LOS ANGELES—Pioneering trans studio Grooby today issued a statement from its founder Steven Grooby notifying industry members of the death of longtime photographer-director Louie “Don” Damazo (aka Luiz Damazo).
“It's with a very heavy heart and an enormous amount of sadness that I announce the sudden death of Luiz Damazo on Saturday, August 29, at his home in Brazil, through natural causes. He was my friend, my brother, my compadre and my comic relief for over 25 years," Grooby said.
“Damazo was the life force that ran Brazilian Transsexuals and Grooby's Brazilian operation since 1999. He was an integral part of Grooby and one of the founding fathers of trans porn, likely the most prolific producer of trans content of all time, having worked with over 1,700 Brazilian trans models, debuting many and becoming a focal point for trans performers in Brazil and beyond.
“Farewell, my brother. You will never be forgotten. The stories are lore. And I know you'll be reading this smoking a cigar (probably backwards), eating a rare picanha, thinking of ways to annoy Frank and eyeing up some big-butted Brazilian girl. You were an original,” Grooby added.
"Luiz built something very significant in Brazil over many years. It was not only the websites or the films. It was the people he brought together, the relationships he built, the opportunities he created and the doors he opened for so many trans women who found a place in the industry through the work he developed. I was fortunate to be part of that journey and to learn from him along the way. For that reason, I feel that what he built deserves to be remembered not only as a business, but as an important part of his life and of the lives of many people he touched,” offered BrazilianTranssexuals.com producer and friend Andre.
A prolific director, Damazo was awarded a Lifetime Achievement “Behind the Camera” honor at the 2023 TEA Awards, among multiple industry award nominations and credits.
There was no information available on cause of death or survivors as of post time. Damazo listed his location as São Paolo, Brazil on his X account. On the Grooby X account, Damazo also was tributed as “The Godfather of Brazilian Trans Erotica.”