Disposable Heroes
There's the legends of the action world. Arnold, Sly, the Bruces, Jackie, Jet, so on and so forth. The stars whose status is secure. Then there's the guys whose star has faded. Maybe they've experienced a come-back in recent years, like Van Damme or Dolph. Maybe they haven't, like Seagal. Either way, they probably are still making movies. And then there's these guys. The hanger-ons, also-rans, rip-offs, the flashes in the pans. Action heroes who aren't even B or C-list. Disposable heroes. Somebody's got to love them.
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- Actor
- Stunts
- Director
Daniel Bernhardt was born on the 31st August 1965 in Worblaufen, Bern in Switzerland.
After finishing high school, he studied architectural design for four years and graduated in Bern. At the same time he opened a martial arts school with his brother. After completing his studies, Daniel moved to Paris and started to work as model. He worked for such designers as Montana, Mugler, Boss,Cerruti, Versace, Jaene Barnes and was published in the magazines Vogue, Elle, Max, Interview, Cosmopolitan and later, he established himself as a international Top Model.
Later, Bernhardt moved to New York where he was cast to co-star with Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bruce Weber's TV spot "Looking for Kicks" for Gianni Versace. Producer Marc Di Salle who launched Van Damme's carrier with Bloodsport and Kickboxer, discovered Daniel Bernhardt and cast him to star in the sequel Bloodsport II (1996) which was his debut, opposite such actors as Pat Morita and James Hong, including comic relief big guy Donald Gibb and Taekwondo champion Philip Tan.
The same year, a sequel Bloodsport III (1996) was released, again with Morita and James Hong, including John-Rhys Davies, and 9th degree black belt Taekwondo master Hee II Cho. From that point, Daniel began his career as action star on low budget films. His next films were Future War (1997), opposite Robert Z'Dar, Black Sea Raid (1997), True Vengance (1997), with Miles O'Keeffe and Beverly Johnson and Perfect Target (1997) with Robert Englund and Brian Thompson.
After these films, Daniel's interest in acting became bigger and he started to study acting in Los Angeles under Harry Mastrogeorge. So, he continued with G2 (1998), again with James Hong, Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite (1999), the last one in the series, this time against Brazilian JuJutsu champion Stefanos Miltsakakis. He appeared on TV series "Mortal Kombat: Conquest", as Siro, and it was followed by Global Effect (2002) and a mega hit "Matrix" sequel Matrix Reloaded (2003), where he appeared as upgraded agent Johnson, where he had an awesome fighting scene with Laurence Fishburne on the large truck, he has worked with other great names in this film, such as Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Monica Bellucci, Lambert Willson and Jada Pinket Smith.
He also lent his voice to agent Johnson in Enter The Matrix video game. The same year he filmed an action independent film, titled The Librarians (2003), where he co-starred with William Forsythe, Burt Reynolds, Erika Eleniak, Andrew Divoff, Amaury Nolasco, Christopher Atkins, Ed Lauter and Matthias Hues (whom he had a fight in the film). He worked on Children of Wax (2005), The Cutter (2005), opposite Chuck Norris and Joana Pacula, Ultimate Champion (2009) and Foodfight! (2009).
Bernhardt is married to Lisa Stothard. He became a father to his first daughter, with Lisa, on May 15, 2003, the night after the premiere of The Matrix Reloaded (2003), and said in a TV interview that it is no question what has been more important in his life: The birth of his daughter changed his attitude towards responsibility and love forever.The finest Van-Damme rip-off, Mr. Bernhardt looms above all other disposable heroes. He truly is the master of crappy action movies.- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
After graduating from Beverly Hills High School in 1980, while attending college Loren Avedon signed up at the Jun Chong Tae Kwon Do Karate school in Los Angeles. He received his first "break" while training late one night at the Karate school. Producer Roy Horan was looking for an actor/martial artist to be the star of No Retreat, No Surrender 2 (1987). He gave Loren an audition and a week later he was signed as the star in the film with a three-picture deal. He then starred in No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers (1990), helping him develop his acting talents and making him a cult hero in Europe and around the world. Loren spent four months shooting The King of the Kickboxers (1990), playing an undercover cop, with Billy Blanks. Experts agreed that "King of the Kickboxers" contained some of the most brilliant martial arts fight scenes ever captured on film.American martial artist seemingly chosen at random by Hong Kong action directors to star in a few films, including the latter half of the "No Return, No Surrender" franchise. Lots of schlock and TV guest spots followed. Last seen getting kicked in the face by Olivier Gruner in The Circuit III.- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Muscular African American sports star, actor, media identity and inventor of the phenomenally popular "Tae Bo" fitness system, derived from his extensive martial arts training. Blanks was born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1955 amongst humble backgrounds and grew up as one of 15 children, battling dyslexia and tendon problems. However that didn't stop him from starting his martial arts training at age 14 and eventually achieving black belts in tae kwon do & several other arts, and winning numerous US martial arts tournaments.
Blanks first popped up on movie screens in the mid 1980s in tough guy parts utilizing his athletic background and grim faced looks. Films roles included Tango & Cash (1989), Driving Force (1989) and Lionheart (1990). Things looked up in 1991, when Blanks scored the minor role of drug addicted running back "Billy Cole" in the explosive The Last Boy Scout (1991)....and further work followed often sharing lead billing in low budget - high action fare such as Talons of the Eagle (1992), TC 2000 (1993) and Expect No Mercy (1995).
In the late 1990s, Billy's innovative and exciting "Tae Bo" workout routine swept around the world like wildfire, and propelled him into the position of one of the world's most recognizable and biggest selling fitness trainers. The remarkable Blanks continues to refine and promote his unique "Tae Bo" fitness system, and he operates the Billy Blanks World Training Center in Sherman Oaks, California.Billy Blanks' career path: Obscurity - Action bit player - Star of crappy B-action flicks - Tae Bo - Obscurity.- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Former NFL Seattle Seahawks linebacker, the always controversial Brian "Boz" Bosworth only played three seasons in the NFL but during that period he made plenty of headlines for a mixture of reasons, however he was forced to retire due to a chronic shoulder injury - which then saw "Boz" pitched as a new action star in the cinema.
Bosworth's first film was the fiery action film Stone Cold (1991) about an Alabama police officer (Bosworth) going undercover to smash a murderous outlaw biker gang called "The Brotherhood" led by Lance Henriksen and William Forsythe. Bosworth put in a fairly reasonable performance alongside a supporting cast of very high quality actors, and the film received some mildly positive reviews. Interestingly, it was several years before he made another movie with Bosworth appearing quickly in a string of further tough guy roles in low budget action films including One Man's Justice (1996), the woefully slow Virus (1996), the offbeat noir styled Midnight Heat (1996) and as an undercover cop again in Back in Business (1997).
Bosworth hasn't turned into the next "big thing" in the action genre, however he has continued appearing in key roles in low budget action productions, and minor roles in bigger Hollywood productions such as The Longest Yard (2005).It's not uncommon for hunk-of-meat football stars to try and transition into action cinema. Without fail, they almost immediately wind up in films best suited to the Blockbusters used-DVD cheap bin. Having said that, "Stone Cold" is actually awesome.- Actor
- Writer
- Art Department
David Bradley was born in Plano, Texas on October 2, 1953. He is well known to the fans of low budget and martial arts films.
Prior to films, Bradley worked as a car salesman on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles and practiced such martial arts as Shotokan Karate, Chinese Kempo, Tai Chi and Aikido. Bradley started his career on films by being cast as the lead in the third sequel of cult the film "American Ninja" called American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989). And from that moment he also starred in American Ninja 4: The Annihilation (1990) and American Ninja 5 (1993) (as a different character in the final one), thereby replacing Michael Dudikoff. Bradley also worked on television for a time.
He starred alongside Elizabeth Gracen in direct to video Lower Level (1991), in which Bradley gave more intense, dramatic performance. Similarly in the title, he also starred in American Samurai (1992), opposite Mark Dacascos, who played the villain. Also, some of other Bradley's well known roles were in Cyborg Cop (1993) opposite John Rhys Davies and Cyborg Cop 2 (1994) as detective Jack Ryan. Other roles include Hard Justice (1995), White Cargo (1996) and Total Reality (1997) opposite Thomas Kretschmann. Today he is usually focused on art and painting.Mr. Bradley is the most unlikely of creatures: A Michael Dunikoff rip-off. His many fantastic credits include "American Ninja 3," "American Ninja 4," "American Ninja 5," "American Samurai," and his magnum opus "Cyborg Cop."- Actor
- Soundtrack
Reb Brown was born on 29 April 1948 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Space Mutiny (1988), Uncommon Valor (1983) and Yor: The Hunter from the Future (1983). He has been married to Cisse Cameron since 8 September 1979.Well known for his manly war-cry and total inability to appear convincing as an actor, Reb Brown has become a cult favorite for his unintentionally hilarious action films. AHHHHHHHHHHH!- Actor
- Producer
- Director
David Carradine was born in Hollywood, California, the eldest son of legendary character actor John Carradine, and his wife, Ardanelle Abigail (McCool). He was a member of an acting family that included brothers Keith Carradine and Robert Carradine as well as his daughters Calista Carradine and Kansas Carradine, and nieces Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.
