Vanessa del Rio (born March 31, 1952) is an American retired

pornographic actress A pornographic film actor or actress, pornographic performer, adult entertainer, or porn star is a person who performs sex acts in video that is usually characterized as a pornographic movie. Such videos tend to be made in a number of dis ...

Early years

Vanessa del Rio was born Ana María Sánchez and raised in

Harlem, New York Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater Harl ...

, the only child of immigrants from

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

and

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...

. Her mother would take her to see the Spanish language movies of

Isabel Sarli Hilda Isabel Gorrindo Sarli (; 9 July 193525 June 2019), nicknamed Coca, was an Argentine actress and glamour model who was known for starring in several sexploitation films by Armando Bó, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. She began her caree ...

, a passionate, voluptuous Argentinian actress with a charismatic power over men whom Vanessa credits as a big influence in her life. She describes her mother as "an innocent, deeply religious woman who didn't really relate to Sarli's sexuality," while her young daughter focused on Sarli's power over men, and wanted that power for herself. After an early childhood as religious as her mother's, Sanchez dropped out of school in the 8th grade, tired of the sheltered life imposed on her at home. She studied coding, and became a computer programmer at age 18, then abandoned the straight life altogether to live in a series of stolen Volkswagen Beetles with a criminal boyfriend. When that adventure ended two years later she became "a

waitress Waiting staff (British English), waitstaff (North American English), waiters (male) / waitresses (female), or servers (North American English), are those who work at a restaurant, a diner, or a bar and sometimes in private homes, attending ...

, then a topless

barmaid A bartender (also known as a barkeep, barman, barmaid, or a mixologist) is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic or soft drink beverages behind the bar, usually in a licensed establishment as well as in restaurants and nightclubs, but ...

, and finally a

go-go dancer Go-go dancers are dancers who are employed to entertain crowds at nightclubs or other venues where music is played. Go-go dancing originated in the early 1960s at the French bar Whisky a Gogo located in Juan-les-Pins. The bar's name was taken ...

" before accepting her first hardcore porn role in the film ''China Doll'' because "it paid $150, which was exactly my half of the rent," so she could join a boyfriend in Europe. In her illustrated biography from TASCHEN Publications (''Vanessa del Rio: Fifty Years of Slightly Slutty Behavior'', 2007) she revealed to editor Dian Hanson that she also worked as a

streetwalker Street prostitution is a form of sex work in which a sex worker solicits customers from a public place, most commonly a street, while waiting at street corners or walking alongside a street, but also other public places such as parks, benches, e ...

and

call girl A call girl or female escort is a sex worker who (unlike a street walker) does not display her profession to the general public, nor does she usually work in an institution like a brothel, although she may be employed by an escort agency.< ...

prior to entering adult films.

Career

For her stage name, she took the name "Vanessa" from a childhood friend and "del Rio" from actress Dolores del Río at the suggestion of another friend who was a movie buff. Del Rio made her first adult film in 1974, and is credited as the first non-white woman to achieve stardom in the adult industry. Her enduring popularity is based on her enthusiasm, genuine passion, talent for specific acts, oversized clitoris and sense of humor, as well as her lush exotic beauty. In a span of 13 years, she appeared in 81 pornographic films and countless "loops" – 10 minute film clips produced for use in sex shop peep shows. Footage from her films has been included in at least 20 compilations marketed as original films due to her tremendous popularity. Vanessa's talent has been celebrated in lyrics by several rap artists, including

Chubb Rock Richard Simpson, also known as Chubb Rock (born May 28, 1968 in Brooklyn, New York) is a New York-based rapper who released several successful hip hop albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A National Merit Scholar, Chubb Rock dropped out ...

's "Just the Two of Us",

Gangsta Boo Lola Chantrelle Mitchell (born August 7, 1979), better known by her stage name Gangsta Boo, is an American rapper, who was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the second female member (after K-9) of the Memphis-based hip hop group Thr ...

's "Fuck You", The Game's "House of Pain", Ice Cube's "Roll All Day", and

Junior Mafia Junior M.A.F.I.A. was an American hip hop group from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City. The backronym M.A.F.I.A. stands for Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes. They were formed and mentored by New York rapper The Notorious B.I.G ...

