I know that he died knowing he was loved. Tim’s legacy of compassion, love, and joy will live on in all who knew him.”

6) Damien Stone was born in Moldova on September 16, 1992 and emigrated to the U.S., where he grew up in Pennsylvania. He began his prolific film career in 2017 with appearances in gay, bisexual, and trans porn scenes. Among the companies he worked for were MEN, TransAngels, ManUpFilms, FaceDownAssUp, WhyNotBi, TheGuySite, Bromo, and NakedSword.

Stone took a break from studio work in 2020 and competed in bodybuilding competitions. He later transitioned to OnlyFans content and was active on social media up until early February.

On March 11, 2025 family members confirmed that Stone died of “complications from an enlarged heart.” He was 32 years old. Four months later, Bro Network posted a new scene featuring Stone with Boomer Banks.

7) Popular Sean Cody model Brendan, aka Michael Johnson was involved in a murder/suicide on April 13, 2025. He was 35 years old and living in Oak Grove, Kentucky. Brendan appeared in approximately 10 Sean Cody films between 2015-2017. According to his social media accounts, he later pursued a career in country music.

8) Jay Massage, aka JayM4m, Cmtcpt, Desmides, Elcmt, and Itsdesmipeach, reportedly died of an overdose in early May, 2025. He was known as “the unofficial masseuse of the gay porn stars.” FitnessPapi posted about the passing, but it was unconfirmed as his OnlyFans and other socials began to be taken down. The IAFD updated his profile, while his Instagram account has been turned into a memorial page referring to addiction and recovery.

9) Brad Knight was a straight porn star who also appeared on the Spunkworthy website. He was 36 when he died of stomach cancer on May 6, 2025. He detailed his cancer battle on his Instagram page.

Born on December 29, 1988 in San Diego, CA, Knight appeared in hundreds of straight porn scenes over a 14 year period and was voted AVN Best Male Newcomer in 2016. He also directed several films for Blazed studios. In late 2019, he left the U.S. adult movie industry and moved to China to teach school, but resumed his career in Europe three years later.

10) Kolby Gigante‘s stage name was inspired by his 6’7″ stature. Born on June 19, 2000, he made appearances at Gayhoopla and HotGuysFuck websites in 2023. The MenofPorn website posted about his death at age 24 on May 10, 2025.

11) Colton Ford, aka Glenn Soukesian 62, died in Palm Springs, CA on May 19, 2025. Originally thought to be a hiking accident, toxicology results revealed an accidental overdose. Born on October 12, 1962 in Pasadena, Ford entered the porn business at age 40 and appeared in titles over the next 22 years. The companies he worked for included Falcon Studios, MRS Releasing, RawFuckClub, All Worlds, and Mustang. In 2003 he was awarded GayVN Performer Of The Year.

Ford was a rare crossover, with film and TV credits including Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!, Hellbent, The Lair, and The Next Best Thing. The 2004 documentary Naked Fame chronicled his attempts to transition from adult films to a music career. He went on to release 3 albums and several EPs.

His stage work included a 2011 Off-Broadway appearance in Little House On The Ferry. Earlier this year he appeared in a Palm Springs production of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Click here for more about Colton Ford.

12) Ethan Duval passed away in May, 2025 at the age of 24. The Draguignan, France native was born October 14, 2000. He first appeared in a dozen scenes for French Twinks in late 2018-2019. In December 2024, he announced on social media that he would be returning to the industry with the Belgian company DiableX.

In late May 2025, the DiableX Twitter account posted, “It is with immense sadness that we learn of the passing of actor “Ethan Duval” at the age of 24. Former actor with @FTwinks and scheduled to join DiableX this year. He was a sensitive and sympathetic young man; he was thrilled at the prospect of soon discovering Belgium, but fate had other plans. A new angel is now in heaven.”

13) Nathan, aka Nicholas Tulloss passed away at 29 years old in Los Angeles on May 20, 2025. He appeared in two scenes for Military Classified back in 2017 and returned for one more in 2021. Site owner Rob Navarro posted on social media: “For 20 years I’ve enjoyed great success working w/many models who have brought us joy but along w/success sometimes tragedies hit & today I’m writing about one… w/a heavy heart I announce 29 yo civilian NATHAN passed away… RIP Nicholas!”