He was born in Hollywood and educated at San Francisco State College, where he studied music theory and composition. It was while writing music for the Drama Department's annual revues that he discovered his own passion for the stage, joining a Shakespearean repertory company and learning his craft on his feet. After a two-year stint in the army, he found work in New York as a commercial artist and later found fame on Broadway in "The Deputy" and "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" opposite Christopher Plummer. With that experience he returned to Hollywood, landing the lead in the short-lived TV series Shane (1966) before being tapped to star opposite Barbara Hershey in Martin Scorsese's first Hollywood film, Boxcar Bertha (1972). The iconic Kung Fu (1972) followed, catapulting Carradine to super-stardom for the next three years, until he left the series to pursue his film career.
That career included more than 100 feature films, a couple of dozen television movies, a whole range of theater on and off Broadway and another hit series, Kung Fu: A Legend Reborn (1992).
Carradine received the Best Actor Award from the National Board of Film Review as well as a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Woody Guthrie in Hal Ashby's Bound for Glory (1976), and he won critical acclaim for his work as Cole Younger in The Long Riders (1980). "Kung Fu" also received seven Emmy nominations in its first season, including one for Carradine as Best Actor. In addition, he won the People's Prize at the Cannes Film Festival's "Director's Fortnight" for his work on Americana (1981), and a second Golden Globe nomination for his supporting role in North & South: Book 1, North & South (1985). Among his other notable film credits were Gray Lady Down (1978), Mean Streets (1973), Bird on a Wire (1990), The Long Goodbye (1973), The Serpent's Egg (1977) and Circle of Iron (1978). He returned to the screen in what could be his greatest performance, playing the title role in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), for which he received his fourth Golden Globe nomination. He also continued his devotion to music, and recorded some 60 tracks in various musical genres and sang in several movies. He made his home in Los Angeles with his fifth wife Annie, her four children and their two dogs.
Found dead in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 3, 2009, aged 72.Throughout his entire career, David Carradine awkwardly hovered between genuine cult icon and disposable herodom. Every "Death Race 2000" beget a "Deathsport." "Kung Fu" made him famous and "Fatal Secret" made you wonder why. "The Long Riders" was met by "Future Force." Before "Kill Bill," there was "Warlords" and "G.O.D." We loved him but Mr. Carradine clearly didn't care about the quality of his scripts.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
John Felix Anthony Cena was born on April 23, 1977 in West Newbury, Massachusetts to Carol Cena and John Joseph Cena. He is of Italian (father) and French-Canadian and English (mother) descent, and is the grandson of baseball player Tony Lupien. When he was in college, he played football. He then continued on to be a bodybuilder and a limousine driver. The 6-foot-1 tall star weighs exactly at 240 pounds and is a very successful superstar in the WWE.
The Dr. of Thuganomics started training to be a wrestler at Ultimate Pro Wrestling where he also created the character, The Prototype. Cena first appeared on WWE in a match against Kurt Angle on the 27th of June, 2002 which ended up with him losing.
In 2004, John Cena's status as a celebrity began to develop. Cena won the United States Championship from Big Show. Not too long later, Cena lost the title but he gained it back soon. Cena then lost the title again to fellow WWE superstar, Carlito. During that time, Cena apparently got stabbed in the kidney by one of Carlito's bodyguards. This resulted in staying out of action for a month.
In 2005 and 2006 respectively, Cena was involved in controversies. He had a feud with champion John Bradshaw Layfield, manager Eric Bischoff and fellow wrestler Chris Jericho. Cena also had feuds with Edge and Umaga at that time. But even so, some friendships were formed. Cena is said to be friends with Carlito after they won a match with Jeff Hardy against Edge, Randy Orton and Johnny Nitro.
The year 2007 was a big year for Cena as he was involved in a wrestling match with Britney Spears' ex and rap star, Kevin Federline. John ended up losing that match thanks to some assistance from Umaga to Kevin Federline. Later that night, Cena took revenge by body slamming Kevin Federline backstage. The year 2007 also started pretty well for John Cena as he became the first person to defeat the Samoan Bulldozer, Umaga that year. The Chain Gang Soldier also teamed up with Shaun Michaels defeating the RKO tag team, Randy Orton and Edge. The match ended up with Cena and Michaels winning.
As of October 2007, Cena lost his WWE Championship title because of an injury. While wrestling against Mr. Kennedy, Cena tore his pectoral muscle while executing a hip toss. Although he finished the match and completed the rest of the scripted event, a check-up the next day showed that John's pectoral major muscle was torn completely from the bone, requiring seven months to a year rehabilitation. Not able to perform, WWE's CEO, Vince McMahon stripped him off the title and ended his reign.
In 2008, Cena made an unannounced return to action on January 27 as the final participant of the Royal Rumble match. He won the match, and the traditional WrestleMania title shot. Cena also had a match against JBL, which he defeated at Judgment Day and then at One Night Stand in a First Blood match. However, JBL defeated him at the New York City Parking Lot Brawl. In the month of August, Cena was replaced by Rey Mysterio after it was announced Cena had suffered a herniated disk in his neck which required surgery and he would be out of action indefinitely. According to reports, Cena underwent successive surgery to repair the herniated disk in his neck with Doctor Joseph Maroon on August 25.
Aside from wrestling, John has also made a name in the movie business. In 2006, a WWE franchise movie titled The Marine was released with John playing the lead character, John Triton. The movie received mixed reviews due to the poor story-line and discrimination to the US Marines. Even so, fans queued up to watch the movie as this was John's first big screen appearance.
The WWE wrestler also added recording artist to his resume as he released his debut rap album "You Can't See Me" which debuted at #15 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was recorded with his cousin Tha Trademarc. The album featured his entrance theme song, 'The Time Is Now' & a host of other singles performed by Cena. One of the songs he performed with popular rap band Estoric and a number of other songs Cena performed with famous rapper Bumpy Knuckles. Cena is the only professional wrestler to ever perform on BBC Two's long running TV show Top of the Pops.
While still active with WWE, Cena made a couple of guest appearances: Jimmy Kimmel Live! twice to promote his album. He has also appeared on popular shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Fuse's Celebrity Playlist, Fox Sports Net's The Best Damn Sports Show Period, MADtv, G4's Training Camp and two appearances on MTV's Punk'd. He also served as a co-presenter, with Hulk Hogan, at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards, as a guest judge during the third week of the 2006 season of Nashville Star, and appeared at the 2007 Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards 2007.
In fashion, The Champ has also made a few trademarks. Cena is often seen with knee-high denim jeans and throwback jerseys when he first started on WWE. Lately, Cena has been wearing a lot of Chain Gang merchandise. When his movie, The Marine was released, John was seen to be adding more military-inspired clothing to his outfit to promote his movie.
Cena graduated from Springfield College, Massachusetts with degrees in exercise physiology and human anatomy. He applied to 60 colleges and he got accepted by 58 of them but in the end, he chose Springfield College. He is the second eldest of five brothers and is said to be a family guy when he is not wrestling. His good friends are fellow wrestlers, John Hennigan, Batista, Randy Orton, Carlito, Jeff and Matt Hardy, whom he will have to fight.
John Cena is definitely going to be a big inspiration to all, whether in wrestling, fashion, music or even movies as his participation in the industry is already more than regular celebrity. With all he has achieved, fans can definitely expect to see more of this WWE superstar in the coming future.
Also, recently he has completed his new movie 12 Rounds produced by WWE Films. This movie was said to have finished filming when John suffered from his injury in 2007.A lot of wrestlers think they can easily transition from fake wrestling to real action stardom. (Also see: Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin) But Dwayne "Please Don't Call Me The Rock" Johnson is the exception, not the rule in this situation. John Cena has become a regular in direct-to-video action flicks that spontaneously self-generate on the Walmart cheap rack every Tuesday.- Actor
- Stunts
- Director
Mark Dacascos is an actor, director, martial artist, and television personality. Whether seen on the big screen or small, playing the good guy or the bad, Mark has been making audience stand up and take notice for many years.
This May, Mark will be seen in highly anticipated film John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum playing the lethal assassin, Zero, opposite Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Asia Kate Dillon, and Laurence Fishburne.
Later this summer Mark can be seen in Roger Avary's film Lucky Day in the scene stealing role of Louis opposite Nina Dobrev and Crispin Glover and the new Netflix series Wu Assassins opposite Katheryn Winnick.
Dacascos has appeared in over 40 feature films including the haunting French film and box office success, Brotherhood of the Wolf, nemesis to Jett Li in Cradle to the Grave, and cult classic action film, Drive. He has also reprised the iconic role of Wo Fat in the hit CBS series Hawaii 5-0, Mr. Giyera on the hit television show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as the star of the series The Crow. Mark has appeared in numerous television shows such as Chicago P.D., Lucifer, and the hugely popular Hallmark franchise, The Perfect Bride and it's follow up The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells.
Mark's turn as The Chairman on the Food Network's hit show, Iron Chef America launched him into pop icon status with over 200 episodes and counting on the Food Network. He also took his turn on the dance floor transforming his martial arts moves into dancing magic on ABC's hit show, Dancing With the Stars. Many millions have also enjoyed watching Mark in the hugely popular and uber successful web series Mortal Kombat Legacy and the international web series The Way.
