James Deen, other porn stars who’ve gone mainstream

Umika Pidaparthy, Special to CNN
Published 9:35 AM EDT, Thu June 14, 2012
Porn actor James Deen co-starred with Lindsay Lohan in 2013's "The Canyons," playing Christian, a "film producer who enjoys filming his own three-way sex sessions," according to IndieWire. Deen had gained quite a fan following for his boy-next-door look and has been profiled by GOOD magazine and ABC's "Nightline." Take a look at some other adult movie stars who have transitioned into mainstream Hollywood.
Porn actor James Deen co-starred with Lindsay Lohan in 2013's "The Canyons," playing Christian, a "film producer who enjoys filming his own three-way sex sessions," according to IndieWire. Deen had gained quite a fan following for his boy-next-door look and has been profiled by GOOD magazine and ABC's "Nightline." Take a look at some other adult movie stars who have transitioned into mainstream Hollywood.
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Sasha Grey made her entrance in the pornographic film industry just after she turned 18. By 21, she had become a veteran and won several <a href="http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/actress/sasha-grey?cnn=yes" target="_blank" target="_blank">Adult Video News awards</a>. In 2008, Steven Soderberg cast Grey in the feature film "The Girlfriend Experience." Since then, she has starred in "Smash Cut," modeled for American Apparel, started an industrial music group and even had a brief supporting role in "Entourage" in 2010. In April 2011, Grey announced her retirement from porn and is scheduled to appear in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2340248/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank" target="_blank">several upcoming films</a>.
Sasha Grey made her entrance in the pornographic film industry just after she turned 18. By 21, she had become a veteran and won several Adult Video News awards. In 2008, Steven Soderberg cast Grey in the feature film "The Girlfriend Experience." Since then, she has starred in "Smash Cut," modeled for American Apparel, started an industrial music group and even had a brief supporting role in "Entourage" in 2010. In April 2011, Grey announced her retirement from porn and is scheduled to appear in several upcoming films.
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Ron Jeremy, also known as "The Hedgehog," is considered one of the most successful porn stars in the industry. Adult Video News even named him the No. 1 porn star of all time. While Jeremy holds the <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/06/condom-initiative-by-anti-aids-group-threatens-porn-industry.html?cnn=yes" target="_blank" target="_blank">Guinness World Record</a> for starring in more than 2,000 adult films, he has also starred in mainstream movies such as "The Boondock Saints" and "The Chase." In 2008, he released a book about his career, "The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz: Horny Women, Hollywood Nights & The Rise of the Hedgehog!" He <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/01/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/ron-jeremy-returns-to-work">spoke with CNN</a> about his return to work after a heart scare.
Ron Jeremy, also known as "The Hedgehog," is considered one of the most successful porn stars in the industry. Adult Video News even named him the No. 1 porn star of all time. While Jeremy holds the Guinness World Record for starring in more than 2,000 adult films, he has also starred in mainstream movies such as "The Boondock Saints" and "The Chase." In 2008, he released a book about his career, "The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz: Horny Women, Hollywood Nights & The Rise of the Hedgehog!" He spoke with CNN about his return to work after a heart scare.
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Before Jenna Jameson starred in her first pornographic film in 1993, she had been a dancer at a strip club and had posed in Hustler, Penthouse and Cheri. By 1996, she had become a well-known star and got a minor role in Howard Stern's feature film "Private Parts." Since then, this former "<a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2004-08-27/entertainment/jenna.jameson_1_jenna-jameson-adult-entertainment-adult-industry">queen of porn</a>" has done guest voice-over work for "Family Guy," released a New York Times best-selling autobiography and created a horror comic book.
Before Jenna Jameson starred in her first pornographic film in 1993, she had been a dancer at a strip club and had posed in Hustler, Penthouse and Cheri. By 1996, she had become a well-known star and got a minor role in Howard Stern's feature film "Private Parts." Since then, this former "queen of porn" has done guest voice-over work for "Family Guy," released a New York Times best-selling autobiography and created a horror comic book.
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Traci Lords was underage when she appeared in her first pornographic movie. She went on to make <a href="http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/actress_60/96_traci_lords.html?cnn=yes" target="_blank" target="_blank">more than 100 adult films</a> by the time she was 18 and even stripped for Penthouse magazine. Lords was eventually arrested, and many of her "hits" became illegal. She left the industry and would go on to appear in B-movies and TV shows such as "Roseanne," "Melrose Place," "Married... With Children," "MacGyver" and "Gilmore Girls." Lords also had roles in movies "Virtuosity" and "Blade."
Traci Lords was underage when she appeared in her first pornographic movie. She went on to make more than 100 adult films by the time she was 18 and even stripped for Penthouse magazine. Lords was eventually arrested, and many of her "hits" became illegal. She left the industry and would go on to appear in B-movies and TV shows such as "Roseanne," "Melrose Place," "Married... With Children," "MacGyver" and "Gilmore Girls." Lords also had roles in movies "Virtuosity" and "Blade."
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Jenna Haze broke into the pornography industry in 2001 at the age of 19. She went on to win numerous adult film awards, including multiple female performer of the year awards. In 2007, Haze had a small role in "Superbad" and then launched her own production company in 2009. She announced her retirement in 2012.
Jenna Haze broke into the pornography industry in 2001 at the age of 19. She went on to win numerous adult film awards, including multiple female performer of the year awards. In 2007, Haze had a small role in "Superbad" and then launched her own production company in 2009. She announced her retirement in 2012.
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Ginger Lynn got her start in pornographic movies in the mid-1980s. Around the early '90s, she quit and made appearances in several B-movies and mainstream ones such as "Young Guns II" with Kiefer Sutherland and Emilio Estevez. In 1999, Lynn returned to the adult film industry and starred in a porn film with James Deen in 2008. She has been ranked No. 7 in Adult Video News' greatest porn stars of all time list.
Ginger Lynn got her start in pornographic movies in the mid-1980s. Around the early '90s, she quit and made appearances in several B-movies and mainstream ones such as "Young Guns II" with Kiefer Sutherland and Emilio Estevez. In 1999, Lynn returned to the adult film industry and starred in a porn film with James Deen in 2008. She has been ranked No. 7 in Adult Video News' greatest porn stars of all time list.
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Porn stars who've gone mainstream
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