May 2020 Author’s Addendum: Since this article was published 12 years ago, several readers have submitted verifiable information and photos that have answered some of the questions regarding Kristara that were asked and speculated on when this was first published. However, the following article remains in its original form (save for a October 2013 addendum at the end). See the readers’ comment section that follows this article for answers to some of the questions regarding Kristara/Kim.
I recently commented on an article at another website, that I wondered what happened to Kristara Barrington, who became one of the top Asian ladies in the adult film industry during the videotape explosion of the early-to-mid-80s, which also marked the end of porn’s “Golden Age” of 35mm productions.
Also billed as Kim Charoensuk, China Lee, Kimberly Wong, Mai Nguyen and a few other aliases, Kristara Barrington (the name she finally settled on and became best known by) was cast in roles that both did and did not, have to do with her ethnicity, which was believed to be at least part Korean. Her real first name may very well be Kimberly, as that and “Kim” were what she was referred to by in the 1985 porn documentary Fallen Angels.
Over the past several years, the prevailing rumor is that Kristara became veterinarian and has been practicing in Southern California. One claim was that she went to school and opened up her own veterinary clinic with money that she socked away while doing porn. If that’s true, I doubt that she practices under the name “Kristara Barrington,” a stage name I always wondered where she got from and why an Asian performer would choose. There has been speculation that she took the name “Barrington” from a Chicago suburb, where she is reported to be originally from. There is a Charoensuk Animal Hospital in Bangkok and Charoensuk was a name she used early in her porn career. It can’t be ruled out as her real name, but it may have been a name she lifted from the vet hospital (assuming it was around in the early-80s) because she may have had had her sights set on a career in veterinary medicine before she started doing porn, but that’s just more wild speculation.
There was also some speculation that when Kristara began her porn career in 1983, she was still underage, which may be true. While some of her bios (such as the one at the Internet Adult Film Database) state her date of birth as being November 22, 1963, other bios (such as the ones at IMDb and Wikipedia) state it as being November 22, 1965. Whether Kristara was underage when she started in the biz or not, after the Traci Lords scandal broke in 1986, some adult video distributors also pulled Kristara’s and a few other actresses’ early videos from shelves as a “precaution.”
Even though Kristara retired from the adult video industry in 1987, material that she had done prior to that, continued to be released for a few years after her departure, giving the impression that she was still active in porn beyond that point. I’m sure her legacy will always live on. I just wish I knew whatever happened to her.
October 2013 Author’s Addendum: The most “recent notification” at Kristara’s unofficial website “places” her in Chicago, working with friends and family, doing bookkeeping for a relative’s Korean grocery store. Sounds likely, but, of course, until that’s confirmed by a very reliable source, it can’t be considered any more than just another rumor.
in which she’s referred to as “Kim.”
Kristara was often cast in “non-Asian” roles, as she was in 1984’s Taking Off (video box cover at left), a 35mm film production that was becoming a dying breed in the porn industry by the mid-80s. Right: From the February 1984 issue of Hustler magazine. This must have (or at least should have) been one of Kristara’s very first nude photo shoots because, taking into account her alleged November 1965 date of birth and when the issue issue hit the stands; she would have just barely been of of legal age the time of the shoot.
Kristara’s Wikipedia Page (now deleted)
Her IMDb Listing
Her IAFD Listing
The documentary Fallen Angels featuring Kristara
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She was one of my favorites from back in the day. I heard she may have been another Traci Lords because of the DOB I saw at her IMDb. Who knows? Only her I guess.
If her DOB was November ’65, she was definitely underage when she started. If it was Nov ’63, she was legal.
If her DOB was Nov ’65, she would have been 18 in 1983 but not until Nov so depends when she started in ’83. Either way she was a favorite of mine, pretty face, great natural body, breasts with puffy nipples and a nice full bush. None of the bald look of today.
Does anybody remember Triple Play starring Ron Jeremy, Kristara Barrington and Bunny Bleu? I loved how Kristara let Ron take her on deep and the threesome action in this 1983 classic
I have it, one of Kristara’s (and Bunny Blue’s) best films! The camera work gives us great closeup shots of both gals’ excellent bodies!
