C
Chyna
Actor
Born December 27, 1969Died April 20, 2016 (46 years)
Joan Marie Laurer (stage name Chyna) was a former American professional wrestler, actress, bodybuilder and pornographic film actress who was under contract to Vivid Entertainment. Chyna first rose to prominence upon debuting in the professional wrestling promotion WWE in 1997, where she performed under the ring name Chyna and was billed as the "Ninth Wonder of the World" (André the Giant was already billed as the eighth). A member of the stable D-Generation X, she held the WWE Intercontinental Championship (the first female wrestler to do so) and WWE Women's Championship, and was the first female wrestler to participate in the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring events. Since leaving the WWE in 2001, Chyna had wrestled sporadically, most notably with New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002 and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2011. Laurer had a strained relationship with her family. She last saw her mother at the age of sixteen, and she claimed that her father never got over her decision not to join the FBI. She also alleged that her father took out several student loans in her name and without her knowledge, leaving her with $40,000 in debt. On an episode of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2008, Laurer claimed to have a bad relationship with all of her family members, including her siblings. In September 2010, Laurer was hospitalized after overdosing on sleeping medication. As of February 2015, Laurer had reestablished a good relationship with her mother; her father died in May 2014.
Laurer taught English in Japan.
On February 9, 2015, during a WWE Network podcast with Steve Austin, Triple H mentioned that Chyna deserved to be in the WWE Hall of Fame but that problems with children Googling her prohibited it. After being in contact with Vince Russo she claimed in an interview that Triple H had hit her, which he later called a false statement.
Death
On April 20, 2016, Laurer was found dead at her home in Redondo Beach, California. She had been taking medication for anxiety and sleep deprivation. An official statement was posted to her Twitter account, saying "It is with deep sadness to inform you today that we lost a true icon, a real life superhero ... She will live forever in the memories of her millions of fans and all of us that loved her."
Laurer taught English in Japan.
On February 9, 2015, during a WWE Network podcast with Steve Austin, Triple H mentioned that Chyna deserved to be in the WWE Hall of Fame but that problems with children Googling her prohibited it. After being in contact with Vince Russo she claimed in an interview that Triple H had hit her, which he later called a false statement.
Death
On April 20, 2016, Laurer was found dead at her home in Redondo Beach, California. She had been taking medication for anxiety and sleep deprivation. An official statement was posted to her Twitter account, saying "It is with deep sadness to inform you today that we lost a true icon, a real life superhero ... She will live forever in the memories of her millions of fans and all of us that loved her."
Chyna Filmography
| 2022 | WWE This is Awesome (TV Series) · as Chyna (archive Footage) |
| 2021 | Biography: WWE Legends (TV Series) |
| 2020 | Liv Forever · as Chyna (archive Footage) |
| 2019 | WWE Hall of Fame · as Chyna - Inductee |
| 2013 | White T · as Psychic |
| 2012 | A Night at the Silent Movie Theater · as Sexy Drummer |
| 2011 | Losing Control · as Barb |
| 2010 | Smackdown: The Best of 2009-2010 · as Chyna (archive Footage) |
| 2008 | WWE: The History of the Intercontinental Championship · as Chyna (archive Footage) |
| 2008 | Reality Bites Back (TV Series) |
| 2007 | |
| 2007 | Cougar Club · as Teddy Archibald |
| 2007 | Illegal Aliens · as Rex |
| 2007 | The Surreal Life: Fame Games (TV Series) |
| 2006 | Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy · as Roxanne |
| 2006 | Midnight Money Madness (TV Series) |
| 2005 | The Tyra Banks Show (TV Series) |
| 2004 | Best Week Ever (TV Series) |
| 2003 | Alien Tracker · as Ree |
| 2003 | Hunter: Back in Force · as Brandy Rose |
| 2002 | Brown Sugar · as Woman At Party (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Frank McKlusky, C.I. · as Freeda |
| 2002 | The Nick Cannon Show (TV Series) · as Miss Joanie |
| 2001 | |
| 2001 | Fear Factor (TV Series) |
| 2000 | King of the Ring · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 2000 | WWF Judgment Day · as Chyna (valet) |
| 2000 | WWF Insurrextion · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 2000 | WWF Backlash · as Chyna (valet) |
| 2000 | Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion · as Ava Zurich |
| 2000 | The Huntress (TV Series) |
| 2000 | No Way Out · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 2000 | Most Memorable Matches of 1999 · as China |
| 1999 | Relic Hunter (TV Series) · as Natasha Tripova |
| 1999 | No Mercy (UK) · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1999 | WWF Backlash · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1999 | WrestleMania XV · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | WWE Judgment Day: In Your House · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | Summerslam · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | Fully Loaded · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | King of the Ring · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | WWF Over the Edge · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | WWF Unforgiven · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | WWF Mayhem in Manchester · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | WrestleMania XIV · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | No Way Out · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1998 | Celebrity Deathmatch (TV Series) |
| 1998 | Royal Rumble · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1997 | Survivor Series · as Chyna - Degeneration X |
| 1997 | King of the Ring · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1997 | WWF in Your House: A Cold Day in Hell · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1997 | WrestleMania 13 · as Chyna (ringside) |
| 1996 | Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (TV Series) · as Mary Jo Ponder |
| 1996 | Pacific Blue (TV Series) · as Tonya Sweet |
| 1996 | 3rd Rock from the Sun (TV Series) · as Janice |
| 1995 | The Drew Carey Show (TV Series) · as Female Wrestler |
| 1988 | Whose Line is it Anyway? (TV Series) |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1973 | WWE Old School (TV Series) · as Chyna (ringside) |