Dirk Shafer, a model, actor and fitness trainer who became a heartthrob to most straight women and gay men when he was named Playgirl‘s “Man of the Year in 1992, has been found dead at age 52 in West Hollywood, according to Richard Ayoub of RumorFix.
Yesterday website WeHoVille wrote that a 52-year-old man was found dead in his car Thursday afternoon in West Hollywood near his home and today confirmed it was Shafer.
Shafer made a 1995 film, Man of the Year, which was a fictional look at the experience of posing nude for Playgirl and how readers were shocked to learn he was gay. It was obviously a different era, folks.
Shafer also appeared on Will & Grace in 2001 as a character named Blaze. The same year he directed Circuit, which chronicled the gay party scene, played at numerous film festivals. In 2012, Shafer again posed nude for Playgirl to commemorate the 2oth anniversary of his first layout.
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Ayoub writes that Shafer’s family says he “died peacefully” and is planning a memorial in West Hollywood at a later date. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, but it’s believed he suffered a heart attack.
Oli1023
How does a 52 year old man die peacefully in a car?????
Daniel-Reader
I remember when he did the talk shows. He was a handsome and articulate individual at a time when there wasn’t much decent GLBT representation on tv. RIP Dirk.
BB45
Dirk was one great friend and he will be so missed. we used to date back in the day. I just can’t believe he is gone. he was so into working out and taking care of himself. he was pro health and never shown signs of being ill or drugs or anything like that. just an all around nice guy, someone you would love to meet and have a chat with. he was so talented with the skills he had in making movies and documentaries. He will be so missed! RIP my dear friend……………..Iam just so sad he gone I feel so empty.
Paco
@Oli1023: Heart attack?
wapfap1968
Wow. I remember in 1992 skulking into a gas station in Tennessee–my little conservative Baptist heart about to beat out of my little conservative Baptist chest–and buying Dirk’s Playgirl issue because I was so infatuated with him after seeing him on the Jenny Jones Show. Step 1 toward claiming my sexual identity. Thanks Dirk. RIP.
Roan
He died peacefully in his car?
Blackceo
@Roan: LOL. Stop it.
tricky ricky
@Oli1023: heart attack
tricky ricky
they think he had a heart attack.
Sluggo2007
He was one beautiful man:
http://adonismale.com/dc/displayimage.php?album=512&pid=7438#top_display_media
M K
RIP, but really, 52 in WeHo??? He had been effectively dead there already for 15 years.
mz.sam
Dirk had always been visible and a friendly fixture around town. Perhaps a better choice of wording would have avoided speculative comments. His death is not surprising to me. My brother had also died in a similar manner sitting in his car while eating in front of a fast food according to the police report. I was later confirmed as a cardiac arrest.
skilos
@Roan: VanTwist????? Maybe he was homeless and sleeping in his car.
Doughosier
Just shows when it’s your time…that young and into fitness, to just die like that?
SteveDenver
I love the film MAN OF THE YEAR, he came across as charming, intelligent, and smokin’ hot. His 2012 photo spread reveals he had maintained his physique http://adonismale.com/dc/displayimage.php?album=6202&pid=93282#top_display_media
What a shame that some idiots think this is funny.
da90027
I’m almost 54 work out all the time etc. But the simple fact is anyone can die of a heart attack at any age. No matter their physical condition. I’m a caregiver and work with seniors and have learned that genetics plays a bigger role in how long we live than what we do.
While not old 52 is an age when things start to happen to us. Dirk looked great but he could have had an undiagnosed heart defect but having said that yes it is a rather peaceful way to go when I’ve seen people go in agony from cancer etc. Going that quick is a luxury folks.
robho3
I really don’t think the snarky comments are necessary- come on guys have some respect for the dead.
Bryguyf69
@Oli1023: No one said the car was moving. That said, peaceful ways of dying in non-moving car include cardiac arrest, stroke, and carbon monoxide poisoning. In fact, the first thing I thought of was suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning,
Bryguyf69
Maybe I’m too young but since he made a living on his looks, this comment is fair game. I’m sure he was a nice person, but I don’t find him attractive at all. Is that what was considered handsome in 1992? Then again, I find many Playgirl models unattractive. Especially Fabio-types with long hair.
Stefan
Yes, that was considered extremely handsome in 1992. The models were more athletic, muscular builds, not 6 foot, 130 pounds like now. Slim fit did not exist.
