Jesse Jane

---

title: "Jesse Jane" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1980-births", "2024-deaths", "21st-century-american-actresses", "american-pornographic-film-actresses", "avn-award-winners", "actresses-from-fort-worth,-texas", "pornographic-film-actors-from-texas", "drug-related-deaths-in-oklahoma"] description: "American pornographic actress (1980–2024)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Jane" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American pornographic actress (1980–2024) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Jesse Jane
image	Jesse Jane 2013.jpg
caption	Jane in 2013
birth_name	Cynthia Ann Howell
birth_date
birth_place	Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
death_date
death_place	Moore, Oklahoma, U.S.
occupation
years_active
spouse
children	1
website
::

| name = Jesse Jane | image = Jesse Jane 2013.jpg | caption = Jane in 2013 | birth_name = Cynthia Ann Howell | birth_date = | birth_place = Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | death_date =
| death_place = Moore, Oklahoma, U.S. | occupation = | years_active = | spouse = | children = 1 | website = Jesse Jane (nee Cynthia Ann Howell July 16, 1980 – January 24, 2024) was an American pornographic film actress. She became one of the few adult film performers of the 2000s to make the transition into mainstream film and television roles.

Jane was an exclusive contract performer for Digital Playground between 2002 and 2014, starring in the Pirates series of pornographic films. She retired from the adult film industry in 2017 after a career spanning nearly two decades. She was a member of the NightMoves Hall of Fame, XRCO Hall of Fame, and the AVN Hall of Fame.

Early life

Jane was born Cynthia Ann Howell on July 16, 1980, in Fort Worth, Texas. According to a 2006 interview she gave to The Oklahoma Gazette, her family relocated to the Oklahoma City area where her parents worked at Tinker Air Force Base. In 1998, she graduated with honors from Moore High School.

Career

Before securing a position in a commercial for restaurant chain Hooters, Jane had previously modeled for retailers such as 5-7-9 and David's Bridal. She subsequently ascended the ranks within the Hooters organization, ultimately attaining the role of regional training coordinator. She later made the decision to transition into a full-time career as a Hawaiian Tropic bikini model.

Pornographic film

Jane avoided the "shock value" trend prevalent in mid-2000s pornography, according to The New York Times. She signed an exclusive contract with the adult film production company Digital Playground, appearing in Pirates (2005) and its sequel, Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge (2008), as a ship's first officer on a mission against a group of evil pirates. The films, which respectively cost $1 million and $8 million to produce, were among the highest-budget pornographic films ever made.

In 2006, Jane and Kirsten Price became the hosts of Playboy TV's most popular live show, Night Calls; Jane also hosted the AVN Awards that year. She was named December's Booble Cover Girl of the Month.

Jane was the sex columnist for Chéri and Ralph magazines beginning in 2007. Later that year, she hosted Playboy TV's Naughty Amateur Home Videos, and The New York Times reported that Jane intended to have her breast enhancement surgery re-done for high-definition movies. She hosted the F.A.M.E. Awards in 2008, and the XBIZ Awards in 2008 and 2011.

Jane launched a line of signature sex toys circa 2010. She was the Australian Penthouse Pet of the Month in November 2010. Jane hosted the AVN Awards again in 2013. In 2011, 2012, and 2014, she was named by CNBC as one of the twelve most popular stars in porn.

In 2017, Jane announced that she would retire from the adult industry, although she briefly returned in 2019 to shoot her first interracial scene for Blacked.com.

Mainstream film, television, and other media

Jane became one of the few adult film performers of the 2000s to make the transition into mainstream Hollywood roles. In 2003, she had an uncredited appearance in Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding and appeared in the reality TV series Family Business. In 2004, Jane made a cameo appearance in the film Starsky & Hutch, appeared on the cover of Drowning Pool's second studio album Desensitized, and in the music video for Drowning Pool's single "Step Up". She was a guest star on the HBO dramedy series Entourage. She also appeared in the reality TV series Bad Girls Club and Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

In a 2009 CNBC documentary titled Porn: Business of Pleasure, Jane is the focus of the final six-minute segment, which details her career and her life outside the porn industry. Later that year she appeared in the film Middle Men. In 2011, she appeared in the film Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star.

