I was shocked and devastated upon waking up this morning to the sad news that renowned adult film star and friend, Herschel Savage, has passed away.
His extraordinary contributions to the adult entertainment industry, and memorable performances with myself and an almost endless list of other female performers, will forever be cherished by his fans worldwide.
Amber Lynn and Herschel Savage’s Scenes Together
We started working together in 1985, and had quite a busy year which helped us get to know each other, having scenes together in Trashy Lady, Love Button, Marina Heat, and Amber’s Desires.
He was hands down one of my very most favorite costars to perform with on screen, and I’m unaware of any actresses who did not also look forward to his professionalism and respectfulness on and off the set.
More About Herschel Savage
Herschel, born Harvey Cohen on November 25, 1952, was a Brooklyn boy through and through. An alumnus of Brooklyn College, his career trajectory took a detour when he was introduced to the world of adult cinema in the early 1980s. Initially, Harvey pursued a career in teaching, but the allure of the film industry and its vibrant, burgeoning scene soon captivated him, leading to a shift he never regretted. Because, in the golden age, who would have?
He appeared in over 1,000 films (not including compilations), and established himself as a legendary figure in the industry. His on-screen charisma, coupled with his ability to deliver performances that were both powerful and genuine, helped him leave an indelible mark. Imagine that – a porn actor who could actually… act!
Involved in various ways for over three decades, during which he was nominated for numerous awards, he won the AVN (Adult Video News) Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1988 for his performance in Amanda By Night II. Despite retiring from acting in the late 2000s, his legacy continues to resonate within the industry.
The memory of Herschel Savage will continue to inspire and influence future generations in the adult entertainment world. We had been in touch quite a bit recently, for which I am grateful, and I thank goodness for his friendship, advice and support over the many years we knew and worked together.
Herschel – I love and will miss you. May you rest in the greatest of peace.
Herschel Savage Cause of Death
I’ve been asked this a few times, so here’s what we know. An official cause of death has not been released, and probably won’t be. Last year in 2022, however, he suffered a major heart attack. So it stand to reason that Herschel’s cause of death may have been heart-related.
UPDATE (April 2025): The Rainbow just settled with Ron Jeremy’s accusers. A bittersweet win for survivors who fought decades for this type of acknowledgement. While the bar denies wrongdoing, this payout matters. Ron’s rotting in a mental facility, dementia-riddled, never facing trial. My heart’s with the women who spoke up: their courage forced change, even if it came too late. The Rainbow’s rock’n’roll soul survives, and I love the place, but let’s be clear – no venue’s legacy outweighs a survivor’s truth.
Disclaimer: Ron deserves his day in court and is innocent until proven guilty under the laws of the land. The opinions which follow are my own, which I feel motivated to share, but they obviously do not overrule Ron’s eventual judgement in a court of law.
Working with Ron Jeremy One of the questions I’m most often asked by fans and interviewers is, “What was it like to work with Ron Jeremy?” Or whether I’m still friends with him, or even what’s my favorite Ron Jeremy memory?
“Next question” is my usual response. Prior to the news regarding the accusations against him a few years ago – my memories of Ron Jeremy were still not especially “fond”.
I had always been guarded (especially with my blouse buttons and skirt) around Ron and admit, that because I worked with him as talent on multiple movies (as director/talent, talent/director, etc.), I thought of him as an old friend and respected colleague. That has changed, and I now regret not confronting him about his behavior at that time.
His off-screen antics and personal hygiene were never my business. Here’s the thing – Ron is, and has always been, this “elephant in the room” with a reputation everyone tiptoes around. “It’s ok if Uncle Chester is a molester. We won’t allow that to ruin Thanksgiving dinner again!”
Alarming (if Overdue) Realizations Coming to terms with him being an alleged rapist and sexual predator has been a harder leap for many friends, fans and colleagues to make. Ron has never assaulted me personally but has been knowingly overly-inappropriate, on many occasions, to my discomfort and embarrassment.
It has gotten to the point (more than once) where I’ve had to physically stop him to get his hands off me – and he has behaved in a similar manner with my radio show guests, co-hosts, fellow talent and friends. It wasn’t until I sat down with women I respected, and listened to them tell me their personal stories, that the picture became clear. Despite our professional history, I could no longer ignore the obvious.
