Dirk Alan Shafer (November 7, 1962 – March 5, 2015) was an American model, actor, screenwriter and director. Born in Carbondale, Illinois, he was most noted in the modeling world for having been Playgirl magazine's 1992 "Man of the Year". Shafer related that he did Playgirl for "validation" as a model because he never believed himself to be attractive.Kramer, p. 30 Shafer wrote, directed and starred in Man of the Year, a 1995 mockumentary about his time as a semi-closeted gay man in the role of a heterosexual sex symbol. Shafer's next directorial project was Circuit, a fictional look at the world of gay male circuit parties.
As of 2008, Shafer was working as a fitness trainer and certified Pilates instructor. In 2012, Shafer returned to the pages of Playgirl for a 20th anniversary photo spread in the August issue.Former Gay Playgirl Man of the Year Dirk Shaffer Returns 20 Years later and he is hotter than ever...
Shafer was found dead in a vehicle near his home in West Hollywood, California on March 5, 2015. Initial reports indicated he might have suffered a heart attack.'Man Of The Year's Dirk Shafer Found Dead Following an autopsy, however, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office determined Shafer's death was the result of "methamphetamine and cocaine toxicity", with hypertensive cardiovascular disease possibly being a contributing factor.Cocaine, meth blamed in ex-centerfold's death in West Hollywood
Shafer is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.Death of WeHo's Dirk Shafer is Attributed to Meth and Cocaine
Filmography
As actor Will & Grace episode "Cheaters" - Blaze (2001) Man of the Year - Himself (1995)
As director Circuit (2002) Man of the Year (1995)
As writer Circuit (2002) (with Gregory Hinton) Man of the Year (1995) Inside Out II (segment "Double Vision") (1992)
Notes
References Kramer, Gary M. (2006). Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews. Haworth Press. .
External links
on Find A Grave