Besides starring in television and films, Mark achieved a career milestone by directing his first feature film titled Showdown in Manilla starring Casper Van Dien and Tia Carrere.
The darkly exotic, multi-lingual, multi-skilled Dacascos is a mix of Japanese, Filipino, Spanish, Irish, and Chinese heritages. He was born in Hawaii and attended school in Germany. He is married and the proud father of 3 children.Dacascos probably could have been a great action star, or at least ranked solidly on a Van Damme-type level, but he's been showing up in a lot of Asylum movies here of late, making him a candidate for this list.- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Gary Edward Daniels (born 9 May 1963) is an English actor, a martial arts artist, a martial arts action film star, a producer, and a fight coordinator. . Daniels who was also interested in films, starred in two motion pictures in 1988 made in the Philippines. These were Teddy Page's action martial arts film Final Reprisal (1988), and the jungle adventure, The Secret of King Mahi's Island (1988). Daniels returned to the US, and continued competing. From 1991 to 1994, Daniels was seen acting in several action and martial arts films, within those he had a supporting role in Albert Pyun's Knights (1993), and played an adversary who had showdowns with Jackie Chan in City Hunter (1993) and Don Wilson in Ring of Fire (1991), and Bloodfist IV: Die Trying (1992). On his own, Daniels was the star of the action films Capital Punishment (1991), American Streetfighter (1992), Firepower (1993), Full Impact (1993), and Deadly Target (1994).
In 1995, Daniels played the lead role of Kenshiro in Tony Randel's American live-action version of Japanese manga Fist of the North Star. The film had a notable cast that included Costas Mandylor, Isako Washio Malcolm McDowell, etc. From its release on, the film was widely seen on television and on home video. From that point up until 2001, Daniels, now an established action film actor, acted in many films mixed between action, martial arts, and science fiction. Some of these efforts included Albert Pyun's Heatseeker, Joseph Merhi's Rage, Art Camacho's Recoil, Jeff Burr's Spoiler, Master P's No Tomorrow, Isaac Florentine's Cold Harvest, Joseph Zito's Delta Force One: The Lost Patrol, Bloodmoon, White Tiger, Hawk's Vengeance, Riot, Epicenter, Fatal Blade, City of Fear, Black Friday, Queen's Messenger, and Witness to a Kill.
From 2004 on, Daniels took on more supporting roles, this includes the role of Ed Parker in the Bruce Lee biographical mini-series The Legend of Bruce Lee, with contemporary martial artists Mark Dacascos, Ray Park, Ernest Miller, and Michael Jai White. He is also known for his supporting role as Bryan Fury in the 2009 live-action film Tekken, and its 2014 prequel, based upon the popular fighting game series. Daniels acted alongside Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, and Randy Couture in the Sylvester Stallone film The Expendables as Lawrence "The Brit" Sparks, an ally of the villain. Daniels appeared in La Linea, an action-crime film with an ensemble cast that includes Ray Liotta, Andy García, Armand Assante, etc. Next was Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright alongside Aidan Quinn, Andy García for the second time, Mario Van Peebles, etc. Other efforts among many include David DeCocteau's The Wrong Child with Vivica A. Fox, the Wesley Snipes action vehicle Game of Death, Steve Austin's action vehicle Hunt to Kill, Stu Bennett's thriller I am Vengeance, etc. Some of the lead roles Daniels took are the martial arts fighting films Forced to Fight with Peter Weller, and Rumble. He was also the lead actor in the thriller Misfire, where he plays seasoned DEA agent, who descends into the underworld of Tijuana, and the jaded former hitman in Skin Traffik going against a gangster played by Mickey Rourke, with an ensemble cast including Daryl Hannah, Eric Roberts, Michael Madsen, Jeff Fahey, Dominique Swain, and Alan Ford.Sly put him in "The Expendables," so I guess Mr. Daniels is one of the highest-profile people on this list. Still, look at his credits. There's a lot of schlock of there.- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Producer
Michael Dudikoff was born in Redondo Beach, California, USA. Michael is an actor and assistant director, known for Platoon Leader (1988), American Ninja (1985) and Bachelor Party (1984). Michael has been married to Belle since 18 September 2004. They have three children.The Dud, as his fans affectionately refer to him, headlined many late period Cannon action flicks of the eighties/early nineties. However, after the golden period of cheapie action flicks dried up, the American Ninja more-or-less disappeared, his few remaining credits becoming more and more embarrassing.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
An internationally famous and well respected bodybuilder / actor, Lou Ferrigno first appeared on TV screens in 1977 as the musclebound title character of The Incredible Hulk (1978), the alter ego of meek scientist David Banner. Ferrigno was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1951 and as a child suffered from an ear infection that resulted in permanent partial hearing loss. Undeterred by what some may have perceived as a disadvantage, Lou threw himself into athletics (predominantly weightlifting and body building) and at the age of 21 won his first Mr. Universe title. For good measure, he came back and won it again the following year!
He also played professional football in the Canadian Football League, before coming to the attention of producer Kenneth Johnson, who was seeking just the right person to portray on screen the comic book superhero, The Incredible Hulk. With his 6'5", 285 lbs. frame, Lou was the biggest professional bodybuilder of the time, and had recently starred in the documentary Pumping Iron (1977), about the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest in South Africa. He successfully auditioned for the part of the green-skinned Goliath, and that is the role with which he is most closely identified.
"The Hulk" was a huge ratings success and spawned several telemovies after the initial TV series completed its run. Lou continued to remain busy in films and TV with appearances often centered around his remarkable physique. His films included Hercules (1983), Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989) and Frogtown II (1992). Lou has additionally guest-starred on several TV shows including The Fall Guy (1981) and The New Mike Hammer (1984) and had a recurring role on The King of Queens (1998). In 1997 he was featured in the dynamic documentary about his sensational return to professional bodybuilding at age 43, Stand Tall (1997). The film detailed how he returned to compete in the Masters category of the Mr. Olympia contest against several familiar bodybuilding foes. In more recent years, he has appeared in several films, including The Misery Brothers (1995), Ping! (2000), From Heaven to Hell (2002) and a cameo as a security guard in the big-budget remake of Hulk (2003).
Big Lou is also a successful author with two books detailing his bodybuilding knowledge, and his life behind the scenes playing the Incredible Hulk on TV in the 1970s, plus he has a popular website frequented by his many fans worldwide.Cultural icon? No question. Dude was the Hulk! Disposable hero? Without question. Look no further then credits in "Cage" or "Return to Frogtown." Ferrigno has never been able to escape the Hulk's shadow and continues to voice the character in its various incarnations.- Mark Gregory was born on 2 May 1964 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He was an actor, known for Escape from the Bronx (1983), 1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982) and Thunder (1983). He died on 31 January 2013 in Castel Madama, Lazio, Italy.Like Reb Brown, Mark Gregory somehow wound up starring in a series of Italian action rip-offs, most notoriously the Bronx Warrior duology, during the eighties before vanishing off the face of the Earth
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Richard Grieco was born to an Italian father (Richard Grieco) and an Irish mother (Carolyn O'Reilly). He is a musician and, in 1995, released a CD ('Waiting for the Sky to Fall') in Germany. In 2009, several years after being encouraged by Dennis Hopper, Grieco publicly revealed that he has been painting since 1991. He calls his work "Abstract Emotionalism".When not starring in Syfy Channel Originals or snorting cocaine off of strippers' cleavage, Richard Grieco spends his time throwing darts at pictures of Johnny Depp.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Thomas Ian Griffith was born on March 18, 1962 in Hartford, Connecticut. His father was a college professor, his mother a dance teacher. Griffith trained as an opera singer in New York City with Metropolitan Opera star Delia Rigal. He attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, majoring in English literature and music. While still in school, he was cast in the Broadway show The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. He continued to work on Broadway and in regional theater until moving to Los Angeles to star in his first feature film, The Karate Kid Part III. After a successful acting career, Griffith segued into writing full time, including developing multiple pilots for NBC, Universal and Warner Brothers TV. He is married to actress/screenwriter Mary Page Keller. They have two sons, Conner and Eamon.It's a pretty good rule that intense guys that play villains in big budget action movies that are actually seen by people are almost definitely going to star as the hero in some low budget action movies nobody but movie nerds are going to see. tl;dr: Thomas Ian Griffith's entire career.- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Olivier Gruner was born on August 2, 1960 in Paris. His father was a successful surgeon with his own surgery practice. One of his brothers also became a surgeon and his younger brother became an engineer. When he was 18 years old, he joined the Marine Nationale, volunteering for their Commando Marine unit, which are the Special Operation Forces of the French Navy. As part of his military training, he learned to scuba dive, sky dive and climb. Most of this time he was in Djibouti and Somalia. At this time he already trained karate. When he left the Marine Nationale in 1981, he went to the French Alps and started to train kick-boxing. He choose this place because he could ski, one of his biggest hobbies. After three years of hard training, he became for the first time French Kickboxing Champion. He defended the title two times and in 1986 he became the World Middleweight Kickboxing Champion. He had a job at the film festival in Cannes, where he put up a poster of himself. Two days later, a man came and invited him for test shoots to Los Angeles, which lead to his first film Angel Town (1990). He retired from kickboxing in 1987 to pursue a career as an actor. model and director. Some more, mainly martial arts, movies followed.In the post-Van Damme boom, seems like any kickboxer with a funny accent could headline at least a few low-budget action flicks. Gruner's main claim to fame is cyberpunk sorta-classic "Nemesis," it's few sequels, and a bunch of other awful crap.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
David Heavener was born on 22 December 1958 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Prime Target (1991), Angel Blade (2002) and Outlaw Force (1987).So sayeth Seanbaby: "Heavener is a living Tim and Eric sketch, and his fight scenes are violent mockeries of violence. It's often hard to tell if Heavener is trying to punch someone in the face or knock the boom mic above their heads out of frame."- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Terry Eugene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler and television personality. He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s.