's "I Need You Tonight" and "Get Money". She had a cameo in the "Get Money" music video. Though del Rio retired from adult films in 1984, in part due to the AIDS scare prevalent at the time, she returned to make six final films in 1986/87, following a stint as a bodybuilder, including the faux biopic ''Deep Inside Vanessa del Rio'' and ''The Devil in Miss Jones 3'' for the notorious punk-inspired Dark Brothers. She then worked as a feature dancer and magazine model until tearing the meniscus in her knee onstage in 1996. After that she used her coding skills to create her own website, produce original content, continued to appear in magazines, and made special appearances at award shows and conventions.

TV / Film appearances

During and after her porn career she appeared on many TV shows as herself, including a 1996 episode of '' NYPD Blue'' titled "Head Case" (Season 3, episode #15). In 2008, she made a cameo opposite

Bernie Mac Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (October 5, 1957 – August 9, 2008), better known by his stage name Bernie Mac, was an American comedian and actor. Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined fell ...

as the amourous "full-figured neighbor" in the film '' Soul Men'', which also co-starred

Samuel L. Jackson Samuel Leroy Jackson (born December 21, 1948) is an American actor and producer. One of the most widely recognized actors of his generation, the films in which he has appeared have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, making him ...

Popular culture

Del Rio is mentioned in Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s 1995 single " I Need You Tonight". In 2007, the German art book publisher

TASCHEN Taschen is a luxury art book publisher founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen in Cologne, Germany. As of January 2017, Taschen is co-managed by Benedikt and his eldest daughter, Marlene Taschen. History The company began as Taschen Comics, ...

released a deluxe, heavily illustrated biography, ''Vanessa del Rio: Fifty Years of Slightly Slutty Behavior'' edited by del Rio's long time friend Dian Hanson. A feature film, ''The Latin from Manhattan'', based on del Rio's life, written and directed by

Thomas Mignone Thomas Mignone is an American feature film, streaming media, commercial, and music video director, and screenwriter. He is best known for directing and writing the dark drama ''On the Doll'' and ''The Latin From Manhattan'' and for directing co ...

, and starring Vivian Lamolli as del Rio began production in 2019.

Filmography

*''China Doll'' (1975) uncredited *''Too Young to Care'' (1975) uncredited *''Midnight Desires'' (1976), Lola *''The Night of Submission'' (1976), Venessa del Rio *''Dominatrix Without Mercy'' (1976), Venessa del Rio *''Virgin Snow'' (1976), Nurse Ratched *J''acquette'' (1976), Madame X *''Domination Blue'' (1976), Trixie *''The Fury in Alice'' (1976), Marilyn *''Temptations'' (1976), Marla *''Reunion'' (1976), Elizabeth *''That Lady From Rio'' (1976), Number 1 *''Come with Me My Love'' (1976), Lola *''Sin of Lust'' (1976), Carlotta *''Gulp'' (1976), Anna *''Forbidden Ways'' (1976), uncredited *''Come Softly'' (1976), June *''Bizzare Moods'' (1976), Norma *''Appointment With Agony'' (1976), Waitress *''Odyssey: The Ultimate Trip'' (1977), first girl in dream *''Joy of Humiliation'' (1977), Elena *''House of De Sade'' (1977), Lucille McLain *''Cherry Hustlers'' (1977), Sally *''Teenage Bikers'' (1977), Wolf *''Breaker Beauties'' (1977), photo lady *''Joint Venture'' (1977), uncredited *''The Fire in Francesca'' (1977), Nadine Rothman *''Tell, Teach and Show'' (1977), Mrs. LaGrange *''Exploring Young Girls'' (1977), Vanessa *'' Let Me Die a Woman'' (1977), Sandy (uncredited) *''Chorus Call'' (1978), uncredited *''Take Off'' (1978), uncredited *''Woman in Love'' (1978), Simone Foster *''The Final Test'' (1978), Claudia *''Dirty Deeds'' (1978), uncredited *''Babylon Pink'' (1979), Housewife *''N.Y. Babes'' (1979), Jackie Robbins *''Jack & Jill'' (1979), Rosetta * '' Tigresses and Other Man-eaters'' (1979), Tigress *''

Her Name Was Lisa ''Her Name Was Lisa'' is a 1979 American pornographic film directed by Roger Watkins under the pseudonym Richard Mahler. Plot At the funeral of a young woman named Lisa (Samantha Fox), several people who influenced her life in the time leading ...