Personal life and death

In 2000, Jane gave birth to her son. In 2005, she married Rich Taylor. On March 1, 2012, she announced on Twitter that she was getting divorced. In 2019, she married Richard H. Wilcox.

In 2011, Jane had her name legally changed from Cynthia Taylor to Jesse Jane.

On January 24, 2024, Jane and her boyfriend, Brett Hasenmueller, were found dead from an apparent drug overdose at their home in Moore, Oklahoma. An autopsy report later confirmed that she died from an accidental overdose of cocaine and fentanyl.

Awards

::data[format=table]

Awards
::

|- style="background:#d9e8ff;" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| ;Total number of wins |- | | |- | colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | |}

::data[format=table]

Year	Event	Award	Film
2003	NightMoves Award	Best New Starlet (Editor's Choice)	rowspan=3
2004	Delta di Venere Award	Best American Actress
Venus Award	Best Actress, USA
2006	AVN Award	Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Video (with Janine)	Pirates
F.O.X.E. Award	Female Fan Favorite	rowspan=3
NightMoves Award	Best Actress (Editor's Choice)
Scandinavian Adult Award	Best Selling International Star
2007	AVN Award	Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Video (with Jana Cova, Sophia Santi, & Teagan Presley)	Island Fever 4
F.A.M.E. Award	Hottest Body	rowspan=6
Eroticline Award	Best U.S. Actress
Adultcon Award	Top 20 Adult Actresses
2008	F.A.M.E. Award	Hottest Body
Eroticline Award	Best U.S. Actress
NightMoves Award	Hall of Fame
2009	AVN Award	Best All-Girl Group Sex Scene (with Stoya, Adrianna Lynn, Brianna Love, Lexxi Tyler, Memphis Monroe, Priya Rai, Shay Jordan, Sophia Santi)	Cheerleaders
Best All-Girl Couples Sex Scene (with Belladonna)	Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge
Hot d'Or Award	Best American Actress
F.A.M.E. Award	Hottest Body	rowspan=5
2010	Fame Registry Award	Contract Star of the Year
NightMoves Award	Best Feature Dancer (Fan's Choice)
2011	Fame Registry Award	Fan Favorite Hottest Blonde
Contract Star of the Year
AVN Award	Best All-Girl Group Sex Scene (with Katsuni, Kayden Kross, Riley Steele, & Raven Alexis)	Body Heat
Wildest Sex Scene (Fan Award) (with Katsuni, Kayden Kross, Riley Steele, & Raven Alexis)
2012	Best Supporting Actress	Fighters
Hottest Sex Scene (Fan Award) (with Kayden Kross, Riley Steele, Stoya, BiBi Jones, & Manuel Ferrara)	Babysitters 2
XRCO Award	Hall of Fame	rowspan=6
NightMoves Award	Best Female Performer (Fan's Choice)
Fame Registry Award	Fan Favorite Hottest Blonde
Contract Star of the Year
2013	AVN Award	Hall of Fame
Fame Registry Award	Contract Star of the Year
XBIZ Award	Best Scene – All-Girl with (Kayden Kross, Riley Steele, Selena Rose, & Vicki Chase)	Mothers & Daughters
2014	Best Scene – Feature Movie (with (Kayden Kross, Riley Steele, Stoya, Selena Rose, & Manuel Ferrara)	Code of Honor
Venus Award	Lifetime Achievement Award
2016	XBIZ Award	Best Sex Scene – Gonzo Release (with Manuel Ferrara)	Jesse: Alpha Female
Performer Showcase of the Year
::

