Nichols was born in Covina, California and grew up in a Catholic household, the only female out of six children.

[1][2] Nichols began her career posing for adult magazines such as Oui, Hustler, and Penthouse.

[1] She made her first adult film Bon Appetit for Chuck Vincent, who was impressed by her Penthouse layout.

[5] She appeared in the mainstream horror films The Toolbox Murders and Death Mask.

[1] She starred in over 50 adult features, and has been presented with several industry awards of merit: the Adult Film Association of America Best Actress Award for her work in the film In Love (1983);[6] in 1993, she was presented by the Free Speech Coalition the Life Time Achievement Award;[7] and she was inducted into the Erotic Legends Hall of Fame in 1996; inducting into the AVN Hall of Fame in 1994[8] and into the XRCO Hall of Fame in 1998.