Featured New Release
Box cover for Equilibrium Ep 3
Equilibrium Ep 3
Studio: Deeper
Release date: 8/6/2026


all new releases
All Forums > Star Crossed > Star Crossed Forum Page 218 > AVN's Top 50 Porn Stars of all Time
AuthorPost
tricia_devereaux
Evil Angel DVD


Patience is a virtue, but who wants to be virtuous?
4283 Posts
4/00
Posted - Jan 3 2002 : 7:59PM
In the January 2002 issue, AVN lists their top 50 for porn stars of all time.

I don't remember them all, but here's what I remember, and I'll post the rest when I see the mag again on the weekend.

#1 - Ron Jeremy
#2 - Jenna Jameson

Others in the top ten - Traci Lords, Marilyn Chambers, Linda Lovelace, John Holmes

#10 - Rocco Siffredi

Others in the top 50:
Christoph Clark
Joey Silvera
John Leslie
Randy West
Nina Hartley (maybe made top 10?)
Chloe
Jill Kelly
#31 - Tera Patrick
Sharon Mitchell
Ed Powers
Tom Byron
Ginger Lynn
Annie Sprinkle


PLEASE don't start arguing about who didn't make the list yet, as I probably shouldn't have posted anything until I had the list in front of me. I've only listed about 15 of 50 so far...

Planet Sex
Deactivated User

1951 Posts
6/01
Posted - Jan 3 2002 : 8:24PM
Nice to see that Annie Sprinkle is on that list.
blake_fan
Member

Under the spell of my muse.
175 Posts
1/01
Posted - Jan 3 2002 : 10:17PM
Jenna Jameson is #2?!? Ahead of Marilyn Chambers, Ginger Lynn, Annette Haven, Traci Lords, Nina Hartley, Christy Canyon, John Holmes, John Leslie, Jamie Gillis, Tom Byron, Peter North, etc., etc., etc.?

I can't wait to read the critera for the judging and the ages of the judges.

Edited by - blake_fan on Jan 3 2002

bono-ONE All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

SAMCRO
8571 Posts
8/00
Posted - Jan 3 2002 : 11:18PM
It will be interesting to see the whole list but I do think that Ginger Lynn and Marilyn Chambers should have been ahead of Jenna but she certainly deserves to be in the top ten if not top five. Ginger was the first female star I really liked because I was just old enough, 17, to appreciate her obvious talents.
BIGmike
B-I-G-m-i-k-e

2335 Posts
3/01
Posted - Jan 3 2002 : 11:58PM
In compiling our list, we took into account a number of criteria - popularity, ability, impact, mainstream acceptance, longevity and last but not least, good old fashioned looks. After much collective back and forth, we determined that the 50 performers we settled on all have one or more of those qualities. Other than saying it was done democratically, we'll spare you the arcane details as to how we came up with the final order.

-cut and pasted from AVN.com

So I guess that is how Jenna made number 2

hey, I could type up the list if you'd like

---Wishing I were anywhere but here, but I’m here and not anywhere---

 
BIGmike
B-I-G-m-i-k-e

2335 Posts
3/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 12:11AM
Here's the list:

(Saving Tricia some work, because I'm bored)

1. Ron Jeremy
2. Jenna Jameson
3. John Holmes
4. Traci Lords
5. Linda Lovelace
6. Marilyn Chambers
7. Ginger Lynn
8. Vanessa Del Rio
9. Nina Hartley
10. Rocco Siffredi
11. Janine
12. Jamie Gills
13. Seka
14. Sean Michaels
15. Peter North
16. Jeanna Fine
17. Sharon Mitchell
18. Christy Canyon
19. Savannah
20. John Leslie
21. Tom Byron
22. Asia Carrera
23. Chloe
24. Ashlyn Gere
25. Houston
26. Ed Powers
27. Annie Sprinkle
28. Max Hardcore
29. Randy West
30. Veronica Hart
31. Tera Patrick
32. Jill Kelly
33. Joey Silvera
34. Taylor Hayes
35. Juli Ashton
36. Serenity
37. Heather Hunter
38. Klyie Ireland
39. Alisha Klass
40. Annabel Chong
41. Harry Reems
42. Georgina Spelvin
43. Shanna McCullough
44. Jasmin St. Clair
45. Gloria Leonard
46. Herschel Savage
47. Shane
48. Teri Weigel
49. Chasey Lain
50. Pamela Anderson & Tommy Lee

