Danny Dias
Danny Dias (c. 1983 – June 4, 2017) was an American activist and reality television personality. Dias starred on season 13 on MTV's Road Rules, Road Rules: X-Treme, in 2004. In 2005, he returned to MTV in Bunim/Murray Productions' spinoff Real World/Road Rules Challenge, The Gauntlet 2.[1][2] He later co-founded an AIDS research charity.[2][3][4]
Early life and Career
Dias was born in Linden, New Jersey.[1] He majored in music education at Westminster Choir College, a music conservatory affiliated with Rider University in Princeton, which he attended from 2001 to 2003.[1] Dias, who was openly gay, was cast in season 13 of MTV's Road Rules while he was still attending college.[1][4] Road Rules: X-Treme, which was filmed in an RV in Argentina and Chile, aired in 2004.[2] The season cast included Dias, as well as Derrick Kosinski, Jodi Weatherton, Ibis Nieves, and Patrick Maloney.[1] However, Dias was voted out in Episode 6 as a punishment for losing a mission and was replaced by Nick Haggart.
Dias returned to MTV for Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet 2, which aired from 2005 to 2006. He was eliminated from the competition after four episodes.[1]
Following his time on Road Rules, Dias studied acting and worked in finance.[3] He also become an AIDS activist and co-founded the research charity, Generation Cure.[3][2]
Death
Dias was found unconscious at his Flushing Avenue apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn,[5] on June 4, 2017, at the age of 34.[2] Friends had reportedly not reached him for two days.[3] He was pronounced dead by authorities at approximately 5 p.m., though a cause of death was initially unknown.[1][3][2]
In August 2017, a spokesperson for the New York City Chief Medical Examiner’s office said he died from “complications of chronic substance abuse.”[6]
References
- Evans, Greg (2017-06-07). "Danny Dias Dies: Former MTV 'Road Rules" Cast Member Was 34". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
- Corinthios, Aurelie (2017-06-07). "MTV Road Rules and The Challenge Star Danny Dias Dies at 34". People. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
- Lindsay, Kathryn (2017-06-07). "MTV Reality Star Danny Dias Was Found Dead In His Home". Refinery29. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
- "Danny Dias Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
- Culliton, Kathleen (June 8, 2017). "MTV's 'Road Rules' Star Danny Dias Found Dead In Bushwick, Police Say". Bushwick, NY Patch. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- Bacardi, Francescs (August 7, 2017). "'Road Rules' star Danny Dias' cause of death revealed". NY Post. Retrieved 21 February 2019.