The former adult film star Tiffany Clark passed away this week.

Some might say this comes with the territory when you cover an industry that began almost 60 years ago. But while Tiffany started in the business in 1979, she was only 18 at the time and just 65 when she died of cancer.

Others might ask why I would be sad about somebody I interviewed once almost 10 years ago. But I lucked out with Tiffany. I got to know her for quite a while before we ever did the interview, and we’ve stayed friends ever since. Over the years there have been many dinners out and time spent with her family, both birth and chosen. Her home was full of people and animals and love.

And Tiffany was always at the heart of that home. She didn’t have it easy over the years. She grew up in an abusive household that she ran away from when she was young. She struggled with drugs and went to prison. Performing in adult films and briefly running Plato’s retreat with her then husband Fred Lincoln was about the least transgressive thing she did in her early years.

Then she met Barry who would go on to become her beloved husband until this day. They moved to Florida with Tiffany’s child from another father and started a new life, going on to have children of their own. And something remarkable happened – Tiffany, whose life had been the definition of instability, became a pillar of reliability. She was an anchor of love for her family and friends. She was a steadfast employee for companies that relied upon her. When her kids faced difficulties, she took in their children and raised them as her own. Tiffany and Barry renewed their vows in 2015 – a joyful event I was fortunate enough to be part of.

This is a reprise of my interview with Tiffany, in honor of my special friend who I loved dearly and will miss deeply.

For more pictures from Tiffany’s life, see here.

This episode’s running time is 124 minutes.

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