RIP: ARPAD MIKLOS (1967-2013)
Incredibly sad to report that gay porn icon and all around good guy Arpad Miklos is dead at 45.
Miklos has been a stalwart of gay porn since 1995, when he was discovered by Kristen Bjorn and cast in Vampire of Budapest. I only knew him casually, but he was a real prince among men — in addition to be someone who still turns me out. He was also a legendary escort — winning four Hookies and Rentmen of the Year. This morning, Towleroad broke the news, which had been appearing spotily on Twitter since yesterday. Evidently, Arpad took his own life on Sunday night.
The gay porn industry likes to throw around words like icon and legend, but Miklos was the real deal — from his BUTT Magazine Beach Towel to his starring role in a Perfume Genius video. Which seems an appropriate way to memorialize this huge loss.
At this point, you have to wonder: do we call it an epidemic? Just last month director John Bruno took his own life; around this time last year, Roman Ragazzi, as did Corbin Fisher’s Sean. Others — like Josh Weston and Erik Rhodes might as well be considered self-inflicted. What do we owe our stars?
RIP Arpad. Details as they come.
Related:
16 Hottest Bearded Gay Porn Stars
Working Stiffs: Gay Porn’s 12 Biggest Dicks
Arpad Miklos Directs “On The Hunt” in Vegas
igor February 5th, 2013 at 9:02 AM
Omg….
HansNL February 5th, 2013 at 9:13 AM
This makes me very sad indeed :-( RIP
Jon February 5th, 2013 at 9:30 AM
Very sad news. I had hooked-up with Arpad on several occasions in NYC. Sweet guy. Intelligent and well-spoken. Never in a million years would I have thought him capable of this. Just goes to show that even the strongest of individuals can be wrestling with demons. I also suppose that aging for a porn star is a tough proposition.
Lukebrux February 5th, 2013 at 10:15 AM
When I will be 65 I will look to myself and I will say, OK you aged but you didn’t loose a lot, because I wasn’t any good looking even in my twenties. For a porn model is different, when they are aging they loose all, job, fans, look. So sad.
Mark F. February 5th, 2013 at 10:41 AM
I wish we could do something about these suicides. Arpad was the sweetest guy. Sure, he was aging, but he was still looking fine for a 45 year old man. Everyone liked him. Why was he so unhappy? This is just awful.
Gabriel February 5th, 2013 at 12:06 PM
You forgot Adam Faust. And yes, I’d call it an epidemic.
Mark February 5th, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Would hardly call it an epidemic, people die all the time why should porn stars be any different – also nothing has been said inicating he took his own life because he couldn’t handle aging…RIP Arpad
Franco February 5th, 2013 at 12:28 PM
I wouldn’t call it an epidemic, but deaths are certainly higher in the porn profession. I work in PR and I don’t know one person who has killed themselves or contracted HIV, or any other disease. Clearly when someone commits suicide they are battling with some form of mental illness, and it would be interesting to know why so many individuals in the porn industry indulge in self-loathing. The idea of having sex on camera is fascinating, considering that performers risk their health, both physical and mental for one of several objectives: To have as much sex as possible. One has to be innately insecure to get naked for the entertainment, and approval of others. Approval I might add that is considerably shallow. Also, I cringe when I hear people say that 45 is “aging”. We’re all aging no matter what our age is. The real problem is that we consider people over 40 less valuable, and desirable. What does that say about our culture? What does it say about our own insecurities? We’re all responsible for perpetuating these conventions. Anyway, sad news about his death. I hope his family has all the support that they need.
Frederick V. February 5th, 2013 at 12:37 PM
Wish he hadn’t left us so soon. :(
Jerrod February 5th, 2013 at 1:00 PM
I’m sorry, but the recent spate of suicides really highlights that SOMETHING is going on: no one deserves to feel that the only alternative to aging, fast lifestyles, or whatever downsides there are to being a pornstar is suicide! Unless there was some extenuating real reason dor doing so (inoperable cancer, etc) please, please, STAY ALIVE! Better to leave porn althogether than let it consume you. Evidently we’re failing at protecting our youth and our pornstars!
Henry February 5th, 2013 at 2:09 PM
Does anyone know if there have been any studies on the suicide rate in this industry? I know suicides happen everyday but honestly I think the ratio of suicides to people who do this for a living has got to be way above normal. If no one is looking into this then someone should.
boyzzboy February 5th, 2013 at 2:18 PM
Why is everyone shocked every time we see this. I’m with Franco – hey, you play with fire, you get burned. I’m a total hypocrite! I’ll watch the shit out of porn, but these guys get caught up in superficial substitutes for self esteem, love, sex and a party-filled life. I don’t feel sorry for anyone. We all make our choices. You know what you’re getting into. Next.
John N. February 5th, 2013 at 3:13 PM
Why does everyone assume he did this because he was an aging porn star? People seem to keep assuming this for no reason. We regular people, (those of us who don’t know him) know nothing about his personal life. There are countless reasons he could have done this. In any case, it’s pretty bad this had to happen at all. It seems as if every other month lately we are reading about the death of another porn star. In my opinion, doing porn doesn’t mess you up, and porn is not entirely populated by messed up people, but if you already have problems, porn seems like it can make it a lot worse.
Pygar February 5th, 2013 at 4:02 PM
Franco, terrific response! No sarcasm. As a gay, minority (Native American), male over-40 who has struggled with depression and suicidal ideations I couldn’t express my thoughts on this untimely death any clearer. Sure, sexuality should not be shameful, but neither should it be squandered and exploited, least of all by oneself.
Derek in DC February 5th, 2013 at 4:15 PM
I think John N. hit the nail on the head: It’s not that the porn “lifestyle” is the problem, it’s that, maybe, it’s an environment that makes whatever problems you already have seem insurmountably worse and perhaps isolates people from finding the help they need.
pascal February 6th, 2013 at 2:18 PM
I was born in 1967, it makes me very sad to know Arpad died ….last week Karim aka Christian Bouthillette a Colt model also died apparently of a heart attack.
Very very sad.
R.I.P. Arpad
J.D. February 6th, 2013 at 5:52 PM
what is going on in the gay porn world? Everyone just keep dropping like flies.
J.D. February 6th, 2013 at 6:03 PM
why would gorgeous man like that kill himself?
Brendan P February 7th, 2013 at 3:01 AM
A lovely guy & god bless him but let’s not be scratching our heads about why the people we worship as porn icons end up taking their lives. Everything we desire about them and what we want them to be is what ultimately kills them. To enter this industry, to be willing to do what it takes to really succeed in this industry, and to expect a long-term, life-sustaining career out of it, is to have fragile mental health to begin with. Ageing and loss of looks or popularity are not causes – they are the final straws.
reese March 9th, 2013 at 8:49 AM
What a Shame. Arpad was One Sexy Man. Just do not understand WHY people commit suicide……….such a weak cop out for Them as well as their Families and Friends. There is HELP out There “IF” You need it.