LOS ANGELES — Nineties-era Vivid contract performer Jenteal reportedly passed away Friday from complications during a surgery.
Jenteal's passing has been confirmed to her industry friends by the performer's family.
Although Jenteal retired in 2000, she had very recently returned to the adult space by opening an OnlyFans account.
She described herself in her most recent Facebook bio as a “Vivid Contract Star fastidiously stepping into public after 15-[year] absence from acting/modeling. Hemp Oil (CBD) Sales, Educator & Advocate.”
Her social media posts also described her as having spent the last few months living in the Philippines. On July 28, describing monsoon season, she posted “I decided to live here before quarantine hit. I just didn't decide on this island.”
Previously, Jenteal had been traveling nomadically around that part of the world, and taught English for a while in Sumatra, living with the locals. Her Twitter bio reads “90’s Film Star. Solo World Traveler. Wilderness First Aid Certified Hiker. Scuba Gypsy” and includes the motto, “Go where you feel most alive.”
Jenteal reported having “a bum foot” after a late June tattoo she got in the Philippines. Sources who kept in touch with Jenteal during her travels mentioned that she had not properly healed from that incident.
Iconic Vivid Girl
A tall, blonde stunner from Oklahoma, Jenteal helped define the late-1990s DVD era of the adult industry, alongside fellow big-haired ‘glamazons’ like Jenna Jameson and Briana Banks.
Jenteal was active in the adult industry from 1994 until around 2000, and was one of the iconic “Vivid Girls.” During that time, she was known as one of the regular partners of 1990s-era stud Mark Davis, with whom she appeared in the classic “Dirty Little Secrets” (1995). Other noted titles include the “Stardust” series, “Fantasy Chamber,” “Private Eyes,” “Erotic Visions,” “Dangerous Games,” “Jenteal Loves Rocco,” “This Year’s Model,” “Suggestive Behavior,” “Riding Lessons,” “First Impulse” and “Arcade.”
She was also one of the signature models for Vivid’s pathbreaking lesbian series “Where the Boys Aren’t.”
While transitioning out of porn Jenteal appeared in TV’s “The Man Show” (1999) and Jon Favreau’s mainstream crime comedy feature “Made” (2001).
Jenteal was also one of the performers featured in the documentary series “After Porn Ends.”
"It's crazy how my life, my body, my mentality, my geo location of residence, everything has changed in a couple short years," Jenteal tweeted on June 30. "I don't think #afterpornends does updates though, and with COVID they aren't flying to the Philippines to film anyway."
Industry Reactions
"I am so sad to hear that [Jenteal] has passed," wrote retired performer Asia Carrera on her Facebook page tonight. "She was living my dream, solo traveling across the globe. I would video chat with her late at night when she was feeling lonely on beaches on the other side of the planet."
"[Jenteal] was only 44 herself, much too young," Carrera added. "I'm glad she was out there living her dream and accomplished what she wanted to do."
This is a developing story and XBIZ will continue updating it as more information becomes available.