Hogan began his professional wrestling career in 1977, but gained worldwide recognition after signing for World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1983. There, his persona as a heroic all-American helped usher in the 1980s professional wrestling boom, where he headlined eight of the first nine editions of WWF's flagship annual event, WrestleMania. During his initial run, he won the WWF Championship five times, with his first reign being the second-longest in the championship's history. He is the first wrestler to win consecutive Royal Rumble matches, winning in 1990 and 1991. His match with Andre the Giant on WWF The Main Event on February 5, 1988, still holds American television viewership records for wrestling with a 15.2 Nielsen rating and 33 million viewers.
In 1993, Hogan departed the WWF to sign for rival promotion World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times, and holds the record for the longest reign. In 1996, he underwent a career renaissance upon adopting the villainous persona of "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, leading the popular New World Order (nWo) stable. As a result, he became a major figure during the "Monday Night Wars", another boom of mainstream professional wrestling. He headlined WCW's annual flagship event Starrcade three times, including the most profitable WCW pay-per-view ever, Starrcade 1997.
Hogan returned to the WWF in 2002 following its acquisition of WCW the prior year, winning the Undisputed WWF Championship for a record equaling (for the year) sixth time before departing in 2003. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, and inducted a second time in 2020 as a member of the nWo.
Hogan also performed for the American Wrestling Association (AWA), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) - where he won the original IWGP Heavyweight Championship - and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA - now known as Impact Wrestling).
During and after wrestling, Hogan had an extensive acting career, beginning with his 1982 cameo role in Rocky III. He has starred in several films (including No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando and Mr. Nanny) and three television shows (Hogan Knows Best, Thunder in Paradise, and China, IL), as well as in Right Guard commercials and the video game, Hulk Hogan's Main Event. He was the frontman for The Wrestling Boot Band, whose sole record, Hulk Rules, reached No. 12 on the Billboard Top Kid Audio chart in 1995.Hulk Hogan is, no doubt, a pop culture icon. But have you actually seen any of his movies? It really says a lot about his acting career when "Shadow Warriors 2: Assault on Death Mountain" is the best thing on his resume. (Not counting his cameo in "Gremlins 2," of course.) Most recently seen embarrassing himself on various cable reality shows.- Matthias Hues was born on Valentine's Day in Waltrop, Germany, to the late Dr. Josef Hues and Maria Humperdinck Hues who still resides in Germany. Maria is the niece of Engelbert Humperdinck, composer of the opera Hansel and Gretel.
Matthias was very involved in sports from an early age on. By the time he was 19 he was part of the team that won the German pentathlon championship in Hannover and he later became Germany's hopeful in track and field. He also took up martial arts due to his ability to move extremely fast for his 6'5" height and 250-pound weight.
After graduating from school, Matthias moved to Paris to fulfill his early dream of entering Hotel management. Once there he joined one of the most prestigious health clubs in Paris, which had just been bombarded with the new Jane Fonda aerobic exercise program from the US. Matthias recognized an opportunity when he saw one, then and after returning to Germany he gave up his idea of going into Hotel management and instead opened two health clubs, flying in aerobic teachers from the USA.
It was during that time when he became obsessed with America and the American way of life, and due to his spectacular physique and bigger-than-life appearance and personality, it wasn't long before some people suggested that he should try to enter the entertainment industry, so he sold his clubs and boarded a plane to Los Angeles.
He immediately joined Gold's Gym in Venice, California, the mecca of bodybuilding and entertainment personalities. Within a few weeks Derek Barton, a former Hollywood stuntman, and formerly one of Gold's managing directors, received a frantic call from a producer who had just lost Jean-Claude Van Damme for his movie and needed someone to replace him immediately. Derek didn't hesitate to send Matthias to test for the role, and Matthias managed to convince the producers to give him the part, despite having no acting experience whatsoever. The movie, No Retreat, No Surrender 2 (1987), was a moderate success, and opened the door for Matthias to make more films.
He established himself quickly as a powerhouse in the action genre and began appearing in more films, his most successful to date being Dark Angel (1990). Over the years he recognized that his outstanding physique and size would not always be a plus in his acting career, so if needed he would reshape his look, dropping up to 40 pounds at times for various roles, and he began studying with some of the industry's best acting and speech coaches.
Matthias played a variety of roles in his films, from a gladiator turned private investigator in Age of Treason (1993) to an aging hit-man in Finding Interest (1995) to a bumbling idiot trying to kidnap a rich kid in Alone in the Woods (1996) to a dancing lion tamer in Big Top Pee-wee (1988). He also played a Klingon general in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991). Matthias is one of the few foreign actors who managed to loose his accent to the extent that many people in his own country don't even know that he is from Germany.
Matthias recently began writing and producing. He is set to direct and produce his first full feature film; a spy thriller to be shot in Frankfurt and Rome.Matthias Hues: Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Despite frequently playing bad guys, sidekicks, henchmen, and bit parts in lots of low budget action flicks (many of them starring other people on this list), Mr. Hues never reached full action hero maturity. - Actor
- Producer
- Director
Martin Kove was born on March 6, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York. Strong-featured, narrow-eyed actor who has portrayed a mixed bag of both good guys and bad guys. He first turned up on screen in several minor roles, and was noticed as the villainous Nero the Hero in the low-budget road race Death Race 2000 (1975), and then as Clem the sadistic rigger, breaking Jan-Michael Vincent's ribs in White Line Fever (1975). He cropped up on the television series Cagney & Lacey (1981) portraying honest Police Detective Isbecki, and then ended up on the wrong side of a rampaging Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985).
Kove probably scored his greatest visibility to the public in the hugely successful The Karate Kid (1984) in which he played John Kreese, the head instructor of the Cobra Kai karate school. He reprised the role in the two sequels, The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989). Kove has since kept consistently busy, primarily in the action-thriller film genre, and has notched up over 80 film appearances to date, as well as numerous television guest roles.Kove was already an experienced character actor by the time he appeared in "The Karate Kid" and "Rambo: First Blood Part II." After that, he started head-lining great example of Disposable Heroes-type flicks like "Steele Justice," "Shootfighter," and countless others. He continues to act and keep busy, even if his action hero days are far behind him.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Lorenzo Fernando Lamas was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of actors Arlene Dahl and Fernando Lamas. His father was Argentinian and his mother was American, of Norwegian descent. Lorenzo was raised in Pacific Palisades, California. In 1968, his family moved to New York. He attended private school, graduating from Admiral Farragut Academy in 1975. He then moved back to California. With encouragement from his father, he enrolled in Tony Barr's Film Actors Workshop and began his career with a small role in a television show in 1976. He also began to study karate and tae kwon do in 1979. He has starred in five television series and in over fifty movies. He is most known for his roles on television, notably as Lance Cumson on CBS' Falcon Crest (1981) and Reno Raines in the syndicated hit show Renegade (1992). Lorenzo also sustained a professional racing career while working successfully as a TV and Film actor in the 80's and 90's. He acts on stage and has a cabaret show that he tours with across the country. Some of the roles he has played onstage include the king in the musical The King and I as well as Zach in the musical A Chorus Line. He is an avid motorcyclist for over thirty years and has participated in the Love Ride, to benefit MDA and various charities since its inception in 1983. He is also on the board of directors. Lorenzo is a commercial helicopter and airplane pilot and he often flies disadvantaged children to summer camps and people too sick or financially challenged to travel normally on domestic flights. He just recently received his certification to become a helicopter flight instructor.Best known by fans of nineties nostalgia and crappy syndicated TV shows as the dude from "Renegade," it's a bit surprising to read that Lamas' B-action credits actually pre-date that show.- Actor
- Producer
Joe Lara was born in San Diego, California. He was cast to play "Tarzan" in "Tarzan: The Epic Adventures" in the early 1990s. He worked in many countries, including South Africa, Bulgaria, and Russia. He co starred in many film to video projects that were filmed in Bulgaria, Russia, and Africa. He was the longtime partner and fiancé of actress Natasha Pavlovich. They had a child together.Mr. Lara combined the best/worse? qualities of both Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul, while somehow actually avoiding the "Highlander" franchise completely.- Actor
- Stunts
- Writer
Evan Lurie, Gallery Director, was born in New York, as the fourth, with three other boys. His parents divorced when he was a toddler. His mother remarried a British business man, so he has lived and traveled extensively across Europe. From the time he was five until he was 17, Lurie and his mom made a point of seeking out the cultural treasures wherever they were living. Lurie's father was an ex-Marine who taught his sons boxing. Though he was an ocean away in Europe, Lurie took up martial arts and when he was old enough to think about going to college he returned to the States to reconnect with his dad, his brothers and possibly pursue a martial arts career. He was immediately smitten by New York City, with its feeling of old.
