November 24, 2004
J.T. Rogers
Barry Thomas "J.T." Rogers, an actor who specialized in gay pornography, committed suicide on Nov. 7. He was 39.
Born in Milledgeville, Ga., Rogers was raised by fundamental Baptists and attended Bob Jones University in South Carolina. He moved to California in the late 1980s to pursue an acting career.
Rogers spent the next decade making a name for himself in the gay sex film industry. In 1993, he won Gay Video Guide’s Best Supporting Actor Award for his role as a mafia don in the film "Body Search." Two years later, Rogers won a second supporting actor award for his performance in "All About Steve." He appeared in over 35 adult films and was best known for playing the character Johnny Rahm.
Rogers moved to Atlanta in 1999 and tried working in stand-up comedy, but struggled financially. According to the Atlanta Police Department, he hung himself on the fence line of the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Posted on November 24, 2004 11:25 PMIt saddens me deeply to hear of JT's suicide. Equally as sad is the way the porn industry seems to entice young often confused people, often again from a background of religious zealotry, then use them and spit them out. Suicide is not uncommon among former porn stars. JT was a sweet sensitive guy that I had the pleasure of meeting a few of times in the 90's. He and his stage persona were quite different. I am thankful that his family chose to bury him beside his beloved grandmother. RIP, sweet man.
Posted by cornelius on January 25, 2005 9:55 PMBarry and I were roommates in the late 80's, and even worked together at a novelty store on Melrose Ave. I lost touch with him shortly after the Northridge quake, and just learned of his death.
He carried a lot of pain in his life (Robert, parents, career), but always found light in his Grandmother, and I am happy that he is with her now.
He was a generous and kind person, and I miss his corny jokes and hilarious impersonations...especially "Ruth Gordon in bed". I have it on video somewhere...
Posted by Jeff on February 19, 2005 3:41 AMas johnny rahm, rogers had a charm & a playfulness rare among the foolishly vain of the business he was in &, as that rarity, he will be missed--at least by me. perhaps that very ability to allow himself to be vulnerable was the thing that did him in. i do not know. but the thought of him immolating himself in a public garden is a disturbing final image for this admirer to add to the many more sensuous ones.
Posted by john moses on April 22, 2005 11:08 PMI believe that other actors in the gay sex film industry also graduated from Bob Jones University. Do they offer a major in this genre? Sad to hear of his death though in time he may have made a film with Rock Hudson or Howard Stern.
Posted by Geoff B on April 3, 2006 7:17 PMCiao dolcissimo ragazzo, riposa in pace.
R.I.P., SWEET MAN, we love you, God love you!
I don't think I have ever been so upset by the death of any celebrity, whether from the mainstream or the porn movie industry, as I have been by the death of Barry Rogers/ Johnny Rahm. He was a remarkable person, intellgent, talented, decent, loving, and now greatly missed by his friends and fans. To discharge my sadness, I wrote a longish poem about him which encapsulates his biography. If interested, you can find it on my blog, http://apodyterion.blogspot.com
Rest in peace, Johnny Rahm.
Posted by Brad on June 15, 2007 5:51 PM