One of the first female adult movie star (alongside Linda Lovelace and Georgina Spelvin), Marilyn Chambers remained a friendly invidivual on the convention circuit. Of course, she battled her own demons at some point, but she was always perceived as a cool individual and innovator for the XXX movie business. Her interracial scenes in the breakthrough film Behind the Green Door remain taboo-breaking. Interestingly, she was one of the first female adult star to perform before the cameras with a completely shaved pubic area.

Oddly, compared to other adult stars, she didn’t make a ton of films, barely more than thirty in all. If Behind the Green Door is still an important milestone, check out Resurrection of Eve and Insatiable, to have your taste of Marilyn at her best. Of course, there’s a couple of more mainstream projects, like David Cronenberg’s Rabid and and Angel of H.E.A.T. that merits attention.

Marilyn was found dead on April 12, 2009, in her home of Santa Clarita, California; the cause of death has not been made public yet. She would’ve turn 57 on April 22.