14) Koby Falks, aka Anthony Cox was born September 7, 1982 (or 1985) in Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia and died at age 39 (or 42) on May 28, 2025. In just three years, Falks had racked up 75 appearances for RawfuckClub in addition to his OnlyFans and JustForFans accounts. He often appeared with his partner Sam Brownell.

Talent agent Matthew Leigh shared a tribute on Instagram, writing “”We have lost a trailblazing creative spirit far too soon. But I truly believe his light and legacy will continue shining brightly above. Rest peacefully, Koby. You will be missed, always.”

15) Brazilian bodybuilder Gustavo Boton was a content creator alongside his equally muscular partner, Andres Vergel. Besides OnlyFans and JustForFans, the duo appeared in approximately 10 scenes for RawFuckClub in 2024-25. Vergel posted a heartfelt tribute to his partner in late July, stating that his beloved “Nene” had passed away the previous month. “I love you, my hero… the love of my life.”

16) Mr. Cali, aka Robert Franklin, died suddenly at age 38 in early July, 2025. Born December 9, 1986 in Long Beach, CA, Mr. Cali made his first film appearance at age 29. The IAFD lists 80+ titles over 10 years for Noir Male, Treasure Island Media, Dawgpound, and Raw Strokes, among others. He was also a music entrepreneur and digital content creator under the Mr. Cali Entertainment brand.

As news of his death spread, many fans paid tribute online with one noting, “… heartbroken and shocked to hear of the sudden passing of legendary Black Gay Adult Entertainer Mr. Cali. Not only did he help to usher in this new era of Black Gay Porn but he was never afraid to be out as a member of the community.”

17) Travis Youth, aka Gregory Reno from Decatur, IL was born on July 19,1994. Between 2019 – 2024, he made 29 films according to the IAFD website. He performed as Dave at Sean Cody and Greg Toreno at TheGuySite, but it was as Travis Youth at Gayhoopla and BiGuysFuck that he made the most appearances.

After a break, he reappeared in 2024-25 on the ASGMax websites and as Trevor Daniels at SketchySex. He overdosed at age 30 on July 24, 2025. His passing was also noted on the MenOfPorn blog.

18) Sean Cody’s Jamie, aka Kyle Allen Mills, 35, passed away due to a fentanyl overdose on August 6, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska. The North Carolina native was born on May 14, 1990, but later moved to Middleburg, Florida. In high school, he was an accomplished wrestler – a National Qualifier and Florida State Champion.

He began working with Sean Cody in 2009, and was one of the most popular models on their site. He made 16 appearances between 2009-2012, although his videos have since been removed. Recent posts have detailed his legal troubles, and a GoFundMe was established to help cover funeral costs. His obituary states: “we remember Kyle not as a perfect man, but as a vibrant one – funny, resourceful, and full of personality.”

19) Dino Phillips, aka Dimitri Perparos was 55 years old when he died “unexpectedly” in late October, 2025. Born in Chicago, Illinois on December 13, 1969, he moved with his family to Arizona when he was in his teens. He was dancing at The Works in Phoenix when he met drag queen/porn director Chi Chi LaRue in 1993. She invited him to San Francisco to appear in his first adult film. Phillips went on to appear in approximately 150 films over the next 16 years. Sometimes using the name Dino Jordan, he worked for Falcon, Hot Desert Knights, Jet Set, Catalina, All Worlds, Minotaur and many other studios. In 1996 he won the Grabby for Best Newcomer, and the 1997 AVN Award for Best Supporting Performer. As Dane Preston, he also directed several films.

Phillips left the industry in 2009. In recent years he resided in Chandler, Arizona and worked as a customer service representative for an insurance company.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Mark Morris to cover funeral expenses. Mark writes, “He was family. His compassion, laughter and unwavering support touched countless lives. Whether it was a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand, or a moment of joy, he gave freely and wholeheartedly. His beauty was not just in his appearance but in the way he made others feel seen, heard and loved.”

