CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Mark Stone, the veteran adult film director and beloved member of the AVN family who was one of the original creative forces behind the AVN Awards Show, died Thursday from liver cancer. He was 61.
Stone, who was diagnosed with stage four of the disease in August, had been in hospice care since Saturday.
Born Mark Miller in Fayetteville, N.C., Stone grew up in Rochester, N.Y., starting his adult industry career in 1982 as a salesman.
He later became one of the three originators of the AVN Awards Show, which will hold its 34th annual ceremony on January 21 in Las Vegas. Stone, along with AVN founder Paul Fishbein and Executive Producer Gary Miller, who is Mark’s younger brother, built what began as a corporate event in the 1980s into the entertainment show it is today that has become known around the world as the premier adult industry awards ceremony.
"Mark was a larger than life character and a big part of the birth of the home video adult industry,” Fishbein said Thursday. “He was really talented, was a big part of helping grow the AVN Awards, and was a creative and original voice in an industry that rewards imitators."
A gifted musician who played electric guitar, Stone was the musical director and producer of the AVN Awards since its inception. He not only worked behind the scenes on the production, he became a signature part of the live show as the charismatic leader of the AVN Orchestra.
“He was my brother and my best friend in the world,” Gary Miller said. “We came to L.A. together to pursue musical careers originally and then wound up in the adult industry.
“He loved being the creative person doing the different productions that he did, but his real passion was the music and he loved doing that show for everybody. He loved putting together the music for it. For him it was never about the money, it was always about doing something great and doing something big that everybody enjoyed.”
In addition to performing live, Stone also wrote, produced and directed the AVN Awards Show musical acts. Two of his recent production numbers included the terrific performance on stage by Tommy Pistol and Alexis Texas at the 2015 AVN Awards; and the outrageous duet by Anikka Albrite and Joanna Angel this past January.
In recent years Stone also performed with the porn biz rock band Gangbang, which featured Evan Stone (vocals), Barrett Blade (bass) and Dale DaBone (drums) jamming at various adult industry parties. Stone also led the band playing at the 32nd annual XRCO Awards in June in Hollywood.
“He was a musician ever since he was 10 years old,” Miller continued. “He was an awesome, amazing guitar player as anyone whose ever been to one of his show’s would attest to. That was in essence who he was. His passion and love was always music.”
But Stone also had a flair for comedy that came through in some of his campy porn movies as well as the scores of comedy bits he produced for the AVN Awards Show that have long featured some of the biggest stars in adult.
“He was always looking for a laugh,” Miller said. “He was always looking for the humor in life. All those comedy bits you’ve seen over the years, most of them were conceived, written, produced and directed by Mark.”
An accomplished videographer and director who helmed 100-plus adult films during his 26-year career behind the camera, Stone was a seasoned shooter for Wicked Pictures, directing more than 50 movies for the couples friendly studio dating back to 1995.
He shot 12 volumes of Wicked’s Hook-ups series from 2002-06 and six editions of Reform School Girls from 2006-10. His most recent title that hit the streets in April was the all-girl Bad Girls Boot Camp.
Stone in the ’90s co-owned the gonzo studio Moonlight Entertainment, producing and directing more than 40 titles, including nine volumes of Radical Affairs from ’92-95 and five volumes of Sex Trek from ’90-95.
As news of Stone's passing circulated Thursday evening, tributes came from all over. Performer Seth Gamble tweeted that Stone picked him up during a period he was down.
Wicked Girl jessica drake posted a remembrance on Facebook before she took the stage to feature dance.
"I'm in New York hosting the grand opening of a new club, having to be 'on' and sexy and naked, but I'm sad," drake wrote. "I learned right before I went onstage that Mark Stone passed away. He directed for Wicked. He shot BTS for us. Every time I presented or accepted an award onstage at the AVN show, he was playing guitar right behind me. I knew him for so long, he was loud and he loves dogs and he was funny and such a character. I hadn't been particularly close to him in years, but we lost a great guy.
"He was so woven into the industry for years and years. My heart goes out to his family and friends. It's always my hope that we can and will help each other and take care of one another."
Director David Lord also remembered Stone in social media posts, saying, "You were an amazingly talented person. There is a hole in this industry that will never be filled. Good journey to you sir! #RIPMarkstone."
Performer/agent Eric Masterson tweeted his condolences, noting Stone "was always a pleasure to be around."
Hall of Fame performer and current Vivid Radio host, Christy Canyon, took to Twitter to say, "I'm heartbroken Mark Stone passed today...the 1st time I met you and your brother you two were shippers at Paradise Visuals. Nicest man :("
Nexxxt Level Talent co-owner and Wicked director, Jonathan Morgan, also paid respects on Twitter, saying, "Today the Porn World just got a little smaller upon hearing the sad news that my friend & colleague Mark Stone passed away. RIP my friend."
Director Michael Ninn, who often had Stone manning a camera on his crew, posted a photo of them from the set with the message, "There was never a time I heard his name I did not smile... until today. I will miss you Mark Stone. My condolences to his family and many, many friends."
Meanwhile industry photographer Chris King created a video reel in Stone's memory, posting it on his Twitter page @ReelSeduction.
"The music behind the AVN Awards... A tribute to the master," King tweeted, introducing the clip.
On the GoFundMe page that was set up to help Stone with his medical expenses, his 23-year-old niece Lia shared what her uncle meant to her.
“My Uncle Mark has always been filled with compassion and kindness towards others, including his beloved dogs,” Lia wrote. “When I was a little girl, I always remembered feeling so proud that he was my Uncle. All of my friends would always come over when he was visiting so they could play with him. There was just something about him that was infectious—he brought out the best in everyone around him.
“When it comes to his family, he always loved to make everyone laugh and to entertain them with his music. I will always treasure the memories that I have of all of us at family gatherings, and him playing Frank Sinatra on the guitar. The family loved it—especially his mom (Baba) and Aunt Sant. Never in a million years did I think that something so terrible could happen to someone so wonderful.”
Gary Miller said the family was grateful for the outpouring of support after the fundraiser was posted.
“It was unbelievable how so many people went to the GoFundMe page and sent him and me well wishes. He really appreciated it and so did I,” Miller said. “It was nice to see he had so many people in the industry that really cared about him.”