---Wishing I were anywhere but here, but I’m here and not anywhere---

BIGmike
B-I-G-m-i-k-e

2335 Posts
3/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 12:16AM
Oops, forgot to mention where you can find this.

AVN Magazine

-this is where you will find the list, and some short descriptions of each listed performer, as well as the full text of the article.

ENJOY!

---Wishing I were anywhere but here, but I’m here and not anywhere---

Planet Sex
Deactivated User

1951 Posts
6/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 12:26AM
Then how the fuck Ron Jeremy is #1?????
BIGmike
B-I-G-m-i-k-e

2335 Posts
3/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 12:38AM
That's a good question, Planet.

---Wishing I were anywhere but here, but I’m here and not anywhere---

blake_fan
Member

Under the spell of my muse.
175 Posts
1/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 1:50AM
BIGMike,

Thanks for posting.

What is the average age of the judges?!

I readily admit that my tastes are different from 99% of other porn fans. I mean, ZAZEL, NIGHT TRIPS, and OPENING OF MISTY BEETHOVEN are my three favorite flicks. Hell, I even like softcore!

So I know my list is going to look completely different from everyone else's. But I must say, I am still shocked by a lot of these choices. It looks to me like there are more contemporary girls than I would have anticipated.

And WHERE is my all time fav -- NIKKI DIAL!!! Seriously though, was her name tossed around?

_______________________________

"The greatest argument for the existence of God,
is the beauty of the female form."

blake_fan
Member

Under the spell of my muse.
175 Posts
1/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 1:55AM
Geesh, Annette Haven did not even make the list.

I give up.

_______________________________

"The greatest argument for the existence of God,
is the beauty of the female form."

puffdaddy
Member

48 Posts
1/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 2:08AM
I had/have the same question as Planet Sex . "How did Ron Jeremy become #1?"

"In compiling our list, we took into account a number of criteria - popularity, ability, impact, mainstream acceptance, longevity and last but not least, good old fashioned looks."

On 2nd thought, he might have the above criteria covered, except for the last. Sorry Ron , the truth can hurt sometimes. (Of course, I shouldn't talk, he's been with more beautiful women than me & the graduating classes of my college, high school, junior high... Oh, maybe I'll just go kill myself now.)

Edited by - puffdaddy on Jan 4 2002

bono-ONE All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

SAMCRO
8571 Posts
8/00
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 2:17AM
That seemed like a pretty good list but did I miss Seymore Butts' name on the list. I was glad to see Shane make the list and I too would have liked to see Nikki Dial make it, she sure was a beautiful woman to watch on the screen.
blake_fan
Member

Under the spell of my muse.
175 Posts
1/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 2:18PM
But no Rene Bond, Kay Parker, Nancy Suiter, K.C. Williams, Barbara Dare, Constance Money, Victoria Paris, Desiree Cousteau, Candida Royalle, J.C. Laing, Dorothy LeMay, Nancy Hoffman, Jennifer Welles, Hypatia Lee, Jamie Summers, Lisa DeLeeuw, Jessie St. James, Tori Welles,

or NIKKI DIAL!!!

_______________________________

"The greatest argument for the existence of God,
is the beauty of the female form."

blake_fan
Member

Under the spell of my muse.
175 Posts
1/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 2:23PM
Then you missed one --

Pia Snow (hardcore porn) is Michelle Bauer (mainstream actress).

