Martial Artists In Movies: The Real Deal - Volume 3
"Wait a minute! Haven't I seen this list before?"
In 2009, I used Amazon.com to begin compiling a cumulative list of genuine martial artists who also appeared in movies, accompanied by trivia. About two years later, an IMDb user pasted my entries into this format to create a clone list (he wasn't the first: a user on the Action Fans forum did the same thing).
"Why should I check out this list if I've seen the other one?"
Better and more up-to-date information. I regularly revised the Amazon lists, and as a result have more current entry and trivia information.
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This is a list of legitimate martial artists appearing in movies, accompanied by the styles they practice(d), the recognition they've received for them, and individual trivia.
Qualifications:
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NOTE: a lot of the trivia listed here did originally come from IMDb pages, but I've only included information I was able to verify from other sources as well.
--------------------------------------------------
**Though I have done my utmost to ensure that all information below is factual and up-to-date, I may have made mistakes and therefore make no claims about this list's infallibility**
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Next list here
Previous list here
In 2009, I used Amazon.com to begin compiling a cumulative list of genuine martial artists who also appeared in movies, accompanied by trivia. About two years later, an IMDb user pasted my entries into this format to create a clone list (he wasn't the first: a user on the Action Fans forum did the same thing).
"Why should I check out this list if I've seen the other one?"
Better and more up-to-date information. I regularly revised the Amazon lists, and as a result have more current entry and trivia information.
--------------------------------------------------
This is a list of legitimate martial artists appearing in movies, accompanied by the styles they practice(d), the recognition they've received for them, and individual trivia.
Qualifications:
- the performer must be an actual practitioner of a martial art; simply portraying martial artists in film, no matter how well or how often, is not enough
- the martial art(s) in question must be able to be identified and verified by a source other than hearsay
- individual accomplishments (e.g. tournaments won, belts held) must likewise be verifiable
- Mixed Martial Arts, Tai Chi, and weapons-based styles can only be credited if the person in question practices another style as well (I reserve the right to make exceptions)
- Kickboxing is considered a martial art
- Tae Bo, boxing, wrestling, and gymnastics are not considered martial arts
- styles incorporating firearms usage (e.g. Systema) are not considered
--------------------------------------------------
NOTE: a lot of the trivia listed here did originally come from IMDb pages, but I've only included information I was able to verify from other sources as well.
--------------------------------------------------
**Though I have done my utmost to ensure that all information below is factual and up-to-date, I may have made mistakes and therefore make no claims about this list's infallibility**
--------------------------------------------------
Next list here
Previous list here
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- Stunts
- Actress
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
As an established and extremely talented stunt double and actress, Zoe Bell has made a name for herself through her unparalleled dedication, skills, and focus.
Zoe Bell was born on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, to Tish, a nurse, and Andrew Bell, a doctor. She has a background in gymnastics and martial arts. She began working as a stunt woman when she doubled Lucy Lawless on the cult favorite TV series Xena: Warrior Princess (1995). Bell also appeared as a double in the ABC thriller Alias (2001) and on an episode of Cleopatra 2525 in 2000 as a double for Vicki Pratti. In the action packed-documentary Double Dare (2004), Bell, along with legendary stunt-woman Jeannie Epper, give an insight into the career of women who take falls and punches for a living. Double Dare also gives a glimpse into the struggles of stunt-women to stay thin, employed, and sane in a male-dominated career.
After the cancellation of Xena, Bell's next gig was working with Quentin Tarantino in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), playing the stunt double for Uma Thurman's role, The Bride. Bell was nominated for her work in Kill Bill, Vol. 1 in the categories of Best Stunt by a Stunt Woman and Best Fight for the Taurus World Stunt Awards, both of which she would win the following year for Kill Bill: Vol. 2. Bell also showed off her stunt-woman skills as a double for Sharon Stone in Halle Barry's Catwoman (2004).
Bell was injured in the final days of filming, requiring surgery, but she has since recovered and returned to work. Bell appeared along with legendary stunt woman Jeannie Epper in Amanda Micheli's acclaimed documentary Double Dare (2004), which offers a glimpse at the lives and careers of both women, as well as the friendship they share.
Bell debuted her acting career, with her already famous stunt skills, in the double feature Grindhouse (2007) written by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. She was hand-picked, by Tarentino himself, to star in his segment of the double feature, Death Proof (2007), about four women working in the film industry that are stalked by a murderer in his Death Proof car.
Bell, a native of New Zealand, resides in Los Angeles but hopes to someday own a home in New Zealand.Tae Kwon Do, Wushu
Trivia: began her stunt career after she acquired the phone number of an injured stuntman being treated at her father's emergency room
Best seen in ANGEL OF DEATH- Actor
- Stunts
Born 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, Danny Pesina has been studying martial arts since 1972. He began his formal training with Master Guo Jianhua in 1989 studying both external and internal Wushu. He has also studied under many other Chinese living instructors including Hu Jianqiang (the former Chinese National Champion), Lo Minghan (former Hubei Wushu Team member), and Lin Jianhua to name just a few.
Danny has competed both nationally and internationally. He has won numerous first places and awards in forms, weapons and fighting on the A.A.U., N.A.S.K.A., and U.S.A. KungFu/Wushu circuits.
Starred in the first two Mortal Kombat video games as characters such as: Johhny Cage, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Reptile and Smoke. His brother, Carlos Pesina also worked with him in these projects, he played the character of Rayden the thunder god.Wushu, Bagua Zhang (AAU & NASKA Champion)
Trivia: has studied under Masters Guo Jianhua, Hu Jianqiang, Zhu Bao Jian, and Lin Jianhua
Best seen in BOOK OF SWORDS- Actress
- Stunts
Born 1973 in Chicago, Illinois. She holds 3 black belts in Tae Kwon Do, Goju Karate and Shorin Ryu Karate with 21 years of experience in martial arts and 14 years of experience with boxing. She has the title 'Sifu', and is a national and international fitness presenter. She's a certified trainer with ACE, AAFA and ISMA. She also masters many other arts such as Wushu and Jiu Jitsu. Her talents can be seen in games and movies as she played three roles (Kitana, Mileena & Jade) in the arcade video game Mortal Kombat 2.Shorin-Ryu & Goju-Ryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts
Trivia: is also a writer for sports and fitness publications, including Black Belt Magazine, Women's Sports and Fitness, and Chicago Boxing
Best seen in BOOK OF SWORDS- Stunts
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
BRAD ALLAN: Born with an inherent fascination of all things Chinese, Brad Allan started studying martial arts, boxing, gymnastics and Chinese circus arts from the age of 10 years. At age 15 years, Brad met two of China's greatest wushu athletes Liang Chang Xing and Tang Lai Wei of the renowned Beijing Wushu Team (the same team as Jet Li). Under their expert guidance Brad quickly rose to become one of Australia's top wushu athletes. At the age of 22 years Brad returned to Australia after several years studying language and martial arts in Asia. It was in his home town of Melbourne that he met his mentor and master, Jackie Chan. A chance encounter gave Brad an opportunity to demonstrate his skills to Jackie and his team; a dream come true that would change his life forever. As the first non-Asian member, Brad spent the next 12 years traveling and performing around the world as part of the illustrious Jackie Chan Stunt Team. It was during this time and under Jackie's direct guidance that Brad progressed from stunt performer, to action choreographer, to stunt coordinator and finally action director. Brad Allan traveled one of the more unique paths to Hollywood and brought a unique visual style that combined the best of the east and west. Action transcends language and cultural boundaries; It can excite us, move us and make us laugh. Brad Allan had a global vision for action film making. He worked with an international team of skilled professionals from all over the world united by their passion for action and film making. His goal was to entertain, excite and motivate the human race.Wushu, Aikido, Karate, Kickboxing
Trivia: is first non-Asian member (and subsequent leader) of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team
Best seen in WHO AM I- Stunts
- Actor
- Producer
Before Ron Balicki got his start in the entertainment field as a stuntman and a fight / stunt coordinator, he grew up in the windy city of Chicago. Ron has trained the Martial Arts for over 35 years. After an in-depth study of the subject, Ron sought out the legendary martial artist, Dan Inosanto. After many years of study, Ron earned Full instructorships in Bruce Lee's art of Jun Fan Gung Fu (Jeet Kune Do Concepts), Maphilindo Silat and Filipino Kali from Sifu Dan Inosanto. In 1987 Ron became a Cook County Deputy Sheriff stationed in Chicago, Illinois. Ron helped form the Cook County Sheriff's Special Operations Resistance Team (S.O.R.T.), a team of officers trained to handle riot control. At this time Ron also began working as a bodyguard for various Hollywood movie and music stars. Ron has traveled as far as Japan and Indonesia to train and compete in "No holds barred fighting tournaments. As a professional Shoot Wrestler Ron has competed numerous times in Japan and America. Ron also earned instructorships in Thai Boxing, Savate, Lameco Escrima, Wing Chun Gung Fu, Latigo y daga (whip fighting), and Shoot Wrestling.
Military, DEA, SWAT, FBI, Home Land Security, Law Enforcement from America and abroad, Anti-Terrorist groups and the French President's Secret Service have all sought Ron out for his experience and teaching skills. He is the author of numerous articles for magazines worldwide, and has written his own best selling book on Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do. Ron has produced a widely respected series of martial arts training videos. He has stunt coordinated several films.
Ron can be seen performing stunts consisting of fights, car crashes, Ratchets, Air Rams, high falls, and Full body burns.
Ron and his wife Diana Lee Inosanto along with their manager Tarik Heitmann have now started their own production company , Zen Mountain LLC. Their first film "The Sensei". has completed post production.Jeet Kune Do, Escrima, Silat, Muay Thai, Savate, Wing Chun, Shooto, Latigo y Daga, Mixed Martial Arts (record: 1-1)
Trivia: has taught martial arts to the French Secret Service, the French Anti-Terrorist Team, and the DEA
Best seen in FORCE OF EXECUTION- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Osric Chau was born in Vancouver, Canada, to a father from Hong Kong and a mother from Malaysia. He had spent years training martial arts with aspirations to work in stunts when he landed his first leading role alongside the late David Carradine in Kung Fu Killer (2008) that was shot in Hengdian, China.
The following year Osric played Nima, the Tibetan monk, in Roland Emmerich's 2012 (2009), working with veteran actors John Cusack and Thandiwe Newton, that grossed over $760 million worldwide. That success brought Osric back to China where he worked on the Chinese Remake of What Women Want (2012) alongside Andy Lau and Gong Li and The Man with the Iron Fists (2012) with Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu and director, writer, actor and rap musician RZA.
In 2011 Osric landed another leading role in Paramount's Fun Size (2012) with Victoria Justice, Thomas Mann and Jane Levy. The Halloween comedy also includes Chelsea Handler, Josh Pence and Johnny Knoxville.
In 2012 Osric started work on Supernatural (2005) as genius high school student pulled into the role of prophet, Kevin Tran, a character he played on the show over 16 episodes in seasons 7-9 and 11. This work got him noticed and his acting roles have become more prolific since his appearance in the series.
In the process Osric has more than found a passion for acting and filmmaking. He still enjoys stunts, and has enormous appreciation of the skill and sacrifices involved but he'll settle with doing as many of his own stunts as a production will allow..Wushu (Canadian National Team member)
Trivia: has studied the martial arts since age 13
Best seen in KUNG FU KILLER- Stunts
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Additional Crew
Andy Cheng is known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), Rush Hour 2 (2001) and Shanghai Noon (2000).Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: is a former stunt double of Jackie Chan
Best seen in US SEAL 2- Actor
- Additional Crew
Master Hee Il Cho was born on 13 October 1940 in Korea. He is an actor, known for Best of the Best (1989), Future War (1997) and Fight to Win (1987).Tae Kwon Do (9th Dan; Black Belt & Tae Kwon Do Times Hall of Fame), Tang Soo Do
Trivia: taught martial arts to the Army Special Forces of Korea and India
Best seen in BLOODSPORT 3- Stunts
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Ilram's parents are from Korea. But Ilram himself was born in the U.S. As soon as he learned to walk, he began training in Tae Kwon Do. Besides the regular training, Ilram would learn by imitating the better martial artists and athletes, including his father.
Ilram would soon make his way into making movies with Homevideo Movies. He did this with his friends who taught him various more martial arts such as: Judo, Aikido, Kung Fu, Wushu, Tai Chi, Ninjutsu, Wing Chun, Thai-Boxing, Chinese Boxing and Capoeira. meanwhile, Ilram attended the Savannah College of Art and Design and pursued his career in Visual Effects.
Ilram is getting better as an actor, stuntman, coordinator, producer, director, writer, edit etc. and is now ready for the big screen on which he has already appeared.Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Judo, Tai Chi, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, Ninjutsu, Capoeira
Trivia: began training in acrobatics by imitating his father
Best seen in UNDISPUTED 3- Actor
- Stunts
Collin Chou was born on 11 August 1967 in Taiwan. He is an actor, known for The Matrix Revolutions (2003), The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Forbidden Kingdom (2008). He has been married to Wanda Yung since 10 December 1997. They have two children.Fu Jow Pai, White Crane, Leopard & Praying Mantis Kung Fu
Trivia: started his stunt career at age 12
Best seen in THE MATRIX RELOADED- Stunts
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Sophia Crawford was born in Hammersmith, London, and is one of Triplets. She left England in 1986 and took an incredible journey on a bus overland from London to India. After spending some time in India and Nepal, Sophia headed to Thailand, where she began her movie career. At first she was an editorial model and an extra in American productions such as: Kickboxer (1989) and Around the World in 80 Days (2004). After working with several crews from Hong Kong, Sophia decided it was time to make a move and try her luck in Hong Kong cinema. She went around to the various studios looking for work. Her first role was New Kid in town (1990) (New Kids in Town). The director had asked her if she could fight. Thinking this would be easy, she said yes and was consequently killed off because she was so terrible. Humiliated, yet determined, Sophia had found her niche. For the next five years, she studied Martial Arts and stunts with some of the top names in the business. She co-starred in more than thirty movies and became the first Western woman to join an Asian Stunt team. Sophia moved to the United States in 1993 and has appeared in hundreds of movies and television shows. Including; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993) and WMAC Masters (1995). She was Sarah Michelle Gellar's stunt double on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) for four years and has helped numerous actors with her Martial arts prowess. She is currently President of the United Stuntwomen's Association.Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Trivia: has doubled over 45 different actresses during her stunt career
Best seen in US SEALS 2- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Producer, stunt coordinator, actor, publisher, and world renowned martial artist, Michael DePasquale Jr, is the creator of the Action Film Academy which was held at several different locations including Burbank, Atlanta, New York State, Ohio, and Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina. As an actor, stuntman and stunt coordinator. Michael Depasquale Jr has appeared in the movies Bloodmoon (1997), The King of the Kickboxers (1990), No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers (1990), American Shaolin (1991), and The Power Within (1995). He has starred in "China Heat" and "The Cutoff" (for which he was also producer, casting director, and stunt coordinator). He has appeared in numerous TV shows and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. He is also the president and founder of the Screen Action Stunt Association, which is listed in the prestigious Ross Report Book under Unions and Associations.Yoshidune-Waza Jujitsu (9th Dan; AAU Champion), Judo, Karate, Aikido
Trivia: is a trained security and law enforcement professional
Best seen in CHINA HEAT- Stunts
- Actor
- Director
Canadian Filmmaker Bruce Fontaine got his start in film by moving to Hong Kong in 1988 (considered by many the Golden Age of Hong Kong film) where he worked as an Actor & Stunt Performer working with many of Hong Kong's action icons including Jackie Chan ('Operation Condor'), Stephen Chow ('Curry & Pepper'), Sammo Hung ('She Shoots Straight') & many more. Fontaine, a martial arts expert, made a name for himself with his remarkable flexibility and kicking ability, and became one of the most prolific actor/fighters during the "gwailo" bad guy boom of Hong Kong cinema.
