Clay Adler, a young actor who got his start on the MTV reality TV series entitledNewport Harbor: The Real Orange County,passed awayfrom a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The reality star and actor was just 27 years old at the time of his death, which happened during a desert trip with his friends. After news of his suicide spread earlier today, MTV released the following brief statement.
“We are saddened by the news ofClay Adler’s passing. Ourthoughts and prayersare with his family and friends at this time.”
Law enforcement sources toldTMZthatClay Adlerhad gone on a trip to the desert to do some shooting with his friends on March 25. While in the middle of firing,Clay Aldlertook the gun, turned it on himself, and fired a shot into his head. Thelate reality starpassed away from the gunshot wound in the hospital on March 26. The site’s sources claim thatClay Adlerhad no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his passing, but the site claims that he struggled with mental health issues in the past.
The MTV reality seriesNewport Harbor: The Real Orange Countyran for just two seasons between 2007 and 2008 created byLiz Gateley, who has worked on hit MTV reality shows such asTeen Mom,The HillsandThe City. After the show went off the air,Clay Adlerstarred in a CBS pilot calledThe Fish Tank, where he had a small role alongsideDrake Bell,Andrew Caldwell,Lyndsey Fonseca,Faith FordandDash Mihok. The pilot, which was created byJosh GoldsmithandCathy Yuspa(‘Til Death), followed a teenager who had the house to himself five days a week, but i wasn’t picked up by CBS. Thelate actoralso guest-starred on a 2009 episode ofMake It or Break It, and he was also said to be very close friends withJennifer Lawrence, who were both coming up through the industry at the same time.
Clay Adlerwas also an avid surfer, and it was reported that, over the weekend, a group of his friends and family membershonored his memorywith a “paddle out” in Newport Beach. Another report just surfaced fromClay Adler’s father, who confirmed that his son did commit suicide, but added there is a silver lining to this tragedy.Clay Adlerwas an organ donor, and his organs have already saved a few lives already. Here’s whatFrank Adlerhad to say in a statement about his son.
“Clay had requested that his organs, and he did this years ago when he applied for a driver’s license, that his organs be donated to people. (He has) done some amazing things. He’s saved about four or five lives already and there should be more.”
Frank Adleradded that there were “no signs” that Clay Adler was going to commit suicide, stating that he had been “clean” for several years. He added that his son was kept alive a bit longer in the hospital, so his organs could be donated, and his family was by his side the entire time. He added the hospital told him thatClay Adlerdonated more than any other donor they had seen, since his “internals were in such phenomenal shape”.Frank Adlerhad already laid his son to rest last month.