_______________________________

"The greatest argument for the existence of God,
is the beauty of the female form."

Edited by - blake_fan on Jan 5 2002

 
ELNINO
Member

41 Posts
12/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 6:53PM
okay I don't understand this list. Debbie Diamond isn't even on it and Janine is #11? AVN is crazy everyone knows her and she must be high on the name recognition list too.
delijoe
Member

29 Posts
10/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 8:03PM
First of all, putting a male performer at #1 is ludicrous, secondly, am I the only one who thinks Ron Jeremy is, well, not that studly. As for male performers, Peter North beats Jeremy hands down. And Jenna doesn't deserve #2...Marilyn Chambers should be #1.
delijoe
Member

29 Posts
10/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 8:16PM
2. Jenna Jameson- overrated, should be in the top 10, but not 2
4. Traci Lords- AVN really shouldn't be encouraging underage porn, but name recognition I guess earns her this spot.
7. Ginger Lynn- Should be 2nd
9. Nina Hartley- overrated, I always thought she looked ugly.
11. Janine- she only does G/G scenes, wtf?
15. Peter North-Should be up there, 3rd or 4th. 15th is ludicrous.
28. Max Hardcore-This guy is just sick
32. Jill Kelly- Should be much higher, as she has a big influence on the industry.
36. Serenity- the queen of features, should be higher
46. Herschel Savage- should be higher just for his longevity
Steve K.
Deactivated User

840 Posts
11/01
Posted - Jan 4 2002 : 8:54PM
This list in my view is really accurate. While I am not a huge Jenna fan, alot of people are. I do think that Peter North should have been #5. His cumshots are unbelievable.
tricia_devereaux
Evil Angel DVD

Patience is a virtue, but who wants to be virtuous?
4283 Posts
4/00
Posted - Jan 5 2002 : 2:39AM
I think it would be interesting to see a random 10 or more of you get together and agree on a top 50 porn star list (or a top 50 list of anything, for that matter).

So far, the only things that almost everyone agrees on is that Ron didn't deserve #1, and Nikki Dial should have been on the list.
If the "judges" were simply the AVN staff, then I would approximate their average age to be in the mid-30s or so. And there would be quite a few in their 40s.

Meridian
Member

155 Posts
8/01
Posted - Jan 5 2002 : 7:32AM
Tricia is spot on there. Everyone has their own, different opinions and agreement is going to be pretty rare.

Magazines (and others) love to come up with ‘best ever’ lists because they can never be proved right or wrong and generate discussion and interest, and usually without too much actual work being required. It might help to approach them about as seriously as a list of the top colors of all time.

It would have simplified things if they had separate lists by gender, though. As it is we could argue forever about whether #1 should be male or female, let alone come up with actual names!

BIGmike
B-I-G-m-i-k-e

2335 Posts
3/01
Posted - Jan 5 2002 : 12:42PM
No way will 10 random people or even 100 people agree on who should be listed and where.

Since I fit into the "new-school" porn fan, a lot of performers that were listed, I wouldn't have listed.

O, did you notice that under Tom Byron's description they made no mention of Extreme Associates? -Gee, I wonder why?

---Wishing I were anywhere but here, but I’m here and not anywhere---

Voyeur32
Member

913 Posts
11/00
Posted - Jan 5 2002 : 1:12PM
Linnea Quigley and Michelle Bauer are indeed two different people. As Tina Tyler is my favorite adult star and horrible not on the list, Linnea is my favorite scream queen. Could have easily done without Houston, Max Hardcore, Jasmin St.Clair and the two most boring lays I've ever seen Savannah and Chasey Lain. Also, Shane,Taylor Hayes and Alisha Klass but no Seymore? Uh, wonder how they got so popular and gained their fame?Could have seen a nod go to Taija Rae, the most often requested where are they now post I see in the forum. Not my cup of tea but no Tori Welles. I'd like to see a breakdown of the eras all these people were at their height to get a feel for what era seemed to get pardon the pun shafted. Agree on Candida Royalle, Barbara Dare and Nikki Dial too. Agree also with Tricia about getting a group together to compile a list has it's problems but let's be serious. There are some horrible omissions here. I mean to have Peter North ranked 15 and as the sixth male down on the list???

