LOS ANGELES -- Writer-director Tony Lovett, whose career in the adult industry spanned film production and magazine publishing, died in his sleep early Sunday morning, according to a Facebook post by his wife Randi. He was 52.
Lovett became part of the adult industry in the mid-1980s as a staff member at VCA Pictures. He began as a publicist, wrote scripts (as Johnny Jump-Up) for The Dark Brothers, and later moved successfully into directing, using the name Antonio Passolini.
Among his movies were “Raw,” “Capt. Mongo’s Porno Playhouse,” “Café Flesh 2 & 3,” “New Wave Hookers 6 & 7” and the parodies “Ozporns” and “Ozporns Go to Hell.” His last VCA production was “Lezbo a Go-Go.”
In 2005 he joined AVN, where he created and edited the trade publication ANB (Adult Novelty Business) and its spin-off IAB (Intimate Apparel Business).
A freelance magazine writer before he entered adult, he co-authored, with Matt Maranian, two bestsellers: “L.A. Bizarro! The Insider’s Guide to the Obscure, The Absurd" and "The Perverse in Los Angeles" (1997) and its sequel “L.A. Bizarre: The All-New Insider’s Guide to The Obscure, The Absure and The Perverse in Los Angeles” (2009).
According to his wife, he had been in pain for some time. In addition to her, he is survived by his daughter Ivy.
