From Porn to the “Gong Show”!

Carol Connors was born in New Jersey on November 13, 1952. With blonde hair, blue eyes and sporting a 36F rack, Carol was easily noticed. She began her career as an actress and performer in mainstream films and productions. Carol’s big-screen debut came in Howard Hawk’s 1965 film “Red Line 7000”. However she found consistent work in mainstream difficult. So with her looks and body as a great calling card she decided to try her hand in the adult film world in 1971.

That would turn out to be an excellent move and one that would keep her very busy between 1971 and 1982 when she retired from the business. She would star in some iconic films and roles. It was Carol who played the nurse to Harry Reems physician role in the 1972 classic, “Deep Throat”. Connors gained even more recognition for her roles in Gail Palmer’s popular “Candy” series, which consisted of the “Erotic Adventures of Candy”, “Candy Goes to Hollywood”. She also appeared in the first porn adult western “Sweet Savage”.

Connors also appeared in four porn films with her husband, Jack Birch. In addition to starring and co starring in a variety of adult films, she also became a director. That was the film “Desire for Men” in 1981, in which she also starred. She would do one more adult film, “Consenting Adults” before retiring in 1982 to concentrate on being a wife and mother.

But her time in the spotlight didn’t end. While she was no longer working in porn she did manage to make it on national television. Ms. Connors famously made several appearances on “The Gong Show” as a singer and dancer. She made quite. an impression on the cast, especially Jaye P. Morgan, and the producers that she was invited back. Only this time not as a performer but as one of the hostesses who would introduce Chuck Barris at the beginning of the show.

Ms. Connors and Jack Birch are still married and are the parents of Thora Birch, the Hollywood mainstream actress Thora Birch. Carol stays totally out of the spotlight preferring to just be a wife and mother and lead a normal life. While she has yet to be elected to either the AVN or XRCO halls of Fame, we hope that the day will come when her contributions have been rewarded.

With a lot of the classics now available in DVD form, you can find many of Ms. Connors films. If you have not seen this former star and creative force from porn’s golden age, be sure to check out some of her films. Carol Connors was, and is, a very important part of the great early days of adult films.

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