Cynthia is one of the greatest martial arts movie stars in the world.
Born: 08-03-1957
Birthplace: Wilmington (Delaware)
Country: USA
Nationality: American
Nickname: Queen of Martial Arts
Height: 5' 3" (160 cm)
Height: 5' 3" (160 cm)
Occupation: Film actress/Martial Arts Instructor
Website: www.cynthiarothrock.org
She married with kung fu instructor Ernest Rothrock when she was 21 years old. The pair has an daughter Skylar Sophia and she lives currently in Los Angeles as single. She works currently as martial arts teacher and is co-owner of a martial arts studio which is part of the "United Studios of Self Defense" studios chain.
She takes lessons at the private gym of her parents best friends when she was 13. Her trainer saw her natural martial arts talents quickly and asks her if she would participate at a open karate tournament. Cynthia was one of the premier Kata (forms) and weapon competitors in the United States in 1982 and fought in divisions with no male-female categories. She won every title in the open and closed championship, and won hundreds of trophies in martial arts. Cynthia is five times undefeated world champion karate in forms and weapons in the 80's. She shows her martial arts skills for hundreds of thousands of spectators at demonstrations across the globe.
Cynthia became a household name in martial arts circles in less than two years and no woman reached her achievements in martial arts history.
She has black belts in
- Tang Soo Do
- Taekwondo
- Karate
- Eagle Claw
- Wu Shu
- Northern Shaolin
- Pai Lum Tao Kung Fu
She received her 7th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan in 2011.
Chinese weapons she uses
- Staff
- Chinese Iron Fan
- Chinese Nine-section
- Steel Whip Chain
- Chinese Double Broad Swords
- Okinawan Kobudo Weapons
- Japanese Bugei Weapons
Cynthia is one of the very select individuals listed in the Black Belt Hall of Fame and Inside Kung-Fu Hall of Fame.
She is also listed in
- The Martial Arts Gallery of Fame
- Martial Arts, Traditions, History, People
- The Martial Arts Sourcebook
- and dozens of other historical reference books of martial significance.
She posed on the cover of many martial arts magazines and there are more then 300 stories and articles about her in national and international magazines.
Magazine List
- Black Belt Magazine (United States)
- Inside Kung-Fu (United States)
- Martial Arts Training (United States)
- Martial Arts Stars (United States)
- Inside Karate (United States)
- Sensei (Spanish-Argentina)
- Australian Fighting Arts
- China Sports (Beijing, China).
- Budo (Brazil).
- Combat Sport (Spanish-Brazil)
- Combat Magazine (England)
- Sushido (French)
- Kung-Fu Wu Shu (French)
- Karate Budo Journal (Germany)
- Australian Tae Kwon Do (Australia)
- The Fighters (England)
- Martial Arts Illustrated (England)
- Michael De Pasquale Jr.'s Karate International (United States)
- Budo Karate (Japan)
- Banzai International (Italy)
- Czarny Pas (Poland)
- Cinturon Negro (Spain)
- Ninja Weapons (United States)
- El Budoka (Spain)
- Kicksider (Germany)
- Impact Magazine (Germany)
- Karate Illustrated (United States)
- The Swedish Fighter's International (Sweden)
- Master (United States)
- Kung-Fu Illustrated (United States)
- The Fighter (Thailand)
- Masters Series (United States)
- The Martial Arts Gazette (United States)
- Karate Profiles (United States)
- Sport Karate International (United States)
- The World of Martial Arts (United States)
- The Dojo (United States)
A scout of the Hong Kong movie studio Golden Harvest discovers Cynthia in California during her work for the "West Coast Demonstration Team" in 1983, while the scout is searching for a successor of Bruce Lee.
Her movie career started in Hong Kong and it couldn't take long before she made her action movie debut in ''Yes Madam'' (1985). Cynthia and Michelle Yeoh play the lead roles in ''Yes Madam'', which became a hit and broke the box office record in Hong Kong.
Her movie career started in Hong Kong and it couldn't take long before she made her action movie debut in ''Yes Madam'' (1985). Cynthia and Michelle Yeoh play the lead roles in ''Yes Madam'', which became a hit and broke the box office record in Hong Kong.
She plays a small role as mountain bandit next to fire fighter Kar Lok and samurai Yukari Ôshima in her second action movie "Shanghai Express" (1986).
She plays senior inspector Cindy Si who has the job to find killer Hsia Ling-chi (played by Yuen Biao) in "Righting Wrongs" (1986).
She plays senior inspector Cindy Si who has the job to find killer Hsia Ling-chi (played by Yuen Biao) in "Righting Wrongs" (1986).
She plays kickboxer Terry who met Scott Wylde (played by Loren Avedon) at the local gym in "No Retreat, No Surrender 2" (1987). She helps him to rescue his kidnapped Vietnamese girlfriend out the hands of the Russian mafia.
She plays police officer madam Lo who is the leader of an all-female special police force together with Madam Hu (played by Sibelle Hu) in ''The Inspector Wears Skirts'' (1988). Both women train the girls at the police academy and the female squad get the assignment to guard a fashion show. The girls come in action and show what they have learned when the show is invaded by kung fu wielding thieves.
She plays American FBI agent Cindy in the action movie "The Blonde Fury" (1989). She travels to Hong Kong in order to arrest the criminal newspaper editor Ronny Dak (played by Ronny Yu), who prints counterfeit money using the newspaper's presses.
She plays tough FBI cop Cindy whose mission it is to hunt down an Chinese Mafia boss and his gang in the martial arts adventure ''City Cops'' (1989).
She plays American FBI agent Cindy in the action movie "The Blonde Fury" (1989). She travels to Hong Kong in order to arrest the criminal newspaper editor Ronny Dak (played by Ronny Yu), who prints counterfeit money using the newspaper's presses.
She plays tough FBI cop Cindy whose mission it is to hunt down an Chinese Mafia boss and his gang in the martial arts adventure ''City Cops'' (1989).
She protects a Buddhist boy against villains in the action movie ''prince of the sun'' (1990). She plays an strong role alongside action heroine Sheila Chan who plays the role of Wan May-Ngor.
She plays police woman and martial arts trainer China O'Brien in the action movie ''China O'Brien'' (1990). Her father is sheriff of Beaver Creek, a peaceful town who struggles against the clutches of organized crime. China is forced to come back when criminals have killed her father. She wants to take revenge on the killers and gets help of her former high school sweetheart Matt Conroy (played by Richard Norton) and American biker Dakota (played by Keith Cooke).
She plays police woman and martial arts trainer China O'Brien in the action movie ''China O'Brien'' (1990). Her father is sheriff of Beaver Creek, a peaceful town who struggles against the clutches of organized crime. China is forced to come back when criminals have killed her father. She wants to take revenge on the killers and gets help of her former high school sweetheart Matt Conroy (played by Richard Norton) and American biker Dakota (played by Keith Cooke).
She plays police officer Billie Blake who teams up with fellow police officer (played by Sean Thompson) in ''Martial Law'' (1990). They're part of a new L.A.P.D. program called ''Martial Law'' and are trained in full-contact martial arts movements in criminal situations where no guns are used. Sean and Billie get the assignment to stop criminal mastermind Dalton Rhodes (played by David Carradine) and his gang.
She plays Lilly who's the ex-girlfriend of bank robber Sam (played by Leo Rossi) in ''Fast Getaway'' (1991). Lilly is jealous on Sam and decides to kidnap his son together with her stupid companion Tony (played by Ken Lerner).
She plays martial arts expert Kris Fairchild who is also teacher at the inner-city high school in ''Rage and Honor'' (1992). She gives martial arts lessons to her students to distract them for the lure of street gangs and drugs. Australian police officer Preston Michaels (played by Richard Norton) works in L.A. and joins forces with karate expert Kris. They fight both against crime, in order to clean the streets of thugs.
She plays security specialist Nancy Bolan who is hired to deliver an top-secret computer to a large security organization in ''Angel Of Fury'' (1992). She joins forces with her former lover Mark Garrison (played by Chris Barnes) who has his own plans with the computer.
She plays martial arts expert Kris Fairchild who is also teacher at the inner-city high school in ''Rage and Honor'' (1992). She gives martial arts lessons to her students to distract them for the lure of street gangs and drugs. Australian police officer Preston Michaels (played by Richard Norton) works in L.A. and joins forces with karate expert Kris. They fight both against crime, in order to clean the streets of thugs.
She plays security specialist Nancy Bolan who is hired to deliver an top-secret computer to a large security organization in ''Angel Of Fury'' (1992). She joins forces with her former lover Mark Garrison (played by Chris Barnes) who has his own plans with the computer.
She investigates as LAPD cop Billie Blake the mysterious death of a colleague, together with Detective Sean Thompson (played by Jeff Wincott) in ''Martial Law 2: Undercover'' (1992). Billie goes undercover and infiltrates in the criminal organisation in order to catch the ruthless crime lord and his gang.
She plays Ex-CIA agent Kathy Gallagher who hunts on arms dealer Ludvig Hauptman (played by Richard Norton) in "Lady Dragon" (1992). Ludvig kills her husband on their wedding and she swears to take revenge. She was left behind half dead in the jungle of Indonesia after her failed catch attempt. She is found by an old man and his grandson and they take care for her till she is cured. Kathy learns the ways of the Lady Dragon from the old man while she hunts, on Ludvig and his gang.
She plays detective Linda Masterson who investigates her first murder case in the action movie "Tiger Claws" (1992). She assists martial arts specialist Sgt. Tarek Richards (played by Jalal Merhi) with the hunt on an serial killer.
She plays Ex-CIA agent Kathy Gallagher who hunts on arms dealer Ludvig Hauptman (played by Richard Norton) in "Lady Dragon" (1992). Ludvig kills her husband on their wedding and she swears to take revenge. She was left behind half dead in the jungle of Indonesia after her failed catch attempt. She is found by an old man and his grandson and they take care for her till she is cured. Kathy learns the ways of the Lady Dragon from the old man while she hunts, on Ludvig and his gang.
She plays detective Linda Masterson who investigates her first murder case in the action movie "Tiger Claws" (1992). She assists martial arts specialist Sgt. Tarek Richards (played by Jalal Merhi) with the hunt on an serial killer.
She plays CIA agent Kris Fairchild again in the sequel ''Rage and Honor II'' (1993). She teams up with Australian cop Preston Michaels (played by Richard Norton) again, in order to stop the gangsters Buntao (played by Frans Tumbuan) and Dazzo (played by Tanaka).
She plays FBI agent Tracy Pride who is on mission with the assignment to capture businessman Jason Slade (played by John Miller) who is involved in extortion and murder in ''Honor & Glory'' (1993). Traci gets help of her sister Joyce Pride (played by Donna Jason) who television news reporter is, bodyguard Jake Armstrong (played by Chuck Jeffreys) and Dragon (played by Robin Shou) her Hong Kong police partner.
She plays enthusiastic young female agent Charlotte Heller in ''Irresistible Force'' (1993). She helps police sergant (Harris Stone played by Stacy Keach) with the assignment to rescue kidnapped people in an supermarket.
She plays FBI agent Tracy Pride who is on mission with the assignment to capture businessman Jason Slade (played by John Miller) who is involved in extortion and murder in ''Honor & Glory'' (1993). Traci gets help of her sister Joyce Pride (played by Donna Jason) who television news reporter is, bodyguard Jake Armstrong (played by Chuck Jeffreys) and Dragon (played by Robin Shou) her Hong Kong police partner.
She plays enthusiastic young female agent Charlotte Heller in ''Irresistible Force'' (1993). She helps police sergant (Harris Stone played by Stacy Keach) with the assignment to rescue kidnapped people in an supermarket.
