LAS VEGAS—Pioneering adult industry attorney Clyde DeWitt died Saturday night in hospice in Las Vegas after an extended battle with cancer, AVN has learned. He was 75.
AVN founder Paul Fishbein relayed the news Sunday morning of DeWitt's passing, explaining that though his cancer had been in remission, it resurfaced following a recent liver transplant he received; due to the anti-rejection medication he was on for the new liver, he was unable to receive chemotherapy treatment.
DeWitt began specializing in adult industry litigation in 1980. He was a partner for 27 years in the law firm Weston, Garrou & DeWitt, and handled all manner of industry cases, including obscenity trials, trademark and copyright disputes, unfair competition suits and more.
He also served as a consultant and contributor to AVN practically since its inception, penning the column "Legalese" until 2017.
In 2010, DeWitt was immortalized in an episode of the CBS drama The Defenders, which was based on the Las Vegas criminal defense firm Cristalli & Saggese, to which he became "of coursel" in 2008. In the episode, he was played by veteran actor Bruce Jarchow, who donned DeWitt's signature glasses and hat for the role. Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell portrayed the firm's two partners.
"He was a big part of AVN," Fishbein said Sunday. "He was a great columnist for us for 30 years. And when all the video production companies and distributors were facing prosecution, he was there spearheading the fight.
"But more than that, he was just a really good guy. A truly decent person."
Fishbein went on to share, "I went to see him in the hospital Thursday, and when I got there, he was kind of out of it. But he actually managed to come around and he was lucid, and funny, and we had a great conversation. So I said goodbye to him, and I could not be more happy that I was able to do that."
DeWitt is survived by his wife Cherie Lee Williams-DeWitt, who posted to her Facebook account Sunday: "I am sad to report that my husband, Clyde DeWitt, passed away last night. He fought cancer in many forms. He finally decided that his time was finished. He impacted so many people as he fought for the first amendment for many years. ... I will do a Celebration of his amazing life in the future."