If It Walks and Talks Like a Hedgehog – It’s a Hedgehog I will not support a sexual predator, famous friend or not. Based on personal experiences and conversations with additional women (outside of those already involved in his current litigation) Ron is fully to blame for his predicament. Innocent until proven guilty, always, but when literal dozens of women – none of whom knew each other before this situation – have all had almost the exact same experience…
I pray that justice prevails and no more harm comes to industry newcomers or anyone else. From Ron (highly unlikely due to his current condition) or other snakes in the business. If nothing else, perhaps all this shady history coming to light will lead to larger changes concerning the personal safety of actors in adult films. I want to voice support for the women coming forward to accuse him of wrongdoing. It’s unlikely to be an accident when this many plaintiffs are involved, and I’d be interested to hear from any adult industry peers or “civilians” as to their experiences with Ron.
An Unpleasant Phone CallFrom Ron Upon having a moment of clarity I actually confronted Ron as he called me one day to tell “his side” of the story shortly after the allegations arose. I showed him the palm of my hand (verbally) and said, “Don’t try to tell me 30 women are all lying! you hurt people I care about and respect.Don’t ever call me again unless it’s to ask me to help you take responsibility for what you’ve done, and make amends to those you have harmed. I so truly believe you are sick, Ron.”
To my surprise, he then actually tried to imply a veiled threat. I assured him a move like that would be his biggest mistake – then hung up, and that was it. Instead of wasting any more time on Ron Jeremy, I have chosen instead to turn my attention to those he’s affected whom I might be able to help somehow, and will continue to do so. We haven’t spoken since, and I’m happy to keep it that way.
Ron Jeremy is Not Competent to Stand Trial And the saga certainly continues. Most recently, two additional women have accused him of “heinous sexual acts” at the Rainbow Room – and have gone a step further by charging the venue itself with negligence. This is in addition to the 21 women involved in the initial case, and after a judge declared him incompetent to stand trial (due to dementia) back in January, 2023 – a development that added a new layer to the already complex proceedings. The dementia factor could potentially impact how the court perceives Jeremy’s ability to participate in his defense and comprehend the implications of the charges against him.
While I wouldn’t wish dementia on anyone, it certainly concerns me in regards to what is going to happen next. It’s troubling to think that if this diagnosis is genuine, he may never be aware of the eventual outcome. And that is a shame stacked on top of a shame.
In Defense of the Rainbow Room I have been going to the Rainbow Room for many, many years since – I was 18 years old – and the establishment has a very special place in my heart. I was never raped or assaulted in the bathroom there, or assaulted by Ron (or anyone else) and have a very hard time believing for a moment they are culpable in his transgressions in any way.
They have always treated me with respect (and like family) whenever I drop in. It bothers me that they’re being associated with the misdeeds of certain patrons. They would never stand behind that sort of behavior, and (while I absolutely choose to believe the victims) it’s an unfortunate association I hope will be cleared up in time.
Because… I was weaned on Rainbow Pizza and Rock’N’Roll at that place, and celebrated my birthday there annually for years – right up until the pandemic, I think of it as an old friend where all of us (famous or not) are just a bunch of rocker kids on the rug. I have been there through my drunkest days, and my many years of sobriety, alike. My love for the Rainbow Room, its staff and regular patrons, has never changed.
It’s heartbreaking that his out of control behavior might take down a historic monument to Los Angeles, the Sunset Strip and Rock’N’Roll in general – that we all cherish and respect. The thought alone is just heartbreaking.
The Rainbow Roomshould not be tarred with the brush of Ron Jeremy’s recent unfortunate legacy, and the truth is likely to relfect that when it all finally comes out!
And it Hasn’t Stopped There… After a long lack of news or updates since the competency hearing back in January, the unsubstantiated Rainbow Room situation has been accompanied by more revelations. Between his bank account and four condos in the L.A. area, Mr. Ronald Hyatt is apparently worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $4,000,000.00. That’s got to be a record in regards to smut star net worth, and proof of how successful Ron has been at branching out into other areas of entertainment. Which makes the potential scope of his alleged actions all the more troubling.