Selected filmography

::data[format=table title="Film"]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2003	Beat the Devil
2003	Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding	Bikini girl	Uncredited role
2004	Starsky & Hutch		Cameo
2005	Pirates	Jules
2008	Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge	Jules
2009	Middle Men	Herself
2010	Let the Game Begin	Temptation
2011	Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star	AFA presenter
2009	Frat Party	Herself
::

::data[format=table title="Television"]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2003	Family Business	Herself
2005	Entourage	Herself	Season 2
2006	The Tonight Show with Jay Leno	Jaywalking interviewee
2006–2007	Night Calls	Co-host
2007	Gene Simmons Family Jewels	Herself
2009	Bad Girls Club	Herself
2009	Porn: Business of Pleasure	Herself	CNBC TV documentary
::

References

References

1. Tumin, Remy. (January 25, 2024). "Jesse Jane, Pornographic Film Star, Dies at 43". The New York Times.
2. (February 9, 2006). "Dirty Little Secret". Oklahoma Gazette.
3. Hayes, Jana. (January 25, 2024). "Adult film actress Jesse Jane, boyfriend found dead of apparent overdose in Oklahoma home". [[The Oklahoman]].
4. Morris, Chris. (January 17, 2014). "The economics of being an independent porn star". CNBC.
5. Stenzel, Wesley. (January 25, 2024). "Adult film star Jesse Jane, who appeared on 'Entourage' and 'Bad Girls Club,' found dead at 43". [[EW.com]].
6. . (August 30, 2005). ["Jesse Jane to Host 2006 AVN Awards"](https://avn.com/business/articles/video/jesse-jane-to-host-2006-avn-awards-45411.html).
7. (January 4, 2007). "Jesse Jane Named Booble Girl of the Month".
8. Anthony, Vito. (November 13, 2006). "Jesse Jane Joins Cheri Staff".
9. "Jesse Jane".
10. "Jesse Jane - Night Calls Live".
11. . (March 24, 2008). ["Jesse Jane, Randy Spears To Host 2008 F.A.M.E. Awards"](https://avn.com/business/articles/video/jesse-jane-randy-spears-to-host-2008-f-a-m-e-awards-30834.html).
12. Hymes, Tom. (November 14, 2007). "DP Contract Star Jesse Jane and Kevin 'KB' Blatt to Host 2008 XBIZ Awards Ceremony".
13. Rodriguez, Ariana. (October 8, 2010). "Jesse Jane to Host 2011 XBIZ Awards, Official Event Site Launches".
14. Morris, Chris. (March 5, 2010). "Life After Porn: The Retirement Challenge". CNBC.
15. (October 20, 2010). "November 2010 Pet of the Month, Jesse Jane".
16. . (July 31, 2012). ["Jesse Jane, Asa Akira Tapped to Co-Host 2013 AVN Awards"](https://avn.com/business/articles/video/jesse-jane-asa-akira-tapped-to-co-host-2013-avn-awards-483856.html).
17. Morris, Chris. (January 6, 2011). "The Dirty Dozen: Porn's Most Popular Stars". CNBC.
18. (January 18, 2012). "The Dirty Dozen 2012: Porn's Most Popular Stars".
19. Morris, Chris. (January 13, 2014). "The Dirty Dozen 2014". [[CNBC]].
20. Dickson, EJ. (25 January 2024). "Porn Star Jesse Jane Dead at 43".
21. Adams, JC. (June 26, 2019). "Jesse Jane Performs 1st IR for Blacked".
22. Vasquez, Ingrid. (January 25, 2024). "Adult Film Star Jesse Jane, Who Also Appeared on 'Entourage,' Dead at 43". [[Peoplemag]].
23. Ehren, Wynder. (January 25, 2024). "Overdose suspected after adult film superstar Jesse Jane found dead at 43 - UPI.com". [[United Press International.
24. Gomez, Luis. (July 5, 2009). "Interview: Shopping with adult film star Jesse Jane". [[Chicago Tribune]].
