It was certainly a shock to hear about Richard. He was known as Sir Richard de Montfort, a name given to him by Skeeter Kerkove, and I knew Richard from Skeeter’s shoots. He was a guy with a great sense of humor and a keen ability to coax terrific shots out of his models.

BURBANK, Calif. — From www.xbiz.com – Veteran adult industry still photographer and director Richard Montfort was found dead in his Burbank home.

Director Bobby Rinaldi told XBIZ that Hustler had called looking for Montfort. Rinaldi tried text messaging Montfort, then when he didn’t reply he suggested that somebody check his house.

“The two cars were in the driveway, the porch light was on and mail was piling up,” Rinaldi said. The police were called and Montfort was found dead inside. The police did not release further details.

Montfort, 53, had been a still photographer in the adult industry since shooting the boxcover for the 1999 video “Heat,” directed by Rinaldi for Tight Ends Productions.

“I gave him his first gig,” Rinaldi told XBIZ. “He’s been doing all my boxcovers, pretty much. He’s been working for me all this time.”

According to the Internet Adult Film Database, Montfort also directed some 50 titles including several editions of “Asian Fever” and Barely Legal” for Hustler Video, sometimes using the name Richard de Montfort.

Former porn star Lana Croft told XBIZ Tuesday night that she recently spoke to Montcroft and that he sounded happy.

“I still remember when he drove all the way to the mall in Glendale the day before Christmas 2005 to give me my check and a present,” she said. “Since then, I would always remember him the day before Christmas when I’m shopping for presents.

“Even though I am no longer in the adult industry, I just want to share and acknowledge his act of kindness. I’m sad to hear this news. I send my condolences to his family and friends.”

There are no known survivors, according to Rinaldi.

From www.avn.com – Veteran director and still photographer, Richard de Montfort, has died. He was 53.

De Montfort, whose real name was Richard Montfort, passed away at his home in Burbank last week, said Drew Rosenfeld, the director of creative development for Hustler Video. Montfort directed dozens of movies for Hustler in the past five-plus years.

“I had been trying to reach him since last Wednesday and typically he’s the type of person who calls you right back,” Rosenfeld said. “After a week of trying, I went over to his house and knocked on his door. All his cars were there but there was no answer. I got nervous and called the police. After I left, the police told it’s been confirmed that he was deceased. They’re not giving me specifics because he’s not family.”

Rosenfeld, who brought Montfort to Hustler, said the Los Angeles native “was a true champion of his craft. And anyone that’s worked with him would know what I mean by that. And he was my friend.”

“We loved his work over here,” Rosenfeld continued. “He was very, very professional. The last project that he delivered to us was titled Hustler’s Untrue Stories: Lindsay Lohan. It’s kind of a shock. He was here on Tuesday of last week delivering materials. He directed at least one if not two movies a month for at least three or four years for Hustler.”

Montfort’s Strollin’ in the Colon for Hustler Video won the 2009 AVN award for Clever Title of the Year.

Wildlife Productions general manager Bobby Rinaldi gave Montfort his first job in adult about 11 years ago.

“We were over at Tight Ends, and I gave him his first box cover shoot for a movie called Heat,” said Rinaldi, who used to run the production at the company. “He was a salesman for me in the sales room, and told me he was a photographer, ‘Give me a shot. Give me a shot.’ So I finally did and he became one of the top still guys in the business, and a director. I like to feel like I started him off in the business.”

Rinaldi continued, “He must’ve done over 90 percent of my box covers [at Wildlife]. He still would do stills for me. He directed for Hustler but he was always available for me since we went back so far. I’m still in shock. He just finished something for me about a week ago.”

Rinaldi said he also developed a strong friendship with Montfort, who became one of adult’s most prolific still photographers working for numerous adult companies.

“He was always there for me as a friend, more important than as a colleague,” he said. “We were always able to sit around and bullshit about family problems and other stuff aside from business. He had a sarcastic sense of humor, the same as me, and we had been working together for so long we could almost finish each other sentences. He worked for me longer than he worked for anybody in this business.”

Montfort was born and raised in Los Angeles and made his home in Hollywood for several years until recently moving to his “dream house” in Burbank, Rosenfeld said.

“He was a huge fan of comics and always attended comic book convention in San Diego. He started out his career as a comic book artist. He illustrated comics before he got into photography.”

In porn, Montfort specialized in directing some of Hustler’s harder fare. “He always did more of the extreme content for us, all of the anal stuff and the harder edge gonzo. He was a true pervert,” Rosenfeld said. “He was a huge consumer of porn long before he ever got into it. He was an honest and upstanding guy. Personally, I found the guy extremely intelligent, maybe a bit reclusive.”

Rinaldi said he worked with Montfort every month if not every other week. He said one producer coined a nickname for him that stuck.

“We called him the Dark Cloud of Love because he always wore black, a black shirt or black pants. It could’ve been 200 degrees out and that’s what he wore.”