U.S.
Español
Arabic
Story highlights
- Joan Laurer, also known as Chyna, was 45
- Police say her body was found Wednesday
- Foul play is not suspected in her death
(CNN)Joan Laurer, the groundbreaking female wrestler known as Chyna, has died.
Police in Redondo Beach, California, confirm that Laurer, 45, was found dead in her apartment on Wednesday. Police say they were notified by a friend who went to check on her and found Laurer unresponsive. The cause of death is under investigation, but police say there are no signs of foul play.
"It is with deep sadness to inform you that we lost a true icon, a real life superhero. Joanie Laurer aka Chyna, the 9th wonder of the world, has passed away," said a post on her website.
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Anton Yelchin, who played Pavel Chekov in the most recent "Star Trek" movies, died early Sunday, June 19, after being pinned against a brick pillar when his car rolled backward, Los Angeles police said. He was 27.
Hide Caption
2 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Actor Ron Lester, who portrayed Billy Bob in the 1999 football movie "Varsity Blues," died Friday, June 17, in Dallas, Texas, according to his representative. He was 45.
Hide Caption
3 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Singer Attrell Cordes, known as Prince Be of the music duo P.M. Dawn, died Friday, June 17, after suffering from diabetes and renal kidney disease, according to a statement from the group. He was 46.
Hide Caption
4 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Michu Meszaros, the actor who played "Alf" in the popular '80s sitcom, died Sunday, June 12, according to his longtime friend and manager Dennis Varga. Meszaros was 77.
Hide Caption
5 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Singer Christina Grimmie died Saturday, June 11, from gunshot wounds. The 22-year-old singer, who finished third on season 6 of "The Voice" on NBC, was shot while signing autographs after a concert in Orlando.
Hide Caption
6 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Hockey legend Gordie Howe, left, scored 801 goals in his NHL career and won four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings. Howe, also known as "Mr. Hockey," died Friday, June 10, at the age of 88, his son Marty said.
Hide Caption
7 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Mixed martial arts fighter Kimbo Slice died June 6 at the age of 42. Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, initially gained fame from online videos that showed him engaging in backyard bare-knuckle fights. He then became a professional fighter with a natural charisma that endeared him to fans.
Hide Caption
8 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Muhammad Ali, the three-time heavyweight boxing champion who called himself "The Greatest," died on June 3 at the age of 74. Fans on every continent adored him, and at one point he was the probably the most recognizable man on the planet.
Hide Caption
9 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Drummer Nick Menza, who played on many of Megadeth's most successful albums, died after he collapsed on stage during a show with his current band, Ohm, on May 21. He was 51.
Hide Caption
10 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Actor Alan Young, known for his role as Wilbur Post in the television show "Mr. Ed," died on May 19. He was 96.
Hide Caption
11 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
CBS News legend Morley Safer, whose work on "60 Minutes" embodied the show's 50 years on air, died at the age of 84, according to CBS on May 19.
Hide Caption
12 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Grammy-winning songwriter Guy Clark died May 17 at the age of 74. The Texas native died after a long illness, according to a statement from his publicist.
Hide Caption
13 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
William Schallert, a familiar face in television and film thanks to roles on "The Patty Duke Show," "Star Trek," and many more, died May 8 at age 93, his son said.
Hide Caption
14 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Madeleine LeBeau, known for her role in "Casablanca," died May 1 after breaking her thigh bone, her stepson Carlo Alberto Pinelli told CNN. The actress, who played the jilted girlfriend of Rick (Humphrey Bogart) in the movie, was 92.
Hide Caption
15 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Papa Wemba, one of Africa's most flamboyant and popular musicians, died after collapsing on stage at a music festival in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on April 23, according to a statement from the Urban Music Festival. He was 66.
Hide Caption
16 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
The musician Prince died at his home in Minnesota on April 21. He was 57. A cause of death was not immediately determined.
Hide Caption
17 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Michelle McNamara, the crime writer who founded the website TrueCrimeStory.com and the wife of popular comedian Patton Oswalt, died April 21, her husband's publicist confirmed. She was 46. No cause of death was provided.
Hide Caption
18 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Joan Laurer, the former pro wrestler better known as Chyna, was found dead in her Redondo Beach, California, apartment on April 20. The cause of death is under investigation, but police said there were no signs of foul play. Laurer was 45.
Hide Caption
19 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Actress Doris Roberts, best known for her role as Marie Barone on the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," passed away on April 18. She was 90.
Hide Caption
20 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Will Smith, a former first-round pick in the NFL who played for the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl-winning team, was shot to death after a traffic incident on April 10. He was 34.