Returning to Vancouver, Canada in 1996 Bruce worked as an Actor, Stunt Performer, Fight Choreographer & Stunt Coordinator and also worked extensively in the field of Motion Capture for Electronic Arts. He would also go on to 2nd Unit Direct, Produce & Direct. Bruce made his Directorial debut in 2015 with his independent Action feature film 'Beyond Redemption'. Shot for a budget of $45,000, it was released in the US in 2017 through Well Go USA (& sold over 30 countries), received a worldwide BluRay release & was seen on Netflix. Beyond Redemption was done as a homage to the Hong Kong films Bruce worked in the 80s/90s.
Bruce is developing several other independent action films targeting Western & Asian markets.Wushu (Canadian National Team member; IWUF Bronze medalist), Choy Lay Fut, Bajiquan, Nan Quan
Trivia: is the founder of the West Coast Chinese Martial Arts school
Best seen in ARMOUR OF GOD- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Summer is a native of San Antonio, Texas. She's been a ballerina most of her life. Her debut was in various commercials and a guest appearance on the WB's Angel (1999). She has gone on to star on the TV series Firefly (2002) as well as its follow-up movie Serenity (2005) and the TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008).Wushu, Kickboxing
Trivia: was formerly a dancer, until an ankle injury began her acting career
Best seen in SERENITY- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Rorion Gracie is the oldest son of Helio Gracie. Helio, and his oldest sibling, Carlos Gracie, had helped spread the family's reputation in their native Brazil with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), a ground-based martial art they successfully modified from Japanese jujutsu. Helio taught his children, and, with Carlos, the Gracie family members would challenge practitioners of other martial arts with "The Gracie Challenge", and often won. At age seventeen in December 1969, Rorion Gracie traveled to the United States for the first time on vacation, and for a year he toured New York, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. Gracie had kept cash and return trip airline tickets at a YMCA in Hollywood, California. When his money and airline tickets were stolen, he worked in a restaurant, and later at a construction site where he would often sleep. When he became destitute, he begged for money on the streets until he was able to return to Brazil in 1970. He spent five years studying law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and earned a degree.
In 1979, Rorion Gracie returned to the United States and settled in Torrance, California. He trademarked and started using the term "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu" to prevent confusion with that of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie brought his version of "The Gracie Challenge", which included a $100,000 prize to opponents who could beat him with their fighting style. Gracie met noted kick-boxer Benny Urquidez and demonstrated Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in practice sessions. Gracie challenged Urquidez to a fight, however it did not happen because the two could not settle on terms. While teaching out of his garage, Gracie did various jobs, including cleaning homes. While on a house cleaning job, he met a woman whose husband was a television and film producer. She recommended that Gracie become an actor. It was while working as a background actor on set of Lethal Weapon (1987) that he caught the attention of director Richard Donner, to whom he gave lessons. Donner had seen a video of Gracie fighting and defeating Ralph Alegria, a kick-boxer, and asked Gracie to choreograph fights scenes in the movie.
In 1989, Gracie created the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California. He gave an interview published in Playboy magazine touting the Gracie Challenge. The article got the attention of Art Davie, a marketing professional. Davie was based in Los Angeles and employed by J &P Marketing, and sought new ideas on what to market. Davie met Rorion at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California. They met again when Rorion invited Davie to watch Gracie Jiu-Jitsu being used on visiting karate opponents. Davie met film director and screenwriter John Milius, while witnessing Royler Gracie defeating karate opponents. Gracie and Davie became business partners, seeking a large media platform for Gracie Jiu Jitsu. They formed WOW Promotions on May 12, 1993, to seek investors. Davie received interest from Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG) when he sent them fight videos of the Gracies. SEG programmer Campbell McLaren convinced his boss SEG President Robert B. Meyrowitz to invest. There was early friction between Gracie and Meyrowitz. Gracie was a purist in wanting the bouts to emulate real street fights as much as possible without rules or time limits. Meyrowitz, a veteran producer of radio and television content, was conscious of timing and presentation. On November 12, 1993, UFC 1: The Beginning (1993) was held and aired live on Pay-Per-View. Rorion's brother, Royce Gracie, competed in the tournament and defeated Art Jimmerson, Ken Shamrock and Gerard Gordeau to become UFC's first ever tournament champion. Royce's victory also validated the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu against traditional martial arts. Royce would become tournament winner of UFC 2: No Way Out (1994) and UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors (1994). Seeking to capitalize on Royce Gracie's dominance and popularity, Robert B. Meyrowitz arranged a meeting for him to act in movies and merchandise be made based on him. Meyrowitz wanted a financial share in any such ventures, which Rorion opposed. This further heightened tension between Meyrowitz and Rorion. Rorion later sold his stake in UFC, and Royce stopped competing in the promotion. Rorion continued his family's legacy of teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy.Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (9th degree black belt; Black Belt Hall of Fame)
Trivia: is the founder of the UFC
Best seen in AMERICAN TIGERS- Actor
- Editorial Department
- Director
Roy Horan, presently CEO and founder of Innovea Ltd., began his career as a martial arts student of renowned Korean taekwondo master and popular Hong Kong movie super-villain "lord of the super kickers" Jeong-lee Hwang. American-born Roy had emigrated initially to Taiwan and finally Hong Kong after graduation from the University of Rhode Island. In 1975, with Hwang's help, he broke into Hong Kong film acting with roles in "Bruce Lee's Deadly Kung Fu (1977)", "Snuff Bottle Connection (1977)" and "The Ring of Death (1980)".
Roy soon became best-known to kung-fu movie fans as the evil "Russian Assassin" disguised as a Jesuit priest in Jackie Chan's "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978)" and later, as "Lewis", a wealthy kung-fu fighter who befriends "Tang Lung" (Bruce Lee's stand-in), in "Game of Death II (1980)".
Between 1978-1989, Roy served as executive-in-charge of distribution, sales, marketing and international production for Seasonal Film Corporation in Hong Kong during the era in which the company produced Jackie Chan's first comedy kung-fu hit films. During his tenure at Seasonal, Roy also formulated and directed an instructional video series including, in 1980, "The Art of High Impact Kicking (1980)", based on Hwang's legendary kicking methodology. In 1987, he wrote, produced and appeared in "No Retreat, No Surrender 2 (1987)", performing on-camera as the "American Consular General". This role was his final acting gig. He subsequently left Seasonal Films to establish other companies for TV and video production, sales and distribution.
In 1999, Roy shifted to an academic career and became a professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Design where he taught filmmaking, helped establish the Multimedia Innovation Centre and, in 2005, conducted neuropsychological research on how to enhance creative thinking. A longtime mediator, he has also taught meditation since 1992.
In 2011, Roy retired from the university to develop Innovea Ltd., a company that designs and conducts innovative psychological assessments. The company further consults for individuals and organizations in the areas of high-performance and well-being.
Roy's daughter, Celina Jade, joined the entertainment industry first as a teen pop singer with the Chinese market hit songs "Good News Bad News" and "Kwong Ying Zi Gan" and, more recently, as an action actress portraying the "Dragon Inn Singer" in Universal Pictures release "The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)" and "Shado" in the CW Television Network actioner "Arrow (2012)" starring Stephen Amell.Tae Kwon Do, Eagle Claw
Trivia: trained under Hwang Jang Lee
Best seen in SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW- Stunts
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Noted Filipino-American martial arts practitioner, who studied "jeet kune do" from fellow martial artist and actor Bruce Lee. Always seeking to improve his knowledge, Inosanto holds numerous belts in various martial arts including Asian, American & Brazilian disciplines such as Muay Thai, Pentjak Silat & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. An accomplished weapons practitioner, he has showcased his skills in Game of Death (1978) fighting Bruce Lee, he gave detective Burt Reynolds a grisly "manicure" before being speared to death in Sharky's Machine (1981), appeared in the John Carpenter fantasy - martial arts adventure Big Trouble in Little China (1986), and clashed pool cues with Steven Seagal in the violent Out for Justice (1991).
He currently operates a martial arts school (The Inosanto Academy) in Marina Del Rey, California.Jeet Kune Do, Escrima, Kuntao, Pentjak Silat, Muay Thai, Capoeira, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Shooto, Mixed Martial Arts
Trivia: is the only person to be granted full instructorship of Jeet Kune Do during founder Bruce Lee's lifetime
Best seen in GAME OF DEATH- Actress
- Director
- Producer
For Diana Lee Inosanto, joining the cast of the new Star Wars series, Ahsoka and becoming part of the iconic Star Wars franchise may seem like a dream, but it is very much the real-life culmination of 30 years of dedication and hard work. Originally, Diana was featured in The Mandalorian for the show's second season as the Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth after doing most every job Hollywood has to offer as a struggling actress caring for a child with Autism, from stunt person to director. But mostly, Diana credits her success to having the good fortune of being raised in a charmed circle of actors, renowned martial artists and stunt-people who paved the way for so much of the excitement in today's action filled media.
Diana Lee Inosanto is the daughter of martial arts legend, Dan Inosanto and his wife Sue Inosanto. She is also known as the goddaughter of global icon, the late Bruce Lee (hence, Diana Lee). As an American actress, director, writer, martial artist, stunt woman, and children's book author, Diana paved a way in the Hollywood ecosystem that is unique, modern, and inclusive.
During her youth, Diana began learning the Theater Arts under the guidance of her aunt, Asian American actress, Lilia Inosanto, also known by her stage name Lona Nai . Upon graduation, her Aunt Lilia "Lona Nai" guided Diana to study with famed Broadway casting director and acting teacher, the late Michael Shurtleff, (author of the renowned book 'Audition' a bible for aspiring actors.) Years later, she would go on to study with Asian American character actor, Tzi Ma through East West Players' workshops and joined the Lodestone Theater Ensemble, continuing to grow as an actress, participating in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary plays. She furthered her training in the Michael Chekhov method with Lisa Dalton and got the basics of Improv at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) Training Center under Johnny Ray Meeks.
Diana was also a fight and stunt choreographer for several stage productions. This would pave a road for years to come with Diana becoming a "Sensei to the Stars," preparing the who's who in Hollywood for their action roles. Stars like Melissa McCarthy (Spy), Rosa Salazar (Alita:Battle Angel), Lesley-Ann Brandt (Lucifer), Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters) and Aaron Eckhart & Socratis Otto (I, Frankenstein) were some of the performers under her tutelage.
Throughout her professional career in Hollywood, when it came to acting and directing, Diana discovered that the Hollywood system was not particularly inclusive. As a young mother of a son with Autism, the road was not easy. In time Diana met her future husband, Ron Balicki, a former deputy sheriff and renowned martial artist turned stuntman, action coordinator & choreographer in Hollywood. Throughout their years together, they formed MARS Action Group and would teach martial arts across the country and internationally.
After being spotted demonstrating a fight scene with Ron Balicki, the producers of the movie 'Barb Wire' asked her to take on a role originally cast for a man. The scene, featuring New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison (known internationally for portraying Jango Fett in Star Wars: Episode II and Episode III) gave Diana her first break as a stunt woman. Diana straight away became the martial arts double for actress Sarah Michelle Gellar for the presentation to pitch Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a TV Show, directed by Joss Whedon. This would be the beginning of Diana's years as a stunt woman in Hollywood where she found tremendous success working on popular films and TV shows.
Taking inspiration from notable indie filmmakers she got to know over time, Diana decided to seize control to create her own film project. Making the most of her stunt work, Inosanto learned about the filming process by watching and absorbing while on set the craft from such A-list directors, like Ang Lee, John Woo, Barry Sonnenfeld, and Chris Columbus. By 2010, Inosanto's first Indie film, The Sensei, a film she wrote, directed, and starred, would be one of the earliest digitally released films distributed on Netflix and I-Tunes. Filmed on a tiny budget, The Sensei took place in the 1980's and tells the story of a gay teenager, bullied in a rural town during the height of the AIDS epidemic. The film would go on to win awards and accolades at film festivals like the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival where she had her world premiere at the DGA, New York's Newfest, San Francisco's Frameline, Hoboken International Film Festival, Philadelphia Asian American Film Fest, Germany's Verzaubert Film Festival and LA Femme International Film Fest to name a few. The film, supported by the Matthew Shepard Foundation, earned Diana the Asian American Justice Center, 2011 American Courage Award, presented at the time by Tom Perez (DNC Chairman, who was at that time Assistant Attorney General for Civil rights) in Washington, D.C., where several members of Congress and humanitarian activists were present. Shortly thereafter, Diana became the first woman to receive the Maverick Award at the AOF International Film Festival.
In later years, she would also participate as an activist for several causes, including the recent participation in the nationwide Wash-the-Hate PSA, a campaign that would address the growing hate incidents against Asian Americans since the outbreak of Covid-19. She was asked to speak with other prominent Asian Americans in the film and fashion industry, speaking in front of a virtual panel for NIKE 's employees worldwide. In 2016, during President Obama's administration, Diana was also a guest at the White House joining Asian American leaders and Influencers for the Filipino History Month, championing the Congressional Gold Medal Bill for WWII Filipino American Veterans.
As a woman of many interests, Diana has now released a children's book, teaming up with her adult Autistic son, an illustrator, S.G Inosanto and telling their story in The Curious Mind of Sebastian-an amusing tale about Diana as a young mom, curiously trying to understand the mysteries of Autism through her four-year-old son's quirky behavior. Sebastian's inability to verbally express his love led Inosanto on an incredible journey to find out that love will always find a way to speak.
In 2018, Diana joined Oscar winning producer, Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan) and Matt Jackson (Molly's Game) in developing the story on her father Dan Inosanto's work creating a secret training program for the 1977 Dallas Cowboys that helped them to win Super Bowl XII.
Diana feels that her personal philosophy of life is best expressed by Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American female astronaut: "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."Jeet Kune Do, Wushu, Escrima, Muay Thai, Pentjak Silat, Savate
Trivia: is the goddaughter of Bruce Lee and childhood friend of Brandon Lee
Best seen in THE SENSEI- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Stunts
- Actor
John got his start in the film business as a stunt man in 1990 on the film The Perfect Weapon. At the age of 9, he started studying boxing, kickboxing, gung fu, kali and escrima and eventually Bruce Lee's art of Jeet Kune Do under Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo at the original Filipino Kali Academy in Torrance, California. With over 100 film and television credits he is now one of the top Stunt Coordinators and Fight Coordinators in Hollywood. HYPEBEAST named John one of the top 5 Stunt Coordinators / Fight Coordinators for his work on the Sony AMC television show Preacher. He continues to set himself apart with the ability to fight choreograph, stunt coordinate and second unit direct entire action sequences.Kickboxing, Escrima
Trivia: is a student of Dan Inosanto
Best seen in ULTIMATE TARGET- Peter Kwong is a veteran of film, television and stage, best known for his roles as Rain in Big Trouble in Little China and as Tommy Tong in Eddie Murphy's Golden Child. He just finished filming Cooties, starring Elijah Wood, and has appeared in more than 100 film and television roles.
Other favorite films include roles in The Presidio, Angel Town, Never Too Young To Die, Gleaming The Cube, Steel Justice, Theodore Rex with Whoopie Goldberg, Row Your Boat with Jon Bon Jovi and Bai Ling, and Pearl S. Buck's historic epic The Living Reed as the King of Korea. On television you may have seen him in "Sullivan & Son," "Malcolm and Eddie," "Sisters," "The Wayan Brothers," "Daddy Dearest," "Renegade," " Top Cops," "Full House," "Doctor, Doctor". On stage, Mr. Kwong portrayed the lead role as Dr. Haing S. Ngor in The Survivor: A Cambodian Odyssey by Jon Lipsky at the Actors Theatre of Louisville/Humana Festival, and stretched his musical theater skills in Mame with the late Juliet Prowse.
