Traci Lords

Biography

Traci Lords, born Nora Louise Kuzma on May 7, 1968, is a multifaceted American actress, singer, and former adult film star. She entered the adult film realm at a young age, using a falsified birth certificate to hide her true age, which was two years below the legal limit. Lords gained significant notoriety in that industry until the FBI intervened following an anonymous tip, revealing her status as a minor. This led to the prosecution of various individuals involved in the distribution of her films, which were subsequently classified as child pornography, with nearly all but one of her adult films being banned.

Shortly after reaching adulthood, Lords transitioned from the adult industry, enrolling at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute to pursue a career in mainstream acting. She made her debut at 19 in the 1988 remake of Not of This Earth and garnered attention for her role as Wanda Woodward in John Waters' cult classic, Cry-Baby (1990). Her television appearances spanned popular series such as MacGyver, Roseanne, and Gilmore Girls, while her film credits include Skinner (1993), Blade (1998), and Excision (2012), the latter earning her several accolades including a Fangoria Chainsaw Award.

In addition to acting, Lords ventured into music, releasing her debut album, 1000 Fires, in 1995 after her track "Love Never Dies" featured in Pet Sematary Two (1992). The album received favorable reviews, and its lead single "Control" enjoyed moderate success. Lords also authored her autobiography, Traci Lords: Underneath It All, in 2003, which became a New York Times bestseller.