Skip to main content
Tags: dennis hof | dies | brothel | cathouse

Dennis Hof Dies: Brothel Owner Featured in HBO's 'Cathouse' Was 72

dennis hof

Dennis Hof, owner of the Moonlite BunnyRanch legal brothel and recent winner of the Republican primary election for Nevada State Assembly District 36, sits in the parlor of the brothel in Mound House, Nevada, on June 16, 2018. (Steve Marcus/Reuters)

Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:12 PM EDT

Dennis Hof, the owner of a brothel featured on HBO's "Cathouse" and a Republican nominee for Nevada's state assembly, has died at age 72, Nye County officials announced Tuesday.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Hof's death was announced during the Nye County Commission meeting by Chairman John Koenig, who said Hof "went to sleep last night and didn't wake up this morning."

Nye County Sheriff Lt. David Boruchowitz said an employee at the brothel, located about an hour from Las Vegas, called authorities a little before 11 a.m. after Hof was found unresponsive and not breathing. Boruchowitz said there was "no indication of foul play."

Hof gained fame for HBO's "Cathouse," a reality series about his business. He had just celebrated his birthday at a party at his Moonlight Bunny Ranch in Northern Nevada on Saturday. He also was the favorite to win a seat in the state's assembly next month, after unseating a three-term incumbent during a June primary. The brothel became notorious as the place where former Laker Lamar Odom was found unconscious in 2015.

The legal pimp had also been accused of sexual assault on at least four occasions. The Nevada Department of Public Safety says it is investigating an allegation from September but has released few details. Hof had denied the claims.

© 2025 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.


TheWire
Dennis Hof, the owner of a brothel featured on HBO's "Cathouse" and a Republican nominee for Nevada's state assembly, has died at age 72, Nye County officials announced Tuesday.
dennis hof, dies, brothel, cathouse
217
2018-12-17
Wednesday, 17 October 2018 12:12 PM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved