She was born somewhere in the midwest in 1948. Details about her early life are almost non existent. Ms. Rains found her way into the adult film business at the very beginning of the golden age of porn. She began by doing what were called one reel grinder loops. From that she was then asked about doing regular porn films. It didn’t take long for this lithesome blonde to make up her mind and get in on the ground floor of this new business. She was seductive, long, leggy, had a very sultry look and tremendous sexual prowess. In addition she possessed some very serious acting chops that would serve her very well. Back in the beginning being able to actually deliver dialogue and carry a scene was a major plus for performers because most of the 70′s porn films were story and plot driven.

She would become one of the more well known and popular female performers of the 70′s. Before video boom, adult films were much more concerned with plot and characterization, so a good actress like Darby Lloyd Rains was a big plus and helped make her popular. Sexually she was simply amazing and added plenty of sizzle and steam to the scenes that she was in.

While she only made 50 films during her time which lasted through the 70’s, 1970 -79, some of those films are memorable and contain some exceptional work by Darby not only as a voracious sexual animal, but as an accomplished actress. There were classic films like “Every Inch A Lady”, “Memories Within Miss Aggie”, “The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann”, “Bordello” among them. However, despite all of those great films, many true classics of the golden age, there was one film that really stood out and was, without question, her very best role. That film is “Naked Came A Stranger.” This classic is on every list ever assembled of the great porn classics of all time.

She left the adult business in 1980 just as video was becoming big, and never looked back. From the time she left Darby Lloyd Rains, who would be 67 today, just went on with her life and while there have been rumors, where she is today and what she is doing remains a mystery of one of the true pioneers and early stars of porn. While she is a member of the XRCO Hall of Fame, it is puzzling as to why she has not been elected to the AVN Hall of Fame for her contributions to the industry, as she will always be remembered as one of the groundbreaking females in the very early days of porn.

Thanks to today’s technology most of her best work is now available on DVD. If you want to see one of the true, very gifted performers who helped shape porn back in the day, then check out some of the films we mentioned. For new fans of porn it will be quite an uplifting and exciting experience, for porn aficionados Ms. Rains films can be viewed with great pleasure and many fond memories of the great early days of porn’s golden age.

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