In addition to his thriving acting career, Kwong recently served on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for two terms and served on The Board of Directors of SAG-AFTRA, chairman of the Committee for Racial Equality of Actors Equity Association, and the Vice-Chairs of the Ethnic Equal Opportunities and the Young Performers Committees of the Screen Actors Guild. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences & Television Academy. He has also served with the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Heritage Week. He has emceed events for Visual Communications, The Lotus Festival, Asian Business League, and the Los Angeles Miss Chinatown Pageant four times and had the privilege to go to Namibia, Africa to judge the Miss Universe Pageant.
Kwong's talents have won him an honorary membership in the Los Angeles Mime Guild. He is featured dancing on numerous music videos, including Ed Sheeran's Sing.
He studied Northern Shao lin Kung-fu which has allowed him to do many of his own stunts and eventually branch off to more meditative disciplines such as Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung Meditation. He teaches Tai Chi Chuan.Northern Shaolin, Sil Lum, Tai Chi
Trivia: currently teaches Tai Chi in Pasadena, California
Best seen in BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA - Actor
- Stunts
- Writer
Jeff Langton was born on 11 December 1956 in Pasadena, California, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Die Hard 2 (1990), Road House (1989) and Street Fighter (1994).Tae Kwon Do (California State Champion; Choi's Institute Team captain), Dan Kyu Choi, Kickboxing
Trivia: is also a boxing and kickboxing trainer and cornerman, having worked with the likes of Ricardo Mayorga, Tony Tucker, and Benny Urquidez
Best seen in FINAL IMPACT- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
John Machado is known for Finding the Balance (2019), Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) and Redbelt (2008).Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (5th degree black belt), Sambo (2-time Pan American Champion)
Trivia: operates martial arts academies in Culver City and Torrance, California
Best seen in BRAZILIAN BRAWL- Judson Mills was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in northern Virginia in a house built by George Washington. Washington was a young surveyor in the area and the home is a historical landmark. Mills grew up hunting and fishing, and was most interested in sports, particularly football.
Judson attended High Mowing in Wilton, New Hampshire, a private school, for his junior and senior year. It is a Waldorf school and rich with history and the arts. Not until his senior year did he involve himself in the theater. He was pushed into performing in his first play and received a standing ovation for his relatively brief cameo.
This approval met Judson's liking and he began pursuing a career in acting. Judson first attended Barry University, a liberal arts college in Miami, Florida, but quickly realized that training in New York was what he needed if he really wanted to succeed.
He moved to Long Island with the intention of attending the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He auditioned and was accepted. Only 250 people are accepted for the first year of their program, and of those, only 60 are asked back to the second, final year. After two years at AADA, and only two weeks before graduation, Mills was thrown. His bold, reckless personality would prove to be an asset as well as a handicap throughout his career.
While being made an example of for his tardiness and absences was humbling, it also fueled his drive. Two weeks later As the World Turns (1956) called AADA looking for an actor for a summer romance storyline. They spoke to a faculty member who was a friend and fan who recommended him for the audition. Judson audition and gained the role
Mills spent two and a half years on the show, laying the foundation for the rest of his career. He was then signed for an episode of Law & Order (1990). Realizing California had more career options, he left everything behind and moved to Hollywood.
The cocky young actor landed a role in a made-for-TV movie starring Alyssa Milano and Jamie Luner shortly after arrival. But again, Mills brash attitude and wild personal life continued to be his worst enemies. Over the next decade, Mills appeared on upwards of 30 TV shows including NYPD Blue (1993), JAG (1995), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), The X-Files (1993), and CSI: Miami (2002). He also broke into feature films, starting in independents like American Perfekt (1997) with Paul Sorvino, Robert Forester, Amanda Plummer, and David Thewlis, Joyride (1997) starring Tobey Maguire, 'Benicio DelToro', and Adam West. Judson's first starring role was as surfer/pitcher Hog Ellis, in the third installment in the Major League trilogy, Major League: Back to the Minors (1998). He also went on to work with such greats as Cuba Gooding Jr., in Chill Factor (1999), Sir Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser in the Academy Award-nominated Gods and Monsters (1998), and Charlize Theron and Bill Paxton in Disney's Mighty Joe Young (1998). He also spent two years in Dallas with Chuck Norris filming the last 52 episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger (1993). Connection with the Norris family (Chuck, his brother Aaron, and son Eric) proved to be valuable when after finishing Walker, they continued working together filming the movie of the week The President's Man: A Line in the Sand (2002). The movie drew 16 million viewers opposite the Golden Globe Awards. Talk of a spin-off series was shelved due to 9-11.
Judson lives in Los Angeles with his two sons, Jagger with wife Morgan and Dalton with ex-wife Julie. He is very close to his mother and father, who have been married nearly 40 years, as well as his brother and sister-in-law.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: grew up in a house built by George Washington
Best seen in WALKER, TEXAS RANGER - Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Byron Mann was born in Hong Kong, British Crown Colony. Byron is an actor and producer, known for The Big Short (2015), Skyscraper (2018) and Altered Carbon (2018).Wushu
Trivia: is a former lawyer, certified by the California Bar
Best seen in STREET FIGHTER- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Geoff began as a stuntman working in the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour, where he worked in the "Wild West Stunt Show", "The Adventures of Conan", and "The Miami Vice Action Spectacular." Using that as a springboard, Geoff performed almost all of his own stunts as an actor, from going through glass windows, to highfalls, to car chases, to doing all of his own extensive fighting with stars such as Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, and Mark Dacascos.
As a playwright, Geoff has had five original plays produced in Los Angeles. He directed four of them, and starred in all five.
After being severely injured on a TV movie in 2012, which turned into a workers comp lawsuit, Geoff "semi-retired" from acting, and opened his own fitness/martial arts studio in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, while loosely keeping his foot in the door in Hollywood. In November 2016, he returned to Los Angeles t pick up again, after a much needed break.Shaolin Kenpo, Hapkido, Tae Kwon Do, Kyokushin Karate, Mixed Martial Arts
Trivia: is also a stuntman, motorcyclist, and horseback rider
Best seen in KICKBOXER 5- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Ray Park was born in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He moved with his parents, younger brother and sister to London, UK, at the age of seven. Ray always wanted to be in the movies, and be like their heroes. He also began to nurture a love for martial arts from the age of seven, when his father's fondness for Bruce Lee films sparked a fire in the youngster's mind that would never extinguish. Specializing in the traditional Chinese Northern Shaolin Kung-fu (in the Chin Woo style), Park moved on to master other styles, most notably Wushu. In 1991, at age 16, Ray became a member of the Great Britain Wushu team, competing in his first international in Beijing, China at the 1st World Wushu Championships. Ray was the first Wushu athlete from Great Britain and Europe to place in the top seven in the world, and went on to compete for Great Britain for another six years. He became a fixture at martial arts exhibitions and tournaments, Nationally, European and Internationally, attaining Gold Medal for the Great Britain Wushu and the Chin Woo Martial Arts team.
Ray began teaching himself gymnastics at a young age but felt he was missing the correct training to achieve a higher level. At fifteen, he found a school that was willing to allow him to practice and use the floor space. The gymnastic training helped to improve his martial arts training and began to sit in and take seminars in coaching gymnastics. It was when he was nineteen that he relocated to another gymnastic gym and became one of the boys' squad coaches. He further went on to be in charge of coaching recreational gymnastics throughout schools in London. Ray's boys squad won 1st in The London Youth Games for Hendon Gymnastics Club. During one of his frequent visits to Malaysia, he was approached to audition for Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997). Ray became martial arts advisor to one of the stunt coordinators and later landed playing one of the Reptiles, Baraka, and doubling for Rayden.
Conjuring memories of his youthful cinematic martial arts passion, Park attempted to learn as much as possible about the process of filmmaking. Soon being given more scenes and becoming more natural on set, he was contacted by stunt coordinator Nick Gillard to audition for George Lucas' prequel Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). Offered the job by producer Rick McCallum, Park was given the creative freedom to develop his choreography by an impressed Lucas, and soon gained the confidence to develop his role to the best of his abilities.Hapkido, Nam Pan Chuan, Northern Shaolin, Kickboxing, Wushu (IWUF Gold [2x] & Silver medalist; British National Team member)
Trivia: was allowed to choreograph his own fights in THE PHANTOM MENACE
Best seen in THE PHANTOM MENACE- Barry Prima (real name Bertus Knoch) was born in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. His father was a Dutch physician, his mother Indonesian. They had four children (three boys, one girl), with Bertus being the oldest. His sister graduated from Pajajaran University in Bandung with a medical degree and is a doctor, but Bertus only got his high school degree from Aloysius High School in Bandung.
He learned taekwando in a small martial-arts studio located behind his father's house on Jalan Dago (Dago street). The taekwando master at that time was known as Master Kang, from Malaysia. In his early 20s, Bertus came to the attention of Indonesian producer Gope T. Samtani, who offered him a small role in a picture he was making about cannibals. Bertus took it, the picture--Primitif (1978)--became a hit and Samtani changed Bertus' name to Barry Prima. In his second film he played opposite renowned Indonesian star Suzzanna, as her husband who gets killed in the middle of the movie.
Prima soon became the biggest star in Indonesian films, making a string of action/fantasy films for various studios. He made several pictures with Eva Arnaz and was briefly married to her. Famously reclusive, and somewhat ornery, he seldom gives interviews and in the few he has given often contradicts himself (many interviewers suspect he does it deliberately); he once said that he never wanted to be an actor and never made a good movie because the scripts were always so bad and the budgets were always so low, but later in the same interview he said that he enjoyed making films and liked everyone he worked with.
After several years off the screen, he played a cameo (in drag!) in Upi Avianto's "Realita Cinta dan Rock 'n Roll" (2006).Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: was born as Humbertus Knoch
Best seen in THE DEVIL'S SWORD - Actor
- Writer
- Stunts
Dan Southworth is an accomplished actor with wide experience in feature films, television shows, motion capture, voice over, and commercials. Power Ranger fans know him as Eric Myers, the Quantum Ranger from Power Rangers Time Force. Mortal Kombat fans enjoyed his portrayal of Kenshi in the popular web series Mortal Kombat Legacy 2.
Dan's popularity among anime fans follows his voice and motion capture role as Vergil in the best-selling video game Devil May Cry 3. Devil May Cry 3.5 was later released so that fans could experience the game as Dan's character. Video gamers have continued to enjoy his work in the games Killzone -Shadow Fall, Battlefield 4, Ninja Gaiden 3, Dark Souls 2, and Resident Evil to name a few of the many motion capture projects he has performed in.
Dan helped design, execute, and perform action sequences for commercial clients Time Warner, Sony, Discover card and McDonald's among others and has extended this talent to feature films like The Scorpion King, The Rundown, and Terrance Malick's The New World. He also took part in James Cameron's early visualizations of Avatar, and developed action for Neill Blomkamp's Halo 3 Full Combat web sequences. For the role of Shiro in the film Hunted, Dan performs in some of the most innovative action design to date.
Aside from notable television roles in the shows Revolution, Martial Law, Charmed and V.I.P., Dan has also delivered well-received comedic performances in Film Antic's productions Sauce, Last Supper, the comedy series Sketchy, and as Vince Stallen, horrible boss, in Entry Level along with various comedic characters in Disney Channel's hit sitcom, Kickin' It.Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo, Judo, Jeet Kune Do
Trivia: also studies wrestling and gymnastics
Best seen in BROKEN PATH- Stunts
- Producer
- Actor
He came from a kick-boxing background; he entered the film field as a stunt performer at the age of 24. Before that, he worked as an instructor at the Inosanto Martial Arts Academy in California, teaching Jeet Kune Do/Jun Fan. After doing numerous roles in low budget martial art movies like Mission of Justice (1992) and Bloodsport III (1996) his first start as a stunt double came from the movie The Crow (1994) for doubling late Brandon Lee whom he trained with at the Inosanto Academy. After Brandon Lee's lethal accident Chad was picked for his stunt/photo double because he knew Lee, how he moved, and looked more like him than any other stuntman.
His greatest break as a stunt man came when he hooked up with Keanu Reeves on The Matrix (1999). He worked as martial arts stunt coordinator in its following sequels and doubled Keanu Reeves for extreme shots. He also formed a company called Smashcut with his stunt colleagues which was responsible for cool stunts in some of the greatest movies and series.
After a ten year in the film world he continued to give his best as a stunt coordinator and stunt performer.Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Karate, Jeet Kune Do, Kickboxing, Shooto
Trivia: entered filmmaking by accident, by attending auditions to assist his martial arts instructor
Best seen in BLOODSPORT 3- Stunts
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Tan was born in Singapore where he spent his childhood and then at the age of five moved to the UK. Phil started off his athletic career as a gymnast where he became the British Youth Tumbling champion and a member of the British squad for many years. Years later after getting into martial arts, Phil also became the Men's British Tae Kwon do Champion.
Phil's first break in film, was as an actor and fight choreographer in a film called The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980) with Peter Sellers. Afer that came a year on Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), also as an actor and trainer for Christopher Lambert. Phil was then contacted by Steven Spielberg and Robert Watts to train the pricipal actor 'Jonathan Ke Quanin' for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).
He was then invited to become a member of The British Stunt Register in 1986. That was the start of Phil's stunt career. Now Philip Tan lives in LA and works as a 2nd Unit Director, stunt and fight co-ordinator on some of Hollywoods bigget movies.Tae Kwon Do (Britain National Champion)
Trivia: is also a former British Youth Tumbling Champion
Best seen in MARTIAL LAW- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Brian Earl Thompson was born on August 28, 1959 in Ellensburg, Washington. Raised on the Columbia River in Longview, he learned the value of academics and athletics, as the son of two teachers and the second of six siblings. His interest in acting was first sparked during his senior year of high school with the role of the Russian ballet instructor, Boris Kolenkhov, in the comedy "You Can't Take it With You". Under the pretense of attending Central Washington University to play football and study business management, he quietly auditioned for every available play, treading the boards for a dozen school productions, from musicals and operas to the more lighthearted fare of Neil Simon.
Earning a scholarship to the University of California-Irvine, he sailed through a three-year Master of Fine Arts program, learning from such theatrical luminaries as playwright Edward Albee, Robert Cohen and Jerzy Grotoswski, and supplementing his education through work with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. He began to audition theatrically before graduation, and by that time, he had his SAG card, an agent and five professional credits, including James Cameron's The Terminator (1984), where he and Bill Paxton's clothes were forcibly removed by a naked Arnold Schwarzenegger. About a year after Arnold took Brian's clothes, Sylvester Stallone wanted a hack at Brian as well. After seven auditions and a screen test, Brian earned the right to get impaled on a meat hook, then burned alive, Stallone's Cobra (1986). This began a string of credits that has left Thompson in and around some of Hollywood's biggest and most projects.
