Traci Lords Biography: Books & Movies, Parents, Height, Age, Net Worth, Husband, Songs & Albums

Traci Lords is an actress, singer, model, and writer who rose to prominence through a journey that transitioned from a highly publicized entry into the adult film industry as a teenager to a respected career in mainstream Hollywood.

She achieved widespread recognition and redefined her public image after landing the role of Wanda Woodward in the 1990 cult classic film Cry-Baby, directed by John Waters.

This performance showcased her ability to handle campy, rebellious characters and opened doors for her in both television and feature films.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Nora Louise Kuzma
• Nickname: Traci Lords
• Date of Birth: May 7, 1968
• Age: 57 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of Birth: Steubenville, Ohio, United States
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actress, Singer, Author, and Model
• Height: 5 feet 7 inches
• Weight: 55 kg
• Eye Color: Blue
• Hair Color: Blonde
• Parents: Louis Kuzma and Patricia Louise Briceland
• Siblings: Lorraine Kuzma, Rachel Kuzma, and Grace Kuzma
• Spouse: Jeff Gruenewald
• Children: Joseph Gunnar Lee Gruenewald
• Relationship Status: Married
• Religion: Christianity
• Ethnicity: Ukrainian and Irish
• Net Worth: $8 million

Early Life and Education

Traci Lords is now at the age of 57 and was born on May 7, 1968, in the steel-mill town of Steubenville, Ohio.

She grew up with her father, Louis Kuzma, who worked as a steelworker, and her mother, Patricia Louise Briceland.

Her household included three sisters named Lorraine, Rachel, and Grace.

The family moved to Redondo Beach, California, following the divorce of her parents when she was roughly seven years old.

She is of Ukrainian descent on her father’s side and Irish heritage on her mother’s side.

In California, she was raised in a household primarily led by her mother, who worked multiple jobs to support the four daughters.

Regarding her formal schooling, she attended Redondo Union High School but did not follow a traditional path to graduation as she left school at the age of 15 to begin working.

Later in her life, she sought professional training to refine her craft in the performing arts.

She enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles during the late 1980s.

She completed her studies there in 1987, focusing on method acting to prepare for her transition into mainstream cinema and television roles.

Personal Life

Traci Lords has been married three times and has one child.

Her first marriage was to Brook Yeaton, a property master she met while working on the set of the film Cry-Baby.

They married in 1990 but the union ended in divorce in 1996.

Following this, she was in a relationship with actor John Enos III, to whom she was engaged, though they eventually separated without marrying.

In 1999, she married Ryan Granger, but the relationship was short-lived and resulted in a divorce in 2000.

She found long-term stability with her third husband, Jeff Gruenewald, an actor and producer.

The couple married on February 23, 2002.

Together, they have one son named Joseph Gunnar Lee Gruenewald, who was born on October 7, 2007.

Throughout her adult life, she has maintained a private domestic existence in Southern California.

She has also been vocal about her past struggles with trauma and has dedicated much of her personal time to supporting organizations that help young people in vulnerable situations, such as Children of the Night.

Career

Traci Lords’ professional journey is divided into two distinct eras.

After a brief and controversial period in the adult industry during the mid-1980s, she made a total break from that world to pursue mainstream entertainment.

Her first major breakthrough came in 1988 with a role in the science fiction film Not of This Earth.

However, it was her performance in the 1990 film Cry-Baby that solidified her Status as a mainstream actress.

Throughout the 1990s, she appeared in various television shows, including recurring roles on Melrose Place as Rikki Abbott and on the science fiction series First Wave as Jordan Radcliffe.

She also took on roles in high-profile films like the vampire action movie Blade in 1998.

In addition to acting, she launched a music career in 1995 with the release of her techno-pop album 1000 Fires.

The lead single, Control, became a significant hit on the dance charts and was included on the multi-platinum soundtrack for the movie Mortal Kombat.

In 2003, she expanded her career into writing with the publication of her autobiography.

In the 2010s and 2020s, she continued to work steadily in independent films such as Excision and television series like Swedish Dicks.

She also ventured into the fashion industry, collaborating on clothing lines inspired by vintage 1950s aesthetics.

Awards

• Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actress for Excision (2013)
• Spike Guys’ Choice Award nomination for Decades Award (2010)
• Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Performance for The Specials (2000)
• Satellite Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Underworld (1998)

Net Worth

Traci Lords has a net worth of approximately $8 million.

This wealth has been accumulated through her long career as a television and film actress, royalties from her successful music album and singles, and the sales of her best-selling memoir.

Controversy

The primary controversy surrounding Traci Lords stems from her entry into the adult film industry in 1984.

It was later discovered that she had used a fake birth certificate to gain employment while she was still a minor, specifically between the ages of 15 and 17.

When this information became public in 1986, it resulted in a massive legal scandal and the removal of her adult films from the market, as they were deemed illegal.

This event triggered a significant FBI investigation into the production of adult content involving minors.

In later years, she faced public scrutiny and rumors regarding her past, but she used her autobiography to address these issues directly, detailing the exploitation she faced and her eventual legal and personal victory in reclaiming her life and identity.

Social Media

• Instagram: @tracilords
• X: @tracilords

Filmography

• Not of This Earth (1988)
• Fast Food (1989)
• Cry-Baby (1990)
• Raw Nerve (1991)
• The Tommyknockers (1993)
• Skinner (1993)
• Serial Mom (1994)
• Virtuosity (1995)