Lisa De Leeuw was born Lisa Trego on July 3, 1958, in Moline, Illinois, USA. Growing up in the Midwest, she had what has been described as an average childhood, raised in a typical working-class environment. She was known to be athletic and tomboyish during her youth, participating in sports and outdoor activities. Her ethnicity is Caucasian, with her surname De Leeuw, meaning The Lion in Dutch, suggesting possible Dutch ancestry, though little is documented about her family heritage.

De Leeuw entered the adult film industry in the late 1970s, reportedly influenced by a boyfriend who managed a theater that screened X-rated movies. Initially hesitant, she moved to Los Angeles with him in 1978, seeking a change from her small-town life. After losing approximately 40 pounds a...