Retired Performer Kyle Ross Dies in Car Accident

CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Longtime Helix Studios contract performer Kyle Ross—who Str8UpGayPorn called "arguably the most well-known and prolific Helix model of all time"—was killed in a single-car crash last weekend in Florida, according to multiple reports. He was 29. Helix announced the news Tuesday night via Twitter with a post reading in part: "We are heartbroken to confirm that ... @KyleRossXXX has passed away as the result of a solo car accident this past weekend, no foul play is suspected. His family is devastated and asks for privacy during this time." Ross announced his retirement from performing at the 2020 GayVN Awards ceremony during the group acceptance speech for Helix's Best Feature win for Vegas Nights, also noting that he planned to move behind the scenes at the studio. Then just last month, he announced via Twitter, "I've decided to pursue my dreams and explore opportunities outside of my role at Helix Studios. Thank you for your support and love throughout my journey with Helix Studios. I'm excited to share my future endeavors with you and I can't wait to see what the future holds." After the news of Ross' passing broke Tuesday night, his former boyfriend and fellow Helix exclusive, Max Carter, who stopped performing and departed Helix concurrently with Ross, tweeted: "Rip to the my best friend! He has always been there for me when times were tough. Always helped me out whenever I needed it most. I will forever miss you. You left too soon. Words can’t even describe how much you meant to me. Life won’t be the same without you here." Though details about the exact time and cause of Ross' car crash are not yet known, he did establish via his Twitter account that he had been vacationing in the Florida Keys, and he documented through a series of videos on his feed starting just after midnight Sunday that he had been turned away from boarding his American Airlines flight from Miami to San Diego due to having failed to submit documentation for his service dog Hank 48 hours before the flight. He subsequently rented a car that he slept in because he was unable to find a hotel with any vacancies. A sufferer of multiple sclerosis, Ross had a supply in his luggage of the treatment medication Kesimpta, which must be kept cold, and it got warmed up and possibly degraded during the night by the South Florida heat. In the final video he posted, he was seen making an attempt to save the medication by placing it in a bag of ice he purchased at a gas station. Born in Southlake, Texas, Ross entered adult in 2012 and shot roughly 75 scenes through 2020, all for Helix, according to IAFD.com. Fellow Helix alum Liam Riley on Wednesday morning told AVN, "My heart sank to my stomach when I first heard the news about Kyle Ross. I'm flooded with all the memories I ever had with Kyle. If you're a Helix model within the last DECADE you know Kyle Ross. I remember walking into Helix in 2013 for the first time in San Diego—Kyle had just started working in the office. I thought of Kyle as professional, charismatic, he was the standard of what a Helix model should be. Kyle was the first person to teach me how to navigate and grow my affiliate program. Kyle was the big brother—not to just myself but hundreds of models over the years. "When I think of Kyle Ross I think of Max Carter, the duo always invited me over to their San Diego home, play with their dog Jake, and offered friendship when I didn't know anyone in the industry," Riley added. "My heart goes out to his friends and family and all the fans who loved Kyle. I'll forever remember his kindness and fun times we shared at Helix." Photo of Kyle Ross and his dog Hank from twitter.com/KyleRossXXX.