Joan Marie Laurer
Acting
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."
Known for
Acting134
movieNothing Better Than Parody 7
2024
(archive footage)
movieSuperheroes 2
2023
(archive footage)
movieNothing Better Than Parody 5
2023
(archive footage)
tvWWE This Is Awesome
2022
Chyna (archive footage)
movieVice Versa: Chyna
2021
Herself
movieWWE Liv Forever
2020
Chyna (archive footage)
tvVice Versa
2020
Self (archive footage)
movieThen, Now, Forever: The Evolution of WWE’s Women’s Division
2018
Self (archive footage)
movieWhite T
2013
Psychic
movieWWE: The Best of SmackDown - 10th Anniversary, 1999-2009
2012
Chyna (archive footage)
movieYouShoot: Chyna
2011
Herself
movieWWE: The History Of The Intercontinental Championship
2008
Chyna (archive footage)
movieCougar Club
2007
Teddy Archibald
movie1 Night in China
2004
Herself
movieWWE: Cheating Death, Stealing Life: The Eddie Guerrero Story
2004
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieHunter: Back in Force
2003
Brandy Rose
movieBrown Sugar
2002
Woman at Party (uncredited)
moviePlayboy: Joanie Laurer, Nude Wrestling Superstar
2002
Self (as Joanie Laurer)
movieOn the Line
2001
Chyna
tvTracker
2001
Rhee (as Joanie Laurer)
tvGary & Mike
2001
Self (voice)
Playboy: Joanie Laurer Nude
2001
Self (as Joanie Laurer)
movieWWE King of the Ring 2000
2000
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE Judgment Day 2000
2000
Chyna (Valet)
movieWWE Insurrextion 2000
2000
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE Backlash 2000
2000
Chyna (Valet)
movieWWE No Way Out 2000
2000
Chyna (Ringside)
tvRelic Hunter
1999
Natasha Tripova
movieWWE No Mercy (UK) 1999
1999
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE Backlash: In Your House
1999
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE WrestleMania XV
1999
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE Judgment Day: In Your House
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE SummerSlam 1998
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
tvWWE Heat
1998
Chyna
movieWWE Fully Loaded: In Your House
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE King of the Ring 1998
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE Over the Edge: In Your House
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE Unforgiven: In Your House
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE Mayhem in Manchester
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE WrestleMania XIV
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE Royal Rumble 1998
1998
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE King of the Ring 1997
1997
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
1997
Chyna (Ringside)
movieWWE WrestleMania 13
1997
Chyna (Ringside)
tvSabrina, the Teenage Witch
1996
Mary Jo Ponder
tvPacific Blue
1996
Tonya Sweet
tvMADtv
1995
Self
tvLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
Self - Guest (as Chyna)
tvRaw
1993
Chyna
tvWWE Old School
1973
Chyna (Ringside)
Crew1
movieJewel Raider
2001
Fight Choreographer, Stunt Coordinator