Brian has tackled two superhero roles as well: first, Conan the Librarian (1999), starring red in the title role, a PBS special to encourage kids to read. He also earned critical acclaim playing the larger-than-life role of Hercules in Jason and the Argonauts (2000). Probably the first role that demanded use of his classical background as well as his 6' 3" muscled frame. Brian says that no gym can claim him as a member, and that his physique is kept honed by years of windsurfing and kitesurfing. Taking a curiously "musical" approach to his craft, the actor continually seeks fresh rhythms for each new role. Brian verifies his well-rounded nature with a resume that lists such special skills as martial arts (black belt Hapkido), piano and sushi rolling. He currently resides at home with his son Jordan and daughter Daphne.Hapkido
Trivia: began studying the martial arts along with his son, who got interested as a result of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Best seen in MORTAL KOMBAT: ANNIHILATION- Actress
- Stunts
Yanin "Jeeja" pronounced "ChiCha" Vismitananda was born in Bangkok, Thailand. Her mother is Prasita Vismitananda and her father, Pawadol Borirak, was a businessman who died when his daughter was 17, she has an older brother, Nantapong "Jeed" Vismitananda. She is mainly of Thai descent with some English and Burmese ancestry. Vismitananda now holds a 3rd Dan black belt in Taekwondo which she is practicing since she was 11 years old. In her role in the movie Chocolate (2008) she had to incorporate some additional Martial Art moves she recently studies such as Muay Thai and Thai Boxing, she likes watching Martial Arts Action Films and is a fan of Jackie Chan, Tony Jaa, Jet Li and Bruce Lee. Her latest action film is Chocolate 2 in 3D and also she co-stars with Tony Jaa in his Action Film The Protector 2, going back to her private life on the 29th of August 2012, Yanin revealed that she was five months pregnant and was engaged to Adrian Robert Bowden a co-director in one of her films and is the younger brother of the Thai singer Pamela Bowden. Yanin also stated that she plans to suspend herself from work for the next two years, her son, Jayden Bowden Vismitananda was born January 22nd 2013.Tae Kwon Do (3rd Dan), Muay Thai
Trivia: won an award for choreography at the 1999 Thailand Taekwondo Championships
Best seen in RAGING PHOENIX- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Melvin Wong grew up in San Francisco, California, where he attended Lowell High School. He studied as an undergraduate at the University of California at Berkeley, before transferring to the San Francisco Medical Center campus, where he graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. In 1996, he obtained a law degree from the University of London, UK, and in 1997, was called to the Bar of England and Wales at the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn. He now practices law as a member of the Hong Kong Bar, but, time permitting, still makes occasional film and TV appearances. One of the more recent TV serials in which he starred in, namely, the extremely popular "Kindred Spirit" (1996-98; Television Broadcasts Limited), was one of the longest-running (and most popular) TV series ever produced in Hong Kong. (He played the popular character "Mousey".) To date, the series is still being aired in certain parts of the mainland China as well as Southeast Asia. He currently serves as a Vice-President of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild, the Hon. Treasurer of the Middle Templel Society in Hong Kong, as well as on the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Press Council.Tae Kwon Do, White Crane & Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Hung Gar
Trivia: is a certified lawyer, called to the bar following his film career in 1997
Best seen in RIGHTING WRONGS- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Xin Xin Xiong was born on 25 February 1965. He is an actor, known for Black Mask (1996), Double Team (1997) and Seven Swords (2005). He is married to Jiali Cai.Wushu
Trivia: was taken out of school at age 12 to study the martial arts
Best seen in THE BLADE- Richard Branden grew up in a tough neighborhood. His first hobby was to draw paintings. Not being very rich, he used the paintings to get free martial arts lessons.
He has over 25 years of martial arts experience beginning at the age of 10. He started training under Lou Hopkins, in Massachussets. The first black belt he achieved was for Tae Kwon Do. Later he started training with Yao Li and became a Kung Fu expert.
Branden reigned as the New England martial arts champion for 10 years, before focusing on the national martial arts circuit in 1987. In 1988 he gained his first fame after beating tough opponents as Keith H. Cooke, Ho-Sung Pak and Ho-Young Pak, in the Forms Divisions. Because of an accident in his childhood (a wounded eye) he never went to sparring. After 2 years and 2 national titles he gained a spot in the John Paul Mitchell Team.
Besides training Richard was also in various movies, series and shows as a stuntman or choreographer. He trained people for the Gulf Wars, and performed as 'Spider-man' in Universal Theme Parks; Marvel Comics ride.
He has gained the following titles: 1992 Black Belt's Kung Fu Artist of the Year, 1991 NASKA National Championships in Chinese Weapons and American Open Forms Champion, 1990 NASKA National Championships in both Chinese Forms and Weapons, 10 Times NASKA National Champion, 6 Times WAKO World Champion, USA, London and Poland.
Richard had the privilege of training with Liu Yu, a former Shaolin Temple instructor, which made him even better.Wushu (6-time WAKO Champion; 7-time IWUF Gold medalist; 35-time AAA Champion; Diamond Nationals, International, Ocean State, Black Belt & PKL Hall of Fame entry)
Trivia: has released a series of instructional videos on stretching, general training, the monkey staff, and the Chinese broadsword
Best seen in WARRIORS OF VIRTUE - Actor
- Stunts
Hien Nguyen is a young man of extraordinary skills. His discipline is Kung Fu, but he also has black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Kenpo Karate, and has practiced Judo for over 15 years. Now he teaches martial arts and weapons to the next generation.
Besides that he's an accomplished athlete with skills such as tumbling, boxing, motorcycle riding, etc. He's also an expert when using weapons such as Kali sticks, Nunchaku and firearms.
His movie career got a boost in 1993 when doing stunts for Power Rangers. he has now been in various movies, and is planning to direct one in the future.
He is married to Stephanie Nguyen, also an accomplished and famous athlete.Kenpo (6th Dan), Aikido, Hapkido, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Escrima
Trivia: currently teaches the martial arts at various schools, including in his curriculum junior stunt-fighting classes ("Fight like a Power Ranger")
Best seen in WMAC MASTERS- Hoyoung Pak was born on 13 September 1965. He is an actor, known for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) and WMAC Masters (1995).Wushu, Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: is a certified Doctor of Engineering
Best seen in WMAC MASTERS - Actor
- Stunts
Herb Perez is known for WMAC Masters (1995), Gold Medal Training Systems (2001) and Everyday Martial Artist (2021).Tae Kwon Do (Olympic Gold medalist; US National Bronze medalist; US National Team captain; 3-time Pan-American Champion; Taekwondo & Black Belt Hall of Fame entry)
Trivia: helped rebuild the postwar Olympic Sports Program in Afghanistan
Best seen in WMAC MASTERS- Actor
- Additional Crew
Shorin-Ryu Karate (4th Dan; 8-time Alabama State Champion; 2-time Battle of Atlanta Champion; 2-time Bluegrass National Champion; Texas Challenge Champion; US National Team member), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (3rd degree black belt), Tang Soo Do (3rd Dan)
Trivia: is officially the first Alabaman to earn a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Best seen in WMAC Masters- Stunts
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clayton J. Barber grew up with movies from Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, whom inspired him to do martial arts. He chose, when 10 years old, Tae Kwon Do, for its acrobatic nature and its speed, and has achieved a black belt. Other skills of his are gymnastics and dance.
Unfortunately, he lost his first 6 tournaments, but didn't give up. He decided to work harder and soon won his first local tournaments. Soon he became one of the best and member of the U.S.Tae Kwon Do team in 1986, but also in 1989, -94 and -95. He kept winning more and more tournaments in the 80s and 90s.
Some stats: 1995 Competitor of the Year USOC Amateur Athlete in Tae Kwon Do of the Year Gold at the US Open Gold at the US Team Trials 1994 Gold at the US Team Trials 4-Time US National Tae Kwon Do Champion (a.o. 1989, 1990) 3-Time US Olympic Festival Champion (a.o. 1989,1991) 3-Time National Collegiate Champion 1986 Gold at the Nort American Championships In short, many gold and silver medals the years -86, -90, -91, -94 and -95
Clay was not satisfied with these title and wanted more. His popularity and skills helped him in achieving more, as he wanted. He became a movie star. He's been in several action movies, and is a great stuntman in some movies/series. Too bad he missed a role as "Hollywood" in WMAC-Masters.Tae Kwon Do (6th Dan; US National Team member; US Open Gold medalist; 4-time US National Champion; North American Championships Gold medalist)
Trivia: was inspired to take up martial arts by the movies of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee
Best seen in AMERICAN TIGERS- Mer-Mer Chen started her martial arts training in 1984 and began teaching in 1990. Mer-Mer has specialized in martial arts and weapons for more than 10 years and is an expert with the staff, the broadsword, the straight sword, the spear, the chain whip and the three-sectioned-staff. She started training with the famous Wushu teacher Eric Chen, and later trained with the famous Keith Cooke Hirabayashi.
She was also a member of the Los Angeles Wu Shu Team and at UCLA she led the Wushu/Kung Fu club and earned her Bachelor's degree. She graduated in 2003 from the Anderson School at UCLA's Management Development Entreprenuers Program.Wushu (Los Angeles Team member)
Trivia: operates the Champions Martial Arts School with Keith Cooke
Best seen in WMAC MASTERS - Actress
- Additional Crew
Lynnette Love is known for WMAC Masters (1995) and Seoul, U.S.A. (2012).Tae Kwon Do (Olympic Gold & Bronze medalist; 6-time Pan-American Champion; 10-time US National Champion)
Trivia: set a 1989 Guinness World Record for "Most National & World Titles in Taekwondo"
Best seen in WMAC MASTERS- Tiana Noguchi is known for WMAC Masters (1995).Hapkido
Trivia: is the sister of Akihiro Noguchi
Best seen in WMAC MASTERS - Additional Crew
- Actor
- Stunts
Born (Rey-Phillip Vivas Santos) to a U.S. Naval Officer, Rey-Phillip grew up and lived in Australia, Guam, Philippines, various U.S. locations - Chicago and Memphis before settling in Washington State where he spent most of his time and education. He got his start in acting as a theater actor, background actor, stunt performer and production assistant in a few TV serials and feature films before becoming an actor and v/o artist.Tae Kwon Do (2nd Dan; Junior Olympic Bronze medalist; IFC & ProFC Champion), Mixed Martial Arts
Trivia: was injured while filming BLADE II
Best seen in BLADE II- Actor
- Stunts
Jamie Webster is known for WMAC Masters (1995).Karate, Tang Soo Do, Kobudo, Escrima
Trivia: operates Webster's Karate in Decatur, Alabama
Best seen in WMAC MASTERS- Actor
- Stunts
Jon Foo was born October 30th, 1982 in London England. He is known for his roles in The Protector (2005) Tekken (2010) WEAPONiZED (2016) and Rush Hour (2016) . Inspired by His fathers karate and mothers Judo He began training Kung Fu and now trains mixed styles. He went from performing at festivals with the London Chinese Acrobats (gangs of New York) to signing with one of the biggest film companies in Asia.Wushu, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai
Trivia: joined the circus as an acrobat at age 15
Best seen in TEKKEN- Stunts
- Actor
- Visual Effects
Lateef Crowder was born on 23 November 1977 in San Jose, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Tekken (2010), Wonder Woman (2017) and Furious 7 (2015). He was previously married to Andressa Vallotti.Capoeira
Trivia: competed in the 1997 Senior Men's All-Around Gymnastic Championships, placing in 24th
Best seen in UNDISPUTED 3- Actor
- Stunts
- Cinematographer
Wushu
Trivia: is also a professional photographer, famous for his incorporation of martial art-related subjects
Best seen in EPOCH OF LOTUS- Actor
- Stunts
- Writer
Dean is an actor, independent film-maker, and writer.
Dean started his professional career on stage in the UK, before moving to Asia to focus on film. He has been cast in leading roles in several theatrically released South-East Asian feature films, and can now be seen in Noah Hawley's "Alien" series on FX and Disney.
In 2006 Dean appeared as a regular in MTV's "Barrio 19" TV show, televised in 167 territories worldwide. In 2010 Dean's short film Dohard was screened to a packed out arena in Qatar attended by the princess of Qatar. In 2013 Dean wrote and produced feature film "Time Rush" through his production company Stunt Power Films, which was acquired and distributed globally by Archstone, and is now distributed by Green Apple Entertainment. In 2020 Dean wrote, produced, and directed feature film Haphazard, which is distributed by Green Apple Entertainment. In 2023 Dean's science fiction novel "Symutal" was published through Neuroid Books, attracting 5 star reviews.
(2024) Dean is directing his second feature film, based on the book Symutal, produced through his production company Stunt Power Films, shot on location in south east Asia.
Dean was born in Dubai to an English / Sierra Leonean mother and a Swiss / Greek-Cypriot father, and grew up in London, England.Tae Kwon Do (Great Britain National Champion), Wushu
Trivia: was featured in a fight scene against Tony Jaa in TOM YUM GOONG that was cut prior to release
Best seen in BRAVE- Actor
- Producer
- Composer
A blond-haired, fair-complexioned actor with a toothy grin and capable of an unsettling glint in his eyes, Gary Busey was born in Goose Creek, Texas, and was raised in Oklahoma. He is the son of Sadie Virginia (Arnett), a homemaker, and Delmar Lloyd Busey, a construction design manager. He has English, as well as Irish, Scottish, and German, ancestry. He graduated from Nathan Hale High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1962 and for a while was a professional musician. A talented drummer, he played in several bands, including those of country-and-western legends Leon Russell, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson.
Busey's first film appearance was as a biker in the low-budget Angels Hard as They Come (1971) and, over the next few years, he landed several film roles generally as a country hick/redneck or surly, rebellious types. His real breakthrough came in the dynamic film The Buddy Holly Story (1978), with Busey taking the lead role as Buddy Holly, in addition to playing guitar and singing all the vocals! His stellar performance scored him a Best Actor nomination and the attention of Hollywood taking overcasting agents. Next up, he joined fellow young actors William Katt and Jan-Michael Vincent as surfing buddies growing up together in the cult surf film Big Wednesday (1978), directed by John Milius. However, a string of appearances in somewhat mediocre films took him out of the spotlight for several years, until he played the brutal assassin Mr. Joshua trying to kill Los Angeles cops Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the runaway mega-hit Lethal Weapon (1987). Further strong roles followed, including alongside Danny Glover once again in Predator 2 (1990). He was back on the beaches, this time tracking bank robbers with FBI agent Keanu Reeves, in Point Break (1991) and nearly stole the show as a psychotic Navy officer in league with terrorists led by Tommy Lee Jones taking over the USS Missouri in the highly popular Under Siege (1992).
The entertaining Busey has continued to remain busy in front of the cameras and has certainly developed a minor cult following among many film fans. Plus, he's also the proud father of accomplished young actor Jake Busey, whose looks make him almost a dead ringer for his famous father.Jujitsu, Hapkido, Capoeira, Kendo
Trivia: is a practitioner of Zen meditation
Best seen in LETHAL WEAPON- Actor
- Stunts
- Director
Michael Wai-Man Chan was born on 10 July 1946 in Hong Kong. He is an actor and director, known for Sha ren ai qing jie (1982), The Lonely Killer (1977) and Broken Oath (1977).Northern Shaolin, Muay Thai
Trivia: was a former Triad member in his youth; he was kicked off of the Hong Kong police force when his background became known
Best seen in THE DEADLY BREAKING SWORD- Actor
- Producer
Tod Fennell is an award-winning actor with a diverse background in film, television, and voice acting. Born in Montreal, Canada, Fennell's passion for storytelling ignited early on, leading him to pursue acting as a full-time career.
Fennell's extensive experience spans various genres, including drama, comedy, and action. He has captivated audiences with his compelling performances in notable projects such as "Assassin's Creed," "Far Cry," and "The Spiderwick Chronicles." His versatility as an actor shines through his ability to seamlessly transition between roles, embodying characters with authenticity and depth.
Beyond his on-screen presence, Fennell is a highly skilled martial artist, holding a black belt in Shotokan Karate. His proficiency in martial arts has allowed him to perform his own stunts in various film and television productions, adding an element of realism and authenticity to his action scenes.
Fennell's commitment to continuous improvement is evident in his dedication to training and development. He has benefited from being coached by renowned voice coach Denise Richards, honing his acting skills and expanding his range. Additionally, he is enrolled in the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) improv program, sharpening his comedic timing and improvisation skills. Further enriching his acting repertoire, Fennell has taken scene study workshops with acclaimed acting coach Larry Moss, deepening his understanding of character development and performance nuances.
Tod Fennell's dedication to his craft and his unwavering passion for storytelling have earned him recognition as an award-winning voice actor. In 2022, he received the SOVAS Voice Art Award for Outstanding Video Game Character: Best Voiceover for his role as Taro in "Kena: Bridge of Spirits." This prestigious award is a testament to Fennell's exceptional talent and dedication to the voice acting industry.
