Dennis Hof was never a man to do things quietly. Whether he was starring in HBO's Cathouse or running for office as a self-styled "Trump from Pahrump," he lived for the spotlight. Naturally, when people ask today is Dennis Hof still alive, the answer isn't a simple "no"—it’s a story about a man who literally won an election from the grave.
He's gone. Honestly, he’s been gone for years.
Dennis Hof died on October 16, 2018. He was 72. It happened at his Love Ranch brothel in Crystal, Nevada, right after a massive weekend-long party celebrating his birthday. You had names like Joe Arpaio, Grover Norquist, and even Ron Jeremy in attendance. It was exactly the kind of over-the-top bash you'd expect from the owner of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch.
The weirdest part? He didn't just fade away after his heart stopped.
The night everything stopped for the Bunny Ranch owner
It was a Tuesday morning when the world found out. Hof’s campaign manager, Chuck Muth, had to break the news that the man who had spent decades as the face of legal prostitution in America was found unresponsive in his bed.
Ron Jeremy was actually the one who found him. He and a woman went to wake Hof up for a meeting, but he was cold and stiff. Just like that, the "Barnum of Booty" was gone.
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People love a good conspiracy, especially when it involves a guy with as many enemies and legal battles as Hof. But the official word from the Clark County coroner was pretty straightforward. It was a heart attack. Specifically, acute myocardial infarction caused by atherosclerosis and hypertensive heart disease.
Basically, his heart just gave out.
He had diabetes and was obese, which didn't help. When the toxicology report came back, it showed caffeine, sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), and some marijuana in his system. Nothing that screamed foul play, just the biological toll of a 72-year-old man living a very "high-octane" lifestyle.
The election win that made national headlines
This is where the story goes from a standard celebrity death to something out of a bizarre political satire. At the time of his death, Hof was the Republican nominee for Nevada’s 36th Assembly District.
The ballots were already printed.
Under Nevada law, it was too late to change them. So, the GOP did something kind of wild: they told people to vote for the dead guy anyway. They figured if Hof won, the local county commissioners could just appoint a living Republican to take the seat, rather than letting a Democrat win by default.
It worked.
Three weeks after he died, Dennis Hof won the election with roughly 68% of the vote. He crushed his opponent, Lesia Romanov, while lying in a casket. It remains one of the most famous instances of a posthumous election victory in American history.
What happened to the Moonlite Bunny Ranch and his empire?
If you’re wondering if his brothels died with him, the answer is mostly no. Hof was the largest brothel owner in the state, and he had a plan in place. His longtime madam and business partner, Suzette Cole, was already on many of the licenses.
She took over the day-to-day operations for the four brothels in Lyon County.
- The Moonlite Bunny Ranch: Still the flagship. It’s arguably the most famous legal brothel in the world.
- Love Ranch Vegas: This one had more legal hurdles because Nye County rules are different and don't allow for easy license transfers.
- The Estate: His personal assets and properties became a bit of a legal tangle among heirs and business associates.
Hof had actually been in the process of trying to sell some of his southern Nevada properties before he died. He wanted to focus on his political career. He saw himself as a revolutionary, a guy who could "clean up" Carson City. Whether you loved him or hated him, you can't deny he was a force of nature in Nevada politics.
Why the "Is Dennis Hof still alive" question keeps popping up
In the era of deepfakes and 24/7 reality TV reruns, it’s easy to see why people get confused. HBO still airs Cathouse specials, and Hof’s book, The Art of the Pimp, is still a steady seller for people curious about the industry.
He was also such a "larger than life" character that his absence feels strange to those who followed the Nevada scene. He was always on Howard Stern or Fox News. He was the guy who would offer free "services" to returning veterans or sue the county just for the hell of it.
The fact that he "won" an election after dying only adds to the myth. It makes him feel immortal in a weird, bureaucratic way.
Actionable takeaways for those following the Hof legacy
If you're looking for more info on the current state of his businesses or the legalities of the industry he built, here is what you need to know:
- Check local Nevada registries: If you're curious about whether a specific brothel is still open, the Nevada Brothel Association or individual county commission records (Lyon and Nye) are the only way to get real-time status updates on licenses.
- Read "The Art of the Pimp": If you want the man's own perspective (admittedly biased) on how he built his empire, his memoir is the primary source.
- Verify legal status: Remember that while Hof made it look like a free-for-all, legal prostitution in Nevada is strictly regulated and only exists in specific counties. It is still illegal in Las Vegas (Clark County) and Reno (Washoe County).
- Follow the money: The 2018 election result meant that Gregory Hafen II eventually filled the seat Hof won. If you're interested in the politics Hof championed, following Hafen’s record in the Nevada Assembly is the logical next step.
Dennis Hof might not be walking the halls of the Bunny Ranch anymore, but the legal and political path he carved out is still very much there. He died exactly how he lived: surrounded by chaos, celebrities, and a whole lot of people talking about him.