25. Lee, Melissa . (July 15, 2009). "Porn: Business of Pleasure".
26. Price, Joe. (January 25, 2024). "Adult Film Actress Jesse Jane Dead at 43 Following Apparent Overdose". Complex.
27. Richtel, Matt. (January 22, 2007). "In Raw World of Sex Movies, High Definition Could Be a View Too Real". [[The New York Times]].
28. Jesse. (March 1, 2012). "Happily getting divorced.".
29. (25 November 2025). "World's 'highest-paid' porn star had under $50K in bank at time of death in Oklahoma". The Oklahoman.
30. Clay, Nolan. (July 8, 2024). "Oklahoma porn star Jesse Jane cause of death revealed in autopsy report".
31. (January 9, 2006). "AVN Award Winners Announced".
32. (March 6, 2007). "Jesse Jane Wins Scandinavian Adult Award".
33. (January 16, 2007). "2007 AVN Award Winners Announced".
34. Sullivan, David. (January 11, 2009). "2009 AVN Award-Winners Announced". Adult Video News.
35. (January 9, 2011). "AVN Announces the Winners of the 2011 AVN Awards". Adult Video News.
36. (January 22, 2012). "AVN Announces the 2012 AVN Award Winners". Adult Video News.
37. (December 21, 2012). "AVN Announces 2013 Hall of Fame Inductees". Adult Video News.
38. Warren, Peter. (June 23, 2007). "2007 F.A.M.E. Award Winners Announced".
39. Sullivan, David. (June 7, 2008). "2008 F.A.M.E. Winners Announced at Erotica LA".
40. (September 13, 2009). "F.A.M.E. Award Winners Announced".
41. Dirty Bob. (September 16, 2003). "11th Annual Nightmoves Entertainment Awards Announced". Adult Video News.
42. Dirty Bob. (October 9, 2006). "Nightmoves Award Winners Announced". Adult Video News.
43. "Past Winner History". Nightmovesusa.com.
44. "NightMoves Online - Past Winner History". NightMoves Online.
45. (January 10, 2010). "20th Annual NightMoves Awards Heats Up Tampa". Adult Video News.
46. Dan Miller. (January 12, 2013). "2013 XBIZ Award Winners Announced". XBIZ.
47. "XRCO". XRCO.com.
48. "XRCO Announces 2012 Hall of Fame Class". Adult Video News.
49. "AVN - 2014 AVN Awards Show - History". Avnawards.avn.com.
50. Miller, Dan. (January 24, 2014). "2014 XBIZ Award Winners Announced".
51. "AVN - 2014 AVN Awards Show – History". Adult Video News.
52. (November 23, 2004). "Complete List of Delta di Venere Award Winners Announced". Adult Video News.
53. (October 21, 2004). "Jesse Jane Named Best Actress USA at Venus Awards". Adult Video News.
54. Thomas J Stanton. (February 20, 2006). "FOXE Awards Showcase Porn's Past and Future". Adult Video News.
55. Peter Warren. (October 24, 2007). "Venus Award Winners Announced". Adult Video News.
56. Sullivan, David. (October 22, 2008). "Exclusive: Complete 2008 eLINE Award Winners from Venus Berlin".
57. Fishbein, Paul. (October 21, 2009). "Pirates II, Evil Angel Big Winners at 2009 Hot d'Or Awards". Adult Video News.
58. (October 23, 2014). "Diskretes Deutschland – Venus Awards 2014". bizeitung.wordpress.com.
59. (January 2016). "XBIZ Award Winners".
60. (August 31, 2010). "Fame Registry Announces Porn Award Winners".
61. "Top 100 Porn Stars of 2010 - Fame Registry".
62. "The Fame Registry Awards".
63. (13 July 2012). "The Fame Registry Awards".
64. Evans, Greg. (January 25, 2024). "Jesse Jane Dies: Porn Superstar Who Appeared In 'Entourage' & 'The Bad Girls Club' Found Unresponsive".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::