With his impressive range, martial arts expertise, commitment to continuous growth, and award-winning voice acting skills, Tod Fennell is undoubtedly a formidable force in the entertainment industry. He continues to captivate audiences and deliver unforgettable performances, cementing his position as a respected and versatile actor.Shotokan Karate
Trivia: is a member of the Freemasons
Best seen in WUSHU WARRIOR- Stunts
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jean Frenette was born on 3 June 1961 in Montreal, Québec, Canada. He is an actor and assistant director, known for 300 (2006), Deadpool 2 (2018) and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018).Shito-Ryu, Sanku-Kai & Goju-Ryu Karate (8th Dan; 12-time Canadian National Champion; US Top 10 National & Boston National Champion; 3-time WAKO Champion; Bermuda Invitational Champion), Judo
Trivia: is one of the first forms competitors to have incorporated music into his performances
Best seen in FEARLESS TIGER- Actor
- Composer
- Writer
Taboo was born on 14 July 1975 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), Taxi (2004) and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004). He has been married to Jaymie Dizon since 12 July 2008. They have one child.Jeet Kune Do, Ninjutsu
Trivia: has studied the martial arts since age 12
Best seen in STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN LI- Stunts
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Steven Ho was born on 9 March 1973. He is an actor, known for Mortal Kombat (1995), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) and Soundman (1998).Karate (NASKA & Atlanta National Champion)
Trivia: is the president and co-founder of the XL Action Team
Best seen in DRAGON FIGHT- Stunts
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff Imada was born and raised in Inglewood, California, USA, where he began studying martial arts at the age of fifteen. At El Camino College and UCLA, he majored in pre-med and minored in music. While in college, he started working as a movie "extra," which led to his becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Stunts Unlimited and the Directors Guild of America. Jeff Imada also had been technical advisor on numerous films, including Dutch (1991), Tango & Cash (1989), Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Dreamscape (1984), and Streets of Fire (1984), and such television series as Magnum, P.I. (1980), Remington Steele (1982), Dynasty (1981), Matt Houston (1982), Airwolf (1984), Stingray (1986), Hart to Hart (1979) and Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982).Jeet Kune Do, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Kendo, Escrima
Trivia: is a member of the Stunts Unlimited stunt team
Best seen in BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA- Mark Russo is known for No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers (1990), 42K (2001) and Capital Punishment (1991).To Shin Do (7th Dan), Shorin-Ryu (4th Dan), Kobudo (2nd Dan), Tae Kwon Do (1st Dan), Kenpo (1st Dan)
Trivia: is one of the few To Shin Do practitioners to be awarded the title of To Shi - Warrior Knight of the Lightning Bright Blade
Best seen in NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER 3 - Stunts
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Pat E. Johnson was born on 31 December 1939 in Niagara Falls, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part III (1989) and Enter the Dragon (1973). He was married to Sue Berkland-Felix. He died on 5 November 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA.Tang Soo Do (9th Dan; Chuck Norris Black Belt Team captain; Black Belt & NASKA Hall of Fame entry)
Trivia: is a recipient of the Golden Fist Award for his contributions as a karate referee
Best seen in THE BIG BRAWL- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Known for his trademark gelled spiked up crew cut with sunglasses, Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) is an Indian Bollywood movie star, movie producer, magazine model, showman, public speaker, author, philanthropist and television host/personality working predominantly in Hindi cinema.
Khan began his on-camera acting debut in 1987 at the age of 21 by guest starring in various Indian serial drama soap opera TV shows as well as appearing in numerous television commercials and brand advertisements for products. He studied theatre arts and drama during his second year of college after participating in numerous school plays. He landed a few acting gigs in Delhi, before acting on Indian TV and became popular. Khan came down to Mumbai to shoot a TV series with self doubt and under confidence. So he came for a year to give it a shot. He began auditioning for starring roles in Hindi movies in 1990 after the death of his mother (his father died a decade earlier in 1980). Khan's parents died early, which made him heartbroken in Delhi. Khan decided to pursue a full-time acting career and relocating to Mumbai to start afresh, hoping to enjoy acting and overcome the dejecting death of his parents, as there was nothing for him to go back to. He began auditioning for starring roles in Hindi movies in 1990 after the death of his mother (his father died a decade earlier in 1980).
After recuperating from a career-ending sports injury, he landed his breakout breakthrough feature film starring role in the Silver screen in June 1992, and rose to prominence in the mid-to-late 1990s. Khan shot to stardom in his first feature film "Deewana" (1992) which won him the first of 13 Filmfare awards -- the Bollywood equivalent of an Oscar. He continued starring in blockbuster movies throughout the 2000s with a mixed bag of career fluctuations, establishing himself as a very bankable, versatile movie star in the early-to-mid 2010s. Following a 4-year sabbatical hiatus in the wake of the corona-virus pandemic, Khan made a resurgence comeback in 2023, and continues to act and star in A-Lister blockbuster movies.
Referred to in the media as the "Baadshah of Bollywood" and "King Khan", he has appeared in over 100 films, and earned numerous accolades, including 14 Filmfare Awards.
He has been awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, as well as the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Legion of Honour by the Government of France. Khan has a significant following in Asia and the Indian diaspora worldwide. In terms of audience size and income, several media outlets have described him as one of the most successful film stars in the world. Many of his films depict and portray Indian national identity, Indian patriotism, and connections with diaspora communities, or gender, racial, social and religious differences and grievances.
Shah Rukh Khan has been TAG Heuer's brand ambassador in India since September 2003 & is close friends with Amir. He is Bollywood's most bankable movie stars with brand endorsements & resides in the affluent suburbs of Bandra, Mumbai, India with his wife and children.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: has received an honorary black belt from the Korean government
Best seen in DON- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Stunts
Tak Kubota was born in September 1934 in Japan. He is an actor, known for Pearl Harbor (2001), The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) and Rising Sun (1993).Gosuku-Ryu Karate (10th Dan; founder), Judo, Aikido, Kendo, Iaido
Trivia: is the director of the International Karate Association
Best seen in THE HUNTED- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
Paul Logan, an accomplished martial artist, stuntman and actor may be one of the hidden jewels in the treasury of action cinema to not [yet] hit superstar status. Born in the state of New Jersey on October 15, 1973, Paul Logan attended SUNY Purchase (State University of New York) completing a degree study in bio-chemistry before moving to Los Angeles to study Chiropratic at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. Logan's career in acting began after deciding to pursue it full-time. In 1996, Paul Logan embarked on his new career path. After a few small parts on a few early films and television episodes, Logan gained better screen time with the movie Killers (1997). He notched several other credits to his performing belt through the course of the 1990s and into the 21st century. In the mid 2000s, Paul Logan worked in several fantasy, Sci-Fi and/or creature films. The first of these was The Curse of the Komodo (2004) followed by the supernatural horror film Way of the Vampire (2005) in which he starred as Dracula. Next he appeared in the creature/horror film Komodo vs. Cobra (2005). From 2001-2005, Logan appeared on Days of Our Lives (1965) as a recurring character. Between 2009 and 2010, Logan worked with small-budget TV/direct-to-video production company The Asylum. His first project with that company was the 2009 disaster thriller MegaFault (2009) (starring the late Brittany Murphy ). Logan's second project that same year was in the Sci-Fi "man vs machine" film The Terminators (2009). His third film with The Asylum saw him in a leading role as the US commando sent to South America to stop mutating killer-fish in the SyFy original Mega Piranha (2010). His athletic background came in handy for the martial art-styled action film Ballistica (2009), again with a leading role as a top-notch CIA agent trained in the title art of Ballistica (hand-to-hand combat with firearms). As a highly-versatile athlete, Logan is experienced in most sports, including football, baseball, swimming and boxing. His martial art repertoire includes Karate, Kendo (sword-fighting), Aikido and Jiu Jitsu.Goju-Ryu Karate, Mixed Martial Arts
Trivia: originally studied chiropractic medicine
Best seen in THE ULTIMATE GAME- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Lung Ti was born on 19 August 1946 in Guangdong Province, China. He is an actor and director, known for A Better Tomorrow (1986), Drunken Master II (1994) and The Warrior's Way (2010). He has been married to Min-Ming Tao since 22 May 1975. They have one child.Wing Chun
Trivia: is a student of Sifu Chu Wan
Best seen in FIVE DEADLY MASTERS- Stunts
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Peter Malota was born in 1965. He is an actor, known for Universal Soldier (1992), Trust (2010) and Nowhere to Run (1993).Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Judo, Hapkido
Trivia: owns and operates the Birmingham Martial Arts studio
Best seen in THE QUEST- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Kely McClung is an Award Winning Director/Writer/Actor who was launched into the movie industry after winning the brutal World Championship in Full Contact Stick-Fighting.
Known for his expertise in nearly every aspect of filmmaking, McClung is also an accomplished artist and photographer with both drawings and photographs appearing in various exhibits around the country. His powerful portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi hangs at the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Change in Atlanta, Georgia. His artistic skills are evident in his every aspect of his cinematography and post production skills, as well as his stylistic editing.
An actor himself, he is known as a generous but demanding "actor's director," with a keen eye and understanding of the craft and for bringing out the truth of performances from all his actors.
Though most of his martial arts studies were in traditional Kung Fu under many top teachers, McClung holds Black Belt rank in a half dozen other martial arts and taught at his own schools and clubs not only in the United States, but in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. McClung is twice inducted into the Martial Arts Hall on Honours in Munich, Germany, first as a film director and then for his ongoing contributions to martial arts.
Discovered by martial arts legend Mike Stone, McClung was originally brought to LA to replace Jean-Claude Van Damme. Though Van Damme was able to renegotiate his contracts, McClung was signed by Stone, and then spent time in Africa and the Philippines working on films and learning how to apply his martial arts techniques to the screen.
McClung was then signed to a multi-picture deal to star and write for Menahem Golan. Though Golan's time in Hollywood was coming to an end, McClung became Head of Production for Pan Am Pictures and helped to complete four films for Sam Lupowitz before starting his own production company, Media Arts International Film Corporation.
As a film director, McClung first feature Blood Ties (2007) was filmed in Thailand, Cambodia, Washington DC, Miami, and Atlanta for an astounding 20,000. Blood Ties went on to win the 2007 Action on Film Festival's "Action Film Of The Year," Indie Fest USA's "Best of Festival" and "Best Visual Fx," Big Bang's "Best Director" (Audience Award), Rincon International's "Best International Film", and End of the Pier's "Best Int'l Feature."
Increasing his reputation as a filmmaker who could make the smallest amounts of money into world class projects, McClung's first short film, A.M. Session was nominated for the Short Film Awards at the American Black Film Festival and sold to HBO. The entire budget was 400.00.
McClung's next two feature films, Kerberos and Altered, again pushed all limits with every aspect of their filmmaking. McClung mixed both films in the world famous Twickenham Film Studios, London, incorporated Visual FX from Magnet, FX in Munich, and worked with the Germany's top colorists at Cinechromatix in Berlin. Both of these Award Winning films won multiple awards around the world for artistic and technical achievement.
Loop (2016), McClung's short horror/thriller has garnered nearly a dozen Awards for "Best Film" and "Best Director," including the prestigious "Indie Adler" (Best Film) at the Austrian Film Festival.
Though almost all his time is dedicated to film, and recently named "One of The Top 100 Indie Filmmakers in the World," in the book of the same name written by festival stalwart Del Weston, McClung still trains in and teaches martial arts, and conducts workshops for advanced skills around the world.
When not working on his own projects, McClung does everything from script doctoring to color grading, from editing to sound design on independent features.
McClung is in development on several documentaries focusing on such diverse topics as poverty, violence, and climate change, and the action thriller Black Heart (2018) with Stormcell Entertainment to be shot in Europe, Thailand, and China.Wing Chun, Shorin-Ryu Karate, Tai Chi, Escrima
Trivia: was recruited by Mike Stone to star in a 1990 film which Jean-Claude Van Damme had turned down; the movie was never made, but the meeting led to McClung's casting in AMERICAN NINJA IV
Best seen in AMERICAN NINJA IV- Martin McNamara is known for Twin Dragon Encounter (1986), Back in Action (1994) and The Real Twin Dragons (2003).Karate, Do Pi, Choy Lay Fut, Kickboxing
Trivia: is the co-owner of the Twin Dragons Kung Fu and Kickboxing Club
Best seen in TWIN DRAGON ENCOUNTER - Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Michael McNamara is known for The Real Twin Dragons (2003), Twin Dragon Encounter (1986) and Dragon Hunt (1990). He is married to Chantal Nadon-McNamara. They have two children.Karate, Do Pi, Choy Lay Fut, Kickboxing
Trivia: along with his brother Martin, he sued Miramax and other film companies for the promotion if Jackie Chan's film TWIN DRAGONS, claiming copyright infringement of the title
Best seen in TWIN DRAGON ENCOUNTER- Sasha Mitchell is a model, actor, and kick-boxer, who will forever be known for two roles. From 1990 to 1993, he took over for Jean-Claude Van Damme in the Kickboxer series, ending it with the fourth installment, Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor (1994). A black belt in tae kwon do, Sasha was once an amateur kickboxing champion, and it helped him land the role of a boxer in 1988's Spike of Bensonhurst (1988). In 1991, Sasha got the role of Cody Lambert on the popular TV series Step by Step (1991). He played Cody from 1991 to 1996, and after some personal problems, returned for its final season in 1998.
Prior to acting, Sasha modeled exclusively for a year with famed fashion photographer Bruce Weber and studied acting in New York City at the National Improvisational Theatre. He made his television film debut in Pleasures (1986), and burst onto screens as Ruggieri in the action thriller Death Before Dishonor (1987).
Three years later, he joined the soap opera Dallas as James Beaumont, the illegitimate son of J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman). Immediately following his exit on Dallas in 1991, Sasha was chosen to be Jean-Claude van Damme's replacement in the hit movie installments Kickboxer 2: The Road Back as the lead character David Sloan. The movie was so popular that Sasha reprised the role in Kickboxer 3: The Art of War (1992) and Kickboxer 4 (1994). In that same year, Sasha re-teamed with Dallas co-star Patrick Duffy as Duffy's nephew, Cody Lambert, on the television show Step By Step, which he played for 7 years and was in 114 episodes. In 2000, Sasha made his return to films with Gangland (2001), directed by Art Camacho. After Step by Step's cancellation, Sasha went on to guest appear in television shows such as ER, JAG, NYPD Blue and films such as L.A. Confidential, Abelar: Tales of an Ancient Empire, Cyborg Nemesis, City of Blood, and The Kickboxer: Empire of the Dead.
Now even more beefed up, he is the proud father of three daughters and one son, and continues to make movies. Sasha loves to cook, is a certified welder, and speaks fluent Spanish.Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing
Trivia: also enjoys weightlifting and boxing
Best seen in KICKBOXER 2 - Phillip Morris is an African-American actor from Ohio who is known for playing Jackie Chiles from Seinfeld. He is also known for playing Dr. Joshua Sweet from Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Merc from Ratchet: Deadlocked, Martian Manhunter from Smallville, Silas Stone from Doom Patrol, Vandal Savage from Justice League Doom and Doc Saturday from The Secret Saturdays. He is married to Carla Gittelson and has two children.Wing Chun
Trivia: studied martial arts under Hawkins Cheung
Best seen in TOUGH AND DEADLY - Actor
- Stunts
Hung Fut (NACMAF Silver medalist), Choy Lay Fut, Kickboxing
Trivia: taught martial arts to the Cleveland Browns football team
Best seen in UNDEFEATABLE- Michiko Nishiwaki is a multi-talented lady. An actress, martial artist, stunt woman, fight choreographer, and Japan's first Woman's Bodybuilding and Power lifting Champion. She held these titles for 1980, 1981 and 1982. While still keeping her femininity and not bulking up with the aid of anabolic steroids or other drugs, Michiko created a bodybuilding boom all over Japan and was in constant demand for personal and television appearances, and executive personal training. All this while operating two successful gyms. Michiko forever changed the stereotype of the submissive and docile Japanese woman by being a strong role model. She now lives in the U.S. with her Husband and Son.Goju-Ryu Karate, Wushu
Trivia: is Japan's first National Woman's Bodybuilding and Powerlifting Champion
Best seen in IN THE LINE OF DUTY III - Actor
- Soundtrack
Andy On was born on May 11, 1977, in Los Angeles, California. A non-martial artist, Andy had always loved Jackie Chan movies and emulated his moves from flips and kicks at his home. In early 2000, while working as a bartender in Rhode Island, someone suggested he should become an actor. Andy, who didn't like the bartending job anyway, decided to go with his gut and head for Hong Kong to begin his career. He was approached by Chinastar founder Charles Heung and world renowned filmmaker Hark Tsui to take over the role of one of Jet Li's famous movie character, Black Mask, in Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002). Andy went to the Shaolin Temple to train for a month in stretching and martial arts for the role. Despite the poor reviews and bad box office, Andy has continued to act and, in fact, improve in not only martial arts but acting as well. He was nominated for Best New Actor for his role in Siu nin a Fu (2003) (aka Star Runner) and shared the screen with the man who influenced him, Jackie Chan, in New Police Story (2004) (aka New Police Story).Wushu, Shaolin Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: trained at the Shaolin Temple for a month in preparation of his first film role
Best seen in TRUE LEGEND- Actress
- Producer
- Director
FYI: I've written my own BIO. To be honest it felt more sincere than pretending like I hired some journalist to do a ton of research and come up with a non biased presentation. So here it goes.
