Ryan Idol (born August 10, 1966) is an American gay pornographic film actor who performed in the 1990s and later onstage in mainstream theater. He has French, Irish, and Native American ancestry. Idol describes himself as "the creation of Marc Anthony Donais." Biography Idol was raised in a series of foster homes as a child. He never knew his father, and had little contact with his mother while growing up. After high school, Idol spent a brief period in the United States Navy, then worked as a construction worker. To generate income, he began stripping for women in nightclubs in New England. He was approached to do a nude layout for Playgirl, and in February 1989 appeared as the "Man of the Month" centerfold under his birth name Marc Anthony Donais. This appearance launched his career in the adult film industry, in which he achieved notoriety and success under the name Ryan Idol. At the height of his career, he claimed to earn $50,000 per film, and made tens of thousands of dollars more stripping at gay clubs around the United States. He also engaged in a limited amount of prostitution. He retired from adult films in 1996. On March 20, 1998, Idol was seriously injured after jumping through a window of his fourth-floor apartment in New York City in an attempted suicide. He considers the fall to be a "near-death experience". Idol has stated that he doesn't recall jumping but that "the drugs and alcohol took over". Moving into theater acting, in 1999, Idol starred in the play Making Porn. Idol next played "Bill Tom" in the play Scent of Rain (subtitled Scent of Rain: A Love Story Really!), a play written by Mark Dunn, for which he was lauded for "continu[ing] to establish himself as a capable actor". Idol made his Broadway debut when he played the "Crisco Patron" in the Roundabout Theater Company's 2007 revival of Terrence McNally's The Ritz. Regarding his sexuality, Idol stated, "I don't like to label myself.... I'd just like to say I'm a loving person. I can love a man and I can love a woman." Legal charges Donais' legal troubles started in 1987 when he was in the U.S. Navy stationed in Hawaii. After only serving 11 months he was court marshaled and convicted of assault and battery on an officer. Donais did time in the Brig and received a dishonorable