Juliet Anderson

Anderson appeared in over 70 films during the industry's Golden Age, including Pretty Peaches (1978), Talk Dirty to Me (1980), Aunt Peg's Fulfillment (1981), and Educating Nina (1984). In that last film, she discovered and mentored Nina Hartley, who later described Anderson as a great mentor and "so smart." Anderson was known for her short bob haircut, garter belts, and comedic, energetic performances; she claimed she never faked orgasms. She also directed and produced, notably the 1998 film Ageless Desire, which featured couples over 50. Her work earned her several honors: induction into the Hall of Fame in 1996 (usually attributed to AVN or Erotic Legends), induction into the XRCO Hall of Fame in 1999, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Free Speech Coalition in 2001. She also won a Best Acting Performance at the CAFA Awards in 1980 for Aunt Peg and Best Supporting Actress in 1981 for The Dancers.

Anderson left the adult industry in 1985 after a dispute over the distribution of Educating Nina, which cost her all her investor funds. She moved to Placerville, California, where she worked at a bed and breakfast, cleaned houses, and ran a massage therapy office. She returned to adult entertainment in 1995, producing and performing in stage shows that combined comedy and Q&A sessions, which she found most gratifying. She had health challenges throughout her life, including childhood arthritis and Crohn's disease. She was married briefly in the 1960s and again in the 1980s, but had no children. She died of a heart attack on January 11, 2010, at her home in Berkeley, California, and was cremated. A memorial was held at San Francisco's Center for Sex and Culture. Fans and critics alike praised her as an original cougar and a trailblazer of the era; her Aunt Peg persona remains a beloved part of vintage adult cinema.