Stefan
AND the pictures in the article are not from the 1992 shoot–they are from 20 years later in 2012.
stadacona
HIV-cardio-related, suicide, or overdose…No journalism on this site…nobody’s asking the hard questions. As if 52 and dead in a car is normal for a minor celebrity.
Stache99
@Bryguyf69: Only if you’re an asshole is it fair game.
Bryguyf69
@Stefan: Well, I’ve seen Man of the Year as well as the original Playgirl shoot so I’m talking about the 1992 Schaeffer. By attractive, I’m not talking about his physique but face. His physique was fantastic, but that face? Not so much.
Bryguyf69
@Stache99: Is there really a need for personal attacks? Sorry you feel the need to tell others what to think, and what thoughts to express. Think about it.
Bryguyf69
@Stefan: Part of my graduate work actually involved the evolving images of men from the 40’s onward. I think the 80s was most attractive. It’s when men first started to take care of their appearance (i.e. skincare products) and working out (remember the Soloflex?), yet the natural body was still acceptable. Very little body and pubic shaving and men weren’t overly muscular. In terms of fashion, there was no hip-hop influenced homophobia yet so shorts were truly short and tighty-whities were the norm. I haven’t researched the topic in years but the current trend in facial and body hair is reminiscent of the 80s.
Bryguyf69
@Stefan: He reminds me of Francois Papillion, a Playgirl model who later did gay porn. I believe he always maintained that he was straight. They both have the same sharp facial features, and I don’t find either attractive.
Bryguyf69
Excellent New York Times obituary
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/08/arts/dirk-shafer-playgirl-centerfold-who-revealed-he-was-gay-dies-at-52.html?_r=0
edwardnvirginia
Gay-haters would say ” SEE, we told you. Gay people live sad lives in the end. They treat each other as sexual objects not as whole, moral human beings respecting all aspects of their humanity. Because they treat each other in this immoral way they fetishize celebrity and celebrate bad behavior (disloyalty, gossip, abusing drugs – and lying and stealing that goes with the drug abuse, misogyny, racism, mocking persons with disabilities and the old, etc), they discard the gays who lose their beauty, they mock the gays who are ordinary in ordinary places (small towns, rural places, regular jobs and lives), and they abandon the aging. So, when he’s dead – dying along in a car, not know, not missed by anyone, not identified for days – they don’t ask “how can we make our communities better so that the aging, or the troubled, or the lonely don’t die along in a car”. They just don’t care. They don’t set up a fund to ensure a good burial. They don’t organize to ensure social programs for the gays where they live. They just go on and one about his body parts and fashion. SEE, we told you.”
Large Marge
oh lookie, I’m the first to say ‘steroids’ for his physique.
It’s not farfetched as he probably did them in his younger years and continued in his later years based upon the generation he grew up in when it was ‘popular’.
Condolences to the family, but you know us silly queens love to gossip!
The only ‘peaceful’ deaths are ones where you are asleep and die asleep. But, the fact of the matter is that no death is ‘peaceful’, just things people say to comfort themselves.
He was not my type of guy, but objectively he was considered good looking in his day and age… and even now.. he’s attractive, just not my type, well, maybe not now NOW… as he is kinda dead.
There is more to this story that is not evident just yet… and it is likely very seedy.
vive
@Roan, @Bryguyf69, @stadacona: “He died peacefully in his car?”
He could have been homeless. Even so, “peacefully” is really just something they say for the sake of the family.
Rdhowell71
I remember back in 2012 that it was Queerty that alerted the LGBT community about Dirk Shafer posing in Playgirl to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his 1992 Playgirl spread. I went out and bought the 2012 issue and even went out on E-bay and bought a copy of the 1992 issue. He was a very handsome man and seemed to really take care of himself. A heart attack is not a peaceful death. Going to sleep and never waking up is peaceful. I don’t know what his family was thinking. R.I.P.
seaguy
Would be interesting to know if he had heart problems of if it was an unknown heart issue that led to the attack. Must have been a massive heart attack to have died in his car like that and I would imagine at night or in a parking garage that was not well used.
NJjoe
Could have been an undectectable heart issue. I don’t get hoe one passes away peacefully of a heart attack? Makes no sense to me. However, He was one hottie. I loved the film “Man of the Year,” as well as his photo spreads. He came across as a regular kind of guy. RIP Dirk.
da90027
Bryguy69..why do you continually say he is not your type? We get it you didnt find him attractive is this the only thing that concerns you when someone dies? Would your comments be any more sympathetic if you found him hot?