A few of the many DVD/VHS box covers featuring Dino Phillips

20) In March 2026, Nash Lawlor posted a tribute to his close friend and frequent co-star Tommy D, aka Deric Manzi. “My best friend Deric Manzi passed away last October. He succumbed to his demons.”

Born April 7, 1980, Manzi began his film career at age 22. Working primarily with Next Door Studios over the next 8 years, he starred in dozens of films, including the popular “Tommy D and Friends” series.

He later worked as an IT consultant in Oregon and unsuccessfully ran for a Talent city council seat in 2022.

Lawlor wrote; “He never failed. He was one of a kind. He inspired many. He was the portrait of strength. He will be forever missed.”

21) Vince Ferelli, aka Jared Degado, aka Jared Tarquini was born on March 10, 1983 in Danville, IL. He was 25 years old when he began his film career and appeared in over 50 films from 2008-2017. He worked for Colt, Hot House, Raging Stallion, Jet Set, Kink.com and several other studios.

Ferelli was homeless when he passed away at age 42 on November 6, 2025 in Los Angeles. The cause of death is under investigation.

22) LoveAndLightTV, aka Yes King, aka Michael Willis Heard died in early November, 2025 at age 53. A former preacher-turned-life coach and adult content creator, Heard became an internet sensation in 2023 when audio clips from his videos—featuring his signature encouraging phrase “Yes King” – went viral. According to YouTuber Davyon Augustus, Heard died following an asthma attack that led to a heart attack.

Monty J. Huffman, his life partner and longtime collaborator on YouTube and the Yes Kingz podcast wrote: “You made a difference in my life you are the angel that god sent me you are still here with me.”

23) Scott Finn, aka Rhett Douglas Messerly was born in Ogden, Utah on February 2, 1998. He made his porn debut with Active Duty when he was just 18 years old, and worked with them steadily over the next 9 years. His IAFD profile lists over 250 titles – most with Active Duty and Next Door Studios.

He had been going through a tough time over the past two years, posting on social media about a divorce and other issues. His family released a statement that he passed away at age 27 on November 23, 2025.

Next Door Studios executive producer/director Jeremy Babcock told AVN, “Scott had an infectious laugh, and always raised the energy of every room he was in. On and off camera, he captivated everyone he met. I’m honored to have had Scott as a co-worker and friend.”

24) Taylor Coleman, aka Jordan Kilts was born on December 22, 1998 in Tennessee. He racked up over 30 film appearances with Helix and 8TeenBoy between 2018-2020. After retiring from the business, he went on to work in financial services. He was 26 when he passed away on December 6, 2025 at his home in Aloha, Oregon.

Earlier this year, he posted on social media:
“You’re like a wind through a field: you pass through, and things don’t look the same after – not because you took anything, but because your presence changed how the light moved.”

25) Lane V. Rogers, aka Blake Mitchell, was killed in a motorcycle accident on December 15, 2025. The 31 year-old Kentucky native was visiting friends in Los Angeles where the accident occurred near Oxnard, CA.

Born August 14, 1994, Lane began his adult film career with webcam shows in 2014. He moved into work with Helix studios rather than attend college, and remained a strong presence in the industry over the next 10 years. In 2017, he took home the first Best Supporting Actor award at the Str8UpGayPorn Awards. After years with Helix, Cockyboys and Bel Ami, Lane focused more recently on producing his own OnlyFans content.

Lane’s vibrant personality is evident in the many heartfelt tributes that have been posted by friends and fellow performers.

26) Social media posts indicate that early 2000’s Falcon / Raging Stallion star Shane Rollins passed away suddenly in mid-December, 2025. Unfortunately there is no online obituary to verify this.

Rollins started his career with Raging Stallion in 2002 and appeared in close to 50 titles over the next decade, working with Falcon, Channel 1, Hot House and All Worlds, among other studios. In recent years, he operated a massage business in San Jose, California.

27) Ethan Wolfe, aka Kevin Roberts was born in Davenport, Iowa on October 26, 1986. After high school, he served in the Marines for 6 years, which brought him to San Francisco. He made his film debut with Hot House Media in 2008 and went on to appear in over 25 scenes, plus additional web content. In 2012 he was signed exclusively withTreasure Island Media.

