April 12 (UPI) — Former MTV star Clay Adler died of suicide at age 27 in March.
Adler’s dad, Frank Adler, confirmed to People that the “Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County” alum died March 26 after a reported self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
“It was suicide,” Frank told the magazine. “We saw him every minute of every day while he was [in the hospital].”
TMZ reported Tuesday that Adler was shooting with friends in the desert March 25 when he turned the gun on himself. Sources said there were no drugs or alcohol found in his system.
Frank told People his son “had been clean for several years” and that there were no “real signs” he was struggling. He said Adler was an organ donor who has saved “four or five lives” since his death.
“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,” Frank shared. “He’s saved about four or five lives already and there should be more.”
“Clay would be thrilled that these people are now living because of him,” he added.
“Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County” aired for two seasons on MTV from 2007 to 2008. The network issued a statement reading,
“We are saddened by the news of Clay Adler’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time.”