Bryguyf69
@da90027: Continually? Where do you get that stat? Compare my assessment with the number of comments saying how hot he was. Looks like you’re guilty of selective statistics. This is clear in your claim that his appearance is the “only thing that concerns you when someone dies.” It’s VERY telling that you used the generic and all-encompassing, “when SOMEONE dies.” Do you know me? Have you scanned all my Queerty posts in response to someone’s death?
Now go back and look at ALL my posts in this blog. Then get a dictionary and look up the words, “only” and “continually.” Finally, ask yourself why I must justify my comments while those who found him attractive don’t. Think about it.
dbmcvey
Good God you people. He had a heart attack in his car. You can have a heart attack anywhere. WFT is wrong with you? I hope you all die of old age peacefully in your beds but you just might not and I hope you don’t have people implying something about you from it.
dbmcvey
@Bryguyf69: Whether your comment is “fair game” or not it has no value other than bitchiness.
da90027
@dbmcvey: I agree many of the younger gays today are intellectually smart but have very little compassion. In the old days youd get your teeth knocked out for saying this stuff but they hide behind their computers and cellphones and just talk shit about people..pretty sad state of affairs. So much for gay pride.
Bryguyf69
@da90027: As for sympathy, please QUOTE where I slammed or libeled him in any way. Did I criticize his work, his sexuality, his life choices, etc? Did I minimize his effect on others, or tell others that they’re wrong for finding him attractive? Compare that with those who think it’s appropriate to criticize me. READ CAREFULLY. I wrote, ‘I’m sure he was a nice person, but *I DON’T FIND* him attractive at all.” See where I personalized the assessment? I said *I* didn’t find him attractive. It was more about *MY* tastes than anything objective about him. Indeed, if you read carefully, you’d see that I even put it in context: “Maybe I’m too young…” and “I find many Playgirl models unattractive.”
Seriously, reread my posts and ask yourself why you think I need to justify my comments while those who think he’s hot don’t. And ask yourself what you meant by “only” and “continually.” Finally, why this need for moral superiority? I think it says more about you than me.
Bryguyf69
@dbmcvey: And your yardstick for “value” is…? So saying I don’t find him attractive IN RESPONSE to the posts extolling his looks is “bitchiness”? Was my comment on his appearance in any way excessive? Were they cruel? Did you get a sense that they were meant to hurt anyone, whether that be Dirk or another Queerty user? Apparently, you and I have different definitions of bitchiness. Furthermore, it’s telling how your ignored how I said, “maybe I’m too young,” and the later comment about the changing images of men throughout the decades. So that’s “no value,” huh? As if being valueless to YOU has any objective meaning. Given the moral disapproval gays face from others, I’m truly disappointed that you feel a need to do the same. It smacks of hypocrisy and megalomania.
dbmcvey
@Bryguyf69: No, Bryguy, you can intellectualize your nasty responses to someone who just died but in reality it’s all just bitchiness and I hope someday you’ll have enough experience in life not to be such an ass.
jockboy1986
@dbmcvey: Wow, personal attacks. Real mature. I just read all the comments and Bryguy’s posts are helluva more interesting and insightful than these judgmental ones. YOu remind me of Dr Phil fans who feel a need for moral superiority. Oh well, do what you need to feel good about yourself.
dbmcvey
@Bryguyf69: Also, where did I say you’re too young? I have no idea how old you are but you certainly seem to have an overinflated idea of your intellectual skills that you can pretend that you’ve somehow decided that all of your opinions are absolute fact and completely golden. You seem to have confused just plain nastiness for intellectual honesty.
dbmcvey
@Bryguyf69: Oh. I see, you said maybe YOU’RE too young. Maybe you are. Maybe you’re young emotionally and haven’t been able to develop things like empathy yet. Or maybe you’re a total sociopath. Again, I don’t know. Why don’t you come out publicly so we can all judge you on your looks and the good works you’ve done?
dbmcvey
@jockboy1986: Really? I’m the one doing personal attacks because all the bitchiness on this board isn’t personal. I’m just stating the facts that what Bryboy and others on this board said isn’t anything more than bitchiness. Especially considering that there are people on this site (myself included) who knew and loved this guy. Your comments are just as personal and you both are hypocrites.
expressionlessanger
@dbmcvey: *YAWN* One thing I’ve learned in my decades of therapy is this. You’d be a lot happier if you learn to affirm your own opinions without needing to slam detractors. It’s your choice but from the sidelines, you look like a holier-than-thou prick. I found Shafer attractive, but I respect those who don’t.
expressionlessanger
@dbmcvey: LOL. Read his comment again. He said that HE wrote that he may be too young. Nasty? Sociopath? Please show where he was nasty. Wow, way to take the discussion personally. Instead of focusing on the blog’s topic, you chose to focus on bryguy, It’s kinda sad. Actually, it’s very sad.
