xbiz world
xbiz premiere
opinion

RIP: John Leslie, 1945-2010

Performer/director John Leslie passed away yesterday, Dec. 5, from an apparent massive heart attack he suffered while at home. He was 65-years old.

Leslie began his performing career in 1973, in “Sensuous Delights,” and went on to perform in more than 300 movies. Perhaps his most well-known role was as the seductive lead in 1980?s “Talk Dirty to Me,” directed by Anthony Spinelli.

Later, he was one of the first performers to move into the director’s chair, with 1987?s “Nightshift Nurses.” When he passed away yesterday, Leslie was a long-standing member on the Evil Angel roster of directors, alongside good friend and performer/director Joey Silvera. For more on the story, visit AVN.com or XBIZ.com.

Suave and sophisticated, Leslie was a legend of the Golden Age of erotic film and a pioneer in the adult industry. He will be missed. – jc

(photo: Some rights reserved by Rick Hall the_toe_stubber)

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Key Strategies for Building an Effective Website Compliance Program

For adult website operators, compliance can no longer live in a folder that only opens when a bank, regulator, attorney, or payment processor starts asking questions.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

What Utah's SB 73 Means for Compliance Requirements

Utah has once again positioned itself at the center of the national battle over online age verification and adult-content regulation.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

What to Know About Alabama's Regulatory Push on Adult Content

Over the past two years, Alabama has quietly but aggressively transformed itself into one of the most restrictive and unfriendly jurisdictions for the adult entertainment industry. Through the enactment of House Bill 164 and related enforcement mechanisms, the state has layered taxation, compliance burdens and content restrictions in a way that goes far beyond traditional regulation.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Understanding Sin Taxes and the Legal Roadblocks Ahead

As of this writing, a bill sits on the desk of Utah’s governor, awaiting his signature to make it state law. That bill includes a provision imposing an excise tax of 2% on adult sites operating in the state.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

WIFEY at One: Brand Ambassador Serenity Cox Talks Authenticity, Trusted Relationships

Vixen Media Group brand WIFEY may be celebrating its first anniversary in March, but the imprint has wasted no time establishing itself as a distinctive new voice in adult cinema. In its debut year, WIFEY captured two XMAs: Best New Studio Imprint and Best New Site.

Christian Cintron ·
opinion

Inside the OCC's Debanking Review and Its Impact on the Adult Industry

For years, adult performers, creators, producers and adjacent businesses have routinely had their access to basic financial services curtailed — not because they are inherently higher-risk customers, but because a whole category of lawful work has long been treated as unacceptable.

Corey Silverstein ·
opinion

What DSA and GDPR Enforcement Means for Adult Platforms

Adult platforms have never been more visible to regulators than they are right now. For years, the industry operated in a gray zone: enormous traffic, massive data volume and minimal oversight. Those days are over.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How Adult Businesses Can Navigate Global Compliance Demands

The internet has made the world feel small. Case in point: Adult websites based in the U.S. are now getting letters from regulators demanding compliance with foreign laws, even if they don’t operate in those countries. Meanwhile, some U.S. website operators dealing with the patchwork of state-level age verification laws have considered incorporating offshore in the hopes of avoiding these new obligations — but even operators with no physical presence in the U.S. have been sued or threatened with claims for not following state AV laws.

Larry Walters ·
opinion

Top Tips for Bulletproof Creator Management Contracts

The creator management business is booming. Every week, it seems, a new agency emerges, promising to turn creators into stars, automate their fan interactions or triple their revenue through “secret” social strategies. The reality? Many of these agencies are operating with contracts that wouldn’t survive a single serious dispute — if they even have contracts at all.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

What Adult Businesses Need to Know About Florida's Age Verification Law

The rise and proliferation of age verification laws has changed the landscape for the online adult industry. A recent and compelling example is the state of Florida, where Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed multiple complaints against major platforms as well as affiliates accused of violating the state’s AV law.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
Show More