About
Dani Daniels, born Kira Lee Orsag on September 23, 1989 in Orange County, California, is best known for her award-winning work in adult entertainment. She entered the industry in 2011 and quickly earned an AVN Award in 2013 and an XBIZ Award in 2014. Away from the camera, she paints under the name Kira Lee, crafting “typographic pointillism” portraits made entirely of words. In 2018, she added television host to her résumé with the Amazon Prime talk-show Dinner with Dani. Her combination of performer, director, artist, private pilot, podcaster, and entrepreneur has helped her attract an audience of more than eight million followers across social platforms.
Before Fame
Art came first for Kira. She enrolled in a New York art academy but left after two years when tuition bills grew too large. To keep buying paint she danced in clubs, discovering she liked live performance as much as illustration. That confidence led to her adult-film debut at age 21, initially in all-female scenes before expanding into mixed productions. Even her stage name has a story: “Daniels” salutes her favorite whiskey, while “Dani” simply felt friendly and easy to recall. The blend of art training and dance experience shaped a performer who thinks about lighting, composition, and motion every time the camera rolls.
Trivia
- Licensed aviator – Dani earned her private-pilot certificate and often shares cockpit selfies while logging hours in the sky.
- Word-built portraits – As Kira Lee, she paints celebrities by dotting spray-enamel letters until faces appear, a style gallery owners praise as “iconic pointillism.”
- Darwin the bulldog influencer – Her English bulldog, Darwin, commands his own Twitter feed and routinely steals the spotlight.
- Coffee collaborator – She once teamed with a small-batch roaster to release a limited coffee line, combining her love of art and caffeine.
- Sci-fi super-fan – Off-set, she binges Doctor Who and Star Trek, often sporting fandom shirts during livestreams.
- Dinner with Dani – Her food-centric talk show launched on Amazon Prime in 2018, featuring adult-industry icons and comedians such as the late Gilbert Gottfried.
Family Life
Dani cites her Czech, German, and English roots for sparking curiosity about travel and culture. In October 2017 she married producer-publicist Victor Cipolla during a Swiss ceremony; he now co-produces her podcasts and appears in many Instagram reels. Cipolla’s humorous book Wait for the Corn recounts lessons learned while loving a high-profile performer. The couple divide their time between New York and Florida, where Darwin roams the backyard and “assists” with studio painting sessions. Though Dani identifies as bisexual, she says an open-minded spouse and supportive friends allow her to thrive both on canvas and on camera.
Associated With
Within her field Dani is frequently linked to performer-turned-author Jennifer Ketcham, who also branched into mainstream media. On Dinner with Dani she has shared supper-table stories with stars like Asa Akira, Alexis Texas, and comedian Gilbert Gottfried, showcasing her knack for bringing varied personalities together in relaxed conversation. Collaboration keeps her creative circle wide and fans eager for whatever project comes next.
