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Chyna had been called "The First Lady of Sports Entertainment". Her accomplishments went far beyond the wrestling ring and anyone's guess. Before exchanging body slams, modeling for top magazines and guest-starring on hundreds of shows,

Chyna was a shy girl who was born Joan Marie Laurer in Rochester, New York, to Janet Carol (Wahl) and Joseph "Joe" Von Laurer, Jr. She spent most of her childhood in a home filled with alcoholism and domestic problems. She found her escape through working out, and began doing aerobics and lifting weights at a gym near her home. This is where she found her true niche: the world of fitness.

As the only female in the gym, Chyna always stood out but developed bonds and friendships with the gym members, who gave her the encouragement to keep going. She broke all gender barriers everywhere she went, and continued her love of fitness throughout her college days. Chyna graduated from the University of Tampa with a 3.9 GPA, and a double major in Spanish Literature, in under two years. She also studied foreign languages, and could speak English, Spanish, German and French. Chyna was a true humanitarian, and served in the U.S. Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) and the Peace Corps, helping to teach illiterate third-world children to read. She was a strong supporter of the National Animal Rescue charity, which helps domesticated animals find good, loving homes.

Throughout her life, Chyna dreamed of being an entertainer. She began that career in the early 1990s, as a belly dancer, and soon moved on to fitness competitions, but the star found her real calling in the entertainment world: professional wrestling. She began training to be a professional under the guidance of the wrestling legend Walter 'Killer' Kowalski, in a professional wrestling school in which all other students were men. She soon took the world of women's wrestling by storm and began competing in the PGWA, where she was given the 1996 Rookie of the Year award for the Women's Championship.

After dominating the world of women's wrestling, Chyna was discovered by Paul Levesque (aka "Triple H") and Shawn Michaels (HBK), two WWF (World Wrestling Federation) superstars who helped Chyna break into the big-time. She made her worldwide television debut in February 1997 as a bodyguard for Triple H, but soon went on to break all gender stereotypes by competing with some of the toughest men in the WWF, under the name "Chyna". Years later, she was the only woman to qualify for the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring tournaments, and became the only female Intercontinental Champion and the only undefeated Women's Champion in WWF history.

Five years after she debuted as a professional wrestler in the WWF, Chyna parted ways with the company. She then toured Japan, taking the country by storm and battling in the ring with the likes of such champions as Keiji Mutô, The Great Kabuki, and most notably, Masahiro Chôno. Her 2002 Tokyo Dome match against Chono earned her the title of Nikkian Sport's 2002 Women's Wrestler of the Year.

Meanwhile, back in the US, Chyna appeared in several films, hosted a variety of shows, and showed that women can combine strength and beauty in two top-selling issues of "Playboy" magazine, which proved to the world that women can be beautiful without having the anorexic "Twiggy" look. She also appeared in the first-ever Playboy documentary, which conducted in-depth interviews with Chyna, her former manager Rich Minzer, her friend Joe Gold, and Hugh Hefner himself.

Her strong will to the best and "survival of the fittest" attitude made her one of the top wrestlers in history. She served as a role model to millions of men and women by proving anything is possible, through hard work and determination. In her best-selling autobiography "If They Only Knew", she discussed what it took to make it to the top, and showed the world what she had to overcome to make her one of the most well-known pop culture icons in the world. Shortly after her first appearance in "Playboy", she released her own fitness video, Chyna Fitness: More Than Meets the Eye (2000), which won awards from fitness and lifestyle magazines. The video is still popular with both Chyna's fans and fitness fans alike.

Unlike most former pro wrestlers, Chyna had success on her own two feet. She was on nearly every talk show, and was featured on hundreds of magazine covers, from "Playboy" and "Newsweek" to "TV Guide" and "People". She was featured on Reggie Benjamin's CD "2X-Centrix", performing drums and back up vocals. She was on the top of the "dance music" billboard charts for five weeks with the CD single "Ride", and also sang with her own rock band, "The Chynna Dolls", for a short time, playing venues like The Roxy, Elrey Theater, Hollywood Athletic Center, and two performances on Howard Stern (1994). She starred in the comedies Cougar Club (2007) and Illegal Aliens (2007), and also hosted a variety of shows, from Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors (2001) to FYE and AMC's "Tough Guys series. She had many guest-starring roles on TV series, such as Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998), 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996), Pacific Blue (1996), The Nick Cannon Show (2002), Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996), Mad TV (1995), MTV's "Diary" and many others. She was also featured on season four of The Surreal Life (2003) and VH1's spin off, The Surreal Life: Fame Games (2007), as well as in films, including Alien Tracker (2003), Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion (2000), Frank McKlusky, C.I. (2002), Hunter: Back in Force (2003). In 2008, she appeared on VH1's Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (2008) TV series to conquer personal demons and depression caused from an abusive relationship and childhood trauma.

