She was born Amanda Margaret Jensen on December 22, 1956 in Alabama. As the daughter of a former Attorney General of the state of Alabama, Jessica had an interesting childhood. Her family was very strict and as she grew up into young womanhood was made to believe that sex of any kind was a sin. So while she was still in school she began turning to girls thinking that was okay because it wasn’t sex with a male.

After finishing school Erica headed west and the beginning of a new life and career. It all started as a dancer at the famous Mitchell Brothers Theater in San Francisco. With a very athletic body, a great look she was noticed immediately. In fact she was recruited by Marilyn Chambers to get into porn and before long with her new name of Erica Boyer, and her new look as a blonde, a career was launched.

Her first film was the controversial “Beyond De Sade” done in 1979. It took a few years before Erica really got into porn full time. When she did she became an instant favorite with directors, costars and fans and would appear in close to 200 films during her career, the majority being girl/girl scenes. However, in the scenes she did with male costars she was terrific. Some of  the films she starred in include “Cowgirls in Chains”, “Behind Closed Doors”, “Seduction of Jennifer”, “Aunt Peg’s Fulfillment” as well as several volumes of the “Girls Love Girls” series from Vidco and many more. She was also the first “anal queen” and loved showing her pleasure for this sexual act on camera. Nina Hartley hung the title of Goddess of Erotica on her and it stayed throughout her career.

By the mid 90’s Erica, now more mature, was concentrating more on her feature dance career and always drew packed houses at every appearance. She made the decision to semi retire from the business in 1994. However, in the year 2000 she came out of retirement to do a film, “Dark Chambers” for longtime friend Marilyn Chambers, who she had never gotten the chance to work before. After finishing that film Erica permanently settled into a normal life away from the cameras and adult world.

She moved to Texas and became a licensed physical therapist. In 2006 she left Texas and set up her business practice in Panama City, Florida to continue her work. She was doing quite well with her practice and enjoying family life. The future both on a personal and professional level was very promising for the former adult star.

Unfortunately that future would never be realized and came to an end much too quickly. On December 31, 2009 around 5 p.m. Erica was on her way home from her office. She was broadsided at an intersection by a drunk driver, an off duty Florida Highway Patrol officer, running a red light and Ms. Boyer was killed instantly. A respected member of the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame as well as the Legends of Erotica, Erica Boyer was just 53 when her life was taken away from her family, which included a husband and son, friends and fans.

Thanks to today’s technology many of Erica Boyer’s films are now available on DVD along with a very active fan website www.ericaboyeronline.com  So be sure and check out this great star from porn’s golden age.

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