Proud member of the church of Tina.

tina tyler
Mercenary Pictures

466 Posts
2/00
Posted - Jan 5 2002 : 1:38PM
No Juliette Anderson (aka Aunt Peg)??? No Amber Lynn??? No Raquel Darrian??? I'm appalled that Annette Haven didn't make the list either. WTF is up with number 50 on the list??? You make one home video and just because you're mainstream celebrities, you go down in history as 2 of the top 50 porn stars of all time? I don't get that at all. There are so many other deserving people who fought long and hard to be considered a porn star. I'm sure the last thing that Pam Anderson wanted was to be considered a porn star... even though she dresses like one

Tina

Edited by - tina tyler on Jan 5 2002

blake_fan
Member

Under the spell of my muse.
175 Posts
1/01
Posted - Jan 5 2002 : 4:55PM
Voyeur32,

Thanks for the correction re: Linnea Quigley! After checking the facts, I have edited my post.

------------------------------------------
I love the fact AVN gives us Annabelle Chong and Houston, but no Rene Bond, Kay Parker, Constance Money, Candida Royalle, Hypatia Lee, Jamie Summers, or Nikki Dial. Absurd.

Sure, you are never going to get 10 people to agree. Hell, you can't get two people to agree to a list of 50 names. But there has to be a way that when the list is completed it makes some sense! I mean... no ANNETTE HAVEN?! That just flat out makes no sense at all.


_______________________________

"The greatest argument for the existence of God,
is the beauty of the female form."

 
DaveRules
Member

PA
14 Posts
11/01
Posted - Jan 6 2002 : 8:44PM
Whoever came up with this list is smoking some really bad crack.

Where are the following?

Amber Lynn
Victoria Paris
Tori Welles
Barbra Dare
Angela Barron
Sandra Scream

DaveRules
Member

PA
14 Posts
11/01
Posted - Jan 6 2002 : 8:50PM
Celeste
BIGmike
B-I-G-m-i-k-e

2335 Posts
3/01
Posted - Jan 7 2002 : 11:59AM
I DO NOT KNOW who or how AVN came up with the list, but I believe the idea of this is:
1. Ron Jeremy- after being on NBC and some music videos is very recognizable
2. Jenna Jameson- Howard Stern made her and porn a little more mainstream, as did the E! network.
3. John Holmes- I have never seen him in a film, but every knows what he looks like and why he is famous.
4. Traci Lords- She almost single handedly brought down the whole adult industry.
5. Linda Lovelace- Yet another name that is synonymous with porn.
10. Rocco- Italian Stallion with good looks make him recognizable anywhere. Plus the fact that he has been on Howard Stern doesn't hurt.

so those are some of the reasons, I believe, that they made the top ten.

---Wishing I were anywhere but here, but I’m here and not anywhere---

blake_fan
Member

Under the spell of my muse.
175 Posts
1/01
Posted - Jan 8 2002 : 11:09PM
Is there a "Pornstar Hall of Fame" we can compare names with?
LongDuckDong
Member

The Gothic South
80 Posts
5/01
Posted - Jan 9 2002 : 5:51AM
That really is a pretty decent list and I can understand the inclusion of just about everyone on there, though Ron Jeremy being #1 is a head scratcher. I find it kind of interesting that all 3 of Seymore's main ladies made the list and I agree that Jenna is overrated. Very pretty but as cold as a fish in a Minnesota lake in many scenes. I'd love to see a list based on consistent hotness of performance instead of popularity.

BTW, where the hell *is* Nikki Dial on that list. To this day, I think she was the best looking chick to ever grace a porn box cover and there are *definitely* women on that list who weren't as good looking and also weren't as enthusiastic in their scenes (Chasey Lain comes to mind).