She plays karate champion Susan 'The Golden Angel' Morgan who takes revenge against some gangsters in ''Lady Dragon 2'' (1993). Three gangsters hide diamants with the worth of millions accidentally in Susan's bag in the hotel, where she defends her title as karate champion. She leaves the hotel after the fight and the gangsters follow her to house and break in. They torture and kill husband Sonny (played by George Rudy) after he watched how the thugs have raped Susan. She swears revenge and kills the gangsters and their henchmen one by one. Susan kicks the gangster boss with a flying kick in the oven at the end.
She plays street fighter Kristi Jones who takes part at street fights which are organized by the Mafia to earn money for her sister's college in ''Undefeatable'' (1993). Her sister is raped and killed by underground fighter Stingray (played by Don Niam) and Kristi hunts him down.
She plays detective/bodyguard Cynthia McKay in the action movie "Guardian Angel'' (1994). She must protect an flamboyant womanizer in a glamourous world of the super-rich.
She plays street fighter Kristi Jones who takes part at street fights which are organized by the Mafia to earn money for her sister's college in ''Undefeatable'' (1993). Her sister is raped and killed by underground fighter Stingray (played by Don Niam) and Kristi hunts him down.
She plays detective/bodyguard Cynthia McKay in the action movie "Guardian Angel'' (1994). She must protect an flamboyant womanizer in a glamourous world of the super-rich.
She plays a small action role as female assassin in "American Tigers" (1996). An group of sentenced assassins must fight against terrorists who are working together in exchange for their freedom.
She plays detective Linda Masterson again in the sequel "Tiger Claws II'' (1996). Linda is asked to help her old partner Sgt. Tarek Richards (played by Jalal Merhi) in order to hunt down on martial arts serial killer Chong (played by Bolo Yeung).
She returns home and finds her sister and nephew killed on the floor of the living room in "Sworn To Justice" (1996). She takes revenge and kills the thugs one by one in this female action movie.
She plays FBI special agent Kate Mason who becomes main target of gangster boss Dutch Leonard (played by Stephen Nichols) after she killed one of his closest employees during an FBI raid in ''Deep Cover'' (1997). She must fight against Dutch and his militant extremist group to stop them at all costs.
She plays detective Linda Masterson again in the sequel "Tiger Claws II'' (1996). Linda is asked to help her old partner Sgt. Tarek Richards (played by Jalal Merhi) in order to hunt down on martial arts serial killer Chong (played by Bolo Yeung).
She returns home and finds her sister and nephew killed on the floor of the living room in "Sworn To Justice" (1996). She takes revenge and kills the thugs one by one in this female action movie.
She plays FBI special agent Kate Mason who becomes main target of gangster boss Dutch Leonard (played by Stephen Nichols) after she killed one of his closest employees during an FBI raid in ''Deep Cover'' (1997). She must fight against Dutch and his militant extremist group to stop them at all costs.
She plays Linda Materson again in the third sequel of the action series ''Tiger Claws III'' (2000). Linda teams up with her old partner Sgt. Tarek Richards (played by Jalal Merhi), in order to stop the psychotic martial artist Stryker (played by Loren Avedon).
She plays a short role as drug addict Nancy who is also the ex-wife of criminal Jason Reed (played by Loren Avedon) in "Manhattan Chase" (2000).
She plays alongside martial arts movie veterans Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Chris Penn and James Russo in the action movie ''Redemption'' (2002). She plays a small role as police officer Erin Murphy who is slain in the line of duty during the movie.
She is secret agent and martial artist Julie Cosgrove whose team is ambushed by rebels during a secret mission in Columbia in ''Outside The Law'' (2002). She leaves the goverment and takes a new identity in order to start a new life. Julie becomes unwittingly friends with some local people from Florida, who have ties to the local mob. She finds herself seeking justice and revenge when the same people are implicated in the murder of one of her friends.
She plays a short role as drug addict Nancy who is also the ex-wife of criminal Jason Reed (played by Loren Avedon) in "Manhattan Chase" (2000).
She plays alongside martial arts movie veterans Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Chris Penn and James Russo in the action movie ''Redemption'' (2002). She plays a small role as police officer Erin Murphy who is slain in the line of duty during the movie.