In 2009, she released a fashion book, "Paper Doll", which became a best-seller. In May 2011, she returned to the world of wrestling with TNA, debuting on the May 12 edition of TNA iMPACT! Wrestling (2004), and followed it up with one last match at the TNA TNA: Sacrifice (2011) Pay-per-view, where she and Kurt Angle took on Jeff Jarrett and Karen Jarrett. The episode was one of the highest-rated for the company in many years. Although her match with TNA was a one-time-only deal, Chyna showed the world she had turned her life around - she had overcome depression, emotional trauma and was finally where she wanted to be in life.

In June 2011, Chyna released her first adult video with Vivid Entertainment, Backdoor to Chyna (2011), which sold over a million copies. She said the movie allowed her to regain control of her life, gave her a newfound confidence and got her back on her feet. She embarked on a huge media tour, appearing all over the US. She began feature dancing at high-end nightclubs, appeared on dozens of radio shows, including Howard Stern on Demand (2005) and ABC radio, and in November 2011 won a Fleshbot Award for her "Backdoor to Chyna" video. In 2012, she appeared in A Night at the Silent Movie Theater (2012) and appeared in the music video "Gonna Make You Love Me" for the band Lovechild. She also appeared in a tell-all interview with KayFabe Commentaries, in which she discussed everything from her childhood to drugs, porn and everything in between.

Chyna died on April 20, 2016, in Redondo Beach, California. She was 46.

Gary Vinson was born on 22 October 1936 in El Segundo, California, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for The Roaring 20's (1960), Battlestar Galactica (1978) and Pistols 'n' Petticoats (1966). He was married to Lavonne Rose Wuertzer and Paula Jeanne Hill. He died on 15 October 1984 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Licensed to practice law in California (2005) and Connecticut. Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and was granted oral argument. Loredana attended St Thomas University School of Law in Miami, FL and University of Connecticut School of Law. Before attending Law school Loredana was a Los Angeles police officer and a WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, (formerly WWF) Diva. She was an avid New York Yankees fan, vegan and fierce animal rights advocate.

Charles Carlson was born on 17 July 1930 in Jerome, Arizona, USA. He was an actor, known for Outlaws (1960), The Twilight Zone (1959) and Death Valley Days (1952). He was married to Beecey Carlson. He died on 6 June 2013 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Stephen Emery was born on 29 November 1976 in Marin County, California, USA. He was a producer, known for Mr. Right (2015), Æon Flux (2005) and 21 Grams (2003). He died on 14 October 2023 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Paul Hunt began making films in 1965 under the pseudonym H.P. Edwards. His first film was The Psychedelics (1966), followed by Blow the Man Down (1968), "Jefferson Hotel" (1966), "Sweet Smoke" (1967) and 60+ others. He was also the cinematographer and editor on most of them. His company, Canyon Films, became one of the largest distributors of underground films in America (future director Lewis Teague was at that time running the Cinematèque in Hollywood where Hunt's films debuted). Under his pseudonym Hunt worked for directors such as Bethel Buckalew, William Rotsler, Gary Graver, Manuel Conde, Lee Frost and others as a cinematographer, gaffer, sound recordist and editor. The first film produced in his own name was Blue Surfari (1967), a surfing docudrama starring Ricky Grigg. He also has headed up Pacific International Pictures Inc., Filmmakers International Releasing Inc. and still heads United Filmmakers Inc. In 1970 he began working with Orson Welles on The Other Side of the Wind (2018) and continued to work with him on all his films (F for Fake (1973), The Magic Show (1983)) until Welles' death in 1985. During that time he served as Welles' production manager, gaffer, sound recordist, actor and editor. He was also the director of photography in India (produced by Ismail Merchant) and The Netherlands (produced by himself) on Mata Hari (1985), directed by David Carradine, starring Calista Carradine, Bruce Carradine and Nikolai van der Heyde (the Dutch director).