He was also able to land a gig as a martial arts coach and stunt man on a CBS TV series, The Equalizer. In the meantime, he was hanging out with his brothers. One, in particular, Bruce, was in the art business and owned a gallery frequented by Keith Haring and Andy Warhol. Bruce Lurie gave Jean-Michel Basquiat his first show. But he wanted to make movies. He went to Los Angeles to see if he could parlay his martial arts training into a career. He was interviewed by action star Jean Claude Van Damme, but when nothing came of it, Lurie took a job as a bouncer at what at that time was one of L.A.'s hottest clubs, the Roxbury. Meeting the right people landed him a role in a Van Damme movie after all and his movie career as a fight choreographer and stunt man had begun. The movies and martial arts enabled Lurie to travel the world.
An injury from a movie set however, put him through hospital and made him turn his life around. He and his wife, Jennifer, an actress and model, opened a gallery in West Hollywood and, in the process, helped develop a new district, Avenues of Art and Design, that won a California Governor's Award for Best New Business District in 1999. Soon Lurie was collaborating with his brother Bruce on a gallery in Miami, also connected with an art and design district.
Fluent in five languages, Evan has the facility to connect diverse international artists with a network of art collectors across North America. He brings his passion and professional experience from film directing and production into the fine arts business. The result is a fresh look at contemporary art and the founding of a series of galleries from Los Angeles to Miami, celebrated with the most recent opening of his signature space, Evan Lurie Gallery, in Carmel, near Indianapolis.
Evan fosters powerful relationships with artists and galleries worldwide, to provide his collectors the leading edge in discovering new and unique artwork. The Gallery has exclusive representation of numerous artists in Europe, Cuba, Canada, and the United States. Evan Lurie now lives in Carmel, Indiana full time.Another supporting player of 1990s DTV action flicks and martial artist of minor renown, Lurie has appeared along side other disposable heroes like Jeff Wincott, Bolo Yeung, Cynthia Rothrock, Wings Hauser, David Bradley, Jalel Merchi, Joe Lara and Don "The Dragon" Wilson. Like a lot of these other guys, he completely disappeared before the start of the new century. Has had an unexpected second career as a film composer.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Ronald Lee Marchini (aka Ron Marchini) is an American martial artist who is a champion in karate and action films actor. He wrote books on karate with Leo Fong, a martial artist known for Power training in Kung-Fu and karate. In May 1964, at Takayuki Kubota's All-Stars Tournament in Los Angeles, California, Marchini fought Chuck Norris, who earned his first martial arts tournament championship by defeating Marchini by a half a point. Worked in many action films low cost and martial arts b-Movie.It would be easy to make fun of Ron Marchini but I don't want to. A martial artist who acted in, wrote, produced, and even directed many of his movies, most of which have the word "cop," "warrior," or "karate" in the title. He did most of it independently and on his own. His movies may have been low-rent but the Karate Cop is cool in my book.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Jalal Merhi is recognized worldwide as a premiere action-film producer / director after successfully delivering over 20 films worldwide within a decade, and numerous short film projects. Born in Brazil from to Lebanese parents, Jalal emigrated to Canada to study and eventually built an extension of his family jewelry business, keeping his sport of competitive martial arts on the side, also keeping his eye on his true love: filmmaking. He sold his share in a building in downtown Toronto and his jewelry business and, with some additional investment from his diamond dealers, created the film production company Film One.
From its inception in 1989 Film One has carved its niche in the lucrative action genres. Merhi's commitment to high production values is evident on the screen but his commercial savvy and organizational skills are what make him one of Canada's most prolific and successful producers. He started his martial arts training with Tae Kwon Do, became a 2nd dan in Shotokan then master in Choy Lay Fut and hung gar. He entered over 150 tournament with a great deal of success. It was then he was approached by a producer for a movie role. Although that particular film project never got off the ground, Jalal got to know many other people with influence and his career was born. He has since worked with such martial-arts legends as Bolo Yeung, Cynthia Rothrock and Billy Blanks. He has grown to be a martial arts choreographer and director.Star of the "Tiger Claws" and "The Circuit" series, Merhi is yet another castaway from the time when Van Damme was king, the video rental stores were full of cheap action flicks, and all you needed to be a movie star was the ability to kick really high. When not starring in low-budget action films, he is frequently directing them.- 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.When not remembered for his reoccuring part on sitcom "Step by Step," Mr. Mitchell is best remembered for filling Van Damme's shorts in several "Kickboxer" sequels. He was at his best playing an emotionless robot in "Class the 1999 Part II: The Substitute." - Attended the Air Force Academy Prep School after high school. He quit and switched over to Mississippi State to play football, but was forced to quit when he broke his hand. He then transferred to the University of the South, and graduated with a B.A. in psychology. He worked a year as a counselor at the Tennessee State Prison, then traveled around a bit before being asked to appear as an extra in a TV movie. He moved to Los Angeles in 1980, and sent in his picture to the makers of Tarzan the Ape Man (1981). The rest is history.After playing Tarzan in notorious flop "Tarzan, the Ape Man," Mr. O'Keeeeeffffffe became a main-stay of low-budget action rip-offs, playing Ator, Sir Gawain, Dracula, and machine-gunning hundreds of faceless bad guys.
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Michael Kevin Paré was born on October 9, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York City, to Joan (Moroney) and Francis Paré, who owned print shops. His father died of leukemia when Paré was five, leaving his mother to raise their large family of children. Paré was working as a chef in New York City when an agent, Yvette Bikoff, convinced him to try acting. Paré's first starring role was as high school student Tony Villcana on the television series The Greatest American Hero (1981). His well-known film roles were as 1960s rock icon Eddie Wilson in Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) and its sequel Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! (1989), as well as Streets of Fire (1984) and The Philadelphia Experiment (1984). Other films include Moon 44 (1990), Village of the Damned (1995), Bad Moon (1996), Hope Floats (1998) and The Virgin Suicides (1999). On television, Paré starred with Michael Beck on the CBS police drama Houston Knights (1987), as well as the short-lived sci-fi series Starhunter (2000).So how did Eddie, as in "and the Cruisers," become a star of so many B-budget, DTV action, crime, and horror films? No idea.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
With over 30 films and 200 hours of television experience, versatility, discipline and a solid work ethic have been the underpinnings of Adrian's very successful 30-year acting career. Internationally recognized for his role as Duncan Macleod, in Highlander-The Series", Adrian has also produced and directed both film and television projects.
Born and raised in London, England, Adrian arrived in the United States in 1984, working as a choreographer and a model. After a year of taking acting classes with acting coaches, Ivana Chubbuck and Roy London, his first series role came on the ABC television show, The Colbys. This led to a role in the Broadway play, "Bouncers", in 1987, a guest role on the television show, Beauty and the Beast (1987) and his first film role in the film Last Rites (1988), with Tom Berenger.
After a starring role in "Masque of the Red Death"(1989), he became a series regular in the second season of the television series "War of the Worlds"(1988), followed by four episode arc on the MGM, "Dark Shadows" series. Fast becoming known for his solid work ethic, CBS cast him as the lead in the television pilot, "The Owl" (1990). Although the series wasn't picked up, Adrian didn't stop working, guest starring on Angela Lansbury's "Murder She Wrote", and co starring opposite the up-and-coming Sandra Bullock in, "Love Potion Number 9". But it would be his next role that would bring him international recognition...that of "Duncan MacLeod" in the syndicated series, Highlander (1991-1997). During the 6 year run, Adrian directed four of the series' episodes, including the epic 100th episode, shot in Bordeaux France. Three of these episodes were voted in the top ten best of series for the 119 episode run.
Although he was in demand when the series ended in 1997, Paul wanted to go back to his acting roots. After studying with renowned acting coach Larry Moss, he worked on John Landis' romantic comedy, "Susan's Plan", the action thriller, "Dead Men Can't Dance", and helped found Actors in Process, a theater group, where actors could meet weekly to showcase current work and receive positive critique from their peers. After two years, a production of an original play, "Things Just Change", was showcased at the Odyssey theater in Los Angeles, with Paul in the lead role.
The success of the Highlander series however, was still current, leading Paul to be offered to star opposite Christopher Lambert in "Highlander : Endgame"(2000), to take over the franchise's lead position. Other films followed, including the now cult classic "The Breed" (2001), shot in Budapest, Hungary where Adrian met his future wife, Alexandra.
In 2001, Lionsgate signed Adrian to a 3 picture deal, as well as to star in and executive produce the Sci Fi action thriller, "Tracker" (created by Gil Grant) for Lionsgate Television. With the advent of so many new media outlets however, the syndicated series was not renewed for a second season. Adrian continued to work on films such as "Nemesis Game" (Lionsgate) and "Tides of War", along with the Spelling Television and Paramount Pictures' hit TV series, "Charmed". This was the first time in thirteen years that Adrian had actually filmed again on US soil.
In 2006 the Highlander Franchise was back again, this time filming in Lithuania, with Adrian starring in and Executive Producing, what would become his last sortie as Duncan Macleod, in "Highlander :The Source". After that came, "The Legend of Roanoke"(2007) and the Sci Fi Action Comedy "The Immortal Voyages of Captain Drake"(2009), a film in which Paul choreographed all the fight scenes.
