About
Tori Black, born Michelle Chapman in Seattle on August 26, 1988, is one of adult entertainment’s most recognizable names. She burst onto the scene in 2007 and quickly rewrote record books by becoming the first performer to win AVN’s coveted Female Performer of the Year award in back-to-back years, 2010 and 2011. Those twin victories, along with matching XRCO trophies and later induction into both halls of fame, cemented her place in industry history. Outside adult titles, she has popped up in pop-culture corners you might not expect—playing Lexi Steele on Showtime’s Ray Donovan, appearing in the indie slasher satire L.A. Slasher, and even directing scenes for Elegant Angel. Fans praise her for a magnetic on-camera presence and a business savvy that has let her transition from performer to producer without losing the spark that first drew audiences in.
Before Fame
Growing up in Washington state, Michelle was a self-described tomboy—boxing with neighborhood kids, playing football, and belly-dancing after school. Dance lessons that started at age seven built confidence and poise long before any camera entered the picture. After high school she headed to Western Washington University, majoring in journalism and minoring in women’s-studies sociology. During a summer break in Fort Lauderdale, her parents insisted she pick up a part-time job. Flipping through want ads, she spotted a casting call from an adult-talent agency. Curious, she sent photos, was accepted, and—after a week of reflection—decided to give it a try. Within a year she was “Penthouse Pet of the Month” for December 2008, signaling that her gamble had paid off. What strikes many observers is how quickly she combined college-classroom critical thinking with on-set professionalism, a blend that would later influence her work behind the camera.
Trivia
- Record-setting awards – Tori remains the first—and for several years the only—performer to capture two straight AVN Female Performer of the Year trophies, a feat that inspired headlines far beyond adult-industry press.
- Super-hero cameo – Her portrayal of Catwoman in Batman XXX made CNBC’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list of most-popular stars two years running, highlighting her crossover appeal.
- Magazine accolade – In 2010, the UK men’s magazine Loaded called her “the most facially attractive female performer in the industry,” a compliment she still laughs about in interviews.
- Director’s chair – She shot her first scene as a director for Elegant Angel in 2014, showcasing an eye for storytelling that fans say mirrors her own performance style.
- Mainstream moments – Beyond Ray Donovan she turned up in the supernatural-music thriller American Satan (2017) and fronted singer KP Wolfe’s “You Can Call Me” music video in 2020.
- Quick stats – Standing 5′9″ (175 cm), she boxed in high school, credits belly-dance for her posture, and once confessed that coffee is her true off-camera vice.
- Bumpy moments – She and fiancé Lyndell Anderson were briefly detained in Las Vegas in 2012 after what she later called “a misunderstanding that taught us patience.”
Family Life
Motherhood arrived while cameras still rolled: her first son was born October 14, 2011, followed by a second child two years later. Far from stepping away, Tori balanced diaper duty with feature shoots, often scheduling productions around nap times and using long breaks to pump backstage—something she has discussed candidly on Holly Randall’s 2018 Unfiltered podcast episode, where she spoke about tackling insecurity and forging a “second-act” comeback. Partner Lyndell, a former club promoter turned entrepreneur, handles much of the behind-the-scenes logistics, letting her focus on creative choices. These days family life takes priority: school runs in the morning, recipe experiments at night, and the occasional fan expo on weekends where, as she jokes, the kids think the convention swag is the coolest part of mom’s job.
Associated With
Tori’s career intersects with a who’s-who of adult and mainstream talent. Early on she shared box-covers with contemporaries like Jenna Haze and Sasha Grey; later she directed rising stars such as Alina Li. Her record of two AVN Performer titles stood alone until Angela White notched three straight a decade later, a milestone Black publicly congratulated on social media. Fans of Ray Donovan recall her scenes opposite Liev Schreiber, while horror aficionados spot her alongside Mischa Barton in L.A. Slasher. Music buffs might recognize her from KP Wolfe’s video cameo or her long friendship with photographer and podcast host Holly Randall, whose lens has captured many of Black’s most iconic stills. Whether collaborating on set pieces, red-carpet panels, or charitable fundraisers—with Penthouse alumni like Erica Ellyson—Tori credits a tight professional network for supporting both her artistic growth and her more recent ventures behind the camera.
