Fred Lincoln

Fred J. Lincoln's Biography

If you're at all familiar with porn, then no doubt you've heard of Fred J. Lincoln. Perhaps you're even a fan of the more than 300 xxx features he's directed over the course of his impressive career. Lincoln was a director, producer, screenwriter, actor, editor, and cinematographer for more than 30 years. He is one of the most prolific directors in the industry.

Lincoln began his career in porn in 1970 as an actor. He worked steadily for 2 years before trying to break into mainstream entertainment. His only mainstream credit is for the role of Weasel Podowski in Wes Craven's 1972 horror film, "The Last House on the Left." He also contributed to its DVD commentary track with costars David Hess and Marc Sheffler. And while his mainstream career didn't take off like he's wished, his porn career was going strong.

He began directing films in 1976 and from that point on, all his appearances were non sex roles. He often appeared in the movies he directed. His movies had very high production values compared to the typical porn fare audiences got at that time. His films had well rehearsed acting, creative camera work, and elaborate locations. He was also keen on clever lighting techniques and realistic scenes. "I don't light my sets like game shows," he once told journalist Jerry Holden. Lincoln was determined to make high quality videos for his audience.

Among his many projects, Lincoln succeeded Larry Levinson as the owner of Plato's Retreat, a sex club in New York City that thrived in the late 70's and early 80's. He became an award winning director in 1984 when he got the Critics' Adult Film Award as Best Director for the movie "Go For It." He is also a member of the AVN, Legends of Erotica, and XRCO Halls of Fame.

With so many years in the industry, it's no surprise that Lincoln found love with fellow porn workers. In fact, he was married several times, most notably to xxx director Patti Rhodes-Lincoln and former porn actress Tiffany Clark. With many loves and hundreds of feature films under his belt, Lincoln retired from the industry in 2009. He lived out his remaining years in Los Angeles until his death in 2013 at the age of 75. He is survived by his daughter and remembered always for his prolific output and dedication to his work.