No more yankee my wankee!!

female porn fan
Member

Tony Tedeschi's bed
34 Posts
1/02
Posted - Jan 14 2002 : 7:37PM
Well, let's see..... I would have put Nina Hartley second, nothing against Jenna( I do love her work) but Nina's been in the business longer and it very educated about it. I DEFINITELY would have put Peter North in the top ten 'cause, well, do I really need a reason? Juli Ashton should have been higher because she's one of my favorites and very business minded. Houston, sorry, I don't find her that attractive and all the videos I've seen w/ Chasey Lain are nothing to write home about.
Wally
Senior Member

1821 Posts
8/01
Posted - Jan 15 2002 : 6:07PM
AJA.
pornologist
Member

724 Posts
12/04
Posted - Apr 26 2005 : 11:51PM
Sorry, I had to revive this post, but the biggest omission on AVN's list is Butman!!! without Buttman there would be no Seymore Butts. Without Buttman porn today would probably be all Vivid and Wicked Pictures. Buttman should definitely be in the top 5.

Also missing is:

Sharon Mitchell
Jennifer Welles
Missy


Edited by - pornologist on 4/27/2005 12:44:01 PM

HarryWild
Member

Make me believe
622 Posts
2/05
Posted - Apr 27 2005 : 12:59AM
What about Linda Lovelace who really started porn video going for the "average" John Doe?

And then there is Seka and Annette Haven and Leslie Bovee and Kay Parker who really turn alot of heads and covered many to porn fanatics of today. Not me of course but everyone else.

Theses above actresses should be listed above them if Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee are at 50! They span like 10 years in the middle 70s to 80s!

I saw Linda Lovelace in the top 10! But everyone else above should also be in there for the top 50!

Edited by - HarryWild on 4/27/2005 1:00:22 AM

BigBoy
Senior Member

3359 Posts
1/03
Posted - Apr 27 2005 : 3:56AM
four words - Nikki Dial.
 
lainaholic
Member

Sandra Shine. Nuff Said.
72 Posts
11/04
Posted - Apr 27 2005 : 7:20AM
Pam and Tommy?! WTF? I agree, whoever compiled this list was smokin' some serious crack! Several stars should have been rater higher (or lower), and many stars were snubbed. I think they need to re-evaluate, and put out a new list!
Lee O
Forearm Trainer

mmmmmmm........ after-birth
1193 Posts
8/03
Posted - Apr 27 2005 : 8:05AM
Silvia Saint and Angelica Bella are two pretty glaring omissions . In fact they aappear to have ignored European girls , as per usual .

Edited by - Lee O on 4/27/2005 8:05:56 AM

LCF All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

Non Prevalebunt!
10364 Posts
1/05
Posted - Apr 27 2005 : 10:48AM
This is the point , no europeans except for Seka but there are a lot of stars coming from Europe expecially french stars in the past ant eastern europe stars right now.


But what about PAULA PRICE? and Kari Foxx?

Cuddly Wombat
Senior Member

Just another bare bum in the shiower
1739 Posts
12/04
Posted - Apr 27 2005 : 10:50AM
I can't believe that Linda Lovelace made the list yet Bambi Woods and Desiree Cousteau didn't.
Kink Williams All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

Yeah Jeets!
809 Posts
8/13
Posted - Jul 3 2014 : 9:18PM
Sorry for bumping a ridiculously old thread here (my specialty, i guess), I just find it unbelievable that Annette Haven did not make this list.
Usually these things are political - but I am not aware of Annette seriously bad-mouthing or otherwise pulling a Stacy Donovan on the Adult Industry.
This 'Top 50' even dates back to 2001. Meaning Jenna Haze (obviously worthy of inclusion today), among others of more recent fame, were not even considered.
In short, what the hell is wrong with these AVN people?