Hide Caption
21 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Country music legend Merle Haggard died on April 6 -- his 79th birthday -- of complications from pneumonia, his agent Lance Roberts told CNN.
Hide Caption
22 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Architect Zaha Hadid, whose designs include the London Olympic Aquatic Centre, died Thursday, March 31, a spokesperson from Zaha Hadid Design told CNN. She was 65. Hadid died of a heart attack in a Miami hospital where she was being treated for bronchitis, according to her firm's press office.
Hide Caption
23 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Actress Patty Duke, star of "The Patty Duke Show," died March 29, at the age of 69. Duke won an Academy Award at age 16 for playing Helen Keller in 1962's "The Miracle Worker."
Hide Caption
24 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Actor James Noble, who played Gov. Eugene X. Gatling in the television series "Benson," died from a stroke on March 28. He was 94.
Hide Caption
25 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Author and poet Jim Harrison died March 26 at his winter home in Arizona. He was 78. His many books include "Legends of the Fall," which was made into a 1994 movie starring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins.
Hide Caption
26 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Garry Shandling, the inventive comedian and star of "The Larry Sanders Show," died March 24. He was 66. Shandling's comedy and mentorship influenced a generation of comedians.
Hide Caption
27 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Ken Howard, seen here as Hank Hooper on "30 Rock," died March 23. He was 71. Howard also starred in "The White Shadow" and appeared on many other TV series.
Hide Caption
28 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Malik Taylor, better known to fans as Phife Dawg of the rap group A Tribe Called Quest, died March 23 at the age of 45. He's seen here at center during a performance in 1996. Taylor had long suffered from health issues associated with having Type 1 diabetes. In 2008, he underwent a kidney transplant.
Hide Caption
29 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Actor Larry Drake, best known for his role as Benny on "L.A. Law," died at his home in Los Angeles on March 17, according to his manager Steven Siebert. Drake was 66.
Hide Caption
30 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Frank Sinatra Jr., the son of the legendary entertainer who had a long musical career of his own, died March 16, said manager Andrea Kauffman. He was 72.
Hide Caption
31 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Keith Emerson, keyboardist for the influential progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer, died March 10, according to the band's official Facebook page. He was 71.
Hide Caption
32 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Sir George Martin, the music producer whose collaboration with the Beatles helped redraw the boundaries of popular music, died March 8, according to his management company. He was 90. Above, Martin poses with the Beatles after the album "Please Please Me" went silver in 1963.
Hide Caption
33 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Former first lady Nancy Reagan, who joined her husband on a storybook journey from Hollywood to the White House, died of heart failure on March 6. She was known as a fierce protector of her husband, President Ronald Reagan, as well as a spokeswoman of the "just say no" anti-drug campaign. She was 94.
Hide Caption
34 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Pat Conroy, who used his troubled family history as grist for a series of novels, including "The Prince of Tides" and "The Great Santini," died March 4 at age 70.
Hide Caption
35 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Bud Collins, the legendary tennis writer who was the first newspaper scribe to regularly appear on sports broadcasts, died March 4. He was 86. Collins was beloved for his cheerful and enthusiastic coverage of a sport he covered for almost 50 years.
Hide Caption
36 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Lee Reherman, a former football player and star of "American Gladiators," was found dead on March 1. He was 49 years old.
Hide Caption
37 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
George Kennedy, the brawny, Oscar-winning actor known for playing cops, soldiers and blue-collar authority figures in such films as "Cool Hand Luke," "Airport" and the "Naked Gun" films, died February 28. He was 91.
Hide Caption
38 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Tony Burton, who played trainer Tony "Duke" Evers in the "Rocky" film franchise, died on February 25. He was 78.
Hide Caption
39 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Singer Sonny James, who ruled the country music charts for nearly 20 years, died February 22 at the age of 87.
Hide Caption
40 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Umberto Eco, author of the novels "The Name of the Rose" and "Foucault's Pendulum," died February 19 at the age of 84, his U.S. publisher said.
Hide Caption
41 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Harper Lee, whose novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1961, was confirmed dead on February 19. She was 89. Her long-anticipated second novel, "Go Set a Watchman," was published in 2015.
Hide Caption
42 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who was the United Nations' sixth secretary-general in the early 1990s, died on February 16. He was 93.
Hide Caption
43 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
George Gaynes, the veteran actor best known for "Punky Brewster" and the "Police Academy" films, died on February 15. He was 98.
Hide Caption
44 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Denise Matthews, who fronted the group Vanity 6 but was best known for her collaboration with Prince, died February 15 at a hospital in Fremont, California. She was 57.
Hide Caption
45 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, the leading conservative voice on the high court, died at the age of 79, a government source and a family friend told CNN on February 13.