Raoul Freeman was born on 24 April 1894 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He was an actor. He died on 17 February 1971 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Robert Maxwell was born on 25 December 1923. He was a cinematographer, known for Don't Play Us Cheap (1972). He died on 22 December 1978 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Bianca Red Arrow was born on 30 June 1998 in Matthews, North Carolina, USA. She was an actress, known for Cross Wars (2017), Vice Principals (2016) and The Six (2011). She died on 6 November 2017 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Gwyn studied theater and play writing at Carnegie-Mellon University, and was an Emmy Award nominated Daytime TV actress with over a dozen contract and recurring roles- as well as appearing on Primetime TV series and pilots. Favorites include: All My Children, (ABC), Guiding Light (CBS), As The World Turns, One Life to Live, Another World (NBC) , Loving, Ryan's Hope, The Lucy Arnaz Show (CBS) and the Emmy Award winning, Woman of Valor (NBC). Most recently she co-starred as Dr. Shirley Levine in the Howard Reichman comedy pilot, Wired City and as Lizzie Haupt in her own "boomedy", Haupt Air. Performing on and off Broadway, Gwyn also worked extensively in classical Repertory theater productions across the country-from Shakespeare, Moliere, Tennessee Williams to Noel Coward and Arthur Miller. She received rave reviews for her Elmire in Moliere's Tartuffe and Elvira in Coward's Blithe Spirit. On Broadway she was in Kaufman and Hart's The Man Who Came to Dinner at the Circle in the Square and co-starred opposite Tammy Grimes and Ian Richardson in Joshua Logan's (Mister Roberts, South Pacific) last play, Trick. She toured in the 1940's American classic, Arsenic and Old Lace opposite Golden Age film stars John Carradine and Sylvia Sidney and played the comedic ingenue, Avril in June Havoc's (Actor's Studio) Broadway tryout of the musical, Oh Glorious Tintinnabulation. Off Broadway Gwyn played Rosaline in the modern rock musical version of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost at the Cherry Lane Theater and Crystal in The Women at Manhattan Theater Club. Gwyn was in demand as a corporate spokeswoman for dozens of network commercials and voice-overs from Mercedes, AT & T, Macy's to Brim Coffee and received a Cleo award as the voice of L'Oreal. She received a post graduate grant to study Economics at Harvard and attended a graduate program in Political Science at Oxford University. Requested by her former Dean from Carnegie, she was a guest professor in the MFA drama programs at Yale and University of CA, Irvine. As a keynote speaker for the Actor's Expo, Gwyn has lectured to actors in London, New York, Paris and Los Angeles. Requested by the Performing Arts trade publication, Backstage, Gwyn writes a monthly column about marketing for a subscription of over 250,000 international actors, writers and directors. Gwyn founded Laight Street Films in Robert DeNiro's Tribeca (NYC) film community, creating Bloggers, a comedy pilot (HBO style). Her film, Fairytale which was recently shot in Paris and the south of France with an international cast was well received at the Festival of Cannes, selected by the Beverly Hills Film Festival, The International Faith and Family Film script competition and won First place in the Hanhai Film Studio's International Script Competition for her recent drama, Pink Slip with an offer of a production contract. Her prime time drama, Enraptured is optioned for an Australian TV production and her comedy film, Heavenly Heist is in pre-production in London.

Ambrose Schindler was born on 21 April 1917 in Mission Hills, California, USA. He was an actor. He was married to Lucille Frances West. He died on 30 December 2018 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

John McSweeney Jr. was born on 26 August 1915 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an editor, known for Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), Night of the Lepus (1972) and Lovely to Look At (1952). He was married to Margaret (Peg) McSweeney. He died on 19 May 1999 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

John Klempner was born on 4 August 1898 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for A Letter to Three Wives (1949), Three for Jamie Dawn (1956) and Give My Regards to Broadway (1948). He died on 30 July 1972 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Virginia L. Carter was born on 18 November 1936 in Arvida, Quebec, Canada. She was a producer and production manager, known for ABC Afterschool Specials (1972), The Wave (1981) and Please Don't Hit Me, Mom (1981). She died on 17 October 2024 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Jay Roberts was born on 16 January 1942 in Richmond, Virginia, USA. He is known for Aliens (1986), Enemy Mine (1985) and King Kong (2005). He died on 17 October 2020 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Razzle was born on 2 December 1960 in Leamington, Warwickshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Hanoi Rocks: Malibu Beach Nightmare (1983), Hanoi Rocks: Don't You Ever Leave Me (1984) and Hanoi Rocks: Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1984). He died on 8 December 1984 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Marie Carrozza was born on 28 July 1920 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress. She died on 13 April 2014 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Gary Lang, a prolific producer who won 17 Emmy Awards while at Fox Sports. Lang produced World Series, MLB All-Star Games, MLB on Fox, NFL on Fox and Fox NFL Sunday telecasts; and worked on innovative opening teases for America's biggest sporting events and programs, including Super Bowls, All-Madden Shows, NASCAR.

James Gibson was born on 24 October 1865 in Jefferson, Indiana, USA. He was an actor, known for The Social Lion (1930), Old Heidelberg (1915) and No Ordinary Guy (1928). He died on 13 October 1938 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Cori Daye Desmond was born on 18 March 1980 in Torrance, California, USA. She died on 15 February 2009 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Doris Cragg was born on 27 January 1926 in Hayward, Wisconsin, USA. Doris is known for Stranded (1987). Doris was married to Clinton M. Cragg. Doris died on 11 April 2021 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Kurt Ehlers was born on 11 February 1922 in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He is known for Rumble Fish (1983). He died on 31 May 2013 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Richard Tim Vanik was born on 25 June 1931. Richard Tim is known for Tango & Cash (1989), Point of No Return (1993) and Young Frankenstein (1974). Richard Tim died on 17 November 2003 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Malcolm Morris was born on 29 August 1932 in London, UK. He was a producer and writer, known for Whodunnit? (1972), This Is Your Life (1955) and Best of Enemies (1968). He died on 2 February 2016 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Johnnie Tolan was born on 22 October 1917 in Victor, Colorado, USA. He died on 6 June 1986 in Redondo Beach, California, USA.