A Tribute to Their Courage Lesson learned, by all of us, and there will not be a seat at the Thanksgiving table for Uncle Chester this year. All the best to the women who are now making him accountable.
If you were a victim of Ron, and need support during the upcoming trial (however it may play out), I invite you to reach out to me via a comment on this post, or by email if privacy is a concern.
John Holmes was the undisputed King of All Adult until his untimely death on March 13, 1988 at the age of 43. I worked with “Johnny Wadd” in four adult films, memories of which I’ll share below, and I’d like to think we became friends as well as costars.
Holmes’ death had a profound effect on the adult film industry as it had lost one of its key figures as it struggled to establish itself during the early years.
His unique and charismatic performances made him a fan favorite, and his absence left a void that was difficult to fill.
With Holmes no longer active in the industry, other performers tried to step into his shoes, but none could truly replicate his success and influence. This created an opportunity for new stars to emerge and for the industry to evolve in different directions. His legacy, however, cannot be denied.
Amber Lynn’s Movies/Scenes with John Holmes Click the movie titles for more information and to watch these classic scenes for yourself. There’s no need to take my word for John’s contributions to the adult industry!
1.Body Shop (1984) – My scene with John took place in a Jacuzzi, and fans frequently mention it to me as one of their favorites. I vividly remember that the first time I laid eyes on his legendary penis, its size left me stunned and speechless!
The movie was directed by Henri Pachard and produced by VCA Pictures. It features a star-studded cast including myself, Taija Rae, Sharon Mitchell, and Joey Silvera and revolves around the story of a mysterious body shop where customers’ desires are fulfilled in the most sensual and erotic ways. Pachard’s direction and the exceptional performances by the cast make “Body Shop” a must-watch film for adult movie enthusiasts.
2. The Devil in Mr Holmes (1987) – I worked with both John Holmes and Tracy Adams in this film, and it was hands-down one of the hottest scenes I have ever shot. She was a huge crush of mine which came across on film every scene. Traci and I played German Tourists who encountered John, and I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.
It was directed by Giorgio Grand and stars John Holmes, Erminio Bianchi Fasani, Tracey Adams, myself and Karin Schubert. The story revolves around the character Robert, played by John, who faces personal struggles and finds pleasure in watching others engage in sexual activities.
3. Dickman and Throbbin (1986) – Talk about a fun set! John Holmes and Tom Byron starred with me in this hilarious spin on Batman and Robin in a scene that still brings me laughter today. Who doesn’t want to take a spin in the sheets with a superhero?
The movie holds a place in history as one of the very first adult parodies and was directed by Jerome Tanner. The film stars Tom Byron and John Holmes as the titular characters, who portray a duo known as SEXOCRISTS, who have the ability to transform frigid women into sex-craving individuals. It also featured Amber Lynn, Joanna Storm, and Keli Richards as some of the young ladies “rescued” by our intrepid heroes.
4 . The Rise of the Roman Empress (1987) – This was a memorable shoot, and not just because it was lensed in Rome, Italy. John Holmes, Cicciolina and myself starred in the adult industry take on a historical epic. It was John’s last movie before announcing he had contracted HIV. I was floored upon learning this, as were many of us girls, because I was dangerously unprotected.
Directed by Riccardo Schicchi and produced by Paradise Video, the film stars Cicciolina (Ilona Staller), a renowned star and eventually even an elected politician, as the Empress. It also featured myself, Christoph Clark and Tracy Adams.
5. Rub Down (1986) – Memorable for me due to the number of scenes and costars I had. I got to perform, over 4 scenes, with John, Jerry Butler, a G/G with Bunny Bleu, Kimberly Carson and Harry Reems.
The movie revolves around a character named Gail, who is fired by her terrible employer, Bixby, after she refuses to give in to his sexual advances.
John’s Diagnosis and More Controversy What made this sad news even worse, is that John knew he had it when we last worked together. Gratefully, the universe protected me, and after several tests I was cleared with a full bill of health.
