Annette Haven was born on December 1, 1954 in Las Vegas to very conservative Mormon parents. After graduating from school with good grades, Annette took on several different jobs before the world of porn films came calling. She held jobs as a nurse’s aide, massage therapist and also took her turn as an exotic dancer. According to Ms. Haven, the reason she got into porn considering her religious background, was to prove sex was not sinful. She wanted to show that it could, and should be, pleasurable and enjoyable. After she began doing some work as an exotic dancer in San Francisco it didn’t take long before she became a full fledged stripper. With her natural body, full breasts, a butt that was just about perfect, very expressive and telling eyes she was a real dazzler on stage. It was a meeting with then porn star Bonnie Holliday during one of her shows that opened the door for her entry into porn films.

Right from the start when she made her debut in Alex De Renzy’s 1973 film “Lady Freaks”, Ms. Haven became a major fan favorite and her popularity is still very big today some 40 plus years later. After that auspicious debut, the extremely talented performer/actress would go on to make many memorable award worthy films in her career. They would include the 1976 classic “Autobiography of a Flea”. She also starred in films like “Femmes De Sade”, “Easy Alice”, “Tell Them Johnny Wadd Is Here” with John Holmes, “Honky Tonk Angels”, “Lust At First Bite” and “Barbara Broadcast” among them.

During her career Annette did just over 100 films as she was very selective about the productions and cast members she’d work with. She was a class act with a discerning taste in men for her movies and very selective when it came to a film’s content. Ms. Haven was opposed to violence of any kind, facials or bondage. If a film had any of that included she would refuse those scenes. While some producers in the business have let a performer go because they wouldn’t do certain scenes, Ms. Haven’s star status and her total professionalism ruled. She was not only a tremendous all out sexual performer, but an extremely competent and natural actress who could deliver dialogue with the best and was always the consummate professional on the set.

A member of both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame, Ms. Haven retired from adult films in the late ‘80’s. After leaving adult she was able to get in some mainstream work that included the movie “10” with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek. She was even set to have a co-starring role in the 1981 hit “The Howling” but turned it down because of her stand on violence. In 1984 Ms. Haven was also very heavily considered for the lead role in the Brian De Palma film “Body Double”. He was very taken with her acting skills and really wanted her for the film’s female lead. However, just as it is today, the big studios would never allow a porn star to have a lead role in a major mainstream movie. So rather than Ms. Haven possibly setting a precedent, the role went to Melanie Griffith. Still, Annette stayed on as a technical advisor to the film.

Today, at 61 years old Ms. Haven has been totally divorced from the adult industry since the ‘80’s. At last report, she was happily married and living a good life in Marin County, California. Thankfully many of the great films of Ms. Havens are available today on DVD, so fans, both old and new, can enjoy one of early porn’s true stars. Annette Haven was definitely one of the most sought after and popular female stars of porn’s golden age and she will always be remembered as a major part of the industry’s early growth and success. If you have never had the opportunity to see this very talented Hall of Famer in a film, I suggest you check out a couple of the one’s mentioned in this piece and enjoy one of porn’s all-time great stars.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN