Ryan Idol

Ryan Idol (born Marc Anthony Donais, 10 August 1964)^[1] is an American actor who performed in gay pornographic movies in the 1990s and later onstage in mainstream theater. He has French, Irish, and Native-American ancestry.^[1] Idol describes himself as "the creation of Marc Anthony Donais."^[2]

Biography

In February 1989, Idol appeared as the "Man of the Month" centerfold in Playgirl under his birth name Marc Anthony Donais.^[2] This appearance launched his modeling career and introduced him to the adult film industry, in which he achieved notoriety and success under the name Ryan Idol. Idol retired from the adult industry in 1996.

On March 20, 1998, Idol was seriously injured after jumping through a window of his third-floor apartment in an attempted suicide in New York City. He considers the fall to be a "near-death experience".^[3] Idol has stated that he doesn't recall jumping but that "the drugs and alcohol took over".^[4][5]

Moving into theater acting, in 1999, Idol starred in the play Making Porn.^[6] Idol next played "Bill Tom" in the play Scent of Rain (subtitled Scent of Rain: A Love Story Really!), a play written by Mark Dunn,^[2] for which he was lauded for "continu[ing] to establish himself as a capable actor".^[7] Idol made his Broadway debut when he played the "Crisco Patron" in the Roundabout Theater Company's 2007 revival of Terrence McNally's The Ritz.^[8]

Regarding his sexuality, Idol stated, "I don't like to label myself.... I'd just like to say I'm a loving person. I can love a man and I can love a woman."^[3]

Legal charges

Court documents related to a lawsuit filed by HealthSouth over allegations of misuse of funds donated to Birmingham, Alabama, mayor Larry Langford's Computer Help for Kids charity mentioned Idol under his real name. The papers showed that $30,000 was paid to Idol, with $5,000 coming from the charity and $25,000 from the Council of Cooperating Governments. Charity director John Katopodis testified in a deposition that Idol was paid to repair computers and to set up computer giveaway programs in other areas.^[9] Idol testified that, because of his 1998 fall, he was "not at [his] full faculties" and could not recall the details of his time with the organization.^[10]

A Sacramento Superior Court jury convicted Idol on September 20, 2011 of attempted murder for smashing his girlfriend over the head with a toilet tank lid. He was also convicted of battery, assault with a deadly weapon and "corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant".^[11] Sentencing was scheduled for December 9, 2011.^[12] however when he appeared, his attorney requested to be withdrawn from the case. The request was granted. Idol then appeared in court on January 13, 2012 requesting a retrial "citing ineffective assistance of counsel". He was sentenced to 12 years in state prison September 27, 2012.^[13] He is housed at the California Valley State Prison, sensitive needs yard (protective custody).^[14]

Videography

• Idol In The Sky (1996)
• The Road Home (1996)
• Idol Country (1994)^[15]
• Idol Thoughts (1993)
• Trade Off (1992)
• Score 10 (1991)
• Idol Worship (1991)
• Idol Eyes (1990)^[16]

Theater

• Making Porn (1996–2001, New York (off Broadway), touring Francisco, Miami, San Diego, Seattle, Chicago)
• Scent of Rain as Bill Tom (2001-2003, Chicago, Los Angeles) (credited as Ryan Idol)
• The Ritz as Crisco Patron (credited as Marc Antony Donais)

References

External links

• Ryan Idol website
• Ryan Idol at the Internet Movie Database