She is secret agent and martial artist Julie Cosgrove whose team is ambushed by rebels during a secret mission in Columbia in ''Outside The Law'' (2002). She leaves the goverment and takes a new identity in order to start a new life. Julie becomes unwittingly friends with some local people from Florida, who have ties to the local mob. She finds herself seeking justice and revenge when the same people are implicated in the murder of one of her friends.
Cynthia appears alongside martial arts legends Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, Don "The Dragon" Wilson and Bill "Sugarfoot" Wallace in the action documentary ''Modern Warriors'' (2002). More then 80 of world's greatest martial artists demonstrate techniques and discuss about the philosophy and its increasing global popularity. See how they train and discover what the sports styles are separated with the spiritual style of martial arts.
She plays an short role as white dragon Sally Kirk next to Don 'The Dragon' Wilson who plays the lead role as Jack Tanaka in the action movie ''Sci-Fighter'' (2004).
She plays uber MMA fighter manager Ivy Reed who is unique as woman in a male-dominated field in ''Badass Showdown'' (2013). She uses a special formula in order to find her champion fighters, allthough her trainer Jimmy has some doubts about the formula. He thinks that the formula will not works on the latest generation athletes.
She plays an short role as white dragon Sally Kirk next to Don 'The Dragon' Wilson who plays the lead role as Jack Tanaka in the action movie ''Sci-Fighter'' (2004).
She plays uber MMA fighter manager Ivy Reed who is unique as woman in a male-dominated field in ''Badass Showdown'' (2013). She uses a special formula in order to find her champion fighters, allthough her trainer Jimmy has some doubts about the formula. He thinks that the formula will not works on the latest generation athletes.
She plays alongside Zoë Bell, Kristanna Loken, Vivica A. Fox, Brigitte Nielsen and Nicole Bilderback in ''Mercenaries'' (2014). The President's daughter is captured and imprisoned while she was traveling throug a war zone. An team of female elite commandos must infiltrate in a women's prison for a daring rescue.
She plays Cindy next to Don 'The Dragon' Wilson who plays the lead role as Glen in ''The Martial Arts Kid'' (2015). An troubled teen from Cleveland learns Martial Arts in order to get self-defense skills and confidence, after he is being bullied in Cocoa Beach.
She plays in this story about an Russian middle-aged man named Nick Peyton (played by Alexander Newsky) who's living on a private tropical island in ''Showdown in Manila'' (2015). He must protect the daughter of the slain Filipino bandits after his peaceful life is interrupted by the murder of one of the locals.
She plays Valerie next to Matt Mullins and Don 'The Dragon' Wilson in ''White Tiger'' (2015). Police officer Michael Turner (played by Matt Mullins) teams up with mercenary Bobby Pau (played by Don 'The Dragon' Wilson) in order to find the killers of his murdered partner.
She played not always lead roles in her Hong Kong movie period and she appeared a few times as co-star alongside legendary martial arts stars as Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen, Richard Norton, Melvin Wong and others. Her American movies in the 90's are made around her person and almost all fight scenes are done by herself.
Hong Kong movie company ''Golden Harvest Productions'' has the plan to launch her career in America with "'China 'O Brien 1 and 2''. The movies were no success in cinema's and were only popular in international video stores and on cable networks.,Her movies were broadcasted worldwide on television and Cynthia is famous and well known around the world.
William Groak an Editor for Black Belt Magazine made a dossier about Cynthia Rothrock and her action-adventure martial arts film career. He write this about Cynthia
She plays Cindy next to Don 'The Dragon' Wilson who plays the lead role as Glen in ''The Martial Arts Kid'' (2015). An troubled teen from Cleveland learns Martial Arts in order to get self-defense skills and confidence, after he is being bullied in Cocoa Beach.
She plays in this story about an Russian middle-aged man named Nick Peyton (played by Alexander Newsky) who's living on a private tropical island in ''Showdown in Manila'' (2015). He must protect the daughter of the slain Filipino bandits after his peaceful life is interrupted by the murder of one of the locals.