Always looking for interesting roles, Adrian found himself in Hungary and Tunisia, filming the Seven Arts production, "Nine Miles Down"(2009), that he now considers one of his most emotionally challenging roles. Next, he was off to London, in an out of character role, as a Conservative member of Parliament in the thriller, "The Heavy "(2010), with Gary Stretch, Stephen Rea and Christopher Lee. Also in 2010, Adrian co-founded his first production company Filmblips Inc.
Since 2010, while working as an actor on several other films and TV movies, Adrian also wrote three screenplays, developed financial and artistic presentation packages for film and television, along with spearheading his charity, The Peace Fund, that he founded in 1997. Peace stands for Protect. Educate. Aid. Children. Everywhere. Over the past 17 years, Adrian has overseen the work of the fund in countries such as Romania, Bellarus, Niger, Hungary, Haiti, Cambodia, Thailand and the United States. In 2012, Adrian launched Peace Fund Radio that he co hosts with Ethan Dettanmaeir, with an estimated audience of between 1.8 and 2 million listeners a month. The innovative radio show, has been host to many celebrities with causes of their own and is the catalyst behind the Peace Fund's partnership and donation to bring computers into LAUSD schools. Through the radio shows influence the fund has also partnered with Kimberly Moore's," Adopt a Letter" program to fulfill children's wishes at Christmas, brought books for libraries and lights for homes in El Salvador, along with connecting like minded charities to fulfill their initiatives.
In 2015, Adrian helped launch his second production company, Radical Road, aimed at lower budget films, some of which Adrian is set to direct and act in. In 2016 Adrian has two movies, "The Secret of Emily Blair" and "Stormageddon", releasing and he is getting ready to direct his first feature, "Chemical Influence", a screenplay he wrote from an original script. Adrian also launched, "The Sword Experience" in 2016. Half day seminars of sword training, that include stage and real life combat and safety tips aimed at individuals, corporations, film, stage, re-enactment societies, martial artists and role playing groups.
He is still married to Alexandra and they have two children together, Angelisa and Royce.Well remembered by fans of nineties nostalgia as the star of the "Highlander" television series. After that franchise died a slow and painful death, so did Adrian Paul's career. Aside from several Syfy Channel originals, he has most recently been seen getting fat and bald.- Actor
- Producer
Roddy Piper was born Roderick George Toombs on April 17, 1954 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was a pro wrestler from 1973-1987 in the NWA, Pacific Northwest, California. He was a longtime mainstay in the WWF, and was one of the biggest "bad guys" in the WWF during the early '80s, before becoming a fan favorite in the late '80s. He became infamous for his mouth as much as his skills in the ring. He hosted Pipers Pit, which saluted the bad guys of professional wrestling, the most famous of which involved him smashing Jimmy Superfly Snuka over the head with a coconut. He was wrestling's most popular villain because of his feud with Hulk Hogan that culminated at Wrestlemania I. He went into semi-retirement after Wrestlemania III, when he beat and shaved the late Adrian Adonis.
He continued to wrestle into the '90s, but spent much of his time doing color commentary for WWF TV. In January 1992, he won the WWF Intercontinental Title from "The Mountie", the only title he would ever hold in his storied WWF career. After losing the title three months later, he left the WWF, and only made the occasional appearance in the ring over the next few years. In 1995, he had a stint as the WWF's interim president. He later resurfaced in WCW during the late '90s to continue his feud with "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, until the company's demise in 2001.
Roddy Piper appeared in many action films. He died of a heart attack on July 31, 2015, in Hollywood, California.I love "Rowdy" Roddy. "They Live" is a masterpiece. Sadly, Piper has had a hard time finding other films suited to his charisma and has the dubious honor of playing sidekick to both Don "The Dragon" Wilson and Billy Blanks.- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Art Department
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Ted Prior and his two siblings were raised in a middle-class neighborhood. His father was a stand-up comic and his mother was an on-stage assistant to magician Harry Blackstone When Ted was five his parents divorced and his mother soon remarried. The family later decided to settle down and relocate to Baltimore, where his stepfather became an art teacher and his mother became a seamstress for local theater companies. Ted quickly became involved in the theater as a child actor. It became clear as the years went by that he also wanted to become a professional actor, and in 1979 he left for Los Angeles to embark on an acting career, which has lasted over 26 years.
He has enjoyed working in everything from feature film and television to commercials and stage work. His credits include starring roles in some 28 feature films and he has worked with such actors as Tony Curtis, Cher, Powers Boothe, Heather Locklear, Glenn Ford, Lance Henriksen, Robert Davi, David Carradine, Michael Ironside, Wilford Brimley, Sandahl Bergman, Stacy Keach and many more. In 2002 Ted started teaching acting with a longtime friend at the "Working Stage" in Hollywood, California. His experience both in front of and behind the camera has given him the ability to teach from the "reality of doing" perspective. Ted owns and runs "Next Level Acting Studios" in Santa Clarita, California, and is also a partner in the successful production company "All American Pictures". The company was formed in July of 2005 with two other veterans of the film industry, his brother David A. Prior and Bill Ferrell. Together these three have produced some 50 feature-length motion pictures and have a combined 80 years in the business.Prior's brother actually started a production company just to make low-budget action and horror films starring Ted. Prior starred in a hilarious Rambo rip-off called "Deadly Prey" which launched him into a career full of similarly low-brow action schlock. God bless this man.- Actor
- Producer
- Visual Effects
Phillip Rhee is a master martial artist, actor and filmmaker best known for creating the "BEST of the BEST" film franchise with his producing partner and mentor Peter E. Strauss (Former Chairman of Lions Gate) and Frank Giustra, a Canadian Billionaire and founder of Lions Gate. The first "Best of the Best" starring academy award nominated actors, James Earl Jones, Eric Roberts, Louise Fletcher, Sally Kirkland and Chris Penn was distributed through Sony Pictures. "Best of the Best 2" through 20th Century Fox and "Best of the Best 3", directed and starring Rhee and Gina Gershon was picked up by Miramax, and the fourth installment of "Best of the Best: Without Warning", directed and starring Rhee and Ernie Hudson was also acquired by Miramax/Dimension Films.
2015 AMC Movie Review by Chief Editor John Campea chose "Best of the Best" as his favorite movie of all time.
In 2015, "Best of the Best" was chosen by Fandango's 15 most inspirational sports movies of all time along with "Rocky".
In 2010, Rhee partnered with former President of Warner Bros, Jim Miller and launched "Stereo Pictures" a 3D conversion technology studio based in L.A. and Korea, servicing major Hollywood studios and consumer electronic giants such as Samsung, LG and game developers Blizzard.
Rhee, an avid martial artist holds a 7th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, 3rd degree in Hap Ki Do and Kendo and is one of the most sought after teachers in the world. His former students include the son of President, Ronald Reagan, Chairman of Warner Chappell, former Chairman of Fox, Chairman of ACI and numerous sports and film celebrities.
Rhee speaks three languages and lives with his fashion designer wife, Amy and his son Sean.Star of all four (Four!) "Best of the Best" movies, one of the franchises of the nineties DTV cheap-action market. Rhee also wrote and directed two of those films, in addition to appearing in a few other low-budget martial art flicks.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Cynthia Rothrock is a martial arts expert and athlete, who went on to become a film actress, starring in a number of highly successful martial arts action movies. She first made a name as an action actress in Hong Kong before going on to wow audiences in her home turf. At the time of her popularity, she was well-known as the "Queen of Martial Arts films".
Cynthia Rothrock is the World Champion in martial arts Forms and Weapons (1981-1985). Her goal was to be undefeated and retire after five years. With over 100 competitions, she holds the undefeated worldwide record in martial arts Forms competition. In weapons competition, Cynthia is the first and only woman to win number one in North America against the men-at that time, women had to compete with the men. She holds five Black Belts with a rank of 8th Dan Grandmaster.
Upon completing her goal of being undefeated in competition, she began her martial arts acting career starring in movies produced and filmed in Hong Kong. Her first movie, Yes, Madam alongside Michelle Yeoh, broke box office records making her a massive star in Hong Kong. After three years of living in Hong Kong, finishing seven films, she returned to the United States to continue her acting career. Today she has starred in over 60 movies.
Rothrock has been a role model for women in martial arts and film. She made history by becoming the inaugural woman to grace the cover of Karate Illustrated (August 1981) and holds the distinction of being the first woman featured on the cover three times in the magazine's history.
