David Forest Dead at 66

PHOTO BY VINCENT LAMBERT

Sad news over the holiday weekend: Industry veteran David Forest has passed away. An obituary in The L.A. Times yesterday confirmed that the flamboyant talent agent and manager died on August 13 from complications due to diabetes. Forest, 66, had recently suffered a heart attack and a broken leg but, in his usual fashion, appeared to be bouncing back.

Following a successful career in music, booking acts such as the Grateful Dead and Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham (before Fleetwood Mac), Forest made a name for himself in gay porn by managing a veritable who’s who of big-name stars. He formed his company in 1981 and oversaw the careers of Jeremy Scott, Leo Ford, Tim Kramer and Lance, among others. In the early ’90s, Forest signed Ryan Idol, Ken Ryker, Kevin Williams and Tom Katt. The Forest roster continued to grow in 2000 with the addition of Billy Herrington, Jeff Palmer, Billy Brandt, Eric Hanson, Jeremy Tucker, Caesar and Chris Steele. In recent years, Forest has managed superstars such as Mark Dalton, Rod Barry, Zeb Atlas, Johnny Castle and Tony Capucci.

At various times over his 35-year career, he was incarcerated on pandering charges, retired, sold his company, entered rehab, relaunched his escorting service and worked on his autobiography (tentatively titled From Rock to Cock). Somehow Forest, often a controversial figure in the porn world, always returned to the business he loved. For Los Angeles readers, a “Celebration of Life” service will be held this Friday, September 11, at 11 am at Hillside Mortuary (6001 W. Centinela Ave.).