One of my faves from back in the day. Kristara was almost certainly born in 1963, not 1965. There are some relatively recent pics of her on Vintage Erotica website. She seems like she survived her porn career quite nicely.
Kim Morgan from Crystal Lake, IL. “Crystal Lake” was also from Crystal Lake, but I have forgotten her real name. A former gf went to school with both, and she said that Crystal was in Junior Achievement.
Yes! I’ve been wondering what her real name was and it is now confirmed! Kim went to Crystal Lake Central High School from 1981 to 1983. She’s listed in the yearbooks from those years. She never graduated from high school, which would have been 1984. That would make her debut in the film, “Fallen Angels” at about 18 years old.
Thanks for this info and the photos, Polar. No doubt that’s Kim/Kristara. So if she would have graduated from high school in 1984 and would have been 18 at the time, as most people are when they graduate high school, the November ’65 (not ’63) birth date seems to be her true DOB. In which case, there’s a very strong possibility she forwent her senior year of high school to begin her porn career before her 18th birthday.
You’re welcome. I put two and two together and just so happens it all clicked. Now trying to figure out if she actually became a vet. But she would have had to have gotten a GED and attend a specialized school or university. The photos aren’t in order. The first one is from 1981 as a Freshman. 2nd one is from 1983, when she was a Junior. The 3rd is from 1982 when she was a sophomore.
Thats more than likely the case. Kris probably went to night school for her GED and Med-classes. Porn kept her busy, especially when her star began to rise. She’d have to take classes in this manner.
Yes me too I’d like to know what happened to Kristara Barrington. Ever since I first saw her she was my all time favorite porno actress
I was in adult films (Male, Eric Monti – my stage name) 1983-99 and worked with Kristara (Kim) in a 1984 video in her early days in a NY shoot, “Double Trouble” (along with Tajia Rae). I played the hillbilly “Clem” and was with another guy in a 3-way with Kristara outside on a picnic table.
She was incredibly beautiful – young (19) great body, long legs (5’7″) & lovely complexion. ALL “natural” – Natural boobs, hairy pussy, no tattoos. Just a doll. She told me her father was an American soldier and her mother was Korean.
Anyway, had a really great sex scene. She was very “hot”! Rumor has it she became a veterinarian – Just a rumor. Would be curious if anyone knew more.
Eric
I do remember that scene in Double Trouble, I think I saw it around 1986/1987. I always thought Kristara’s father was German and I guess if he was an American soldier he could have been of German descent. From what I read above her real name was Kim Morgan and she left high school early to become a porn star in mid to late 1983. The first movie I remember seeing her in was New Wave Hookers, which was kind of a wild flick perfect for Kristara to star in. Kristara stuck around the biz a long time, I think she lasted at least 4 years, her movies were released all the way up to 1989. Funny, the last movie I saw her in was in 1989 with Herschel Savage and I remember thinking to myself “Wow, I’m surprised she isn’t retired by now”. and sure enough that was the last time I saw her in a new release. Kristara was one of the hottest video vixens of the 80’s that’s for sure!
I have it Eric, Your partners name was Dick Howard and he had a hot scene with a sexy black gal as well as one of my faves Carrol Conner! Your scene with Kris is the hottest one of the film you and Dick nearly knocked her off the table! Kris gave you guys a WTF look! Ha! Ha! CURVE your enthusiasm!
I’ve been wondering for years what happened to this young lady. She was a huge fantasy of mine back in the mid-1980s. Absolutely loved watching her, and I did for many years even after she retired. Sweet girl. I’d love to see what she looks like now (not in a creepy way, I hope she found a happy and fulfilling life)
I checked the yearbooks from Crystal Lake Central High (and South as well) for 1981 to 1983. I simply couldn’t find any mention of her in there nor, at first, of the photos above. Wondered what I was missing and what page I was supposed to look on. Finally found the 1983 photo.
She certainly is easy on the eyes. Interesting how she is half Asian. She looks 100%. How does a girl from Suburbia get involved in porn? I wonder if her relatives knew about it back in the day…She said in a video she bedded over 200 guys in high school. Could that be true?
