CHATSWORTH, Calif. — AVN Hall of Fame director Robby D. passed away on Thursday in Los Angeles, multiple sources have confirmed.
The cause of D.’s death had not been confirmed at press time. He was 54.
One of the most versatile, prolific directors of the past 20 years, Robby D.’s almost 300 movies for Digital Playground helped define an era of adult filmmaking.
D. directed dozens of titles for Vivid Entertainment Group before leaving in 2003 to join Digital Playground, where his signature Jack’s Playground series received critical acclaim, including the 2005 AVN Award for Best Gonzo Series.
He went on to win the 2007 AVN Award for Best POV Series for Jack's POV, 2008's Best Specialty Series – Other Genre for Jack's Leg Show and Best Vignette Release for Babysitters.
In 2009, the native of Long Beach, Calif. captured the AVN Award for Best POV Release for Jack's POV 9, and both Best Vignette Release and Top Renting and Selling Release for Digital Playground’s Cheerleaders.
D., whose own production label was Handheld Pictures, called the shots for more than 370 titles in a career that started in 1998. He studied cinematography and directing at UCLA film school, reaching out to several studios for work before Vivid finally gave him a shot.
He built his resume with titles such as Action Sports Sex, The Watcher and Color Blind before landing at Digital Playground in 2003, where he became a creative force at one of the industry’s premier studios for more than a decade.
His first project for the company was a two-day feature, Suite 101. Not long after, he created Jack’s Playground, which reached 38 volumes in the ensuing five years, along with spinoff series such as Jack’s Teen America (23 volumes), Jack’s POV (19 volumes), Jack’s Big Ass Show and Jack’s Big Tit Show.
A 2014 inductee into the AVN Hall of Fame, D.’s range included shooting hard-edge gonzo titles, big-budget ensemble features and stylized showpieces in exotic locales such as Bora Bora.
He also worked closely with Digital Playground founder Joone on iconic, award-winning titles such as the Pirates and Island Fever franchises, which helped propel contract girls such as Tera Patrick and Jesse Jane to global superstardom.
His body of work also included acclaimed features such as Digital Playground’s Fighters, Top Guns, Bridesmaids, Code of Honor, Body Heat and Babysitters 2.
“I’m numb,” said Samantha Lewis, the former Digital Playground president and CEO. “I’m still trying to process it. He was so young and he was such a big part of the Digital Playground family. I mean everyday I would see him. He was beyond talented. He was just a pleasure. It’s very, very sad.”
Lewis told AVN that D.’s work was synonymous with Digital Playground’s brand of high-end filmmaking.
“We were definitely on the cutting edge and Robby was right there for all of it,” Lewis continued. “Everyone loved Robby. He was a team player who worked tirelessly from the beginning to the end of any project.
“… My heart and my thoughts are with his family.”
Digital Playground founder Joone told AVN Friday that Robby joined the company at a pivotal moment.
“When he came on board we were just starting to make bigger productions,” Joone said. “He really became part of our family. He was a friend and he shared the same regard for filmmaking as we did.
“It’s just so sad to hear that he’s gone because we had so many adventures together. I’m still trying to get my head around it.”
Joone said one thing that made collaborating with D. such a rewarding experience was that “it was always about making great movies with Robby.
“It wasn’t just that we’re making ‘porn.’ For every project it was, ‘How do we make this better?’” Joone continued. “We always looked at ourselves as filmmakers. We shared the same sensibilities. We wanted the same thing.
“And on top of that, he was a good guy. He treated his [crew] people really well. I’ll never forget traveling with him to the different countries and shooting because we would always have such a great time and so many great stories that we would just look back and laugh at.”
Joone said D. “always wanted the best for everybody.”
“He would always cheer for you,” Joone added. “If two people were trying to fight he would get in between and try to solve it. He was just a good person and very loyal. I’m gonna miss him.”
Veteran production manager and producer Marc Kramer worked closely with D. for more than a decade at Digital Playground.
“We were all like a family. I was with him every day,” Kramer said Friday. “He was someone that was great at what he did and he had a heart of gold. He was a pioneer. He was very instrumental in what this industry is now.
"Besides working on Pirates and the other features we shot, he wrote every script and directed it and shot camera. He was an amazing individual and an all-around good guy.
“He knew how to get performances out of people. He was a real director.”
Veteran publicist Adella Curry, who led the PR efforts for Digital Playground during their historic run, told AVN, "Robby was an artist."
"He thought about every shot, and every angle," Adella said. "He found beauty in everything. For many years he was the lens behind Digital Playground’s glory. From new genres like art house porn to lead camera on Pirates, Robby brought many of the iconic visions to life. He was also a loyal and sentimental friend. We have always stayed in touch and I will miss catching up with him."
Robby D. (right) on the set of Pirates.
