Gay porn actor Dror Barak, 38, was found dead of an apparent suicide in his Manhattan home earlier this week. A former member of the Israeli military and once an employee at the United Nations, Barak, who performed under the name Roman Ragazzi, was outed as a porn performer by a New York City tabloid in 2007. From Joe My God at the time:

In a seemingly pointless move, the New York Post's Page Six gossip column has outed an employee of the Israeli consulate at the United Nations as a gay porn actor, after tricking administrative worker Dror Barak into revealing his sideline career as a "model" and budding porn actor. Although Barak specified that he did not escort, he did solicit a plane ticket from Page Six's source. Page Six then called Barak at the U.N., asking to speak to "Roman Ragazzi", Barak's porn handle. Barak immediately resigned his position with the Israeli consulate. Page Six published the exchange today, including revealing Barak's BigMuscle.com profile name.

He could have sued New York Post! It's really unfortunate that this happened.

And the Rupert Murdoch journalism prize goes to...

Suicide is unfortunatley an act of Desperation. Who knows what was going on in this young mans life.?

Obviously it was more than he could deal with by himself. Noone should judge, just pray that he is now at Peace.

I don't know my porn stars, so have not heard of this person. Nonetheless, it is always sad when a young person takes his life.

At Daddy's, they are mourning a man called Spencer, who also died last weekend. Not sure at all that they are the same person as here, but we are told not to inquire as to the cause of death for Spencer, which, to me, only makes people more curious. We are expected to care enough to feel bad that he has died, but not care enough to wonder how. It's very odd. Usually the cause comes out anyway.

Some time ago an escort died and the same thing happened- don't dare ask why or how. It turned out he had an asthma attack and did not have his emergency inhaler. Is that something to keep a big secret? It's nothing shameful.

For me, suicide is nothing shameful either. It's just sad that someone would feel so alone or hopeless that they would end their life. And to make a big secret out of the cause of death implies shame as well.

Had I started this thread, I would have put it in the Buffet or the Lounge. It seems odd that someone's death makes the pornification forum.

Had I started this thread, I would have put it in the Buffet or the Lounge. It seems odd that someone's death makes the pornification forum.

I agree. That was a mistake on my part. TY or OZ, feel free to move it, should you desire to do so. I automatically put it here because he was a porn star. I had originally thought about finding some of his porn pics, but then I decided against it.

I did have another thought on this, and that is when someone dies, especially a young person, we do need to allow a time for those who knew him or her, especially family and friends, to grieve. Perhaps listing the cause of death at the time is thought to be a deterrent from proper mourning. And it is a fact that if a person takes his own life, there are plenty willing to second guess his choice. So, when it is a time for grieving, it is not a time for second guessing.

So, maybe I disagree with what I wrote above. In time all facts tend to come out, but when some are grieving, there is no hurry to provide more details that could detract from proper mourning for the loss of someone we loved or admired.