After he left the industry, he returned to Iowa and worked as a medic and personal trainer. He passed away at age 39 in Coralville, Iowa on December 24, 2025.

An online memorial states that he “will be remembered for his intelligence, compassion, humor, and the deep love he shared with his family. His memory will live on in the countless lives he touched and in the hearts of those who loved him.”

Good Time Sallies and Madame Spivy Radio

Madame Spivy is having quite a renaissance in 2025, thanks to the efforts of Ms. Ana Matronic and her newly launched Good Time Sallies podcast. As previously mentioned, Madame Spivy is the subject of the first two episodes. I joined Ms. Matronic to discuss the dynamic lady of song, stage and screen. You can find those here.

The subject of episodes #3 & 4 is singer/nightclub owner Ada “Bricktop” Smith, who we covered briefly in our post about Neeka Shaw, The Forgotten Showgirl.

And if that’s not enough for you… Ms. Matronic has created Good Time Sallies: Radio Spivy on Mixcloud, so you can hear many of the songs discussed on the podcast. Besides a generous serving of Madame Spivy’s stylings, you can also hear recordings by Spivy’s friends, influences and artists who appeared at Spivy’s Roof. Included on the playlist are Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Liberace, Martha Raye, Thelma Carpenter, Rae Bourbon, The Three Flames, Bea Lillie and many more!

Click here for Radio Spivy and hear some fine examples of classic diseuse delivering sophisticated songs.

From the website:
Good Time Sallies tells the stories of impactful people who have been left in the shadows as footnotes or minor characters in somebody else’s story, but each of whom made waves, broke molds, and dared to live life as they pleased.

With every episode, Ana Matronic centers these remarkable people and shares their inspiration with the world. From people of letters to ladies of leisure, from bawdy babes and badass boozehounds to Queens on the scene to queens of the obscene, this vibrant historical podcast is all about celebrating the Good Time Sally in us all who is here to take a shot and make her mark.

As you already know, Spivy is one of our favorite subjects here on the blog. Be sure to check out the latest post, which covers her film and television appearances.

Madame Spivy on the Good Time Sallies Podcast

I have been an admirer of Ana Matronic since the days when her band, Scissor Sisters was a local group playing around my East Village neighborhood. Her presence, her voice, her connection with the audience as “Mistress of Ceremonies” were a major factor in why I went on to see the band perform live 20 times before their hiatus in 2012. There’s an unconfirmed rumor that I have the band logo tattooed on my ankle.

*With Ms. Matronic at the Ice Palace in Cherry Grove, Fire Island (7/2024)*

I have enjoyed Ms. Matronic’s various endeavors in the intervening years, which includes her DJ work from the BBC to Fire Island and her 2015 book Robot Universe: Legendary Automatons and Androids from the Ancient World to the Distant Future.

I couldn’t imagine a Scissor Sisters reunion without her. When a UK tour was announced late last year, Ms. Matronic issued a statement explaining why she would not be taking part, teasing an upcoming podcast series that prevented her from participating.

As someone who embraces my own inner Nerd, I was fully on board with her choice to focus on her current passion project. What I did not know at the time was that I would get to be a part of this next chapter.

And now it is time for the big reveal: Good Time Sallies is here!

Click here to have a listen to both episodes the Spivy Story.

https://embed.acast.com/$/67c5ca6cb48a8f157c1ae0b6/queen-of-clubs-part-1?

Photos: Krys Fox @krysfoxphoto

Of course, telling the stories of notable people who have been left in the shadows is one of the reasons this blog exists. On the first two episodes of Good Time Sallies, I join Ms. Matronic to reintroduce that dynamic lady of song, stage and screen, Madame Spivy LeVoe. As you already know, Spivy is one of our favorite subjects here on the blog. Be sure to check out the latest post, which covers her film and television appearances.

I hope you enjoy the podcast as much as I did recording it. Thanks again to Ms. Matronic and Lucy Winter for inviting me to take part.

Also: Click here for Radio Spivy on Mixcloud and hear some fine examples of classic diseuse delivering sophisticated songs.

Category: Movies