Porn’s First Star

On a personal note, Tina Russell was one of the first porn stars I ever saw on film. She was extremely sexually explosive and also had natural talent as an actress. With looks and tremendous talent, Ms. Russell was definitely one of the early pioneers in the New York porn movement.

This early porn pioneer 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 she has that “Laura Petrie” look. After graduating and staying around Williamsport for a while, Linda married a local photographer Jason Russell. They moved to New York City and in 1970 Linda enrolled at New York University. Little did she know things were about to change  and go in a direction that was not planned.

To supplement income while she was in school, she took on the stage name of  Tina Russell and began their film careers by appearing in short “loops,” which were quick, plotless porn films shown in peep shows 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 to help supplement their income. Then they 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. But these performances 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, so once she found out Tina 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. Now Tina’s popularity among co stars, directors, producers and fans took a nose dive as did her calls for work. 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 industry. It is too bad she never got the help she needed with her alcohol problem. If she had taken steps to clean up and address her problem, there is no telling just how big a star Tina Russell might have become in the world of adult films.

In May of 1981 Tina took a trip out to San Diego to visit her brother. According some 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 sooner, it just seemed inevitable that Tina Russell’s life was destined to come to an unfortunate and tragic end.

Her brother brought her 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 she was.

Ms. Russell 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 and what made her special.

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