Kandi Barbour

Kandi Barbour, born Kandie Lou Dotson on February 15, 1959, in Russellville, Alabama, was an American adult film actress, model, and exotic dancer of Caucasian descent who became a notable figure in the Golden Age of Porn. The daughter of Albert Edens Dotson (died 1962) and Annie Louise McKinney (died 1978), she was raised in Dothan, Alabama, by her mother and stepfather, Harold Barbour, after her father’s death, per IMDb and kandibarbour.wordpress.com. She attended Girard Junior High School in Dothan from 1972 to 1974 but dropped out of high school at 16 or 17, leaving home to pursue modeling, per whosdatedwho.com. Discovered by photographer Diana Hardy in the mid-1970s, she began posing for men’s magazines like Velvet, Swank, and Stag, which led to her entry into adult films in 1978 at age 19, per IMDb and Find a Grave. Before porn, she worked as a model for K-tel International’s music ads and TV commercials, per IMDb. Her stage name, Kandi Barbour, reflected her vibrant persona, with aliases like Candy Barbour and Kandie Dotson used in various credits, per IAFD. Her move to Los Angeles marked the start of her adult career, driven by a desire for fame and financial independence, per kandibarbour.wordpress.com.

Barbour’s adult entertainment career spanned 1978 to 1984, with a final performance in 1987, appearing in over 88 films, including loops and compilations, per IAFD. She starred in notable titles like Neon Nights (1981, AVN’s 101 Greatest Adult Videos), Screwples (1979), The Budding of Brie (1980), Sexboat (1980), Bon Appétit (1980), Pandora’s Mirror (1981), Centerfold Fever (1981), and X-Effect (1987), working with studios like Caballero Home Video, VCA, and Command Video, per AVN and Find a Grave. Known for explicit hardcore scenes, she performed vaginal, oral, and group sex, often with performers like Jamie Gillis and John Leslie, showcasing her sensuality in films emphasizing erotic narratives, per theclassicporn.com. Her role as the poster girl for Neon Nights, directed by Cecil Howard, cemented her fame, blending glamour with raw sexuality, per AVN. She also performed in 8mm loops and worked as an exotic dancer at venues like Honolulu’s Club Hubba Hubba, per IMDb. Her career, though brief, capitalized on the 1970s–1980s adult industry’s theatrical era, earning her a dedicated fanbase.

Her mainstream work included modeling for K-tel International’s print ads and TV commercials, appearing as a poster girl, and an uncredited role in an episode of Magnum P.I., per Find a Grave and IMDb. After retiring from adult films in 1984, she continued dancing in Hawaii, performing at Club Hubba Hubba, and lived there for many years before moving to San Francisco, per IMDb. Her lack of online engagement reflects the era’s limited digital footprint, and her later years were marked by a withdrawal from public life, per kandibarbour.wordpress.com. Any subscription-based activities or modern fan interactions are absent, as her career ended before the rise of platforms like OnlyFans, per thelordofporn.com.

Physically, Barbour stood at 5’4” (163 cm), weighed approximately 110 lbs (50 kg), and had a 35C-24-35 figure with natural C-cup breasts, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes, per IAFD. She had no documented tattoos or piercings, maintaining a natural look that aligned with the Golden Age’s aesthetic, per Boobpedia. Fans and commentators praised her striking brunette beauty, curvaceous figure, and distinctive “puffy” nipples, which became a hallmark of her appeal in nude modeling and explicit scenes, per whosdatedwho.com. Her voluptuous yet petite frame and expressive face enhanced her performances in both softcore and hardcore genres, making her a standout in films like Sizzle and Young, Wild and Wonderful, per theclassicporn.com. Her glamorous yet approachable look resonated with audiences, contributing to her success in men’s magazines and adult films, per AVN.

Barbour’s life was not without challenges, as court records indicate a 2006 rap sheet listing multiple aliases, suggesting legal issues possibly related to her later homelessness, per kandibarbour.wordpress.com. She faced mental health and possible addiction issues, as noted by a colleague who described her as “troubled” and “emotional,” per kandibarbour.wordpress.com. AVN (2012) called her “a striking beauty whose work defined an era,” while fans (2024) praised her as “a stunning beauty” (user: retrofan59). A 2024 X post lauded her Neon Nights role as “iconic” (@RetroPornFan). Mainstream media, like FamousFix, noted her tragic end, highlighting her industry contributions, per famousfix.com. Her rumored son, Lawrence Dotson, and a relationship with Rick Marty are unconfirmed, per kandibarbour.wordpress.com.

Barbour’s legacy is marked by her 2009 XRCO Hall of Fame induction (Pioneer branch) and her influence on the Golden Age of Porn, per AVN. She was found dead on January 18, 2012, in San Francisco, likely from exposure while homeless, with no foul play indicated, per Find a Grave and AVN. Her body, unclaimed, was donated to a university for medical science, and her ashes were scattered in San Francisco Bay, per IMDb. Court records suggest she missed a sizable inheritance from Hawaiian shipping mogul Laurence H. Dorcy due to her untraceable status, per IMDb. The Rialto Report lauded her “captivating presence and enduring appeal,” cementing her as a trailblazer whose work in films like Screwples and Neon Nights influenced the industry’s artistic direction. Her tragic end underscores the challenges faced by many Golden Age performers, per kandibarbour.wordpress.com. As of 2025, her films remain in adult archives, with compilations released as recently as 2007, reflecting ongoing interest, per theclassicporn.com.