Nia Peeples- What others have said: is an American actress, singer, dancer. For more than 30 years Nia has graced the screen with her talent and intelligence, her fearlessness and compassion, and her beauty. (Why thank you) Most known for her roles in the hit TV series Fame, Walker Texas Ranger, and Pretty Little Liars as well as her jaunt through the music industry with her number 1 record Trouble and the 3 music shows she hosted in that era, Nia is one of the first multi-racial performers to cross all genres and all platforms helping to lay the groundwork for bridging the gap between ethnic performers and leading roles in Hollywood.
Recently, with her son well on his music path, her daughter heading off to college, and her 4th marriage ending, Nia sold everything and went on "walk about" to realign with her greater purpose. After three years of wandering, Nia has returned with one book under her belt, The Little Apple Tree, and is in the middle of writing her second, "Confessions of a Serial Monogamist, Journey Through the Men I loved to the Me I Love, for which she interviewed all her significant others.
Nia's passion is empowering women and students. She is also a keynote speaker, works very closely with My Saint My Hero creating and launching empowering lines of jewelry, and continues to perform live.
(2018) Nia currently lives in Topanga, CA when she's not fasting at an ashram or studying quantum physics and sacred geometry:)Tang Soo Do, Shito-Ryu Karate, Wushu
Trivia: has studied the martial arts under Bruce Fontaine, Fumio Demura, and Chuck Norris, among others
Best seen in HALF PAST DEAD- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Stunts
Acting came to Stephen Quadros almost by default. He originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a drummer, where he achieved local success and radio airplay in Los Angeles with the band SNOW, which featured Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot, Ratt) on guitar. Stephen was even flown to New York to audition for the group KISS.
But when repetitive hand injuries aborted his percussive pursuits, Quadros dove into acting, studying with a variety of respected teachers, including: John Ruskin, Cameron Watson, William Alderson, Stella Adler, Arthur Mendoza, Scott Bernstein, Michelle Danner and Mark Haining.
As an actor Quadros has starred, guest-starred or co-starred in over 100 films and television shows, working with such Hollywood luminaries as Bryan Cranston, Kathryn Bigelow, Miles Teller, Nicolas Winding Refn, John Hawkes, Cuba Gooding Jr., Peter Falk, David Caruso, Blair Underwood, Traci Lords and Angela Lansbury.
Stephen Quadros is also a martial arts expert, specializing in kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), areas where he has been a practitioner, teacher and trainer for over 20 years.
Because of his combined talents, Stephen appeared in and served as fight technical advisor for "Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)", starring Jet Li, Mark Dacascos and DMX ("Cradle 2 The Grave" hit the theaters in February 2003 and went to #1). Additionally he choreographed one of the fight sequences in "Cradle".
Mister Quadros was also fight coordinator/choreographer and 2nd unit director for "Pit Fighter" (20th Century Fox) which was released in 2005. He was also fight technical advisor for "Exit Wounds" (2001) starring Steven Seagal, Michael Jai White and DMX, co-starred in "Sworn To Justice" with Black Belt hall of fame member Cynthia Rothrock and was the guest lead on a season premiere of the popular TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger", squaring off opposite martial arts icon Chuck Norris.
He was also one of the world's leading martial arts and combat sports journalists. In 1998 he became a columnist and contributing editor for Black Belt magazine, a position he held for over 3 years, where his monthly column, which he titled "FightSport", garnered him international attention. Black Belt felt strong enough about "Fightsport" (and Stephen) that they named an entire magazine after it and empowered him as editor. "Black Belt Presents: Fightsport, with Stephen Quadros" made it's debut nationally in February 2002. (Quadros participated in the first year of the publication to get the magazine launched and established, then exited to concentrate on film, television and sports broadcasting.)
Stephen Quadros is well known in martial arts circles around the globe for his role as host and/or television commentator for some of the largest and most successful fight shows in the world including Showtime Network's mixed martial art series: Strikeforce, as well as Pride Fighting Championships (pay per view), Glory Kickboxing (ESPN, CBS Sports). Mr. Quadros was given his nickname "The Fight Professor" while commentating on a show in Japan for K-1 in 1998.Wing Chun, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Hapkido, Mixed Martial Arts
Trivia: claims to have had a physical confrontation with Steven Seagal on the set of EXIT WOUNDS
Best seen in BLOODFIST VII- Actor
- Stunts
Brandon was born in the German town of "Geislingen an der Steige" on February 18th 1971. Scholasticly Brandon excelled from an early age, completing his primary education in just three years rather than the normal four. He completed his secondary school education with majors in Business, Economics, Mathematics and honors for literature. Going on to become the the youngest accredited university student in Germany when he joined the University of Stuttgart in 1989.
Brandon got his first taste for drama with a role in a school play at 7 years of age, and spent two years with the Theatre Group during his secondary school education. In 1992 he began modeling after two agencies saw him in the preliminary stages of a "Mr. Germany" competition, and would appear in a number of fashion shows, before making his print debut in an ad for the "Berliner Bank". After appearing as an extra on German TV in 1994, Rhea rapidly found himself working as an MC for fashion shows, special events, fairs and for a local radio station.
He was given his first "action" role in 2000, and began to work at the dramatic side with private acting lessons in 2001. In 2003, Brandon threw caution to the wind and flew to Hong Kong at his own expense for a casting for the Michelle Yeoh movie "Silver Hawk", which saw him taking the role of a hunter who fights Michelle in the opening of the film. Deciding to stay for another few months, Rhea appeared in "Infernal Affairs 2" and fight Taiwanese actor/singer Vaness Wu in "Star Runner". Rhea has continued to live and work in Hong Kong & China appearing in numerous Television commercials for such clients as DBS, HSBC, monster.com and many more, while also taking Voice & Speech training at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. His most recent role was in director Ronny Yu's "Fearless", a martial arts epic which saw Brandon playing against type as an arrogant German fighter who challenges the leading character Hua Yuan-jia played by Jet Li during the films finale. In preparation to meet the demands of the films action scenes, Brandon trained with one of Germany's leading fencing masters, prior to working with fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping and his action team.
Brandon's martial arts training began with Judo lessons at the age of 14, and he has since studied Ju Jitsu, Bo Jitsu, Taekwondo, Kickboxing & Muay Thai. After discovering Leung Ting's Wing Tsun Kung Fu, Brandon immersed himself in the art and achieved his first Master level in 2003 in Hong Kong, and was made an instructor in 2004. Rhea is now the only non-Asian accredited instructor of Leung Ting Wing Tsun Kung Fu in Hong Kong & China.
Has received additional training with members of the German Special forces, learning stick & knife fighting, as well as gun training and Police tactics, which served him well during time spent working as a bodyguard in Germany.
Brandon has also studied a diverse range of other sports and physical arts including Classical Ballet, and competed in Professional Ballroom & Latin Dancing Contests, well rounded in most sports including soccer, basketball & Volleyball, and being an excellent skier. Brandon also has more than 15 years experience as a Trumpeter, winning the first prize with his youth brass orchestra in the 1987 "Youth & Music" World championships in Vienna.
Language skills include fluency in German, English; French some Italian and Basic Mandarin.
Currently working in the film & television industry in Hong Kong & China, Rhea continues to hone his craft while building his reputation in the industry in addition to developing a number of projects of his own.Wing Chun, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Kendo
Trivia: is the only non-Asian instructor accredited with master status and instructorship of Leung Ting-style Wing Chun
Best seen in FEARLESS- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Stunts
Born in Indiana, raised in Hawaii, Storm is a world class martial artist who has trained in various styles for over 19 years. Storm holds belts in Arashi-Ryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Ninjitsu, Jujitsu and Northern Shaolin Kung Fu.
If you ask three time "Martial Art Masters Hall of Fame" inductee Storm how his action career started, you might not expect to hear that his Mother forced 8 year old Storm to take Karate because he was "hyperactive and clumsy". However, hardly anything about Storm is as it appears. Storm was born "Juan Ricardo Ojeda" to an African-American Father and Puerto Rican Mother and was then adopted by a Native American-Caucasian mother and Mexican-American father. Storm was brought up in the Asian/Polynesian culture of Honolulu, Hawaii. Storm truly is an "All American" - melting pot meets cultural mosaic - one that always had to check the box marked "other." In high school Storm was shy and started break-dancing as a way of trying to "fit in". This quickly became his passion and eventually led to Storm winning over 200 dance competitions in the genres of hip hop and break-dance. Storm received a dance scholarship, which paved the way for him moving to LA and dancing in music videos.
Although dancing was his passion, it only provided him with enough money for rent and a diet of ramen noodles and pop tarts with little left for anything else. Being devoted to the martial arts, Storm found himself stopping by and observing an outdoor Northern Shaolin class on his way home from work. Eventually Storm was approached by the teacher and asked to join, thus allowing him to broaden his knowledge of the martial arts. Wanting to further pursue his creative energies Storm began acting. He then graduated from the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Acting Academy. While playing the role of Bayu on the television series, Conan The Adventurer, Storm developed the unique style that he is known for. This brand of action is a combination of martial arts, acrobatic skill, comedic timing, and an almost balletic grace. Storm has since gone on to work with Jet Li, Samo Hung, Sir Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, Kelly Hu, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Michelle Rodriquez, Neal McDonough and Kristanna Loken.Arashi-Ryu & Shito-Ryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Ninjutsu, Jujitsu, Northern Shaolin
Trivia: is also an instructor of Cardio Kung Fu
Best seen in BLACK COBRA- Korean Kim T. Jeong made just six of the movies listed on IMDB page as Tong Lung; the rest were actually played by eponymous Taiwan's actor Tong Lung long before Kim debuted. The fact there are two more Tong Lung in Asian cinema, add confusion, since this nom-de-plume was very common there. As result who don't have a real knowledge of the genre often write wrong contributes on websites. .Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: served as a stand-in for Bruce Lee
Best seen in NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER - Actor
- Music Department
- Director
Nicholas was born in Hong Kong, China. He attended school in Vancouver, Canada. He also attended school for a short time in Phoenix, Arizona before moving back to Hong Kong with his parents Patrick Yin Tse and Deborah Dik, and his sister, Jennifer (Ting Ting). Nicholas started his singing career around 1997.Wing Chun
Trivia: trained under Chung Chi Li, leader of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team
Best seen in DRAGON TIGER GATE- Actor
- Visual Effects
- Soundtrack
From Caped Crusader to Canine Crusader
Little did aspiring actor Burt Ward know that learning martial arts in addition to his mental and athletic prowess would change his life forever. As a teen-age, Burt had all the makings of a true boy wonder. As an all around athlete, strong in martial arts, wrestling, track, tennis and golf, combined with a sharp intellect, playing "first board" in chess for Beverly Hills High School, achieving the top 3% in the U.S. in math and science tests at UCLA, and becoming the world's fastest reader - Burt tested before the American Medical Society in Beverly Hills, California and was clocked at 30,000 words per minute with 90% comprehension (the average reader reads 240 words per minute with 40% comprehension). Burt was featured in an article entitled, "Will the Real Boy Wonder Please Stand Up" and subsequently appeared on the national television educational show "Read Right." With the help of his father, a prominent real estate broker in Beverly Hills, CA, Burt became one of the youngest real estate agents in California, and met producer, Saul David, who arranged for him to sign with a Hollywood agent. His first interview was set up at 20th Century Fox Studios, and a few weeks later, Burt was called back for a screen test with Adam West. Holder of a brown belt in karate at the time, Burt showed off his athletic ability for the producers by demonstrating some falls and tumbles, and even broke a one-inch pine board with his hand. Later, Burt attained his black belt from his instructor, All Korean champion, Young Ik Suh. Burt was friends with Bruce Lee. A special piece of movie trivia is that Bruce Lee's first filmed fight scene of his career was fighting Burt Ward. In October 2015, Burt was inducted into the International Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame. Executive Producer William Dozier commented about Ward's tall size in comparison to Adam West, and the new Boy Wonder prospect replied, "I promise you, sir, I won't grow anymore." Dozier laughed and told Burt that he would hold him to that. 2 It wasn't until six weeks after the screen test that Burt learned that he had won the coveted role of Robin, the Boy Wonder in the new "Batman" TV series for ABC-TV. He was everything they wanted. All he had to do was just be himself. Batman Was an Overnight Sensation!
Biff, Bam, Boom! The Ratings Soared! Burt and Adam West made hundreds of personal appearances together and were featured in dozens of magazine articles, including the cover of Life magazine. Years later, when accepting Harvard's "Man of the Year" award, Burt brought one of his original Robin costumes, even then valued at six figures. Some students came up to him dressed as security guards and told him they would keep the costume safe. Then, in the middle of Burt's speech, one student stood up and asked, "When is a costume not a costume? When it's stolen." The lights dimmed and the students grabbed the costume and made off. After snapping photos with one another in the cape, they later called Ward and gave the costume back. The ringleader of the gang? Harvard Lampoon editor, Conan O'Brien.
From "Caped Crusader" to "Canine Crusader" In 1994, Burt and his wife, Tracy Posner Ward, philanthropist and daughter of former corporate raider and billionaire, Victor Posner, rescued a Great Dane in distress. From this experience, they learned about dozens of other Great Danes also needing homes. When they called weeks later to see what had happened to the others, they was horrified to hear that they had all been destroyed. Both Burt and Tracy have a huge love for animals. They made a decision, and created a rescue for Great Danes and other giant dog breeds. Located 50 miles east of Los Angeles, Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions is a nonprofit charity created by Burt and Tracy. Gentle Giants has rescued and adopted more than 15,500 giant breed and small breed dogs during their 22 years of operation. All of their dogs are socialized and behaviorally trained, and live communally together in their home. Gentle Giants is now the largest giant breed dog rescue in the world and rescues and finds homes for 45 different dog breeds, ranging from 2 lbs. to 300 lbs.
Traditionally, giant breed dogs usually have short lifespans, living 6-8 years or 7-9 years, depending upon the breed. Spending millions of dollars of their own money and more than a decade of research and testing, and combining their special care and feeding program with their own all natural Gentle Giants dog food, Burt and Tracy have successfully doubled the average lifespan of their rescued giant breed dogs, and significantly lengthened the average lifespan of their rescued small and medium breed dogs as well, with dogs living as long as 27 active, healthy years.
Gentle Giants Products manufacturers all natural Gentle Giants dog food which is sold in more than 1,250 stores in California, and in 339 Walmart Supercenters in Oregon, 3 Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina and Florida. Gentle Giants dog food is sold nationally through mail order on Chewy.com, Walmart.com, and Amazon.com. In California, Gentle Giants is sold in Walmart Supercenters, Stater Bros. Ralphs, and Gelson's.
Gentle Giants has a spectacular new line of wet (canned) dog food, with 90% Beef, 90% Chicken, and 90% Salmon. Gentle Giants Products also has a new line of super premium dog supplements and super premium dog treats.