'' (1979), Carmen *''The Pink Ladies'' (1979), Seductress *''Fulfilling Young Cups'' (1979), Rita *''Angie, Police Woman'' (1979), girl on parachute *''Justine: A Matter of Innocence'' (1980), Claudia Kendall *''Co-Ed Fever'' (1980), Vannessa *''Afternoon Delights'' (1980), Mrs. Smith *''Dracula Exotica'' (1980), Vita Valdez *''The Filthy Rich'' (1980), Chili Caliente *Girls U.S.A. (1980), Sherry Spencer *''A Scent of Heather'' (1980), the cook *''Platinum Paradise'' (1981), hooker *''Spittoon'' (1981), uncredited *''

The Tale of Tiffany Lust ''The Tale of Tiffany Lust'', also known as ''Body Lust'', is a 1979 American adult erotic film. The film was directed by Radley Metzger (as "Henry Paris", uncredited) and filmed in several elaborate locations in New York City. The film was re ...

'' (1981), Florence Nightingale *''Bizarre Styles'' (1981), Vanessa *''The Love-In Arrangement'' (1981), Chiquita *''The Dancers'' (1981), Frances *''Lips'' (1981), Maria *''Between the Sheets'' (1981), Shirley *''Beauty'' (1981), Judy Lopez *''Foxtrot'' (1982), Celeste *''Top Secret'' (1982), Juanita *''Real Estate'' (1982) *''Luscious'' (1982), Lush *''When She Was Bad'' (1983), Judy *''Silk Satin & Sex'' (1983), Denise *''Foxholes'' (1983), Vanessa del Rio *'' Corruption'' (1983), Erda *''Aphrodisia's Diary'' (1983), therapist *''Sister Midnight'' (1984) *''Viva Vanessa'' (1984), herself *''Maid In Manhattan'' (1984), Juanita *''Blue Voodoo'' (1984), uncredited *''The Devil in Miss Jones 3: A New Beginning'' (1986), herself *''Play Me Again Vanessa'' (1986), herself *''Deep Inside Vanessa del Rio'' (1987), herself *''Beyond Desire'' (1986), Crystal *''Dynamic Vices'' (1987), Roxanne *''Doctor Lust'' (1987), Dr. Lana Lust *'' Soul Men'' (2008), full-figured neighbor

Selected television appearances

* '' NYPD Blue'' as herself, in the episode "

Head Case ''Head Case'' is an American sitcom starring Alexandra Wentworth as Dr. Elizabeth Goode, a therapist who treats Hollywood stars. Celebrities appear on the show as themselves. The show ran for three seasons, airing on the Starz TV Network, Wednes ...

" (1996) * ''When Rated X Ruled the World'' as herself, in a VH1 documentary (2004) * '' SexTV'' as herself, in the episode "UFO Sex: The Raelians/Jackinworld.com/Vanessa del Rio" (2005) * '' Dave's Old Porn Season 2 Episode 4 Artie Lange, Vanessa Del Rio'' as herself (2012)

Awards

* CAFA Award for Best Supporting Actress of 1980 – ''Dracula exotica'' * CAFA Award for Best Supporting Actress of 1981 – ''Dancers'' *

Adult Video News ''Adult Video News'' (also called ''AVN'' or ''AVN Magazine'') is an American trade magazine that covers the adult video industry. '' The New York Times'' notes that ''AVN'' is to pornographic films what ''Billboard'' is to records. ''AVN'' spon ...

– Hall of Fame *

X-Rated Critics Organization The X-Rated Critics Organization (XRCO) is a group of writers and editors from the American adult entertainment industry who each year present awards in recognition of achievement within the industry. After the controversy and criticism of the ...

– Hall of Fame

References

External links

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Del Rio, Vanessa 1952 births Living people Actresses from New York City American entertainers of Cuban descent American female adult models American people of Puerto Rican descent Hispanic and Latino American female models American pornographic film actresses Hispanic and Latino American pornographic film actors People from Harlem Pornographic film actors from New York (state)