Cynthia Rothrock
Cynthia Rothrock (born March 8, 1957) is an American martial artist and actress in martial arts films. She holds black belt rankings in seven styles of martial arts and was a high-level competitor in martial arts before becoming an actress. In 2014, she was inducted into the International Sports Hall Of Fame. In 2016, Martial Arts History Museum bestowed Rothrock the official title of "The Queen Of Martial Arts." Rothrock was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and began training in martial arts at the age of 13. She quickly rose through the ranks, winning numerous championships in karate, kickboxing and taekwondo. In 1981, she was named World Champion in Forms and Weapons. In 1985, Rothrock made her film debut, alongside Michelle Yeoh, in the Hong Kong action film "Yes, Madam!" The film was a box office success and made Rothrock a star in Asia. She went on to star in several more Hong Kong films, including "Millionaires' Express" (1986), "Magic Crystal" (1986), "Righting Wrongs" (1986) and "Lady Reporter" (1989). Rothrock would return to the United States to further her acting career in many more martial arts films, including two "China O'Brien" movies in 1990, as well as "Lady Dragon" (1992), "Rage And Honor" (1992) and "Sworn To Justice" (1996). In 2024, Rothrock co-wrote, produced and starred in a crowd-funded martial arts western, entitled "Black Creek," for which there's also an accompanying graphic novel. Rothrock made history by becoming the inaugural woman to grace the cover of Karate Illustrated (August 1981)[20] and holds the distinction of being the first woman featured on the cover three times in the magazine's history. In March 2024, Black Belt Magazine named Rothrock in its list of "The Most Influential Women Martial Artists on the Planet." Along with teaching martial arts, Rothrock is also a successful businesswoman, with her own line of martial arts clothing and accessories.
Filmography
Black Creek: Retribution
as Rose Jennings
Black Creek: Retribution
as Rose Jennings
Prey of Wrath
as Brenda Sands
Prey of Wrath
as Brenda Sands
The Untold Story of No Retreat No Surrender
as Self
The Untold Story of No Retreat No Surrender
as Self
Dying for Living
as Sin
Dying for Living
as Sin
Darkness of Man
as Nurse Leslie
Darkness of Man
as Nurse Leslie
Black Creek
as Rose Jennings
Black Creek
as Rose Jennings
Lady Scorpions
as Alena Moore
Lady Scorpions
as Alena Moore
American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures
as Self (archive footage)
American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures
as Self (archive footage)
The Last Kumite
as Julie Jackson
The Last Kumite
as Julie Jackson
Fyre Rises
as Commander Bodie
Fyre Rises
as Commander Bodie
Taken from Rio Bravo
as Margaret
Taken from Rio Bravo
as Margaret
No Time To Think
as Rachel Adams
No Time To Think
as Rachel Adams
Buckle Up
as Lady X
Buckle Up
as Lady X
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
as Herself
The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief
as Herself
Ryan Carson
as Ally Watson
Ryan Carson
as Ally Watson
Re-Enter the 'New York Ninja'
as Self
Re-Enter the 'New York Ninja'
as Self
New York Ninja
as Det. Janet Flores (voice)
New York Ninja
as Det. Janet Flores (voice)
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
as Self
In Search of the Last Action Heroes
as Self
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
as Self
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
as Self
Cool Cat Kids Superhero
as Momma Cat
Cool Cat Kids Superhero
as Momma Cat
Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece
as Counter Attendant
Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece
as Counter Attendant
Death Fighter
as Valerie
Death Fighter
as Valerie
Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine
as Kandra Syn
Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine
as Kandra Syn
Fists of Fury
as Self
Fists of Fury
as Self
A Doggone Hollywood
as Mom in Car
A Doggone Hollywood
as Mom in Car
Asian Ghost Story
Asian Ghost Story
Showdown in Manila
as Haines
Showdown in Manila
as Haines
The Martial Arts Kid
as Cindy
The Martial Arts Kid
as Cindy
Cool Cat Saves the Kids
