Traci Lords (born Nora Louise Kuzma; May 7, 1968) is an American actress, singer, and former pornographic actress. She entered the adult film industry using a fake birth certificate to conceal that she was two years under the legal age of 18. Lords starred in adult films and was one of the most sought-after actresses in that industry during her career. When the FBI acted on an anonymous tip that Lords was a minor during her time in the industry, and that pornographers were distributing and selling these illegal images and videotapes, the resulting fallout led to prosecution of those responsible for creating and distributing the tapes. In addition, all but the last of her adult films were banned as child pornography.
After leaving the pornography industry two days after turning the legal age of eighteen, Lords enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute, where she studied method acting with the intention of becoming a mainstream actress. She made her mainstream screen debut at age nineteen in a leading role in the 1988 remake of the 1957 Roger Corman science fiction film Not of This Earth. Lords followed with the role of Wanda Woodward in John Waters' teen comedy, Cry-Baby (1990). Her other acting credits included the television series MacGyver, Married... with Children, Tales from the Crypt, Roseanne, Melrose Place, Profiler, First Wave, Highlander: The Series, Gilmore Girls, and Will & Grace. She also appeared in films such as Skinner (1993), Virtuosity (1995), Blade (1998), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), and Excision (2012), which earned her a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as a Fright Meter Award and a CinEuphoria Award.
Lords also pursued music in addition to her film career. After her song "Love Never Dies" was featured on the soundtrack to the film Pet Sematary Two (1992), she was signed to Radioactive Records and subsequently released her debut studio album, 1000 Fires (1995) to generally positive reviews. Despite the poor sales of the album, the lead single "Control" had moderate commercial success. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart and was included on the soundtrack to the film Mortal Kombat (1995), which was eventually certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2003, Lords published her autobiography, Traci Lords: Underneath It All, which received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number 31 on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Known For
Waking Up Dead
Phyllis
2022
Women Behind Bars
Gloria
2020
Manipulated
2019
Skum Rocks!
Self
2013
Excision
Phyllis
2012
Princess of Mars
Dejah Thoris
2009
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell
Connie
2009
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Bubbles
2008
Your Name Here
Julie
2008
Crazy Eights
Gina Conte
2006
Novel Romance
Max Normane
2006
Frostbite
Naomi Bucks
2005
Deathlands
Lady Rachel Cawdor
2003
X-Rated Ambition: The Traci Lords Story
Herself (archive footage)
2003
You're Killing Me...
Laura Engles
2003
Full Blast
Lindsay Lord
2000
Epicenter
Agent Amanda Foster
2000
Chump Change
Sam
2000
D.R.E.A.M. Team
Lena Brant (as Traci Elizabeth Lords)
1999
Me and Will
Waitress
1999
Get Bruce!
Self
1999
Blade
Racquel
1998
Extramarital
Elizabeth
1998
Underworld
Anna
1996
Dead Man's Island
Miranda Prescott
1996
As Good as Dead
Nicole Grace
1995
Your Studio and You
Traci Lords
1995
Dragstrip Girl
Blanche
1994
Ice
Ellen Reed
1994
Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II
Norma
1994
Serial Mom
Carl's Date
1994
Desperate Crimes
Laura
1993
Skinner
Heidi
1993
Laser Moon
Barbara Fleck
1993
Traci Lords: Advanced Jazzthetics
1993
Intent to Kill
Vickie Stewart
1992
The Nutt House
Miss Tress
1992
A Time to Die
Jackie Swanson
1991
Shock 'Em Dead
Lindsay Roberts
1991
Cry-Baby
Wanda Woodward
1990
Not of This Earth
Nadine Story
1988
Traci, I Love You
Traci
1987
Deep Inside Tracey
Traci (Original, Archived Footage)
1986
Educating Mandy
Mandy
1985
Suzie Superstar II
Barbara / Suzie Wilson
1985
Young & Restless II
1985
It's My Body
Maggie
1985
Battle of the Stars
Traci
1985
Erotic Gold
1985
The Ramones Go to Heaven
Angel
Greedy People
Virginia
2024
Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre
Detective Kendra Patterson
2015
Nightmare Nurse
Barb
2015
Devil May Call
Val
2013
The Soccer Nanny
Helen Hazleton
2011
Point of Entry
Brianna Fine
2007
The Chosen One
Mrs. Sultry (voice)
2007
Home
Lorna
2003
Black Mask 2: City of Masks
Chameleon
2002
They Shoot Divas, Don't They?
