MIAMI — Harlan Yaffe, who co-founded gay adult production company Pride Studios in the early 2000s, has passed away. He was 56.
Yaffe, according to brother Hal Yaffe, passed away peacefully on Monday.
“Harlan had been stoic and not discussing his health in public,” Hal Yaffe said. “He had very recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and was supposed to get the test results of a biopsy on Feb. 7.
“Unfortunately, his illness had already spread through his body and he is now at peace and with our parents. Harlan was a gift to this world and treasure to humanity. RIP Big Brother.”
Pride Studios, founded in 2002 and co-founded by Joe Sterner, operated a number of sites like ExtraBigDicks.com, MenOver30.com, CircleJerkBoys.com, 1GayPass.com and BoyzParty.com. It also operated the PrideBucks affiliate program.
In 2013, Gamma Entertainment’s Buddy Profits affiliate program acquired all of the assets of Pride Studios and integrated them under the Buddy Profits program.
After the sale to Gamma, Harlan Yaffe told XBIZ that, “From the very beginning, we [were] committed to offering the finest quality content delivered with great attention to detail. Buddy Profits, and its dedication to excellence, represent the ideal team to carry on our legacy and will without a doubt, continue to raise the bar for the highest standards in gay entertainment.”
Yaffe later wrote for XBIZ World as a regular columnist and also operated his own website, HarlanYaffe.com, with his worldly views on a variety of subjects. He also contributed to NakedSword’s gay porn blog, TheSword.com.
Rainey Stricklin, a longtime online adult marketer who worked for Harlan Yaffe at PrideBucks, said that she was “devastated to learn that my dear, dear friend Harlan has passed.”
“I'm in shock, really ... trying to wrap my head around a world without Harlan B. Yaffe,” Stricklin said on Facebook. “Harlan came into my life like a whirlwind (how else?) at a party in Hollywood, Fla., about 15 years ago and forever changed my life.
“We went on to work closely together (with Joseph Sterner and David Brinton) but more importantly, we became family. He was intelligent, sarcastic, bombastic and fiercely loyal. He was the funniest person I know. He was the kind of friend that picked up an actual phone on my birthday on top of creating some clever meme on Facebook. He was the Lucy to my Desi.
“Harlan loved to laugh and to make people laugh. He brought light and love to every room he entered. Forgive me if I'm not laughing now, my friend, but knowing this earth doesn't have you anymore has broken my heart. I love you always.”
As news of Harlan Yaffe's passing reached social media, numerous industry associates chimed in.
Jeff Dillon, via Facebook, said: "Heartbreaking. One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met."
Todd Spaits, via Facebook, said: "Rest in peace Harlan. We haven't spoken face to face or in person in a number of years, but our social banter and connection will be missed. See you on the other side."
Kevin Blatt, via Facebook, said: "Sad to learn of the unexpected passing of Harlan Yaffe. He was a real mensch, and someone I always would look forward to seeing at various trade shows over the years. You will be missed. Baruch dayan ha'emet."
Hal Yaffe said there will be more details about Harlan Yaffe’s celebration of life and memorial for his friends and family.