Another notorious controversy surrounding John Holmes was his involvement in the infamous Wonderland Murders in 1981. Holmes became a key figure in the investigation due to his association with the Wonderland Gang, a group involved in drug trafficking, and the gang perpetrated a violent home invasion where four people were brutally murdered. Although John was initially implicated in the murders, he struck a plea deal and testified against his former associates, which resulted in reduced charges and a shorter prison sentence. This event tarnished Holmes’s reputation and marked a turning point in his life for the remaining seven years of his short life.
John would eventually pass away from his disease and, despite the betrayal I felt at the time – the indelible mark he left on the world of adult cinema will remain forever. Some of the reasons are good, and some less so, but John C. Holmes is remembered and a frequently mentioned part of popular culture to this day.
I was thrilled to be invited to last week’s 50th anniversary of the quintessential classic, Deep Throat – held at 910 WEHO in West Hollywood.
The Legend of Deep Throat
Perhaps the film most synonymous with the adult industry, 1972’s Deep Throat was a milestone. And none of the male cast members were named Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein or “Tricky Dick”. That was a whole ‘nother thing which just happened to share the same nefarious year.
Directed and written by Gerard Damiano, with the legendary Linda Lovelace starring in the lead role, the movie gained infamy for its portrayal of a woman whose clitoris is located in her throat. You read that correctly.
The director’s son, Gerard Damiano Jr. was on hand for the event and we got to enjoy time together on the red carpet and then participating in a talkback panel after the screening. The memories were flowing and it was a memorable discussion.
Deep Throat’s Historical Significance Despite widespread controversy and attempted censorship, the film played a significant role in breaking down sexual taboos in the 1970s. In recent years, the documentary “Inside Deep Throat” shed light on the making of the film and its impact on American culture. The documentary explored themes of artistic freedom, censorship, and sexuality… highlighting the important discussions that the movie sparked in its already progressive decade.
Not surprisingly, Hollywood couldn’t resist making their own timely biopic. Entitled “Lovelace“, the studio even got A-lister Amanda Seymore to participate, in what ended up being a daring and career-making role for the young actress. Mamma Mia, indeed!
Event Attendees A star-studded and monumental adult industry event, the red carpet included Gerard Jr. and his sister Christar, Nai’a Felig (Gloria Leonard’s granddaughter), Dr. Susan Block, Jane Hamilton – and yours truly!
Overall, “Deep Throat” remains an iconic film that both challenged and shaped societal views on sex and censorship. I was honored to be invited to the recent event, enjoyed catching up with some old friends, and – if you’ve never seen it – you can watch Deep Throat on demand in my library.
UPDATE (June 2025): Let’s get one thing straight: when Sharon Mitchell and I reunite, it’s never just a photo op. Now, if only I can talk her into joining me for my 2025 comeback!
That woman taught me how to fight – for my sobriety, for performer rights, and for the right to call ourselves artists. Our recent meetup? It’s got me reflecting on 40 years of chaos, creativity, and the kind of friendship that survives motorbike wrecks and Ron Jeremy’s ego.
“Mitch” has been my guiding light. My Eskimo. Such an amazing and important woman in my life whose friendship I’ve treasured for decades.
From those early days in the adult industry… right through my path to sobriety. She’s always been there – and I love her, dearly.
We recently got together for the first time in many moons, and you never know – you may just see her on an upcoming Rock-N-Sexxxy-Uncensored episode!
Stay tuned for more details on her potential appearance, and in the meantime you can have a look at the latest RNSU shows since we officially rebooted the podcast in May, 2022.
I’m very excited to be back in the host seat, the upcoming lineup is red hot, and hope fans will enjoy being along for the ride.
Have a question you’d like me to ask Sharon Mitchell during the future podcast? Please leave it as a comment and I’ll see what I can do. 😉
I have tried to write this memorial message many times, and others have tried to help, and each time it has failed.
How do I find the words when saying goodbye is the last thing I thought I’d be doing today or want to do?
Mighty was not a pet to me. He was my best friend, my baby, my constant companion, my first thought in the AM and my last at night – everything all in one.
I’ve had pets before, and loved them all, but the closeness I felt to Mighty was different, he got me.
I adopted him unexpectedly from TSOL drummer Tiny Biuso, thru actress Krista Allen, as we all advocate for animal rescues – and I am forever grateful to them both for the gift.
