Franck Vardon, the founder of France’s leading adult industry publication, Hot Video magazine, has passed away at age 58. AVN’s Mark Kernes is reporting that the cause of death was a heart attack.

“It is with great regret and sadness that we inform you that Franck Vardon, founder and owner of Hot Video magazine, passed away on Saturday, January 11th,” Hot Video’s Gerome Lorenzo confirmed Monday. Vardon was married to retired adult performer Tabatha Cash.

Vardon’s monthly magazine, which is published in French, is an internationally-known brand, and profiles top porn stars, producers and movies from both Europe and the U.S.

Hot Video was also the sponsor of the Hot d’Or (“Hot Gold”) awards, which were first handed out at a gala awards show which took place during the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. The awards celebrated the best in adult video worldwide, and many American performers and companies were recipients of Hot d’Ors. Though the award show was discontinued in 2001,  they were resurrected one last time in 2009 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the magazine.

“Franck was a very charismatic, jovial guy with a larger-than-life personality,” adult film director Axel Braun told AVN. “He lived his life with the same passion which he infused in his business, and his premature passing is a tremendous loss for the French adult industry.”

“I’m stunned. I liked Franck a lot, and considered him a friend,” veteran director Eli Cross said via Twitter.

“Very sad day, Franck was a good man,” said Stuart Wall, VP of Smash Pictures.