Gloria Leonard

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Gloria Leonard
Born Gale Sandra Klinetsky
(1940-08-28)August 28, 1940
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Died February 3, 2014(2014-02-03) (aged 73)
Waimei, Hawaii, U.S.
Other names C. Gale Leonard, Gail Leonard, Gayle Leonard
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Weight 157 lb (71 kg)
Spouse(s) Bobby Hollander, ?-1990, divorced
No. of adult films 36 (per IAFD)

Gloria Leonard (born Gale Sandra Klinetsky;[2] August 28, 1940 – February 3, 2014)[1] was an American pornographic actress who became the publisher of High Society magazine.[3]

Early life

Leonard was a single mother, more mature than post porn ingenues, and had had other occupations, such as a Wall Street broker and publicist.[4]

Adult film career

Leonard began appearing in hardcore pornography in 1974; She appeared in approximately 40 film/projects from 1976–84,[1] in films including Odyssey: The Ultimate Trip (1977), directed by Gerard Damiano,[4] The Trouble With Young Stuff, All About Gloria Leonard (both of which were written and directed by Joseph W. Sarno), The Opening of Misty Beethoven (directed by Radley Metzger), Fortune Smiles[5] and Taboo: American Style.[5] She worked with actresses Constance Money, Leslie Bovee, Sharon Mitchell, Jennifer Welles, and Samantha Fox before retiring from the screen in the 1984. She also directed several porn films, and was formerly married to Bobby Hollander. After moving to Hawaii in 1993, she returned to Los Angeles in 1997 to work for Private Media Group.[1]

High Society

For 14 years Leonard served as publisher of High Society magazine, which pioneered such novelties as nude celebrity photos and phone sex lines. She was hired by the magazine's publisher Carl Ruderman, who wanted a female publisher of a men's magazine.[1] Margot Kidder, Ann-Margret and Barbra Streisand unsuccessfully attempted to sue the magazine after it published nude photos of them.[5] She was in charge of High Society from 1977 to 1991.[1]

Organizations

She served as administrative director of the Adult Film and Video Association of America, the adult film industry trade association, from 1989 to 1992, until that organization merged with the Free Speech Coalition. In 1998, she was elected president of the FSC[1] She was also president of the AFVAA in 1986.[6]

Feminism

Leonard was a feminist and First Amendment advocate, and debated on the issues of pornography and censorship and their impact on the women's movement at several colleges and universities.[5]

Gloria Leonard was one of twenty-five women of the golden era of adult films featured in the 2012 book, by author Jill C. Nelson, entitled: Golden Goddesses: 25 Legendary Women of Classic Erotic Cinema, 1968-1985, published by BearManor Media.[7]

Death

Leonard suffered a massive stroke in her home in Waimei, Hawaii on January 31, 2014 or early hours of February 1.[8] She wasn't found until about 24 hours later and transported to a nearby hospital. She was left with extensive brain damage as a result of the stroke and died February 3, 2014 after being taken off life support.[9]

Awards

She won the Best Actress award for Taboo, American Style from the AFAA. Leonard is a member of the X-Rated Critics Organization (XRCO) Hall of Fame[10] and Adult Video News (AVN) Hall of Fame.[11]

Television appearances

She had a role as a salesperson on Simon & Simon in 1984, in the episode "Manna from Heaven". Leonard had also been a guest on several talk shows, including Oprah, Geraldo, Maury, Larry King and Howard Stern. She has also hosted her own television shows - The Leonard Report: For Adults Only and later, Gloria Leonard's Hot Shopper Hour.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Gloria Leonard". Lukeisback.com. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
  2. ↑ Slotnik, Daniel E. "Gloria Leonard, Publisher and Pornography Star, Dies at 73". New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2014. 
  3. ↑ Adams Otis, Ginger (2014-02-04). "Gloria Leonard, ex-porn actress and publisher of High Society, dead at 73". Daily News. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/arts/gloria-leonard-publisher-and-pornography-star-dies-at-73.html?_r=0
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Gloria Leonard". Feminists for Free Expression. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
  6. ↑ "10th Annual Erotic Awards," Adam Film World, January 1987, p. 7
  7. ↑ by Jill C. Nelson. Golden Goddesses: 25 Legendary Women of Classic Erotic Cinema, 1968-1985 (First edition ed.). BearManor Media. ISBN 9781593932985. 
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ Kernes, Mark. "Legendary Adult Actress Gloria Leonard Passes". Adult Video News. Retrieved 4 February 2014. 
  10. ↑ "XRCO Hall of Fame". Retrieved 4 February 2014. 
  11. ↑ "AVN Hall of Fame". Retrieved 4 February 2014. 

External links

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