Terry Mahaffey, principal and president of Falcon Studios, died on Sunday from complications resulting from cancer treatment, the studio announced in a press release today. He was 51.
Mahaffey was born in Waco, Texas, and grew up in Dallas. He received a degree in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. Mahaffey was a model, dancer, and actor in the Dallas and Houston theater communities until 1980, when he joined the gay adult entertainment industry as a movie distribution representative for LeSalon.
Mahaffey was mentored by Falcon Studios founder and gay adult film pioneer Charles Holmes who brought him to Falcon Studios in 1996. Throughout his tenure with the company, Mahaffey provided the creative vision, attention to detail, and commitment to quality that enabled Falcon Studios to maintain its leadership in the industry.
In 2004, Mahaffey joined business partners, Steve Johnson and Todd Montgomery, to create 3 Media Corporation, an entertainment/media investment firm, which bought Falcon Studios from the Charles M. Holmes Foundation. Mahaffey had continued to be actively engaged in the day-to-day operations of Falcon Studios as a principal of the company.
“Terry was passionate about Falcon Studios and the industry,” Montgomery said. “He has been the heart and soul of the company — we were all inspired by his incessant energy and flair for making the ordinary extraordinary. The entire staff of Falcon Studios mourns him.”
Mahaffey died peacefully at home supported by his partner, Michael Scott.
Memorial services will be held in San Francisco on Saturday, Nov. 12. Details regarding times and location will be published later this week.
Memorials may be made in Terry Mahaffey’s name to the Sutter VNA & Hospice Foundation, 1900 Powell St., Suite 300, Emeryville, CA, 510-450-8724. Donation forms can be downloaded at vnahospicefoundation.org.