I heard that too. 200 guys within 3 yrs of high school?! Doubtful, she’d have to ball guys in and out of school! Maybe if she participated in orgies (and she said she DID like doing orgies in film!) she could reach that number! If her relatives didn’t know what she was up to in California I’m sure they found out when her face started popping up on adult vid-covers and magazines! I can imagine them joking with her after she returned home what was it like to spread your legs for pay for FIVE YEARS?! As for why she would do porn? California is an EXPENSIVE place to live! Unless you get a great paying job its no surprise some people turn to porn for quick bucks. She definitely wasn’t alone in that regard!
Lipstik productions produced and Bruce Seven directed a number of sex films involving girl girl sex. It was in one of those films that I saw Kristara Barrington for the first time and this was before her career took off. In another film in this series, I also saw Victoria Jackson a.k.a. Tina Marie.
Does anybody know when these Lipstik films were made?
She was ok, and I liked Asian women a lot. Natural bod, yes, but maybe she got overplayed. I preferred Jade East from that era, a little more exotic look. I’d really like to know whatever happened to Gail Force, a personal favorite from that time frame. Smoking hot.
I LOVED Kristara, as she was my first introduction to not only anal sex, but to double penetration. She was amazing. Even tough I like clean shaven ladies, always have. She will always be a long time fave… same as Traci Lords, and Nina Hartley.
I remember her in ‘Every Woman has a Fantasy,’ particularly the news broadcaster. Her bouncy puffies were yummy. Too bad that scene was cut out of subsequent editions. Would love to get the original.
I HAD that flick back in the first decade and sold it off because I was on hard times. I recorded the Kris scene then one day the vid tape got chewed up by my player and ruined it! I cursed like a drunk Marine! All irretrievable now. Someone out there must have it?!
I hear she has a Facebook account now under her real name. Can anyone confirm?
In college a friend from Crystal Lake, IL claimed Kristara Barrington (Kim Morgan) was actually from his home town. This was back in 1998. I thought it was odd at the time and didn’t believe him, but looks like it’s confirmed. Seems everyone in Crystal Lake knows if he knew.
Kim, I hope you’re living your best possible life.
She goes by Kim Caner these days. The pic is from one of her public social media account pictures. More info can be found here:
http://www.asianpornstardatabase.com/index.php/2021/02/25/kristara-barrington/
Another social media pic. This one is from her Linkedin.
https://idolfeatures.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Kristara-3.jpg
This one is from her friend’s public FB
https://idolfeatures.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Kristara-4.jpg
If you Google one of her aliases this pic will come up.
The eyes look about right, her birthmark mole near her right nostril can barely be seen, and the smile certainly resembles the ones in pictures and films I have of her. Hell, it’s got to be her! She’s aging nicely. If you see this – Kris, thanks for all those great sexy works! Luv U forever!
The rumors about Kristara Barrington becoming a veterinarian after leaving the industry aren’t correct. She became a nurse, and a successful one at that. A leader in her field. Apparently well respected by her colleagues (based on the newspaper interviews she was in), and despite an added 30 years age, she remains extremely beautiful. All this is is freely available by checking the links found here and Googling her aliases.
http://www.asianpornstardatabase.com/index.php/2021/02/25/kristara-barrington/
A pic from a public social media profile:
Any hint as to how to find her social media? You’ve had more success than I. (Or at least which alias you used to find that friend’s pic of her?)
I’m friends of her friend on FB.
Interesting how everything on that Asian Pornstar Database web-site is now gone.
This is her Twitter. Hasn’t been updated since 2013 though
https://twitter.com/kimberkarol
I typed this exact question into Google and this article showed up in the results which led me here to answer my question. Thanks to the author and contributors! Now whatever happened to Bambi Woods?
Another pic from her friend’s social media
And another
With some friends
the 3rd one
You can tell the more recent photos are her by that distinct mole by her nose. Looks like in most shots they covered it up with makeup or airbrushed it out, but it’s more visible in some
Did a little more investigating, and it looks like she retired from her hospital gig and is living in Mexico. Can’t wish her anything but the best.