Shannon Wilsey, known to many as Savannah, was a big name in the adult entertainment industry in the 90s before she tragically died by suicide at the age of 23.
Savannah’s journey into fame began in her late teens after a tumultuous upbringing. Born into a broken home, she endured childhood abuse and rejection by her father, per the Daily Mail.
By 16, she was immersed in the world of drugs and was romantically involved with 40-year-old rocker Gregg Allman.
She toured the country with the musician, appearing in his music videos, and was introduced to a lifestyle of luxury.
“She liked the fact that he bought her expensive things that we never could,” her mother, Pam Longoria, told E!’s True Hollywood Story.
It was during this time that Savannah reportedly began using heroin, an addiction that would shadow her throughout her life.
After parting ways with Allman, Savannah returned to California, finishing high school and dabbling in modeling. By 19, she entered the adult film industry, signing with Vivid Video, the leading production company at the time.
“She was the most popular girl that we had under contract,” said Vivid CEO Steven Hirsch. “We were certainly guaranteed that her sales would be higher than any other girl that we’d had under contract at that time.”
Savannah became an icon, winning awards and commanding A-list attention. She dated celebrities like Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe, MTV VJ Pauly Shore, and was rumored to have been involved with Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, though he denied it.
“She was beautiful. I loved everything about her,” Neil said of their relationship. “Gorgeous, great in bed. There’s nothing she wouldn’t try or do.”
However, Neil described their relationship as more casual than Savannah believed. “I think she maybe thought it was a little more serious than it was,” he admitted.
Despite her outward success, Savannah’s personal life was fraught with struggles. A serious cocaine addiction and volatile relationships with fellow stars, including Jeanna Fine, highlighted the darker side of her rise to fame.
Her behavior on set became increasingly erratic.
According to director Paul Thomas, she could be difficult to work with. “I often say she was a spoiled, Hollywood brat. She could be very inconsiderate and very loud in her inconsiderateness,” he said.
Yet others in the industry defended her. “She was very discriminated against because she was so big and didn’t take any s*** from anyone,” said her manager, Nancy Pera, per the LA Times. “She knew her value.”
By 1994, Savannah’s career was faltering, and she faced financial troubles. To make ends meet, she booked a feature dancing gig at a club, hoping to earn $5,000 a night.
However, a car accident on her way home from a party left her with a broken nose and dashed those plans.
In a frantic call to her manager, she said: “I’ve just had a horrible car accident. I broke my nose. It’s bleeding really bad and I’ve hit my head. You have to take me to the hospital.”
When Pera arrived at Savannah’s home, she found her in the garage, lying in a pool of blood with a handgun nearby.
“It looked like she had a big flower on the side of her head,” Pera recalled.
The death was ruled a suicide. Los Angeles Police Detective Mike Coffey explained: “She was not happy with her life as a whole, everything in her life.”
Toxicology reports revealed she had been drinking and using cocaine that night. Financial pressures and a history of childhood trauma were also cited as contributing factors.
In a conversation with her mother before her death, Savannah had expressed a desire to leave the adult industry but feared she wouldn’t be accepted in mainstream society.
“She was a very unhappy person at the end,” Hirsch said. “She felt like she was losing it all.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
