Gay adult film star Roman Mercury’s death confirmed by close friend

The passing of gay adult film star Roman Mercury, at age 45, has been confirmed with new information provided to Out by his friend and industry colleague, Greg Dixxon. Both adult film performers, Dixxon and Mercury not only worked together on various projects but also shared a genuine friendship and bond.

The announcement of Mercury’s death was initially made by Greg Dixxon on February 27 through a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“With profound sadness, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of @romanmercury_,” Dixxon wrote. “Roman left us unexpectedly, leaving behind a legacy of passion, talent, and kindness that touched the lives of so many around the world.” He continued, “His family will spread his ashes in the ocean near his favorite place to live in Southern California. Roman, you will always be missed, but never forgotten!”

Despite Mercury’s passing being shared informally via X/Twitter and just before the untimely death of Tim Kruger, it was somewhat overshadowed in the news and on social media.

According to ‘Yahoo! News’, to officially confirm the news and gather more details on Mercury’s life and legacy, Out contacted Dixxon, who offered insights about Mercury both on and off camera. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Mercury had been living and working in the U.S. for years. According to the Internet Adult Film Database (IAFD), he had 89 performance credits with brands such as Raging Stallion, RawFuckClub, TopFanVids, TheBroNetwork, Pantheon Productions, and MenAtPlay, among others. At the time of his passing, Mercury's career was thriving, with 411,000 followers on X/Twitter, popular pages on OnlyFans and JustFor.Fans, and his first nominations for the GayVN Awards in 2025.

“I was first attracted to him by his signature black arm band; the tall, dark, handsome Brazilian looks; and, after chatting, his charm,” Dixxon tells Out about Mercury. “The first night I met him, we filmed, and his friendly demeanor instantly sparked a chemistry that carried throughout [that experience]. We wanted to hang out after, and where did we go? In-N-Out Burger.”

During dinner, Dixxon got to know more about Mercury, discovering that he was married to a man he loved deeply, was interested in music production, and had a background in gymnastics. Dixxon remarked, “Isn't this 6' 2" muscle man a bit tall for gymnastics?” He also inquired about Mercury's mysterious arm band, to which Mercury replied, “One day I will tell you,” adding to his enigmatic air.

Dixxon shared some personal details about Mercury, making sure to be respectful and considerate of others who were grieving Mercury’s loss before making any statements. “Sadly, Roman's husband passed away last year, leaving him lonely and crushed,” Dixxon adds. “Even in the midst of this loss, Roman was very persistent, intelligent, and organized.”

Dixxon was informed by the family that Mercury’s death was attributed to hypertensive cardiovascular disease, meaning he suffered from a heart attack. “Although his physical heart had issues, his spiritual heart always shined by helping others. I'd like to believe that he is now in the heavens back with his husband,” Dixxon noted.

He further commented, “Although he worked in the adult industry, Roman was so much more than that. His legacy shall live on.” Dixxon noted Mercury’s significant impact on the adult film industry through professional studio shoots and collaborations.

“He had a passion for the work he did. His goal was to entertain the viewer with something memorable,” Dixxon says. “And being smart, he wasn't a know-it-all. He was willing to learn and share experiences that helped other creators.”

Dixxon recalled making plans to hang out with Mercury whenever they were filming together, describing moments like grabbing Starbucks, taking car selfies, and having conversations that bonded them as friends, praising Mercury’s sense of humour.

After filming the Grabbys-nominated ‘Executive Order’ with Raging Stallion’s director Steve Cruz, Dixxon, along with his partner Bruce Jones, took Mercury to their favourite restaurant, The Tropicale in Palm Springs. There, Mercury surprised them by speaking Russian to the waitress, showcasing his ability to speak four languages, including Portuguese and Spanish. He learned Russian while training for gymnastics in Russia.

Dixxon also reflected on his last interactions with Mercury, noting some unclear comments Mercury had made at the time that didn’t seem immediately concerning. Since they filmed content at Bruce's place for their fan-page collaborations, Mercury mentioned feeling more exhausted and unhappy with his medications, planning to consult his doctor. Their last filming together was in Las Vegas during the AVN Awards, weeks prior to Mercury's death. Beforehand, Mercury texted Dixxon expressing affection and expressing a desire to change up roles in their usual shoots with Steve Cruz as the filmmaker.

They had planned to go out that night but didn’t, marking the last time Dixxon saw Mercury.