Jennifer Welles(1937-2018)
- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Jennifer Welles was born and raised in northern New Jersey, the
youngest of two daughters of a German aircraft designer and his wife
who had fled when the Nazi Party rose to power. Her father left the
family for another woman when Welles was nine and she never saw him
again. She was raised by her very protective mother, who became a
seamstress in a factory, working long hours and often leaving Welles at
home alone, since her older sister had married at a young age and moved
away. Welles quit high school and became a dancer in dinner theater and
traveling theater troupes during the early
1950's. She soon went to Las Vegas and danced in opening acts for comedians such as Jack Benny
and the comedy duo of Dean Martin
and Jerry Lewis. She returned
to the east coast and studied drama for a short time under
Sanford Meisner. She continued dancing
in stage productions and by the end of the
1960's, Welles had married professional musician Manny Duran
and became involved in acting in mostly low-budget softcore
sexploitation films in New York City.
In the mid-1970's, at just over forty years of age, Welles began making explicit hardcore adult films and was very successful, enjoying a large following. Although she claims her husband had no problem with this, they soon divorced and she then married a wealthy businessman named Phillip, who was about ten years younger. He lavished her with a large Tuxedo Park home and money to spend, and she left adult films by the end of the decade. They soon moved to Houston, where she became involved in raising horses. However, she was neglected by her husband and the marriage was soon over after he began an affair with another woman. Although she said in a recent interview that she is now in her seventies and living alone on much less money, she is very content in an undisclosed rural location in America with a few cats, dogs, and two horses. She says she has a few close friends, some to whom she has revealed her past, and that she attends church regularly and has no regrets for her film career.
In the mid-1970's, at just over forty years of age, Welles began making explicit hardcore adult films and was very successful, enjoying a large following. Although she claims her husband had no problem with this, they soon divorced and she then married a wealthy businessman named Phillip, who was about ten years younger. He lavished her with a large Tuxedo Park home and money to spend, and she left adult films by the end of the decade. They soon moved to Houston, where she became involved in raising horses. However, she was neglected by her husband and the marriage was soon over after he began an affair with another woman. Although she said in a recent interview that she is now in her seventies and living alone on much less money, she is very content in an undisclosed rural location in America with a few cats, dogs, and two horses. She says she has a few close friends, some to whom she has revealed her past, and that she attends church regularly and has no regrets for her film career.