I fell for him immediately, 3 pounds of beautiful puppy running wild in my home, and named him accordingly: Mighty. He lived up to his name every day on earth.
He protected his mommy and was my furry entourage and bodyguard for 7 years. We loved and adored each other. He taught me the truest meaning of love, unconditionally.
He was the animal rescue and animal right defense mascot for my radio show, Rock’N’SeXXXy Uncensored, and lots of help was granted in his honor to animals in need all over the world, time and time again.
At 7 years old, the last thing I thought would happen is Cancer. It came suddenly, and I fought it with everything I had, but on October 2nd, 2021 – I lost my best friend in the whole world and it took me to my knees.
I have no words to express the depth of pain and loss I feel today. Truly, the only emotion greater in me is the gratitude I have for the love, companionship and joy Mighty brought me over the last 7 years. A large part of my heart left the day Mighty did, and I am crushed inside and will never be the same.
May you be running free without sickness or pain and know Mommy loves and misses you each and every moment. My love will be with you, always.
One of my favorite interviews ever, it was a delight to be featured on Holly Randall Unfiltered this week. Wow, we covered a whole lot of topics, and I hope everyone enjoys the episode.
Some of the topics we cover:
My older brothers, Buck Adams, and their muscle car gang.
Getting into magazines and eventually “the industry”.
Mötley Crüe, the Rainbow room, T.S.O.L. and fake IDs.
Hustler, Lonn Friend and Althea Flynt. How to micro-manage partying.
Van tennis shoes and when my family first figured things out.
Hope everyone enjoys this conversation with Holly as much as I did. If you have any questions about our lengthy discussion – please leave a comment! What a fun trip down memory lane.
Stay tuned – I’ve got more interviews, news on movie projects and my autobiography coming soon.
Without a doubt, the number one question I’m asked here on AmberLynnXXX.com is, “Who were your favorite female/male adult film costars?” It’s high time I sat down to provide everyone with an answer.
You’ll be happy to know the list is a long one so I’ll be doing this via two parts and in alphabetical order – because with all the beautiful women I’ve worked with over the last 3 decades, it’s too damn hard to pick just a handful and play favorites. I’ve also just added the new gallery – Amber Lynn’s Favorite Co-Stars – to make this list even more exciting for my fans.
April Adams Working in the industry for about 10 years, April Adams was as sweet as they come and a pleasure to work with. Starting as a dancer, she moved to Los Angeles specifically to begin a career in adult films. Our best known scene together is from 1995’s Babewatch 3 and I might have to watch it again myself now that I’m remembering how steamy it turned out.
Danielle Martin Filming with Danielle Martin was something I always looked forward to, and I remember telling her more than once she was “super-hot”. We both joined the adult industry around the same time, and my favorite scene we did together was in 1986’s Miami Spice. I was sad to hear of her passing in 2011 and will always treasure our friendship and memories.
Erica Boyer What more can be said about the amazingErica Boyer? She was just… a goddess… who lit up any room with personality, a love of dancing (often on film) and her undeniable sexuality. We had two scenes together in 1986’s Sheer Bedlam (including a F/M/F with Jamie Gillis) and, although we didn’t work together much after that, remained good friends. We also shared the same cameo in the Hollywood blockbuster 52 Pick-Up starring Roy Scheider. Sadly, Erica left this world in 2009 but her impact on the industry will never be forgotten.
Honey Wilder Pioneering the “MILF” category which has become so popular in modern times way back in the 1980s, Honey Wilder was a huge star in the industry known as much for her acting ability as her amazing body. Our scene together in 1986’s Cheek-to-Cheek is probably my favorite, and I’ll always be grateful to Honey for her advice as much as her friendship. We also ganged up on Steve Drake in Beverly Hills Wives. An incredibly classy lady and amazing co-star.
That’s all I can manage for right now as the memories flooding back have me very distracted at the moment (wink). Don’t worry, I’ll be back with part two over the next few days and can’t wait to share the rest of my favorite female costar list. If you haven’t seen it, last year I also posted a video running down my favorite male adult costars.
