Raven De La Croix, born Lynn Christie Martin on August 24, 1947, in Manhattan, New York, is an American actress, burlesque performer, and cult-film icon whose name is inseparable from the outrageous cinema of Russ Meyer. Best remembered for her starring role in Meyer’s 1976 film Up!, De La Croix became one of the most striking and unforgettable figures in sexploitation cinema, celebrated for her physical presence, unapologetic confidence, and larger-than-life screen persona.
Born into a poor family and raised as the eldest of eight children, De La Croix’s early life was marked by responsibility and resilience. Her distinctive appearance—often described as exotic and commanding—was the result of her father’s Comanche heritage and her mother’s French ancestry. Long before entering film, she lived a life far removed from Hollywood glamour, training as a licensed nurse and working at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Her path also included an unusual range of jobs, among them lecturing inmates on drug abuse in prison facilities, an experience that reflected both her toughness and adaptability.
Her entry into the entertainment world was unconventional. While working as a stripper at the Melody Burlesk in New York, and later performing in burlesque and stripping venues on both coasts, she attracted attention not through calculated ambition but sheer presence. A chance encounter in a Hollywood restaurant led to her being noticed by a talent scout, which eventually resulted in a meeting with Russ Meyer. At the time, she had no formal acting experience, but Meyer was known for favoring raw charisma over polish—and De La Croix embodied exactly the kind of force he sought.
Her breakthrough came with Up! in 1976, where she played Margo Winchester, a role that cemented her cult status. Towering, aggressive, and entirely unconcerned with conventional femininity, her performance was a perfect fit for Meyer’s hyperbolic, satirical style. She did far more than act in the film: she designed her own costumes, performed her own stunts, and brought an improvisational intensity that made her character unforgettable. Critics and fans alike later singled her out as one of Meyer’s most spectacular discoveries.
Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, De La Croix continued working in film, often in roles that leaned into her commanding physicality and burlesque background. She appeared in comedies, exploitation films, cult oddities, and even mainstream projects, including a brief uncredited appearance in The Blues Brothers. Her work frequently extended beyond acting; she took on responsibilities as a costume designer, associate producer, animal handler, and stunt performer, particularly in the 1984 fantasy film The Lost Empire.
Her final burlesque performance captured on film came in Heat and Sunlight in 1987, where she appeared as herself, marking the end of an era in her performing life. In later years, she continued to appear sporadically in independent films and documentaries, sometimes as an actress, sometimes as a narrator or producer, maintaining a presence within cult cinema well into the 2000s.
De La Croix’s personal life was often turbulent. Her first marriage was abusive, and her relationships were frequently the subject of rumor and tabloid speculation. She was briefly linked to professional wrestler Greg “The Hammer” Valentine in the mid-1980s, though she largely kept her private life separate from her professional identity.
Beyond her filmography, Raven De La Croix remains a singular figure in American cult cinema. She represents a moment when exploitation film stars could exert genuine creative control, crafting their own image rather than submitting to one imposed by studios. Fierce, excessive, and utterly unapologetic, she stands as one of the most vivid embodiments of Russ Meyer’s cinematic universe—and one of its most enduring icons.