RyanMBecker
@dbmcvey: When I was in debate team, I was warned about people like you. When I was in couples therapy, I again was warned about people like you. People who attack the person and his supposed motives rather than the discuss the issue. Here’s the scoop: It adds nothing to the discussion and just makes you look petty and desperate. I, for one, don’t find Dirk attractive either. But that doesn’t make him a bad person, and it doesn’t make me a bad person. Unfortunately, you can’t separate the two and want to place a moral label on those who don’t share your taste. Every post just digs your hole deeper.
RyanMBecker
Am surprised by this news. We saw Dirk just a few months ago and he seemed fine. of course,we didn’t now him well enough to know his medical history. Right now, very little is known. Not even a toxicology report, or the condition of the car. Were the windows open? Was it running, getting ready to drive? My guess is either a heart attack or drug overdose. Or a heart attacked caused by drugs.
AHappyMom
I’m a middleaged straight woman (and proud faghag) so my perspective is somewhat unique, I guess. Especially since I’m probably the only one here who actually owned the original Playgirl mag. Actually, it belonged to my college roommate. And yes, we thought he was hot. Strangely , I just looked back at the 1992 photos and am now thinking, he was ok, but not centerfold material. I guess tastes change as we grow. So who knows, maybe @bryguyf69 will find him hot one day.
As for @dbmcvey’s comments, you remind me of the Justin bieber zombies that make up my daughter’s world. They would say things like “you’re just jealous” or “if you don’t think hes hot, why don’t you pose naked?” as if either had anything to do with Bieber. It would do you well to act more adult if you want to be taken seriously. And keep in mind that this is not your blog. You don’t get to tell others what to say and how to say it. Just some motherly advice.
Re: peaceful dying. If he was high and drugged out, he would not have felt any pain from a heart attack. Would it have been peaceful? That depends on if he was high and euphoric, or having scary visions.
tusgold
well what you say people does not go without merit. I am 56 and I see the good looking guys who tricked all the time alone at the end of the bar hoping to cath a twink. The problem lies in they do not develop relationship skills. Some people marry 7 times and never develop them. I am with my lover 25 years he is 14 years younger. I knew at 33 it was time to pick the one my clock was ticking. I had friends say having just one guy how boring you are crazy. I had gone through the trick stage which ended about 15 young for some and had numerous relationships that increasingly lasted longer until I found my prince. As for addiction in the gay community it is rampant. The rate of drug and alcohol abuuse is staggering and killinng our community directly like an overdose or indirectly aids, car wrecks health issssues liver and kidney especially.
Addiction and promiscuity are the primary factors for almost all the problems in LGBT community.
da90027
I just dont get why any post about this guy dying should mention whether he was hot or not. The guy used to go to my gym seemed nice and really that is all we leave as a memory when we die is how we treated others. Even if he was high on cocaine when he died he still deserves sympathy i dont think he would want his appearance dissected. Its not relevant to him dying young. Decorum and tact, empathy and compassion are generally not learned in school you have it or you dont.
stan2015
His film saved my life. That film showed me if I came out (At the time I saw it I never been with a guy) I could have a happy life. That was in 1996. 2 years later I met my now husband of 16 years!
Had it not been for that film I would of been dead.
Abu
I remember well going to his movie at the gay film festival in Tampa, FL. He was there with his partner. Nice guy and personable. RIP
DORIS DEY
Sad that at 52(ancient for LA), that he was still treading the boards of WeHo trying to stay physically “viable”, posing nude and finally dying in his car undiscovered for 2 days…there shoulda be more than this…
Of course the average empty headed gay man will label him a gay “icon”, cause he died “hot” and will focus solely on this as his legacy…
DORIS DEY
@da90027: Sadly in the gay community now, all that matters is the superficial and being “hot”…
dwes09
@Bryguyf69: When you are so shallow as to engage in the kind of speculation you do, you are fair game.
jockboy1986
@dwes09: Shallow? Hardly. If you actually bother to read his posts. they were actually thoughtful. Care you quote what you found “shallow”? And the fact that you think that personal attacks are EVER justified shows how shallow and immature you are. In fact, your comment adds nothing to the topic.
ShowMeGuy
@Oli1023: A heart attack would do it….and it doesn’t take a history of recreational drugs to get you there either.