Horror Crush: Kelly Nichols

It is that tine again, dear readers, to induct another beautiful actress to this site's hollowed Horror Crush section. This time around the honor is bestowed upon the gorgeous Kelly Nichols, only the second adult actress to ever be inducted!

Nichols was born in Covina, California on June 8, 1956 and was the only female of six children. She began her career posing for adult mags like Oui, Hustler, and Penthouse and would make her skin flick debut in Bon Appetit. But, her inclusion into our Horror Crushes is due to her genre work, of course.

Her first venture into our genre is one that I have been a fan of since childhood and had no clue she was in: King Kong (1976). I have to say that the recent. superlative Blu-ray release from Scream Factory has reinvigorated my love for this one. Nowadays, it's become my second or third favorite Kong film (well above the bloated Peter Jackson take). Anyway, I had zero clue about her involvement in it, but it turns out she doubled for the equally beautiful Jessica Lange in it!

Her next horror flick, though, is where I first saw her and what I honestly know her best from: The Toolbox Murders (1978). I have discussed this well made and sleazy late, 70's slasher before. And, I stand by what I said, it's a nasty, well acted affair that will please fans who like their stalk and slash with a meaner edge. In it, a masked maniac kills beautiful women who he deems are "sinners" using things one would find in a toolbox. 

Nichols plays one of victims, a beautiful woman who appears fully nude and is masturbating in her tub. Our killer chases her down, threatens, and kills her with a nail-gun, in the movie's most infamous and controversial scene. She even appears in the poster art, as you can see a little above. 

She is quite good, and looks breathtaking, in this small but memorable scene. And, it is easy to see how this scene became so talked about, even appearing and getting mentioned in talk shows as an example of misogyny in horror movies. Such accusations are always favorites of anti-horror people aren't they?

So famous is her scene that it is only natural, that she appeared in Blue Underground's excellent Blu-ray release of the movie (which, by the way is getting a new upcoming 4K release from Blue Underground early next year!) in an interview. Released in 2010, she still looked gorgeous in this extra feature.

In 1984, she appeared in her third and final horror flick Deathmask. It also stars another porn legend in the lovely form of Veronica (One-Eyed Monster) Hart, as well, as not the a porn star but definitely legendary Danny Aiello. I had not even heard of this until writing this article, but I am definitely intrigued! Any of you seen it? Let me know in the comments section below.

Kelly Nichols has long been retired from porn and these days is a happy grandma. But, I many other horror fans will always remember and love for her work in the genre, especially The Toolbox Murders. A beautiful and stunning legend, it is with great honor that I officially induct her into Horror Crushes!