Hide Caption
46 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Edgar Mitchell was the sixth man to walk on the moon and just one of 12 total who have done so. The Apollo 14 astronaut, who was 85, died on February 4.
Hide Caption
47 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Dave Mirra, whose dazzling aerial flips and tricks made him a legend in freestyle BMX, died February 4 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police in North Carolina said. He was 41.
Hide Caption
48 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Maurice White, the Earth, Wind & Fire leader and singer who co-wrote such hits as "Shining Star," "Sing a Song" and "September," died on February 4, his brother and bandmate Verdine White said. He was 74.
Hide Caption
49 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Joe Alaskey, a voice actor who performed such characters as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, died February 3 at the age of 63. The actor voiced many other beloved Looney Tunes characters, including Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat and Plucky Duck.
Hide Caption
50 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
At left is Bob Elliott, half of the TV and radio comedy duo Bob and Ray. He died February 2 at the age of 92. For several decades, Elliott and Ray Goulding's program parodies and deadpan routines were staples of radio and television. Elliott was the father of comedian and actor Chris Elliott and the grandfather of "Saturday Night Live" cast member Abby Elliott.
Hide Caption
51 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Paul Kantner, a guitarist in the '60s psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and its successor, Jefferson Starship, died on January 28. He was 74.
Hide Caption
52 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Abe Vigoda, the long-surviving "Godfather" and "Barney Miller" actor, died January 26 at age 94. Vigoda became famous for his role as the decrepit detective Phil Fish on the television series "Barney Miller," but it was the inaccurate reporting of his death in 1982 that led to a decades-long joke that he was still alive. He played into the joke in late-night television appearances with Conan O'Brien and David Letterman.
Hide Caption
53 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Glenn Frey, a founding member of the Eagles, died at the age of 67, a publicist for the band confirmed on January 18. "Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia," read a post on the band's official website. Frey had been suffering from intestinal issues.
Hide Caption
54 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Dan Haggerty, who played mountain man Grizzly Adams in a hit movie followed by a TV show, died on January 15. He was 74 and had been battling cancer.
Hide Caption
55 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Alan Rickman, the British actor who played the brooding Professor Severus Snape in the "Harry Potter" series years after his film debut as the "Die Hard" villain Hans Gruber, died January 14 after a short battle with cancer, a source familiar with his career said. He was 69.
Hide Caption
56 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Monte Irvin died January 11 at the age of 96. Irvin was regarded as one of the best hitters and all-around players in the Negro League, making five All-Star teams. He became one of the first African-Americans to play in the majors, and he played a vital role in the New York Giants' World Series runs in 1951 and 1954.
Hide Caption
57 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
David Bowie, whose incomparable sound and chameleon-like ability to reinvent himself made him a pop music fixture for more than four decades, died January 10 after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 69.
Hide Caption
58 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
French fashion designer Andre Courreges, famous for his "space age" designs of the 1960s and 1970s, died on January 7, his family told CNN affiliate France 3. He was 92.
Hide Caption
59 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Pat Harrington, the popular comedian and voice-over talent who made a lasting impact as superintendent Dwayne Schneider on the hit TV sitcom "One Day at a Time," died on January 6. He was 86.
Hide Caption
60 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Producer Robert Stigwood, the creative force behind "Saturday Night Fever," "Grease" and other cultural blockbusters of the 1970s, died on January 4. He was 81.
Hide Caption
61 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Vilmos Zsigmond, the Oscar-winning cinematographer whose varied work included "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "The Deer Hunter," "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and "Deliverance," died on January 1. He was 85.
Hide Caption
62 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Dale Bumpers, a former U.S. senator and Arkansas governor who defended President Bill Clinton during his impeachment trial, died on January 1. He was 90.
Hide Caption
63 of 64
Photos: People we've lost in 2016
Former U.S. Rep. Mike Oxley -- co-author of a landmark anti-corporate-fraud law that bears his name -- died on January 1. He was 71.
Hide Caption
64 of 64
After graduating from the University of Tampa, Chyna started training in the world of professional wrestling and in 1996 was named the "Rookie of the Year for the Women's Championship," according to her website. She wrestled in the Royal Rumble and King of Ring tournaments and became the only undefeated Women's Champion in WWF (World Wrestling Federation) history.
"Thoughts and prayers go out to Chyna's family. She was always cool with me. #Rip9thWonder," wrote wrestler James Storm on Twitter.
Stephanie McMahon of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) posted: "She was truly a pioneer in our industry, and she will be missed. #RIPChyna."
Chyna also appeared in TV, magazines, music videos and adult films. Her 2001 autobiography, "If They Only Knew," describes her as "part feminist, part superhero" and says "Chyna blazed a trail where no woman had gone before."