as Momma Cat
Cool Cat Saves the Kids
as Momma Cat
Mercenaries
as Mona
Mercenaries
as Mona
Spirit2Power
as Self
Spirit2Power
as Self
Badass Showdown
as Ivy
Badass Showdown
as Ivy
Santa's Summer House
as Nanna
Santa's Summer House
as Nanna
Sci-Fighter
as Sally Kirk / The White Dragon
Sci-Fighter
as Sally Kirk / The White Dragon
Lost Bullet
as Cynthia
Lost Bullet
as Cynthia
Modern Warriors
as Self
Modern Warriors
as Self
Outside the Law
as Julie Cosgrove
Outside the Law
as Julie Cosgrove
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies
as Self
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies
as Self
Redemption
as Erin Murphy
Redemption
as Erin Murphy
Manhattan Chase
as Nancy
Manhattan Chase
as Nancy
Tiger Claws III
as Linda Masterson
Tiger Claws III
as Linda Masterson
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
as Self
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
as Self
The Hostage
as Agent Rebecca Peters
The Hostage
as Agent Rebecca Peters
Deep Cover
as FBI Special Agent Kate Mason
Deep Cover
as FBI Special Agent Kate Mason
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
as Bertha Jo
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
as Bertha Jo
Night Vision
as Kristin O'Connor
Night Vision
as Kristin O'Connor
Sworn to Justice
as Janna
Sworn to Justice
as Janna
American Tigers
as Herself
American Tigers
as Herself
Tiger Claws II
as Linda Masterson
Tiger Claws II
as Linda Masterson
Eye for an Eye
as Tina
Eye for an Eye
as Tina
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
as Self
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
as Self
Portrait in Red
as Laurel
Portrait in Red
as Laurel
Guardian Angel
as Cynthia McKay
Guardian Angel
as Cynthia McKay
Fast Getaway II
as Lilly
Fast Getaway II
as Lilly
Cinema of Vengeance
as Self
Cinema of Vengeance
as Self
Lady Dragon 2
as Susan 'The Golden Angel' Morgan
Lady Dragon 2
as Susan 'The Golden Angel' Morgan
Rage and Honor II: Hostile Takeover
as Kris Fairchild
Rage and Honor II: Hostile Takeover
as Kris Fairchild
Irresistible Force
as Charlotte Heller
Irresistible Force
as Charlotte Heller
Undefeatable
as Kristi Jones
Undefeatable
as Kristi Jones
Angel the Kickboxer
as Kristi Jones
Angel the Kickboxer
as Kristi Jones
Honor and Glory
as Tracey Pride
Honor and Glory
as Tracey Pride
Lady Dragon
as Kathy Galagher
Lady Dragon
as Kathy Galagher
Rage and Honor
as Kris Fairchild
Rage and Honor
as Kris Fairchild
Angel Of Fury
as Nancy Bolan
Angel Of Fury
as Nancy Bolan
Martial Law II: Undercover
as Billie Blake
Martial Law II: Undercover
as Billie Blake
Tiger Claws
as Linda Masterson
Tiger Claws
as Linda Masterson
Fast Getaway
as Lilly
Fast Getaway
as Lilly
Tiada Titik Balik
as Kathy
Tiada Titik Balik
as Kathy
Martial Law
as Billie Blake
Martial Law
as Billie Blake
Prince of the Sun
as Bencheuk
Prince of the Sun
as Bencheuk
China O'Brien II
as China O'Brien
China O'Brien II
as China O'Brien
China O'Brien
as China O'Brien
China O'Brien
as China O'Brien
No Witnesses
No Witnesses
The Best of the Martial Arts Films
as Self
The Best of the Martial Arts Films
as Self
City Cops
as Inspector Cindy
City Cops
as Inspector Cindy
Lady Reporter
as Cindy
Lady Reporter
as Cindy
The Inspector Wears Skirts
as Madam Law
The Inspector Wears Skirts
as Madam Law
Jungle Heat
Jungle Heat
No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder
as Terry
No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder
as Terry
Fight to Win
as Sensei Lauren
Fight to Win
as Sensei Lauren
Righting Wrongs
as Senior Insp. Sandy Jones / Cindy Si
Righting Wrongs
as Senior Insp. Sandy Jones / Cindy Si
Magic Crystal
as Cindy Morgan
Magic Crystal
as Cindy Morgan
Millionaires' Express
as Mountain Bandit
Millionaires' Express
as Mountain Bandit
Yes, Madam!
as Senior Inspector Carrie Morris
Yes, Madam!
as Senior Inspector Carrie Morris
Defend Yourself!
as Herself
Defend Yourself!
as Herself
24 Hours to Midnight
as Devon Grady
24 Hours to Midnight
as Devon Grady
Operation Dagon
Operation Dagon
Chinese Hercules: The Bolo Yeung Story
as Self
Chinese Hercules: The Bolo Yeung Story
as Self
Vendetta Vette
as LaRue
Vendetta Vette
as LaRue
Anadellia Rises
as Priscilla Kasper
Anadellia Rises
as Priscilla Kasper