In March 2024, Black Belt Magazine named Rothrock number one in its list of "The Most Influential Women Martial Artists on the Planet.". Rothrock is a proud inductee into the prestigious Black Belt Hall of Fame, along with Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. In 2016 she was the first martial artist (male or female) to be inducted into the prestigious International Sports Hall of Fame by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dr. Robert Goldman.It's not really fair to Ms. Rothrock, one of the greatest woman martial artist to ever live, to put her on this list. Many of her Hong Kong-lensed films are genuinely decent actioneers. However, she's definitely done some real crap, the notorious "Undefeatable" chief among it.- Actor
- Casting Director
- Director
James Ryan originally burst onto the movie scene as a sinewy and lean martial arts hero via two low budget South African financed martial arts movies titled Karate Killer (1976), and the sequel Kill and Kill Again (1981). Both films were rather shoddy, mechanical productions...however, the acrobatic Ryan had a certain appeal and the movies were loaded with plenty of kicks and punches, plus they featured 8th Dan Shotokan karate expert Stan Schmidt and fellow South African 8th Dan Judo / karate exponent Norman Robinson .....both members of the South African Martial Arts Hall of Fame.Maybe the most obscure actor on this list, James Ryan starred in low-budget karate programmer "Kill or Be Kill" as well as its creatively entitled sequel, "Kill and Kill Again." An assortment of super low budget action credits follow here and there.- Actor
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Antonio Sabato Jr. was born on 29 February 1972 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is an actor and producer, known for The Big Hit (1998), The Three Stooges (2012) and Drifter: Henry Lee Lucas (2009). He was previously married to Cheryl Moana Marie Nunes and Tully Jensen.Former underwear model and soap opera star, Mr. Sabato Jr. has turned to the Syfy Channel and the Asylum for performances. His dad did some low budget action movies too.- Producer
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Born in the filmmaking capital of the world, Hollywood, California, Scott Shaw spent the early part of his youth growing up in South Los Angeles. He then returned to Hollywood for his teen years.
Though living at the center of the film industry, Shaw was not drawn to acting or directing in his early years. He instead placed his focus on his two lifelong passions: the martial arts and eastern mysticism. From this zeal he has emerged as a respected teacher and prolific author on both of these subjects.
After spending his twenties continually retuning to Asia, he finally entered the film industry in his early thirties. Quickly moving from actor onto producer and director, Shaw has created numerous feature films, music videos, and documentaries based upon what he calls Zen Filmmaking. This is a free-form style of filmmaking that does not use a formalized script and is designed to cause the filmmaker to employ spontaneous inspiration.
To label Shaw as artistically diverse would be an understatement. Aside from the film industry he is a novelist, poet, artist, photographer, and musician. His musical compositions often find their way into the soundtracks of his films.Writer/director/star of some of the worse action/sci-fi garbage to ever creep onto the market. His films' stunning incompetence is almost charming. Almost.- Actor
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A production of the William Shakespeare's "Richard III" with Sir Laurence Olivier that Marc's dad took him to see as a boy made a lasting impression, though he didn't start acting himself until a teacher recruited him to fill a suddenly-vacant role in his junior year of high school. However, as the son of musicians, Marc acknowledges, "Performing is in our blood." Of the four Singer children, oldest brother Claude is the only non-performer. The three boys were hell-raisers, but Marc says sister Lori Singer held her own, adding "She's an amazing girl and we're very close." Marc, who has fond memories of his childhood, was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, lived briefly in New York, and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas and in Oregon before going to college in the Midwest and Washington state. "I've got a lot from each city which I've lived in," he observes. In Seattle, he met his future wife, Hawaiian actress Haunani Minn. They lived a California-casual lifestyle, and Marc enjoys running, sailing, martial arts, boxing, skiing, and motorcycling in his spare time, as well as playing Western classical piano every day. Haunani Minn passed away on November 23, 2014 in Studio City, California.Oh yeah, "Beastmaster," that was a big hit back in the day. And what else has Marc Singer done, besides "Beastmaster 2" and 3? Exactly.- Actor
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Kevin spent 3 years traveling around the world, modeling for print ads and appearing in over 150 commercials, before landing in his breakout series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995).
Kevin David Sorbo was born in Mound, Minnesota, on September 24, 1958, to Ardis (Thompson), a nurse, and Lynn Nain Sorbo, a high school teacher. His father was of Norwegian descent and his mother's ancestry was English, Scottish, and German. In high school, he excelled at football, baseball and basketball; in college, he played these 3 sports, plus hockey. Kevin was also in a number of plays. After leaving college, Kevin joined an actors theater group, and traveled to Europe, then to Sydney, Australia appearing in commercials. At the end of 1986, he settled in Los Angeles. Kevin began to make guest appearances on such popular shows as Murder, She Wrote (1984). At 6' 3" and very muscular, Kevin was a natural for the title role in what would become his signature series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995). Kevin became internationally famous, and he learned the craft of film-making well enough to direct and co-write some of the episodes. Kevin even studied martial arts in order to do many of his own stunts. In real life, Kevin's heart is as big as Hercules'-- he leads "A World Fit for Kids!" as the chair and spokesperson. Kevin devotes much of his time to "A World Fit For Kids!" which is a successful mentoring model that trains inner-city teens to use school, fitness, sports and positive role models for themselves, and then become the coaches and mentors for younger children. In 1998, Kevin married lovely actress Sam Sorbo, best known for her dual role on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) as Serena/the Golden Hind ("Hind" is a female red deer)."Hercules: The Legendary Journey" made him something like a real star at one point. However, Sorbo always had trouble crossing over from TV to film and most of his post-"Hercules" flicks were of the low-budget, straight-to-video variety. Most recently, he has become a fanatical Christian and has started appearing in "Faith-based" films that make his action credits look inspired in comparison.- Actor
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Jeff Speakman was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he became a All-American springboard diver in high school. He broke records in his school's district and conference all without ever having a coach. Determined to go to college, he worked for six years and graduated with honors from Missouri State College, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in biology. Jeff currently holds a 6th-degree black belt in Japanese Goju-Ryu and a 6th-degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate. He is also found and director of American Kenpo Karate Systems (AAKS), an international kenpo karate organization with more than 50 schools. In 1993, Jeff was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as "Instructor of the Year." Jeff has only been studying acting for the past ten years.The last of the Cannon Film Group action stars, I think Jeff Speakman and his agent were hoping he'd become the next Steven Seagal. Not quite though Speakman is more likable then modern Seagal. (Then again, so is a patch of moss.)- Actor
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Tim Thomerson rates highly as one of the best, most prolific, versatile and dependable character actors to ever grace both the big and small screens alike with pleasing regularity since the mid 70s. Although often cast as laconic rough 'n' tumble macho guys, Thomerson has proved on many occasions that he can essay comic roles and more substantial dramatic parts with equal skill and conviction. He was born on April 8th, 1946 in Coronado, California and was raised in Hawaii and San Diego. He did a stint in the National Guard prior to getting a job as a prop man and set builder at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Character actor Anthony Zerbe advised Thomerson to get lessons from legendary acting teacher Stella Adler in New York; and he duly studied with Adler for four years.
He began his show business career as a stand-up comedian; he performed at the clubs The Bitter End, Bud Friedman's Improvisation and Catch A Rising Star in New York and at the Comedy Store and the Improv in Los Angeles. He eventually even had a guest spot on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. His film debut was with a funny small role in the hilarious "Car Wash." He achieved his greatest enduring cult popularity with his delightfully deadpan portrayal of rugged police detective Jack Deth in the terrific "Trancers" and its strictly so-so sequels. Other memorable parts include eccentric police detective Jerry Moriarty in the fine "Fade to Black," weary factory worker Ray in "Take This Job and Shove It," a highway patrolman in Clint Eastwood's poignant and underrated "Honkytonk Man," burnt-out Vietnam vet helicopter pilot Charts in the exciting "Uncommon Valor," grimy mercenary Rhodes in the cheesy "Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn," the crazed John Reynolds in "Volunteers," demented cult leader Lester in "Cherry 2000," the tough-as-nails the Sarge in the enjoyably quirky "Zone Troopers;" lovely and touching as the gentle Loy in the outstanding "Near Dark," diminutive, but fearless alien lawman Brick Bardo in the funky "Dollman," and a scruffy motorcyclist in Terry Gilliam's unjustly maligned "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Tim has appeared in a large number of films for low-budget independent director Albert Pyon and acted alongside real-life best buddy Brion James in numerous pictures (the two first met while both serving in the National Guard Reserves). On television Thomerson played the half-man, half-woman Gene-Jean on the uproarious, but sadly short-lived sci-fi parody program "Quark." Thomerson also had recurring roles on the TV shows "Sirens" and "Land's End" and has made guest appearances on countless TV shows.Veteran character actor who, in the late eighties and nineties, started working with Full Moon Entertainment, purveyors of delightfully cheesy direct-to-video horror films. Thomerson starred in two of Full Moon's sci-fi action franchises, the long-running "Trancers" series and the not-so-long running "Dollman" series.- Actor
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Born in Denmark, Sven-Ole Thorsen has a remarkable sporting background as a champion bodybuilder, champion power-lifter, and karate black belt that made him an obvious choice for movies roles as "muscle for hire." The hulking almost 6' 4" actor first came to attention as one of Thulsa Doom's bodyguards... The hammer wielding Thorgrim, in the highly popular, Conan the Barbarian (1982). He came to Hollywood in 1985, appearing in nearly every Arnold Schwarzenegger film, including Predator (1987), Twins (1988), Red Heat (1988), and End of Days (1999). His other on screen appearances include Lethal Weapon (1987), The Quick and the Dead (1995), The Hunt for Red October (1990), On Deadly Ground (1994), and Gladiator (2000). Thorsen's extensive stunt work includes Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Bulletproof (1996), Eraser (1996), Soldier (1998) and Collateral (2004). On television, he has been seen in Baywatch (1989) and The A-Team (1983).This guy wishes he had Lou Ferrigno's career.- Actor
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Starring in the award winning indie film The Honorable (2002) served to win Vandenberg the lead role in a series of Timex spots for director Tim Burton. Shortly afterward he was hired to train and teach Leonardo Di Caprio in antique knife fighting techniques for Martin Scorcese's Gangs of New York (2002). Whilst in Italy filming, Dominiquie won the role of "Tommy" in Di Caprio's "Dead Rabbits" gang. The terrific press and publicity generated by the relentless and brutal nature of the fight sequences garnered great interest in him. He was hired by Regent Entertainment, producers of the Oscar nominated film, Gods and Monsters, to play the title role in their super violent martial arts picture, _Pit Fighter (2004)_. It will be distributed domestically by 20th Century Fox.
