Nora Louise Kuzma was born on May 7, 1968 in Steubenville, Ohio to Louis
Kuzma, a Jewish immigrant from The Ukraine, and Patricia Briceland, of
Scandanavian decent. When Traci was still young, she, her mother and three
sisters, left her alcoholic father and moved to Lawndale, California.
Nora dropped out of Redondo Union High School and ran away from home at the
age of 15 after having had an abortion. With assistance of the older man with
whom she was living, Traci began making adult films and modeling. Nora
changed her name to Traci Elizabeth Lords, a combination of the first name of a
former school friend; the character played by Katherine Hepburn in The
Philadelphia Story; and the last name of actor Jack Lord (Hawaii Five-O,
1968). Traci used a false birth certificate and driver's license to fool the
adult film industry so that she could perform before turning 18.
Between 1984 and 1986, Traci made around 100 x-rated films. In 1986, Traci's
age was discovered and it became illegal to rent or buy any of her films. The
same year, on her 18th birthday, Traci made her last x-rated film,
and the only film that contains legal footage of her in an adult movie. Traci was
actually the Penthouse Pet of the Month in September 1984, but because she was
underage, it is illegal to own or to trade the issue unless her layout is
removed. Traci controlled the rights and release of all her films. In fact she
developed Traci Lords Productions, and therefore she was the only one who
profited from her adult film career. Much of the adult film industry refuses to speak
of or promote Traci Lords due to her betrayal. Although the government tried to
prosecute the producers of her films, their case fell apart after Traci traveled
to Europe on a fake passport and showed that she could fool more than just those
in the industry.
Traci Lords then left the adult film industry, and she enrolled in acting school
and began voice lessons. Her first mainstream "break" came in Not of This
Earth (1988). Since then, Traci has acted in many films, even high-profile
films such as Serial Mom, Virtuosity, and Blade. Her role on
Melrose Place (1995) was critically acclaimed. Not only does she act, but
she is also a singer. Her music can be found in the vocals to the Manic Street
Preachers' Little Baby Nothing, the Ramone's Somebody to Love, and
she recorded songs for Virtuosity and Mortal Kombat.
Traci Lords' first marriage was to Brook Yeaton. Her second marriage was to
Ryan Riel Grainger from June 26, 1999 to February 2000. She is currently married
to Jeff Lee, a union ironworker, since February 23, 2002.
