Colton Ford
The gay adult entertainment world, as well as the broader LGBTQ+ community, continues to mourn the passing of Colton Ford, who died on May 19, 2025, at the age of 62, reportedly due to a hiking accident in Palm Springs.
Born Glenn Soukesian on October 12, 1962, in Pasadena, Ford’s life was a testament to reinvention and breaking boundaries, transitioning from a notable career in adult film to establishing himself as a respected singer and mainstream actor.
Ford entered the adult film industry at the age of 39, a relatively late start that quickly garnered him significant attention for his distinctly muscular physique and charisma. His brief but impactful adult film career, spanning just over a year from 2001 to 2002, saw him make a dozen videos. He earned critical acclaim, including the GayVN Award for Gay Performer of the Year in 2003 and a Grabby Award for Best Group Sex Scene in “Conquered” (2002). Despite his success, he left the industry in 2002 to pursue his long-held musical aspirations.
His transition to mainstream entertainment was chronicled in the acclaimed 2005 documentary “Naked Fame,” which offered an intimate look at his journey. Ford retained his stage name, “Colton Ford,” for his music releases, signaling his openness about his past and challenging societal stigmas.
As a recording artist, Ford released several studio albums, including “Tug of War” (2008), “Under the Covers” (2009), and “The Way I Am” (2013), blending R&B and soul with dance music elements.His collaboration with Pepper MaShay on “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” (2004) and his song “Let Me Live Again” (2011) both charted on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs, showcasing his legitimate musical talent.He continued to release music, with his last single, “Handle It,” released in May 2023, and his final album, “Permission,” in October 2023.
Beyond music, Ford also carved out an acting career.He was well-known for his role as Sheriff Trout in the gay-themed TV series “The Lair” (2007–2009) and made cameo appearances in several LGBT-related feature films, including “Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!” and “The Next Best Thing.”He also ventured into theater, making his off-Broadway debut in 2011 with “Little House on the Ferry.”
Friends and industry peers, including director Chi Chi LaRue and fellow performer Dallas Steele, shared an outpouring of grief and tributes following his passing, remembering him as a “sweet, funny, kind, sassy – and hopelessly handsome” individual who was a “brilliant artist” with a “song in his heart.” His friend Tim Wood revealed details about the hiking accident, expressing profound sorrow at the sudden loss of a man who helped save his life years ago.
Colton Ford’s life story is one of courage, artistic exploration, and authenticity. He defied easy categorization, proving that talent and heart can transcend any industry and that it’s never too late to reinvent oneself. His legacy will undoubtedly endure in both the adult entertainment world and the broader cultural landscape, remembered for his unique contributions and his unwavering spirit.
