Cynthia Ann Howell, known professionally as Jesse Jane, was an American pornographic film actress originally from Ft. Worth, Texas. In three short years she ascended from Hooters manager to Hawaiian Tropic pageant winner to international porn fame with a Digital Playground contract. Digital Playground launched Jesse Jane into superstardom with global exposure on hundreds of magazine covers including: FHM, Maxim, Front, Strip Las Vegas and Arena. She has earned leading roles on HBO's "Entourage" and in the feature Baywatch: The Movie, among others. Jesse starred in a multitude of music videos from Drowning Pool to Robbie Williams. All of the exposure Jesse received in various media outlets had contributed to her success but it was her leading role in Digital Playground's benchmark film, Pirates that made Jesse Jane a household name. In 2005, Jesse landed her own show on Playboy TV, "Naughty Amateur Home Videos" and was named host of a second show, "Night Calls." Her dating and sexual experiences earned Jesse the title of entertainment editor for Cheri magazine. She also penned regular columns for Genesis and Buzz magazines. Jesse's superb ability to entertain garnered her the most prestigious honor in the adult business, the host of the 2006 AVN Awards show. On January 24, 2024, Jane and her boyfriend were found dead from an apparent drug overdose at their home in Moore, Oklahoma. An autopsy report later confirmed that she died from an overdose of cocaine and fentanyl.
