Tina Russell

Her 1973 memoir, Porno Star, was a turning point. In it she described her life in the New York adult film industry in glowing terms, and the book brought her real star status. She worked steadily from 1970 to 1981, appearing in solo and partnered scenes that included blowjob, vaginal, and interracial content. She was known for her fresh looks and evident enthusiasm, which set her apart from many of her contemporaries. Her husband at the time, Jason Russell, became involved with another porn star, Jean Jennings, which ended their marriage. Tina then became a chronic alcoholic, a struggle that led to her early death.

On May 18, 1981, she died of multiple organ failure at Tri-City Hospital in Vista, California, after visiting her brother in San Diego. She was 32. She is buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, where her father is also buried. Even decades later, her work and her memoir remain a part of adult film history.