She was an Early Porn Pioneer

Tina Russell was one of the first porn stars I ever saw on film. Not only was she extremely sexually explosive, but she also had a natural ability acting wise as well. That whole combination is what immediately drew me to her as a performer. With looks and those talents and abilities, Ms. Russell was definitely one of the early pioneers of the New York porn movement.

The future Hall of Famer was born Linda Marie Mintzer in Williamsport, PA on Sept. 3, 1948 where she was raised and did all her schooling. She came from a conservative family and in her high school yearbook her photo has that “Laura Petrie” look. After graduating and staying around Williamsport for a while, Linda married a local photographer, who went by the name of Jason Russell. Together they moved to New York City and in 1970 Linda enrolled as a student at New York University. Little did she know that things were about to change.

To supplement income while she was in school, they took on the “stage names” of Jason and Tina Russell and began their film careers by appearing in black and white “loops,” which were very short, plotless porn films shown in peepshows in New York’s Times Square porn theaters. They also appeared in a number of “marriage manual” films during the early 1970s. Tina also got some work  as a nude model and that also helped supplement their income. Then the couple got involved in doing “live sex shows” in Times Square theaters. These were big draws, but 90% of the sex between them was simulated, as it was in all “live sex shows” back then. All this got Tina noticed by the New York porn people who were looking for new faces. So in 1972-73 Tina Russell began doing full length porn features.

Jason worked with her in most of them as her sexual partner. However, unbeknownst to Tina, he was also carrying on an affair with porn actress Jean Jennings, soTina filed for and got a divorce from Jason. Her real star status came in 1973 after her memoir, “Porn Star” was published and she talked about her great life in the New York adult industry. She appeared in close to 100 films in her career. They included “All About Sex”, “Birds and the Beads” “Dark Dreams”, “Bedroom Bedlam”, “Whistle Blowers”, “Untamed Desires” and a number of Blue Vanity scenes.

While Tina continued to work into 1981, alcohol had really taken a major toll on her after her divorce. Because of this Tina’s popularity among her co stars, directors, producers and the fans took a nose dive and the work came les and less. It was really a shame because, as we said earlier, Tina had the overall talent, both sexually and as an actress to become a major star in the business. It is too bad she never got the help she needed with her alcohol problem. Had she gotten help and cleaned up plus all that talent there is no telling just how big a star Tina Russell might have become in the industry.

In May of 1981 Tina went out to San Diego to visit her brother. According some in the know, Tina was ready to finally seek help for her problem from her brother and others while in California. Unfortunately the help that was so desperately needed would never come. On May 18, Tina Russell died of renal failure at the young age of 33. It was sad, but because of her alcoholism and not getting help  to cure her problem sooner, it just seemed inevitable that Tina Russell’s life was destined to come to an unfortunate and tragic end.

Tina was brought back to Montoursville, Pennsylvania, where the family had her buried under her birth name. In 1985 Tina Russell was posthumously enshrined in the XRCO Hall of Fame where she belongs. Hopefully one day she will also have her rightful place in the AVN Hall of Fame as well and be recognized for the pioneer that she was.

She was a beautiful young lady who gave some very erotic, steamy and sizzling performances in her films, many which are now on DVD. If you have never seen Tina Russell, one of porn’s early bright lights perform, look for some of her films and you will not be disappointed in the total range this young lady had.

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