She plays Valerie next to Matt Mullins and Don 'The Dragon' Wilson in ''White Tiger'' (2015). Police officer Michael Turner (played by Matt Mullins) teams up with mercenary Bobby Pau (played by Don 'The Dragon' Wilson) in order to find the killers of his murdered partner.
She played not always lead roles in her Hong Kong movie period and she appeared a few times as co-star alongside legendary martial arts stars as Sammo Hung, Biao Yuen, Richard Norton, Melvin Wong and others. Her American movies in the 90's are made around her person and almost all fight scenes are done by herself.
Hong Kong movie company ''Golden Harvest Productions'' has the plan to launch her career in America with "'China 'O Brien 1 and 2''. The movies were no success in cinema's and were only popular in international video stores and on cable networks.,Her movies were broadcasted worldwide on television and Cynthia is famous and well known around the world.
William Groak an Editor for Black Belt Magazine made a dossier about Cynthia Rothrock and her action-adventure martial arts film career. He write this about Cynthia
CYNTHIA ROTHROCK: The Next Action Hero.
SUBJECT: Next Action Film Star.
MISSION: Conquer America.
STATS: Can Fight, Punch, Maim, Shoot, Kick and Whip 155 Crazed Terrorists with nary a scratch.
PROFILE: Sports a Ponytail better than Seagal, Chest Superior to Arnold, Looks Superior to Van Damme and Norris. And, unlike Stallone and Willis, obliterates Bad Guys while perched on Three-Inch Heels.
Her action movie character is portrayed in the documentary ''Top Fighter II: Deadly China Dolls'' (1996). This is the sequel of the documentary "Top Fighter" (1995) and portrays the biggest action heroines ever. The documentary goes behind the scenes with TV footage and interviews with several heroines in short clips. The documentary let the people see how she begins as upcoming action heroine and ends as real action movie superstar. The most beautiful and well known female fighters are playing in this female martial arts show.
Top Fighter II: Deadly China Dolls Cast
Cheng Pei Pei
Chia Ling
Sophia Crawford
Hsu Feng
Cynthia Khan Lai Ching
Moon Lee Choi Fong
Elaine Lui Siu Ling
Angela Mao Ying
Michiko Nishiwaki
Yukari Oshima
Cynthia Rothrock
Polly Shang-Kwan Ling Feng
Shih Szu
Michelle Yeoh
Sharon Yeung Pan Pan
Amy Yip Chi May
Action Filmography
- Enter the Fist and the Golden Fleecing (2016)
- Bitchfight (2015)
- Time Fighters: Genesis (2015)
- White Tiger (2015)
- Showdown in Manila (2015)
- The Martial Arts Kid (2015)
- Mercenaries (2014)
- Badass Showdown (2013)
- Double Fury (2013)
- Sci-Fighter (2004)
- Modern Warriors (2002)
- Outside the Law (2002)
- Redemption (2002)
- The Untouchable 2 (2001)
- Manhattan Chase (2000)
- Tiger Claws III (2000)
- The Hostage (1998)
- Deep Cover (1997)
- The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! (1997)
- Sworn to Justice (1996)
- Tiger Claws II (1996)
- American Tigers (1996)
- Top Fighter 2 (1996)
- Guardian Angel (1994)
- Undefeatable (1993)
- Lady Dragon 2 (1993)
- Irresistible Force (1993)
- Rage and Honor II (1993)
- Honor & Glory (1993)
- Tiger Claws (1992)
- Lady Dragon (1992)
- Martial Law II: Undercover (1992)
- Angel of Fury (1992)
- Rage and Honor (1992)
- Fast Getaway (1991)
- Martial Law (1990)
- China O'Brien II (1990)
- China O'Brien (1990)
- Prince of the Sun (1990)
- City Cops (1989)
- The Blonde Fury (1989)
- The Inspector Wears Skirts (1988)
- No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder (1987)
- Fight to Win (1987) "Dangerous Passages"
- Zhi fa xian feng (1986)
- Magic Crystal (1986)
- Shanghai Express (1986)
- In the Line of Duty 2 (1985)