In September of 2004 his biography will hit the shelves of book stores across America. "The Iron Circle" looks set to introduce him to an even larger audience than the cult following he currently enjoys.If Mr. Vandenberg, an intimidating martial artist with an exotic name and accent, had come to prominence in the late eighties, he would have starred in so many low budget action flicks. Instead, he broke out in the late nineties, leading to bit parts in major movies and a few starring turns in notable low budget flicks. "Pit Fighter" is his crowning achievement.- Actor
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Don "The Dragon" Wilson is considered the greatest kick-boxing champion in the sport's history. A native of South Florida, Wilson began fighting in the late 1970s. In a career which spanned 4 decades, he won 11 world kick-boxing championships, among them the WKA, STAR, WKC, PKO Lightheavyweight World Championships, WKA, STAR, ISKA World Cruiserweight Titles, and the WKA and STAR Super-Lightheavyweight World Championships. He posted a record of 72-5-2 with 47 wins by knockout. Wilson defeated such world champions as Dennis Alexio, Oaktree Edwards, and Dick Kimber. He retired from the sport in 1990, but launched a comeback on May 14, 1999. Since his return he has knocked-out Dick Kimber and defeated Dewey Cooper.One of the quote-icons-unquote of the grime bucket, zero budget action genre. They made eight "Bloodfist" movies. Eight!- Actor
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Jeff Wincott is an established actor and producer originally from Toronto, Canada. He starred in the award-winning Canadian television series Night Heat playing Detective Giambone for five years. He was nominated for Best Actor at the Gemini Awards for his performance which gave him international recognition and led to an extensive film career in the United States.
Wincott went on to star in over a dozen martial arts films for which he is well-known, including Mission of Justice and Last Man Standing. Wincott has also played roles in various television shows including Sons of Anarchy, the Lizzie Borden Chronicles, Blue Bloods, Person of Interest, The Good Wife, N.C.I.S., The Night Of, and The Wire. He was featured in the high-budget action films The Invasion and Unstoppable and played a supporting role in the independent film Kringle Time for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the GenreBlast Film Festival (2021).
In 2019, Jeff and his wife founded Hollow Metropolis Films in order to create and produce their own films. Their award-winning short films Ping Pong Pigeons, Platitudes, and Dystopian Snow Globe have been screened internationally. In 2020, the Wincotts co-produced their first feature film, The Issue with Elvis, with Jeff playing the leading role, Dr. Mercer. He has gone on to win three Best Actor Awards for his performance at various film festivals including the Hollywood Women's International Film Festival, the Toronto Beaches Film Festival, and the Montgomery International Film Festival. The Issue with Elvis has won over ten awards in 2021, including two Best Feature Film awards. The film will be distributed by Random Media and 1091 Pictures with a release date in 2022.
Wincott co-produced a documentary feature called Fall Fight Shine on addiction and recovery. The film premiered in September 2021 at The Art of Recovery Film Festival in the greater Miami area and won Best Documentary Feature at the Hollywood Women's International Film Festival in October, 2021. The film features Jeff's recovery story.The other Jeff! Wincott starred in a string of low budget direct-to-video karate movies during the heyday of low budget direct-to-video karate movies: The mid-nineties. He has since followed his brother Michael's lead and turned to character work to pay the bills.- Actor
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Bolo Yeung was born in China. He began his martial arts training at the age of 10. Growing up he took an interest in bodybuilding. Later he became know as Chinese Hercules after becoming Mr. Hong Kong bodybuilding champion. He held the title for ten years. Because of his impressively muscular physique he was chosen for several bad guy movie roles, with which his first big break came alongside the legendary Bruce Lee in the 1973 movie Enter the Dragon, where he played the role of 'Bolo'. They were really close friends.
Since then Bolo Yeung has appeared in countless martial arts movies, to date, also working on two movies with "The Muscles from Brussels"-Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport and Double Impact.
Now Bolo still looks great and still regularly trains at his local gym. Martial Arts and Bodybuilding is an integral part of his life and career.Probably best known as the huge guy who tried a few times to break Van Damme unsuccessfully and a contemporary of Bruce Lee. His attempts at solo stardom have been pretty forgettable.- Actor
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Blonde, athletic and muscular actor, Frank Zagarino was born in Los Angeles on December 19, 1959 and grew up in Miami where he attended Miami Dade College; Zagarino starred as hero and villain in many low-cost action and science fiction films; appeared in movies such as Project Shadowchaser (1992) and its three sequels, and Operation Delta Force (1997). Zagarino continued to work until 2014; the actor was married to the actress Elizabeth Giordano with whom he had two children; he is owns a film and movie equipment rental company in New York; in his spare time he practices surf and gym.Described once as "the poor man's Dolph Lundgren" (ouch), Zagarino nevertheless was a real action star, headlining some better then average B-flicks, many of them sci-fi crossovers.- Actor
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William George Zane, better known as Billy Zane, was born on February 24, 1966 in Chicago, Illinois, to Thalia (Colovos) and William Zane, both of Greek ancestry. His parents were amateur actors and managed a medical technical school. Billy has an older sister, actress and singer Lisa Zane. Billy was bitten by the acting bug early on. In his early teens, he attended Harand Camp of the Theater Arts in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. In 1982, he attended the American School in Switzerland. His high school days were spent at Francis Parker High School in Chicago, Illinois. Daryl Hannah and Jennifer Beals also attended Parker, prior to Billy's attendance.
Soon after graduating from high school, Billy decided to venture out to California to attempt acting for the first time. Within three weeks, he won his very first big screen role in Back to the Future (1985), playing the role of Match, one of Biff Tannen's thugs. He would later reprise that role for the sequel Back to the Future Part II (1989). Then after a small role in the science fiction horror film Critters (1986), he landed starring roles in several television films. Billy played villain Hughie Warriner in the Australian thriller film Dead Calm (1989), where he met his future wife, Lisa Collins.
He also co-starred in Memphis Belle (1990), a film version of a 1944 documentary about a World War II bomber. In 1991, he appeared as John Justice Wheeler on several episodes of David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks (1990). Billy starred as the eponymous superhero in The Phantom (1996) and as Caledon Hockley in the billion dollar grossing Titanic (1997). Then, he starred in the television movie Cleopatra (1999) where he met his soon-to-be fiance, actress Leonor Varela from whom he subsequently separated. In 2005, he had a recurring role as the poetry loving ex-demon Drake on the television series Charmed (1998).Despite co-starring in the most successful film of all time, Zane is now a mainstay of direct-to-video trash. Frequently plays villains, occasionally called on to be a hero, almost always greasy and unlikable. For the record, I think "The Phantom" is a pretty good movie.- Actor
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Robert Z'Dar was born Robert James Zdarsky on June 3, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. He caught the acting bug while attending Proviso West High School in Hillside. He received a BFA from Arizona State University. Prior to acting Z'Dar was a singer/keyboardist/guitar player for the Chicago-based rock band Nova Express, which performed as an opening act for such groups as Jefferson Airplane, The Who, and The Electric Prunes. Other early jobs included a jingle writer for the Leo Burnett and J. Walter Thompson ad agencies, a Chicago police officer, and even a brief stint as a Chippendales dancer.
Big, brawny and imposing, with an enormous face, gigantic jaw, and a massive, muscular physique, the hulking 6'2" Z'Dar projected a strong, aggressive, and intimidating screen presence that was ideally suited for the steady succession of mean, nasty, and extremely scary larger-than-life villains he often portrayed throughout a career that spanned over three decades. Z'Dar acted in his film debut in the mid-1980's. He achieved his greatest and most enduring cult movie fame as the vengeful, relentless, and seemingly indestructible undead New York City police officer Matt Cordell in the immensely entertaining "Maniac Cop" pictures. Among Z'Dar's other memorable roles were a prison guard in the enjoyably sleazy "Hellhole," a crazed prostitute-murdering serial killer in "The Night Stalker" (this part directly led to Z'Dar being cast as Matt Cordell), a vicious criminal who savagely beats up Sylvestor Stallone in "Tango and Cash," the Angel of Death in "Soultaker," a smooth drug dealer in the delightfully outrageous "The Divine Enforcer," and Linnea Quigley's abusive husband in "The Rockville Slayer."
A popular frequent guest at horror film conventions, Z'Dar also produced several movies and continued to act with pleasing regularity in a slew of features up until his death from cardiac arrest at age 64 on March 30, 2015.The Man with the Massive Face, the Maniac Cop himself.