Kay Taylor Parker (28 August 1944 – 14 October 2022)[1] was a British pornographic film actress who later worked as a metaphysical counselor and mentor.[2] She was the author of an autobiography Taboo: Sacred, Don't Touch which chronicles her life including her work as an actress in adult films.
Kay Parker | |
|---|---|
 Parker in 2014 | |
| Born | Kay Taylor Parker 28 August 1944 Birmingham, England |
| Died | 14 October 2022 (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Other names |
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| Citizenship |
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| Years active | 1962–1999 |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
Early life
editBorn in England, she grew up in a conservative household.[2][3] She moved to the United States at the age of 21.[3] After moving to the United States, she had a successful career in the import business.[4] While living in San Francisco, she became interested in acting and began studying drama.[4]
Career
editParker was reportedly introduced to the adult film industry during the late 1970s by actor John Leslie, who suggested she take part in one of his upcoming films.[5] She made her first appearance in 'V' – The Hot One in a non-sex role.[4] Soon afterwards, porn director Anthony Spinelli talked her into doing her first sex scene in Sex World (1977).[5][6][7][8] Despite entering the adult film industry at a later age than most, she became a leading star in the field and was often paired with younger co-stars.[9] Typically she was cast in mature woman roles, such as mothers, step mothers, rich aunts, and wealthy divorcees.[4] She is best known for her roles in Dracula Sucks (1978) and the 1980 film Taboo.[6][2] She retired from porn in the mid-1980s and for a time worked for Caballero Home Video as their public relations representative.[6] She also appeared in small parts in several mainstream movies and television series, such as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.[4]
Later years
editIn 2001, Parker wrote her autobiography titled Taboo: Sacred, Don't Touch: An Autobiographical Journey Spanning Six Thousand Years in which she wrote about her early childhood, her career in the adult industry, and her experiences with the metaphysical. A revised version, Taboo: Sacred Don't Touch – The Revised Version was published in 2016. She later had a YouTube channel where she answered questions in her videos from her fans on myriad subjects on spirituality and spiritual exercises for personal individual growth.[10] She also offered personal Skype sessions with clients who paid her for spiritual counseling.[11]
Parker is the subject of the documentary A Taboo Identity, which chronicles her transition from pornstar to metaphysical counselor.[12]
Death
editParker died in Los Angeles on October 14, 2022, at the age of 78. Her family did not reveal the cause of her death.[13]
Awards
edit- 1983: Adult Film Association of America Award Best Supporting Actress for Sweet Young Foxes[14]
- 1985: XRCO Special Merit Award[15]
- AVN Hall of Fame[16]
- 1990: XRCO Hall of Fame[17]
Publications
edit- Parker, Kay Taylor (2016). Taboo: Sacred, Don't Touch – The Revised Version. Blurb. ISBN 9781367411531.
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Kernes, Mark (16 October 2022). "Golden Age Star Kay Parker Dies at 78". AVN. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Accinelli, Laura (21 February 1994). "Talk is cheap – Gertrude Stein, it ain't: High-brow salon sounds a lot like 'Geraldo". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- ^ a b Olesker, Michael (18 October 1984). "Stars consider sex films erotic, not pornographic". The Baltimore Sun. p. 63. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Smith, Kent; Moore, Darrell W.; Reagle, Merl (1982). Adult Movies: Rating Hundreds of the Best Films for Home Video & Cable. New York: Beekman House. p. 183. ISBN 0-517-398710. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Journey Without Clothes: Kay Parker on "Taboo"". Fleshbot. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "'Prude of Porn' defends sex films". The Joplin Globe. Associated Press. 1 June 1986. p. 36. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- ^ Saroyan, Aram (3 April 2014). "Kay Parker, Taboo, and the Golden Age of Porn #NSFW". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ Weasels, P. "20 Must-Have Films: Classic Porn Movies (1972–1982)". GameLink. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ "Older Women". Variety. 25 May 1983. p. 30. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Kay Taylor". YouTube. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Services". kaytaylorparker.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ Riebe, Angie (27 October 2018). "Horror movie director to film movies in Minnesota". The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ "Adult Film Star and Author Kay Parker Dead at 78". US Day News. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "'Miss Jones' sequel wins Erotica". Springfield Leader and Press. United Press International. 16 March 1984. p. 31. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "Winners of XRCO Awards 1985". aiwards.com. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Hall of Fame". avnawards.com. Adult Video News. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "Hall of Fame". dirtybob.com. X-Rated Critics Organization. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
General and cited sources
edit- "Kay Parker: America's Favorite Mom". Cult Movies. No. 13. 1995. p. 87. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
Further reading
edit- Marvin, Louis (1987). The New Goddesses. Malibu, CA: AF Press. ISBN 0-912442-99-9. – features a chapter on her
External links
edit
- Kay Parker at the British Girls Adult Film Database
- Kay Parker at IMDb
- Kay Parker at the Internet Adult Film Database
- Kay Parker at the Adult Film Database
- Excerpt from Taboo: Sacred, Don't Touch
- Interview, 29 September 2009