The Caped Crusader has truly evolved into the Canine Crusader.Karate
Trivia: claims to have sparred with Bruce Lee to a standstill during a crossover between BATMAN and THE GREEN HORNET
Best seen in BATMAN- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Forest Steven Whitaker has packaged a king-size talent into his hulking 6' 2", 220 lb. frame. He won an Academy Award for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the film The Last King of Scotland (2006), and has also won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. He is the fourth African-American male to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, following in the footsteps of Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, and Jamie Foxx.
Whitaker was born on July 15, 1961 in Longview, Texas, to Laura Francis (Smith), a special education teacher, and Forest Steven Whitaker, an insurance salesman. His family moved to South Central Los Angeles in 1965. The athletically-inclined Whitaker initially found his way into college via a football scholarship. Later, however, he transferred to USC where he set his concentration on music and earned two more scholarships training as an operatic tenor. This, in turn, led to another scholarship at Berkeley with a renewed focus on acting and the performing stage.
Whitaker made his film debut at the age of 21 in the raucous comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) wherein he played, quite naturally, a footballer. He went on to play another sports-oriented student, a wrestler, in his second film Vision Quest (1985). He gained experience on TV as well with featured spots on such varied shows as Diff'rent Strokes (1978) and Cagney & Lacey (1981), not to mention the TV-movie Civil War epic North & South: Book 1, North & South (1985) and its sequel. The movie that truly put him on the map was The Color of Money (1986). His one big scene as a naive-looking pool player who out-hustles Paul Newman's Fast Eddie Felson was pure electricity. This led to more visible roles in the "A" class films Platoon (1986), Stakeout (1987), and Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), which culminated in his breakout lead portrayal of the tortured jazz icon 'Charlie "Bird" Parker' in Clint Eastwood's passion project Bird (1988), for which Whitaker won the Cannes Film Festival award for "best actor" and a Golden Globe nomination. Whitaker continued to work with a number of well-known directors throughout the 1990s.
While his "gentle giant" characters typically display innocence, indecision, and timidity along with a strong underlying humanity, he has certainly not shied away from the edgier, darker corners of life as his occasional hitmen and other menacing streetwise types can attest. Although in only the first section of the film, he was memorable as the IRA-captured British soldier whose bizarre relationship with a mysterious femme fatale serves as the catalyst for the critically-lauded drama The Crying Game (1992). Always a willing participant to push the envelope, he's gone on to enhance a number of lesser films. Among those was his plastic surgeon in Johnny Handsome (1989), gay clothing designer in Robert Altman's Ready to Wear (1994), alien hunter in Species (1995), absentee father confronted by his estranged son in Smoke (1995), and Mafia hitman who models himself after the samurai warrior in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), among many others. As would be expected, he's also had his share of epic-sized bombs, notoriously the L. Ron Hubbard sci-fi disaster Battlefield Earth (2000). On the TV front, he was the consulting producer and host of a revamped Rod Serling's cult series classic The Twilight Zone (2002), which lasted a disappointing one season.
In the early 1990s, Whitaker widened his horizons to include producing/directing and has since gained respect behind the camera as well. He started things off co-producing the violent gangster film A Rage in Harlem (1991), in which he co-starred with Gregory Hines and Robin Givens, and then made his successful directorial debut with the soulful Waiting to Exhale (1995), showcasing a legion of distaff black stars. He also directed co-star Whitney Houston's music video of the movie's theme song ("Shoop Shoop"). He also helmed the fluffy romantic comedy First Daughter (2004) with Katie Holmes and Michael Keaton. Whitaker also served as an executive producer on First Daughter. He had previously executive produced several made-for-television movies, most notably the 2002 Emmy-award winning Door to Door, starring William H. Macy. He produced these projects through his production company, Spirit Dance Entertainment, which he shut down in 2005 to concentrate on his acting career.
In 2002, he co-starred in Joel Schumacher's thriller, Phone Booth, with Kiefer Sutherland and Colin Farrell. That year, he also co-starred with Jodie Foster in Panic Room.
Whitaker's greatest success to date is the 2006 film, The Last King of Scotland. His performance earned him the 2007 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, For that same role, he also received the Golden Globe Award, the Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA Award, and many critical accolades. He has also received several other honors. In September 2006, the 10th Annual Hollywood Film Festival presented him with its "Hollywood Actor of the Year Award," He was also honored at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2007, receiving the American Riviera Award. Previously, in 2005, the Deauville Festival of American Film paid tribute to him. In 2007, Forest Whitaker won the Cinema for Peace Award 2007.
In 2007, Whitaker co-starred in The Great Debaters with fellow Oscar winner Denzel Washington, and in 2008, Whitaker played opposite Keanu Reeves in Street Kings and Dennis Quaid in Vantage Point.
In 2009, Forest co-starred in the Warner Bros. film "Where the Wild Things Are," directed by Spike Jonze, which was a mix of live-action, animation and puppetry as an adaptation of the Maurice Sendak classic children's book. Around the same time, he also starred n "Repossession Mambo", with Jude Law, "Hurricane Season", "Winged Creatures", and "Powder Blue". He appeared in the Olivier Dahan film "My Own Love Song", opposite Renée Zellweger, and was part of the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009, in Nigeria.
He is married to former model Keisha Whitaker and has three children by her. His younger brothers Kenn Whitaker and Damon Whitaker are both actors as well.
Forest was given a star on the Hollywood Walk in April of 2007. In November 2007, Whitaker was the creative mind behind DEWmocracy.com, a website that let people decide the next flavor of Mountain Dew in a "People's Dew" poll. He directed a short film and created the characters for the video game. Whitaker has done extensive humanitarian work, he has been involved with organizations like, Penny Lane, an organization that provides assistance to abused teenagers. PETA and Farm Sanctuary, organizations that protect animals' rights. Close friends with Neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Black, Forest has helped raise awareness and funds for Dr. Blacks research. During the last couple of years, he has become a spokesperson for Hope North Ugandan orphanage and Human Rights Watch. In the year 2001 Forest received a Humanitas Prize. He was recently honored by The City of Los Angeles with the Hope of Los Angeles Award. And his entire clan received the LA BEST Family Focus Award. Last year he joined forces with "Idol Gives Back" and "Malaria No More"; he has become a GQ Ambassador supporting and fundraising for Hope North. He was a Surrogate for Barack Obama's campaign supporting him across the United States.
Whitaker's multimedia company, Spirit Dance Entertainment, includes film, television and music production. He works closely with a number of charitable organizations, giving back to his community by serving as an Honorary Board Members for Penny Lane, an organization that provides assistance to abused teenagers, the Human Rights Watch and The Hope North organization.Escrima, Karate
Trivia: is a student of Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo
Best seen in REPO MEN- Actor
- Stunts
Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, Tai Chi
Trivia: studied under the mother of Donnie Yen, Master Bow Sim Mark
Best seen in TIGER CAGE II- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Master Yamashita is born in Japan, but considers himself Okinawan. He lost his father at the age of 3. Since his 8th he lived in Okinawa and since his 11th he practiced martial arts. He was a rough kid, not only fighting with students but also teachers. When trying to handle him, a martial arts teacher was called in, who learned Yamashitato control his temper with martial arts. Since then, he was no longer aggressive, but talented. At the age of 16, Yamashita would receive his black belt and in 1960 he became the All-Okinawan Shorin-ryu Free Sparring Grand Champion. He lived in Okinawa until in 1972 he came to the USA where he became a citizen.
Yamashita has dedicated over 40 years of his life to the practice of Okinawan Karatedo and Kobudo. He is a tenth dan in both karate do and kobudo. Yamashita is the President and Director of US Shorin-Ryu Karate Association, the USA President of the Zen Okinawan Kobudo Association and Chief Instructor of Shorin Ryu in the United States. Yamashita combines many progressive fighting tactics with traditional aspects of karate do. Yamashita's system (known as Suikendo) translates to fist flowing like water. This system of fighting allows the karateka to simultaneously block and strike his opponent. Yamashita is also a world-renowned weapons master. During the 1973 Pro-Am Karate Tournament, Yamashita brought over 7,000 spectators to their feet in a standing ovation after demonstrating his mastery of kobudo weaponry.Shorin-Ryu Karate (9th Dan), Kobudo (9th Dan), Sui-Kendo (founder)
Trivia: is president of the US Shorin-Ryu Karate Association and the Zen Okinawan Kobudo Association
Best seen in THE OCTAGON- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Director
Wushu, Tai Chi
Trivia: was named Inside Kung Fu's “Today’s Woman of Tomorrow” in 2005
Best seen in ADVENTURES OF JOHNNY TAO- Jean-Francois Lachapelle was born on 4 January 1983 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is an actor, known for X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Suicide Squad (2016) and Warcraft (2016).Karate (2-time WAKO Champion; WKA Champion)
Trivia: began teaching the martial arts at age 15
Best seen in NX FILES - Stunts
- Actor
- Producer
Alain Moussi is an international action star born on March 29, 1981 in Libreville, Gabon from a Lebanese father, Jean Moussi, and French-Canadian mother, Rita Moussi. Moussi began his martial arts training in the art of jujutsu under Canadian martial arts legend John Therien and also trained in kickboxing under legendary kickboxing champion Jean-Yves Theriault. He had trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Carlos Machado, eventually earning his black belt in the art. Moussi got his start as a stuntman and credits Jean Frenette, a former world martial arts champion turned stunt coordinator for films, with giving him his start. His first job was doubling Henry Cavill in the film Immortals. He has doubled for Travis Fimmel in Warcraft, Hugh Jackman in X-Men: Apocalypse, and Jai Courtney in Suicide Squad.
At the Cannes Film Festival in 2014, it was announced he would get his first lead role in a reboot of the 1989 film Kickboxer, which starred Jean-Claude Van Damme. In Kickboxer: Vengeance, Moussi played Kurt Sloane, a young martial artist who must refine his skills to avenge his brother's death. Van Damme himself replaced the departing Tony Jaa as Kurt's teacher, now named Master Durand. The film received mixed reviews but the confidence of the film resulted in two sequels, Kickboxer: Retaliation, released in 2017, and Kickboxer: Syndicate, which began production in February 2017. The sequels bring Moussi back as Kurt Sloane and in addition, Moussi and longtime friend Jean-Francois LaChappelle served as fight choreographers of Retaliation.
Moussi also played the role of Charlie Nash in the web series sequel Street Fighter: Resurrection.Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Trivia: is the youngest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner to receive the honorary title of Renshi
Best seen in NX FILES- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Joey Ansah was born in 1982 in Hammersmith, London, England, 2nd in line to an older brother, Ryan, 3 years his senior. He is of mixed ethnicity, with his mother Nicola, originating from Plymouth, Devon, England and his father Kofi, originally from Ghana, west Africa. Joey grew up and spent the first 10 years of his life in Streatham, South London, attending private school first at Oakfield School and then at Dulwich College Prep. During these early years in London, his interest and enjoyment for acting and performance became evident, as he took part in all of the stage performances that were on offer. The almost obsessive interest in martial arts and action cinema began very young. As early as Joey can recount, he has memories of his father renting Action and martial arts films from the local video shop which he would avidly watch. Arnold, Stallone, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Van Damme became instinctive idols and sources of inspiration which remain to this day. Joey's family then emigrated to Accra, Ghana. This was initially a culture shock to say the least for a young Joey, who had up to this point spent most of his life in the almost exclusively white, upper-middle class environment of the English public-school system. In Accra, Joey attended Ghana's top International school for almost 5 years. During this period he was able to truly get in touch with African culture, and obtain a balanced understanding, love and pride for both halves of his heritage. Acting and stage performance continued here for a time as well. It was in Ghana that Joey's love for martial arts, dancing and stunts really took off. He joined the local Tae Kwon Do class which he trained at for 4 years. He became embroiled in the Hip Hop dance craze that was present at the school in Ghana. He also fell in love with motorbikes and began riding with friends - including the sons of an Australian former motocross champion.
A few months before his 15th birthday, Joey moved back to England (this time to Plymouth) with his mother and 1-year old sister, Tanoa. He attended Devonport High school for boys where he completed his secondary education. During this time Joey also began obsessively training for the rare Martial art of Ninjutsu with military personnel in Plymouth. After a brief stint high diving, Joey became very interested in acrobatics and tumbling, and began to develop this aspect of Ninjutsu to a very high level. After passing his A-levels, Joey moved to Oxford where he did a 3 year degree in Human biology at Oxford Brookes University. Whilst continuing to practice Ninjutsu and Acrobatics, he also took up the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira in which he has trained ever since. It was during these 3 years in Oxford that Joey began his professional work in show-business, getting work and experience wherever he could. In the first couple of years at University, Joey did his fair share of extras and walk-on parts and he saw this as a valuable opportunity to spend lots of time on varied film, TV and commercial sets, learning the film making process and more importantly watching and intently studying established actors at work. Rather than frowning upon doing extras work as many do, he viewed this as an invaluable learning period. Joey also worked as a model, both on the catwalk and in TV and print campaigns. His work in stunts also occurred at this time, working on Batman Begins as a stuntman, in addition to working as trainer and fight choreographer on the Sci-Fi series Starhyke (2006). He has used his Dance, martial arts and acrobatic abilities for various music videos and Live international shows.
Straight after graduating from University, Joey moved back to London and landed a major role in the award winning UK indie film, Lovestruck (2005). Following that he got an acting agent and his full time acting career began. Over the last 2 years he has been working consistently in a varied range of TV and film projects. With notable TV appearances as the terrorist Abbud in the hit TV show Spooks (2005) (aka MI5 in the USA), Roman emperor Geta in the prime time BBC docuseries Timewatch (2006). In 2006 Joey landed a major role in the upcoming, ground breaking UK action Feature 'Underground'.
His big Hollywood break came in the form of him being cast in the upcoming Bourne Ultimatum (2007) by award-winning director, Paul Greengrass, in which he plays 'Desh', a Blackbriar super assassin working for the CIA who goes up against Jason Bourne (Matt Damon). The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) is released in the US and UK Aug 3rd.Tae Kwon Do, Ninjutsu, Capoeira
Trivia: is also a hip-hop dancer and motocross rider
Best seen in THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM- Mikael Spreitz has a multifaceted career, on his resume he can write actor, television personality, bodyguard and special lecturer.
Spreitz is well known for The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and The Girl Who Played with Fire where he portrayed Ronald Niederman.
Spreitz has a background as a martial artist competing for Sweden, multiple swedish champion and silver medalist at the European championship in 1985.
In 2013 Spreitz founded Fighterhjälpen , a non-profit charity foundation that supports children with cancer.Kickboxing, Karate (Sweden National Champion)
Trivia: trained under Benny Urquidez
Best seen in THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE - Actor
- Director
- Producer
Jorgo Ognenovski is known for Warrior of Justice (1995), Alias (2001) and The Russian Godfather (1996).Fudokan Karate (Yugoslavia National Team member)
Trivia: trained under Prof. Vencislav Nedev, co-founder of Fudokan Karate
Best seen in WARRIOR OF JUSTICE- Dan Kalbfleisch was born on 25 September 1986 in the USA. He is an actor, known for Sumo Joe (2010), Alamo Downs (2017) and Drake Bell: Going Away (2023).Sumo (5-time US National Champion; 5-time Shunbun Champion; 7-time California State Champion; 6-time Shuubun Champion; 3-time Goltz Champion; 2-time Georgia State Champion; 2-time Idaho State Champion; 2-time Snake River Champion)
Trivia: won his first national championship after only two years of training
Best seen in SUMO DAN - Jose M. Jimenez is known for Sumo Joe (2010).Sumo (Shunbun Champion)
Trivia: is a runner-up of the 2011 Muscle Beach Sumo Classic
Best seen in SUMO JOE - Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
James P. Bennett was born on 19 August 1975 in Ireland. He is an actor and producer, known for Attrition (2018), Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018) and Jersey Boys (2014).Capoeira
Trivia: also practices fencing, wrestling, and boxing
Best seen in MAX HAVOC: CURSE OF THE DRAGON- Actor
- Stunts
- Director
Manel Soler is an actor, martial artist and writer from Barcelona, Spain. A first-dan black belt in Hapkido and TaeKwonDo with a specialty in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts, Manel has been an aspiring martial artist since the age of 11.
