Debi Austin

About

Star of the shocking 'voicebox' anti-smoking ads that ran in California starting in 1996.

Before Fame

She became addicted to cigarettes at age 13, and could not quit even as she was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and had her larynx removed.

Trivia

In the memorable PSA ad she took inhaled a cigarette through the stoma hole in her neck and said in her raspy voice, 'They say nicotine is not addictive'; then exhaled smoke and finished, 'How can they say that?'

Family Life

She agreed to film the PSA ad after her niece drew a hole on her own throat, to mimic that of Austin's.

Associated With

Arthur Godfrey, and jovial radio host, became another anti-smoking advocate after his own diagnosis of cancer.