UPDATE: Billy Glide Passes Away 

LOS ANGELES—Veteran adult performer Billy Glide reportedly passed away in his sleep Saturday night. He was 43.

Initial reports were that Glide died of a rattlesnake bite for which he refused to get medical treatment, but now others are reporting he died of a possible drug overdose.

Details about the time and cause of Glide’s death could not be officially confirmed as of post time. Longtime friend and fellow performer Alana Evans said she was intitially told Glide was bitten by a snake while helping a friend move and chose not to seek medical attention for the bite. But now, she said, other close friends and relatives of Glide, whose real name was Tad Nolen, are saying otherwise.

“I was just letting people know the story that was told to me about his death, and now I hear that the story might not be true,” Evans told AVN. “Regardless of how he died, he is still gone, and it is still sad news.”

AVN has also learned that Glide was scheduled to shoot a scene Sunday morning for Spizoo.com. A rep for the site said the Spizoo crew was informed early Sunday about Glide’s passing.

An outpouring of condolensces from industry members has appeared on Twitter and Facebook since word broke of Glide’s death. Residing in Huntington Beach, Calif., he began performing in 1995 and has remained a highly regarded utility player ever since.

Glide was not married, and had no children, Evans said.

AVN will report further details as they become available.

Photo courtesy of Billy Glide’s Facebook page.