For ten years of his life, Manel's training eventually led him in the company of some very important people, working various types of jobs protecting people, from bouncer to personal bodyguard, until one day he decided it was no longer for him. Eventually, he sold his car and flew to Thailand to pursue a career in competitive fighting, where his career would have remained lucrative until a near-deadly incident with a greedy, machete-wielding cab driver nearly took his life in 2009. And although Manel prevailed, his injuries cost him his fighting career.
As time passed with recovery, Manel had the good fortune of bumping into Jaika Stunts founder, veteran stunt performer and stunt coordinator Kaecha Kampakdee, whose most notable stunt and choreography credits include Daniel Bernhardt's acting debut - Bloodsport 2, Tony Jaa's sequelized epic thriller, Ong Bak 2 and Bollywood actor Allu Arjun's Iddaramayilatho. And upon his crossing of paths with Kampakdee, the rest would soon fall into place, with Manel working on a number of films doing stunt work and other small acting roles, including Iddaramayilatho and the comedic Hollywood hit, The Hangover 2 directed by Todd Philips, to name a few.
As of 2015, Manel is currently working on what he hopes to be his first-ever feature lead role based on the previously-shot shortfilm, Portrait Of An Angry Man, shot by cinematographer Kimbo Kim and Italian writer/director Joe Petrosino. Filmed about four years ago, Manel strongly considers Portrait Of An Angry Man, a "lovely experience" that fully embedded him as an actor. "Without a doubt, I can say that this is the project that made me fall in love with acting and film making as I was involved all the way from the start to finish."he says. "It is what made me realize how beautiful it really is to make a movie, or shortfilm in this case." Manel Soler will also be seen in the upcoming film, A Man Will Rise, which is still pending release. In addition, Manel Soler has worked with stunt coordinator Brett Chan on actor Nicholas Cage's 12th century romantic war epic, Outcast, with co-stars Hayden Christensen (Star Wars Episode 2 & 3, Jumper) and Crystial Liu (The Forbidden Kingdom, The Four) under veteran stunt coordinator Nick Powell (The Last Samurai, The Three Musketeers) making his directorial debut. Manel has also worked with Tony Jaa (Ong Bak Trilogy, Fast & Furious 7) and veteran actors and martial artist Dolph Lundgren (Expendables trilogy, Universal Soldier, Rocky IV), Michel Jai White (The Dark Knight, Spawn, Blood and Bone) and Golden Globe winer Ron Perlman (Hellboy 1,2, Drive) in the 2015 action thriller, Skin Trade.
On another, more personal note, Manel Soler has expressed his own fortitude, looking back on his life with resolve with the philosophy that everything that happened, from body-guarding and security, to an incident that nearly cost him his life, has happened for a reason.Hapkido (1st Dan), Tae Kwon Do (1st Dan), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts
Trivia: is a licensed bodyguard
Best seen in BAADSHAH- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
With his breakthrough performance as Eames in Christopher Nolan's sci-fi thriller Inception (2010), English actor Tom Hardy has been brought to the attention of mainstream audiences worldwide. However, the versatile actor has been steadily working on both stage and screen since his television debut in the miniseries Band of Brothers (2001). After being cast in the World War II drama, Hardy left his studies at the prestigious Drama Centre in London and was subsequently cast as Twombly in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down (2001) and as the villain Shinzon in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002).
Edward Thomas Hardy was born on September 15, 1977 in Hammersmith, London; his mother, Elizabeth Anne (Barrett), is an artist and painter, and his father, Chips Hardy, is a writer. He is of English and Irish descent. Hardy was brought up in East Sheen, London, and first studied at Reed's School. His education continued at Tower House School, then at Richmond Drama School, and subsequently at the Drama Centre London, along with fellow Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender. After winning a modeling competition at age 21, he had a brief contract with the agency Models One.
Tom spent his teens and early twenties battling delinquency, alcoholism and drug addiction; after completing his work on Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), he sought treatment and has also admitted that his battles with addiction ended his five-year marriage to Sarah Ward. Returning to work in 2003, Hardy was awarded the Evening Standard Most Promising Newcomer Award for his theatre performances in the productions of "In Arabia, We'd All Be Kings" and "Blood". In 2003, Tom also co-starred in the play "The Modernists" with Paul Popplewell, Jesse Spencer and Orlando Wells.
During the next five years, Hardy worked consistently in film, television and theatre, playing roles as varied as Robert Dudley in the BBC's The Virgin Queen (2005), Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist (2007) and starring in "The Man of Mode" at the National Theatre. On the silver screen, he appeared in the crime thriller Layer Cake (2004) with Daniel Craig, Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette (2006), and the romp Scenes of a Sexual Nature (2006).
In 2006, Hardy created "Shotgun", an underground theatre company along with director Robert Delamere, and directed a play, penned by his father for the company, called "Blue on Blue". In 2007, Hardy received a best actor BAFTA nomination for his touching performance as Stuart Shorter in the BBC adaptation of Alexander Masters' bestselling biography Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007). Hailed for his transformative character acting, Hardy was lauded for his emotionally and physically convincing portrayal in the ill-fated and warmhearted tale of Shorter, a homeless and occasionally violent man suffering from addiction and muscular dystrophy.
The following year, he appeared as gay hoodlum Handsome Bob in the Guy Ritchie film RocknRolla (2008), but this would be his next transformation that would prove his extensive range and stun critics. In the film Bronson (2008), Hardy played the notorious Charles Bronson (given name, Michael Peterson), the "most violent prisoner in Britain". Bald, pumped-up, and outfitted with Bronson's signature strongman mustache, Hardy is unrecognizable and gives a harrowing performance that is physically fearless and psychologically unsettling. Director Nicolas Winding Refn breaks the fourth wall with Hardy retelling his tales directly to viewers as well as performing them outright before an audience of his own imagining. The performance mixes terrifying brutality, vaudevillian showmanship, wry humor, and an alarming amount of commitment, and won Hardy a British Independent Film Award for Best Actor. The performance got Hollywood's attention, and in 2009, Hardy was named one of Variety's "10 Actors to Watch". That year, he continued to garner praise for his starring role in The Take (2009), a four-part adaptation of Martina Cole's bestselling crime novel, as well as for his performance as Heathcliff in a version of Wuthering Heights (2009).
Recent work includes the aforementioned breakthrough appearance in Inception (2010) alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Ken Watanabe, Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard and Elliot Page. The movie was released in July 2010 and became one of top 25 highest grossing films of all time, collecting eight Oscar nominations (including Best Picture) and winning four.
Other films include Warrior (2011), opposite Joel Edgerton, the story of two estranged brothers facing the fight of a lifetime from director Gavin O'Connor, and This Means War (2012), directed by McG and co-starring Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine. Tom also starred in the heralded Cold War thriller, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) with Colin Firth and Gary Oldman. Hardy rejoined Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight Rises (2012); he played the villain role of Bane opposite Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gary Oldman. Hardy's menacing physique and his character's scrambled, hard-to-distinguish voice became a major discussion point as the film was released.
Outside of performing, Hardy is the patron for the charity "Flack", which is an organization to aid the recovery of the homeless in Cambridge. And in 2010, Hardy was named an Ambassador for The Prince's Trust, which helps disadvantaged youth. On the recent stage, he starred in the Brett C. Leonard play "The Long Red Road" in early 2010. Written for Hardy and directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, the play was staged at Chicago's Goodman Theater.
In 2015, Hardy starred as the iconic Mad Max in George Miller's reboot of his franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). He also collected a British Independent Film Award for his portrayal of both the Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie, in Legend (2015), and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as John Fitzgerald in The Revenant (2015). Hardy also starred on the BBC series Peaky Blinders (2013), alongside Cillian Murphy, and on the television series Taboo (2017), both created by Steven Knight.
He has an outlaw biker story among other projects in development. In 2010, Hardy became engaged to fellow English actress Charlotte Riley, whom he starred with in The Take (2009) and Wuthering Heights (2009), and is raising a young son, Louis Thomas Hardy, with ex-girlfriend Rachael Speed. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire at the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to drama.Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Trivia: trained under Richard Norton
Best seen in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES- Stunts
- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
Shaun Charney is known for Slug Street Scrappers: Beat Em Up (2013), Slug Street Scrappers (2017) and Ninja Evolution (2010).Capoeira
Trivia: is affiliated with Dragon Phoenix Entertainment
Best seen in SLUG STREET SCRAPPERS- Stunts
- Actor
- Producer
Laurent "Law" Plancel is an action actor and martial artist from Paris, currently residing in London. An expert in martial arts and a specialist in movement, Laurent is unique in his ability to combine martial arts with acrobatics to create jaw dropping, high energy martial arts fight sequences.
He began his career working as a martial artist and stunt performer for various live shows and television shows in France. After moving to the U.K, he worked in major studio production films such as; Captain Philips, 300, Rise of an Empire, Doctor Strange, Star Wars Rogue One, The Mummy and more recently, Into the Badlands.
Working alongside major stars in the film industry such as; Tom Cruise, Chris Pratt, Hugh Jackman, Gary Oldman, Chris Hemsworth, Mads Mikkelsen, Scoot Adkins, Daniel Wu and others, Laurent has proved to have a great work ethic, striving to produce nothing but top -quality work and professionalism.
After 10 years in the stunt and film industry, Laurent has made his acting debut as the infamous 'Suicide' in the hit Cambodian movie, 'Jailbreak' by Kongchak pictures - available on Netflix. Laurent is also featuring in the upcoming indie British action film 'Amber' and is currently working on a new feature film called '14 Fist' which is in pre-production.
July 2018Tae Kwon Do, Wushu
Trivia: trained with the French National Taekwondo Team and the French National Wushu Team
Best seen in GREEN STREET 3- Stunts
- Actor
Phillipos Haile is known for Blood and Bone (2009), Straight Outta Compton (2015) and Criminal (2013).Capoeira, Tang Soo Do
Trivia: was inspired to train in Capoeira by watching a performance by Amen Santo
Best seen in BLOOD AND BONE- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
British Born raised in USA, England, Ireland and Nigeria . 1st generation Actor who theatrically trained at the prestigious Italia conti academy of dramatic art in London. A multi World champion martial artist in Taekwondo, Shenchido and belt holder in Full-contact kickboxing. Theatrically has won multiple awards and continues to work in the FILM/TV industryTae Kwon Do
Trivia: is a former member of the Sideswipe performance team
Best seen in BATTLE- Stunts
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Eric Shamm Watson as he is known to his friends has had a decent stunt career and has added acting to his list of skills. Bronx native, accomplished martial artist, college grad with degrees in Computer Science and Communication Media, the life experiences that Eric has had is what he relies on when he plays roles such as the non-dorky sarcastic computer hacker, caring mentor / coach, or a teacher that wears his heart on his sleeve. He tends to bring humor to any role he is in without being over the top. Eric has trained with Anthony Meindl, and Craig Wallace. He has also studied improve at the Groundlings where he received great notes about his style of comedy. Eric is best known for his dry humor, slow and calming speech and a variety of facial expressions.Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: is certified by the American Tae Kwon Do Association
Best seen in DIE FIGHTING- Jay Hawkins was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 19, 1988. During his early childhood, he became the leading male figure in his family's household: mother Sonya , aunt Marge and sister Lisa. Upon the start of his high school career, Hawkins began practicing Ai-Mute Shotokan Karate at Mejishi Martial Arts where he later attained the rank of "Shodan" or 1st degree black belt. Immediately after high school graduation, he attended the International Academy of Design and Technology - Detroit where originally majored in Graphic Design but later switched to Motion Graphics & Film. Encouraged by his family, friends and love for martial arts films, Jay began training in film and stage combat with Peter Malota and later auditioned & landed a position on the Wesley Snipes film Game of Death (2010). The connection made on this film led to his induction into the Screen Actors Guild via Taft Hartley for his performance in Benny Boom's S.W.A.T. Firefight (2011). With the film business growing substantially in Detroit, Hawkins went on to work on more films: Michael Bay's Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Mike Gunther's Setup (2011), Jon Avnet's Have a Little Faith (2011), and Shia LeBeouf's Maniac (2011). Within this time frame, television series had began to film in Detroit as well and he was inducted into the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists for his recurring performance on ABC's Detroit 1-8-7 (2011). With the production of television and film beginning to diminish, Jay decided to uproot everything that he knew and moved to Los Angeles, California in order to pursue stunts more seriously. Six months after his arrival, Hawkins was given the opportunity to work for stunt coordinator and director Hiro Koda on the second season of Nickelodeon's Supah Ninjas (2013) stunt doubling actor Carlos Knight. Upon his return to Los Angeles, Jay continued his efforts to be more well known in the stunt community. These efforts led him to work on several projects: CBS's Vegas (2012) stunt doubling actor Aaron Jennings, Samsung's Usher vs Usher Smart TV Commercial (2013) stunt doubling Usher Raymond, utility stunts as a dauntless soldier in Divergent (2014), BET's Real Husbands of Hollywood (2014) stunt doubling actor Wayne Brady, several episodes spanning seasons six & seven of HBO's True Blood (2014), landing his first speaking role as a stunt actor on FOX's New Girl (2013), stunt doubling actor Keith Stanfield on Don Cheadle's Miles Ahead (filming) and most recently stunt doubling actor Arlen Escarpeta for NBC's Grimm (2014).Shotokan Karate (1st Dan)
Trivia: trained in stage combat by Peter Malotta
Best seen in SUPAH NINJAS - Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Kinyumba Mutakabbir's star is on the rise and he is continuing to make his mark in Hollywood. He currently stars in FOXs television series STAR. The hour-long drama, executive produced, written, and directed by Lee Danies, is set in Atlanta, GA and covers the rise to stardom of Calotta (Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner Queen Latifah) and three orphan singers who she manages and eventually fosters. Mutakabbir plays the love interest of Carlotta and the ultimate benefactor of groups music career. Mutakabbir has starred in other prime time films including Coins For Christmas along side Essence Atkins (Marlon, A Haunted House), Slammed with Patricia De Leon(Bad Ass, A-X-L), and the face of both of Ben Rasmey's (The Big Hit, Dragonball Z Revolutions) written and directed films Black Salt and Interface. Both Black Salt and Interface were Urban Action Showcase winners and featured on all of HBO's streaming platforms. He also starred in a Cinemax series, Zane's The Jumpoff, written by New York Times bestselling author Zane. His additional TV credits include appearances on major shows such as The Catch, Angie Tribecca, Bold and The Beautiful, The Haunted Hathaways, and Dark Blue, among others. His production company, Kinsmen Studios, specializes in action, drama, and Sci-fi content spanning digital, television, and feature films. The company is in development for a film he penned: Code 3. This film is a dramatic thriller with its roots in Sci Fi as the twist at the end rivals "The Sixth Sense" introducing empathy in a way never before introduced in cinema. His charitable work includes time with the grassroots organization The Awareness Movement in Los Angeles. The organization focuses on creating content in order to facilitate a positive dialogue between local communities and law enforcement as well as giving a voice to disenfranchised voters in urban communities. He also volunteers with several schools throughout Los Angeles, providing scene study classes with a focus on African American classic playwrights. Mutakabbir is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and a protege of the Ivana Chubbuck in Los Angeles, CA, where he resides.Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Trivia: studies at the SWAM Martial Arts Academy in New York
Best seen in BLACK SALT- Stunts
- Actress
Mariko Saito is known for Pixels (2015), Slug Street Scrappers: Rise of Ryuken (2012) and Slug Street Scrappers (2017).Judo, Karate, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do
Trivia: is also a professional wrestler
Best seen in SLUG STREET SCRAPPERS