Mira
2002
Max's Classics - Del 1: 1980-1987
(archive footage)
2000
Boogie Boy
Shonda Lee Bragg
1998
Stir
Kelly Bekins
1997
Nowhere
Val-Chick 1
1997
Blood Money
Wendy Monroe
1996
Virtuosity
Media Zone Singer
1995
Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel
Angel
1994
Raw Nerve
Gina Clayton
1991
Murder in High Places
Diane Cody
1991
Hollywood Boulevard II
Traci Lords
1991
Fast Food
Dixie Love
1989
Traci's Fantasies
1986
Beverly Hills Copulator
Michelle Leon
1986
Foxy Boxing
Self - Round Girl
1986
Passion Pit
Jan
1985
Peek a Boo Gang
Tracy
1985
Holly Does Hollywood
Tracy
1985
Hollywood Heartbreakers
1985
Just Another Pretty Face
Traci
1985
One Hot Night of Passion
Dawn
1985
Harlequin Affair
Tracy
1985
Aroused
Allison Davis
1985
Adult 45
(archive footage)
1985
The Adventures of Tracy Dick: The Case of the Missing Stiff
Tracy Dick
1985
Another Roll in the Hay
Candi
1985
New Wave Hookers
The Devil
1985
The Grafenberg Spot
Tracy
1985
Fallen Angels
Herself
1985
Pony Girl
Daphne (as Tracy Lords)
1985
Open Up Tracy
Traci
1984
Joys of Erotica 109
(archive footage)
1984
Lust in the Fast Lane
Jackie
1984
Bad Girls 3
Cherry Sue
1984
Breaking It
Jodie Brown
1984
Sister Dearest
Vicky Jennings
1984
Talk Dirty to Me 3
The Mermaid
1984
Object of Desire
Johnny vs Amber: The US Trial
Self ยท (2 episodes)
2022
Nicole, Her Ex & the Killer
Mother
2022
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies
Self
2020
Steam Room Stories: The Movie
Sally Fay
2019
Cemetery Tales: A Tale of Two Sisters
Victoria Chastain
2018
King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen
Self
2018
Swedish Dicks
Jane McKinney ยท (8 episodes)
2016
Hardcore to Horror
(archive footage)
2016
Tag
Ann
2015
EastSiders
Valerie ยท (6 episodes)
2012
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Self ยท (1 episode)
2009
Official Rejection
Self
2009
Head Case
Self ยท (1 episode)
2007
Andy Barker, P.I.
Loretta Crispin ยท (1 episode)
2007
Celebrity Paranormal Project
Self ยท (1 episode)
2006
Wanted
Bartender ยท (2 episodes)
2005
Manhood
Actress
2003
Traci Lords at Her Very Best
(archive footage)
2000
Gilmore Girls
Natalie Zimmermann ยท (1 episode)
2000
In Bad Taste
Self
1999
Will & Grace
Rose ยท (1 episode)
1998
First Wave
Jordan Radcliffe ยท (17 episodes)
1998
Playboy: The Story of X
Self (archive footage)
1998
Profiler
(4 episodes)
1996
E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Luscious Deluxe ยท (1 episode)
1995
Viper
Talia Massey ยท (1 episode)
1994
The Tommyknockers
Nancy Voss ยท (2 episodes)
1993
Highlander: The Series
Greta ยท (1 episode)
1992
Melrose Place
Rikki Abbott ยท (5 episodes)
1992
Super Force
(1 episode)
1990
Warm Up with Traci Lords
Herself - Aerobics Workout Instructor
1990
Stallone's Knockouts
Traci Lords, Ringside Commentator
1990
American Babylon (new)
1990
Tales from the Crypt
Emma Conway ยท (1 episode)
1989
Roseanne
(1 episode)
1988
Wiseguy
(1 episode)
1987
Married... with Children
Assistant ยท (1 episode)
1987
Married... with Children
Vanessa Van Pelt ยท (1 episode)
1987
Electric Blue 26
Miss Georgia (Helix music video) (archive footage)
1987
Double Penetration 2
(archive footage)
1987
Traci Lords Basta! - Max's Film
herself
1987
Porn in the U.S.A.
Miss Tatum (archive footage)
1986
Traci Takes Tokyo
Traci
1986
Traci Made in Japan
Traci
1986
Girls of Paradise
(archive footage)
1986
Electric Blue 21
Jane / Suzy (segment "Night in Bangkok")
1986
Lovely Young Tracy
1986
Deep Inside Traci
1986
We Love to Tease
Tracy
1985
Sex Shoot
Tracy La Sorta
1985
The Sex Goddess
Marilyn
1985
Sizzling Suburbia
Helen Trent
1985
Spermbusters
1985
Tailhouse Rock
Stacey
1985
Two Timing Traci
Traci
1985
Pleasure Party
Brad's Girlfriend
1985
Perfect Fit
Diane Green
1985
Ladies in Lace
Linda
1985
Dirty Pictures
1985
Country Girl
Billie jean
1985
Black Throat
Debbie
1985
A Night For Legends
Self - Presenter
1985
Marilyn Chambers' Private Fantasies 6
Traci (Scene Cut For 1987 Reissue)
1985
MacGyver
Jenny ยท (1 episode)
1985
Love Bites
Nurse
1985
Whore of the Worlds
(archive footage)
1985
Lovely Young Tracy 2
Tracy
1985
Physical II
Helen Highwater
1985
Wild Things
School Girl
1985
Portrait of Lust
Mirage
1985
Marilyn Chambers' Private Fantasies 5
(Scene Cut For 1987 Reissue)
1985
Future Voyeur
1985
Jean Genie
1985
Erotic Zones #1
Liz (segment "Love Nest")
1985
Sex Waves
Beverly
1985
Sex Fifth Avenue
1985
Swedish Erotica 57
1985
Dream Lover
1985
Tracy in Heaven
1985
Electric Blue 20
Electric Blue Girl (archive footage)
1985
Electric Blue 17
(segment "Hard Times")
1985
The Reincarnation of Don Juan
Girl In Red (archive footage)
1985
Tracy's Dilemma
1984
Pleasure Productions 9
(archive footage)
1984
Sweet Little Things
Traci
1984
Tracie Lords
Tracie
1984
Kinky Business
Tracy
1984
What Gets Me Hot!
Lannie
1984
Those Young Girls
Traci
1984
Night Of Loving Dangerously
Janice O'Hara
1984
Miss Passion
Sassy Sizzle
1984
Red Hot Rock
Miss Georgia (segment "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'") (uncredited)
1984
Hot Pink
(archive footage)
1984
The Farm
Belle Gunness
Boris Is Dead
Angie