Are there some names you expected to see which are absent from the list so far? What about Nina? Where’s Teri? Stay tuned for the next installment to see who else made my list of famous female colleagues.
Hope you enjoyed the list so far, and if you have any questions or personal memories of the ladies above, please leave a comment below. And click the post title if you’re reading this from the main news page to find the comment section.
Cadence13 recently published the first three installments of their new podcast “Once Upon a Time… In the Valley” – a series on the classic age of adult cinema. Episode #3, “We Kinda Made it Hardcore“, features a short interview segment with Ginger Lynn where she shares a story involving the two of us. My recollection of events is very different and I feel a need to set the record straight.
These first three episodes (I hope they make more) focus on Traci Lords and the adult industry fallout after everyone figured out she was underage while filming all but one of her movies. Many of my colleagues (Kelly Nichols, Suze Randall, Tom Byron, Veronica Hart and more) from the 80s-era are interviewed – myself included. My brother, Buck Adams, is also mentioned. Ginger shares her memories of the day the two Lynns first met.
Ginger Lynn tells a story about meeting me for the first time at Harry Reems’ house, and that would have been the summer of ‘84. She goes into detail about confronting me when I told her my intention to use the professional name “Amber Lynn” because she didn’t like my choice. “You can’t be Amber Lynn! I’m Ginger Lynn!” She goes on to say that the argument turned into a drunken Amber vs. Ginger catfight culminating in us having sex on a stairway with Harry and Jamie Gillis (who I was dating at the time and had met through John Leslie) spectating.
https://youtu.be/3_bUfB8wy-o
I have to inform my fans that this story is not true and definitely did not happen. I never had a conversation with Ginger regarding my name when we first met, nor did we have a catfight, or (sorry guys) a sexual encounter on a stairway. Ginger Lynn arrived after Jamie and I were already there. She was introduced to me outside on the beachfront patio, had obviously had been drinking and was carrying a bottle of tequila around. Ginger was very sweet upon meeting me, and made a pass almost immediately, asking if “I liked girls”. A very short and sweet moment passed between us and then she disappeared into the house with Harry and up to his bedroom.
There was no catfight, no screen name discussion and no sex on the stairs. Again – I was already an actress, working in the industry as Amber Lynn, and had started shooting film and video in early 1983 – kicking off what would become an amazing career with Vixens In Heat which we shot in September of that year. As mentioned earlier, the first meeting with Ginger didn’t occur until 1984 at Harry’s.
Ginger Lynn Allen and I share the same exact middle and last name. The first video photographer who shot me was Bobby Hollander (for Personal Touch 3 and Centerfold Celebrities with John Leslie) and he wanted me to use the name “Amber Lynn Lane” – as back then the top female talents were often named after streets in the San Fernando Valley (Laurel Canyon, Desiree Lane etc.). I didn’t like that idea, I wanted to keep it to just my actual middle name, “Lynn”, which is what I was called growing up, and my agent and porn historian Bill Margold made him correct it early on in production.
Amber Lynn®️ has been my official USPTO registered trademark for years now, and even as a newcomer to this industry 37 years ago – I never wanted it any other way! I get deep into the early adult days in my upcoming autobiography, so stay tuned to the site for updates.
I have reached out to Cadence13 with my side of the story, and also spoken to IAFD in regards to their use of an incorrect screen name on some titles – to which an editor named “Titbug” replied: “I fully agree that directors and producers miscrediting performers is disrespectful and hurts performers’ brands. But there is nothing that we can do: we are simply listing facts.”
In spite of these little speed bumps, I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the podcast, and encourage everyone to give it a listen. Lili Anolik and her team did a terrific job, and I thank them for including me.
Today is the 11th anniversary of the passing of my big brother, Buck Adams, and I’m spending a quiet day missing him.
Buck starred in over 600 adult films and had just started a new video production company right before we lost him. He was a 5 time AVN/XRCO award winner, and is a member of the AVN Hall of Fame. Here he is interviewing Lemmy on the Motorhead tour bus circa early 2006.
Buck Adams interviews Lemmy – a conversation for the ages.
I miss my brother every day. If you knew, or have any fond memories of him – please feel free to leave them in the comments. My brother was a great man and a hero to many. He will be missed by all.
