Raven De La Croix (born Lynn Christie Martin on August 24, 1947) is an
American actress and stripper known for her lead role in the 1976 Russ
Meyer film Up!. When Meyer first discovered her at Joe Allen's, a
hangout in West Hollywood, California, she had no acting experience.
In 2011, Owen Gleiberman wrote that she "...may be [Meyer's] most
spectacular siren". She is the granddaughter of aviation pioneer
Lieutenant William Knox Martin.De La Croix was born as Lynn Christie
Martin in Manhattan, New York City to a poor family and was the oldest
of eight children. Her father was Comanche and her mother
French-American. She was a licensed nurse and worked for a time at the
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. She also worked several other jobs,
including prison drug lecturer where she was seen by a prisoner who
later recommended her to work for a theatrical agency. Later, she was
noticed in a Hollywood restaurant by a talent scout for Eddie Foy,
Jr., which eventually led to an appointment with Russ Meyer. De La
Croix also worked at the Melody Burlesk in New York as a stripper.Her
first marriage was abusive. The August 1986 issue of Wrestling Eye
Magazine notes on Page 48 That "a recent article in Rock Island,
Illinois QUAD TIMES reported she was engaged to wrestler Greg The
Hammer Valentine".
American actress and stripper known for her lead role in the 1976 Russ
Meyer film Up!. When Meyer first discovered her at Joe Allen's, a
hangout in West Hollywood, California, she had no acting experience.
In 2011, Owen Gleiberman wrote that she "...may be [Meyer's] most
spectacular siren". She is the granddaughter of aviation pioneer
Lieutenant William Knox Martin.De La Croix was born as Lynn Christie
Martin in Manhattan, New York City to a poor family and was the oldest
of eight children. Her father was Comanche and her mother
French-American. She was a licensed nurse and worked for a time at the
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. She also worked several other jobs,
including prison drug lecturer where she was seen by a prisoner who
later recommended her to work for a theatrical agency. Later, she was
noticed in a Hollywood restaurant by a talent scout for Eddie Foy,
Jr., which eventually led to an appointment with Russ Meyer. De La
Croix also worked at the Melody Burlesk in New York as a stripper.Her
first marriage was abusive. The August 1986 issue of Wrestling Eye
Magazine notes on Page 48 That "a recent article in Rock Island,
Illinois QUAD TIMES reported she was engaged to wrestler Greg The
Hammer Valentine".
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