Christy Canyon
Encyclopedia
Christy Canyon is the professional name of a retired American pornographic actress and current radio personality.
In her autobiography Canyon stated that adult performer Greg Rome approached her while she was waiting for a ride in Hollywood and told her that she would be a terrific figure model. He gave her the business card of porn recruiter and agent Jim South
of World Modeling Agency. After visiting South's office she posed for men's magazines and began her video career shortly thereafter. She has stated that her first on-screen performance was with Ron Jeremy
in 1984's "Swedish Erotica 57," and that Jeremy soon became a close friend in the business. Her pictures appeared in Celebrity Sleuth magazine, as well as Penthouse, Hustler and dozens of other men's magazines.
The music group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
mentions Canyon in the song "Heaven Is" from 1993's Liberator
. The lyrics are: "Heaven is Christy Canyon falling in love with me."
In a 2005 interview on Taylor Wane
's radio show, Canyon stated that although on-camera she had protected sex (with condom
s) with all of her male co-stars during her time with Vivid Entertainment
in the mid-1990s, this was not something she practiced in her private life. Canyon stated that she engaged in unprotected sex with each of her male co-stars off camera, prior to their filmed sex scenes. In her personal life, Canyon has dated directors John Frankenheimer
and Adam Rifkin
. From 2005 to March 2011 she was co-host of Sirius XM Satellite Radio's Playboy Radio
show Night Calls. As of April 2011 she became co-host of Sirius XM Satellite Radio's Spice Sex Circus with Ginger Lynn
and sole host of Sirius XM Satellite Radio's weekly Legends of Porn.
and ABIBIDS. In 2003 she published her autobiography
: Lights, Camera, Sex (ISBN 0-9727470-0-1) which is still in print. In November 2005 she appeared as a judge on the first season of Jenna's American Sex Star
.
Adult film career
Canyon appeared in nearly 200 adult films. She has won several "best female performance" awards and is a member of the XRCO and AVN Halls of Fame. She retired from (and returned to) the adult-film business several times. In 1999 AVN rated her as one of the top 25 adult stars of all time. Canyon is best known for her large natural breasts, voluptuous body and natural beauty. During her career, her measurements were reportedly 36DD-24-36. On screen, she engaged in standard adult fare consisting of vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and facials, sex with women, and group sex in small groups. She retired from appearing in films several times only to return. Her first stint in films was September 1984 to March 1985, the second June 1989 to December 1992 and the third (and final) from 1995 to 1997.In her autobiography Canyon stated that adult performer Greg Rome approached her while she was waiting for a ride in Hollywood and told her that she would be a terrific figure model. He gave her the business card of porn recruiter and agent Jim South
Jim South
Jim South is a recruiter and agent in America’s pornography industry.South sold insurance in Dallas for a few years and moved to Los Angeles in 1968. He opened a fashion modeling agency first, then formed the World Modeling Talent Agency in Sherman Oaks, California in 1976...
of World Modeling Agency. After visiting South's office she posed for men's magazines and began her video career shortly thereafter. She has stated that her first on-screen performance was with Ron Jeremy
Ron Jeremy
Ronald Jeremy Hyatt , usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American pornographic actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog", he was ranked by AVN at number one in their "The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time" list...
in 1984's "Swedish Erotica 57," and that Jeremy soon became a close friend in the business. Her pictures appeared in Celebrity Sleuth magazine, as well as Penthouse, Hustler and dozens of other men's magazines.
The music group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
mentions Canyon in the song "Heaven Is" from 1993's Liberator
Liberator (OMD album)
- Personnel:* Andy McCluskey – programming, production on tracks 1–4, and 6–12* Phil Coxon – programming, production on tracks 1–4, and 6–12* Beverly Reppion – backing vocals on tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 12* Nathalie James – backing vocals on tracks 4, and 8...
. The lyrics are: "Heaven is Christy Canyon falling in love with me."
In a 2005 interview on Taylor Wane
Taylor Wane
Taylor Wane is the stage name of a British pornographic actress, director, and model. She was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2005....
's radio show, Canyon stated that although on-camera she had protected sex (with condom
Condom
A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
s) with all of her male co-stars during her time with Vivid Entertainment
Vivid Entertainment
Vivid Entertainment Group is an adult video producer, featuring a catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content. In 2006 it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry....
in the mid-1990s, this was not something she practiced in her private life. Canyon stated that she engaged in unprotected sex with each of her male co-stars off camera, prior to their filmed sex scenes. In her personal life, Canyon has dated directors John Frankenheimer
John Frankenheimer
John Michael Frankenheimer was an American film and television director known for social dramas and action/suspense films...
and Adam Rifkin
Adam Rifkin
Adam Rifkin sometimes credited as Rif Coogan, is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. Rifkin is claimed to belong to a rare breed of film directors that transited from public-access television cable TV to Hollywood.His eclectic career ranges from broad family comedies to cult...
. From 2005 to March 2011 she was co-host of Sirius XM Satellite Radio's Playboy Radio
Playboy Radio
Playboy Radio is a radio station on Sirius Satellite Radio. Playboy Radio was originally launched on XM Satellite Radio in September 2002. Included were programs such as Night Calls Radio, originally hosted by adult film star Juli Ashton and Playboy TV star Tiffany Granath...
show Night Calls. As of April 2011 she became co-host of Sirius XM Satellite Radio's Spice Sex Circus with Ginger Lynn
Ginger Lynn
Ginger Lynn is an American pornographic actress, prominent in 1980s videos. She also had occasional roles in low-budget B-movies. AVN has ranked her at #7 in a list of the 50 greatest porn stars of all time...
and sole host of Sirius XM Satellite Radio's weekly Legends of Porn.
Partial filmography
- Hollywood Starlets (1985)
- Educating Mandy (1985)
- Black Throat (1985)
- Holly Does Hollywood (1985)
- Star 90 (1990)
- Passages 1-4 (1991)
- Comeback (1995)
- Oral Addiction (1996)
- Domination Nation 1 and 2 (both 1997)
- The Top 25 Adult Stars of All Time (1999)
Retirement
Canyon is retired from performing in adult films and dancing on the road, but still has an adult-related career, concentrating on her web site, working as a host for Spice Radio and selling merchandise on eBayEBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
and ABIBIDS. In 2003 she published her autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
: Lights, Camera, Sex (ISBN 0-9727470-0-1) which is still in print. In November 2005 she appeared as a judge on the first season of Jenna's American Sex Star
Jenna's American Sex Star
Jenna's American Sex Star is an adult pay-per-view reality television series hosted by Jenna Jameson on Playboy TV.In each episode, four contestants compete in a series of sexual performances for the judges and viewers then vote for their favorite performer on Playboy.com...
.
Awards
- 1991 F.O.X.E Female Fan Favorite
- 1992 F.O.X.E Female Fan Favorite
- 1996 AVN Best Tease Performance for Comeback
- 1997 AVN Best Group Scene - Film for The Show
- AVN Hall of FameAVN Hall of FameThis is a list of members of the AVN Hall of Fame. The AVN Hall of Fame honors the legends of the adult entertainment industry.- AVN Hall of Fame members :[Top]| style="vertical-align:top; width:15px;"|...
- XRCO Hall of FameXRCO Hall of FameXRCO Hall of Fame lists some of the most notable adult entertainment works and workers. The list is managed by X-Rated Critics Organization and inducted annually during the XRCO awards.-Actors:* 1985 John C...
- 2004 Free Speech Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award