Edited by - KinkWilliams on 7/4/2014 10:15:23 AM

Tastybrownies
Member

235 Posts
3/09
Posted - Jul 4 2014 : 10:27AM
Well, with a list that has Jenna Jameson above Belladonna I might cry foul.
Kink Williams All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

Yeah Jeets!
809 Posts
8/13
Posted - Jul 4 2014 : 12:29PM
But I think you could, conceivably, argue that - being that JJ has a huge name (over-hyped, or not).
Is there any way - any way in the world - that Annette Haven is not among the Top 50????
I'm not even that big a fan - I have her at #45 - and that's criminal.
Rgreatness
Deactivated User

21 Posts
7/14
Posted - Jul 4 2014 : 4:38PM
Lex Steele not being top 10 makes it bogus from the get go.
Edited by - Rgreatness on 7/4/2014 4:39:22 PM
LCF All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

Non Prevalebunt!
10364 Posts
1/05
Posted - Jul 5 2014 : 5:42AM
^
It was a 2002 chart , he was basically a newbie back then , in fact nobody is complaining for Bobbi Starr or Tori Black or even James Deen not being in there
Kink Williams All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

Yeah Jeets!
809 Posts
8/13
Posted - Jul 5 2014 : 11:01AM
Maybe I should just let this go, but to bring my argument here to conclusion; a quick jpeg of all the instances where Annette Haven was the leading lady, the headliner, in films - some that were big sellers.
covers.jpg
I'm not opposed to a little controversy, but to reiterate blakefan's point (above, from way-back-when), just make sense. Annette Haven had beauty, longevity, acting (yes!), and sex appeal all in spades. She had well over (100) feature films. Over 10 years of consistant performance. Virtually unheard of.
At this point, maybe Annette could care less. But, just for credibility's sake, this "AVN comittee" (if you will) should amplify their reasoning.
Trying to find a comparable analogy here, I would say: Its like Joe Dimaggio not being in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Nonsensical. A travesty.
Worse than that; a disgrace.
rtj2v0a
Self-removed

Sports is to war as pornography is to sex. ― Jonathan Haidt
222 Posts
10/13
Posted - Jul 19 2014 : 12:32AM
^^^It's 12 years later and an entire generation of porn stars have come through. It's simply time for a new list.
bone70
Member

USA
376 Posts
2/05
Posted - Jul 19 2014 : 12:46PM
Debi Diamond and Briana Banks have to be in any top list. Ginger, Christy, Amber and their peers are legends.
Kink Williams All-Star Supporter
All-Star Member

Yeah Jeets!
809 Posts
8/13
Posted - Jul 24 2014 : 9:31PM
Agreed
and in puzzling fashion - after not making the 2002 list - Annette makes the new one.
In the 20's somewhere, I would guess.
rtj2v0a
Self-removed

Sports is to war as pornography is to sex. ― Jonathan Haidt
222 Posts
10/13
Posted - Jul 25 2014 : 1:19AM
I guess it depends on who's doing the picking. All I know is that it seems really strange to gripe about a 12-year old list.
chessmaster
Member

768 Posts
6/12
Posted - May 26 2017 : 8:38AM
interesting list but I think it's time for an updated list. I agree with some posters the following names should be reconsidered
tori wells
Victoria Paris
Debbie diamond
also, some new names from the 2000s should also be considered now
Jenna haze
tori black
Sasha grey
Lisa Ann
probably some more names but none that pop out right now. also some basic reshuffling Jenna Jameson probably #1, Jill Kelly and Peter north higher and Max hardcore really has no business on this list. maybe on the extreme/circuis top 50 porn stars or something. also, when he's done consider lex Steele.
Edited by - chessmaster on 5/26/2017 8:40:32 AM
All Forums > Star Crossed > Star Crossed Forum Page 218AVN's Top 50 Porn Stars of all Time

Previous topic: Kayden
Next topic: Olivia Fox



Jump To: