While he hasn’t made a name for himself in the action genre, should he chose to move in that direction, he’s certainly got some great skills to bring to the big screen. Keanu Reeves likes to take things to the extreme. This skill set gave him an edge when breaking into Hollywood, and combined with his skills as a stuntman and his surprisingly quick delivery with a deadpan one-liner makes him a star to keep an eye on moving forward. His massive stature combined with his physicality caught the attention of Sylvester Stallone, after Lundgren petitioned hard for the role, and he was cast as the iconic Ivan Drago in Rocky IV in 1985. Despite being too old for many boxing promoters to take seriously, his professional record was surprisingly solid. 11,583 views made by Sean Dawn. Huge stars shined in the martial arts world. Category:Martial arts comedy films. This list of the all time greatest martial arts actors (and actresses) is ranked by kung fu fans worldwide. It was while preparing for 1989’s Say Anything that John Cusack began to train as a kickboxer, as his character, Lloyd, was an aspiring kickboxer himself. Actors don't usually choreograph their own fight scenes, even if they know martial arts well. A string of action movies during the 1980s, including the Delta Force series, made him a household name, but by the ‘90s his star had seemed to fade. Rourke surprised many when he quit acting in 1989 and became a professional boxer. For the last 22 years, O’Neill has trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after being introduced to it by his friend, the writer and director John Milius. Typically cast in action roles throughout his career, Mark Dacascos is a highly skilled martial artist having trained extensively since the age of seven. He started out as an extra/stunt performer in movies such as Batman Begins (2005), where he played a member of the League of Shadows, and Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2010). 1999 martial arts films‎ (8 P) C 1990s martial arts comedy films‎ (13 P) O Once Upon a Time in China (film series)‎ (8 P) Pages in category "1990s martial arts films" The following 86 pages are in this category, out of 86 total. The seemingly menacing adversary to Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), he is later revealed to be a kind-natured custodian, looking out for a home full of elderly survivors of the zombie apocalypse. Training in various martial arts, as well as diving and soccer, since a child, Jason Statham has stepped it up a gear since becoming an action icon and is now considered to be as skilled as most MMA fighters. While the amusing series of Chuck Norris facts are less than reliable (under his beard is not another fist), his reputation as a tough guy is well-deserved. Whether they have magical screen presence or just the physical abilities to make your jaw drop, these famous actors represent the best in kicking ass. Robin Shou was one of the more visible martial arts actors of the '90s. Most famous for his appearances in the Tyler Perry movies Why Did I Get Married? John Cusack rose to fame in the mid-1980s in movies such as Say Anything, Stand by Me, and Sixteen Candles. However, should he ever make a sequel to Grosse Point Blank, we’d love to see him kick ass as the veteran hitman once again. Jeffrey Wincott (born May 8, 1956) is a Canadian actor, producer and martial artist best known for his Gemini Award-nominated lead role in the television series Night Heat. It’s hardly surprising that Jean-Claude Van Damme has serious martial arts skills. He studied Kung Fu and Judo from the age of 8. 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They gained in popularity, and around the 80's and 90's, America had a massive martial arts movie craze introducing a new generation to the wonders of these films. Robin Shou was one of the more visible martial arts actors of the '90s. Keanu Reeves. It wasn’t until making The Matrix (1999) that Keanu became hooked on martial arts. 11,583 views made by Sean Dawn. avg. The 90s is the full maturity of TVB martial arts dramas. He has even travelled to Brazil several times to train - now that’s devotion to the art! He had become more famous for his personal life and his acting decisions, and by his own account had “had no respect for [himself as] an actor". He has also trained in capoeira under Mestre Jelon Vieira and in a number of other disciplines including kung fu at the USA Shaolin Temple and Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. We think you'll find that there are some actors, known as anything but action heroes, that could, perhaps surprisingly, kick your butt. His respect for the various stunt performers he worked with on the movie led to him petitioning for them to receive higher salaries for the sequels Reloaded and Revolutions (both 2003) and him continuing to train in various forms ever since. He trained under former world kickboxing champion Benny Urquidez, and continued working with him for over 20 years. A. She first made a name as an action actress in Hong Kong before going on to wow audiences in her home turf. Biel said, “I’m really into martial arts now – it’s the most amazing workout ever.” Many actors are introduced to marital arts this way but many also leave it, Jessica has been doing it ever since and swears by it. score: 11 of 50 (21%) ... Rotten Tomatoes® 90%. The academy has been up and running for over 20 years as a hot spot of martial arts in Huddersfield. Numerous roles followed through the ‘80s and ‘90s that made use of his martial arts skills, including Kickboxer, Lionheart, and the more respected Universal Soldier and Timecop. The 90s was the golden age of Hong Kong cinema and martial arts films. While Dacascos is proficient in his father's style of martial arts, Wun Hop Kuen Do, he has also studied muay thai with kru puk, capoeira with Mestre Amen Santo, and wushu with Coaches Eric and Debbie Chen. She continued to work right up until the early 90’s. Numerous roles followed through the ‘80s and ‘90s that made use of his martial arts skills, including Kickboxer, Lionheart, and the more respected Universal Soldier and Timecop. Fans attribute choreographer Jeff Pruitt's falling out with Sarah Michelle Gellar and his subsequent departure from the show (interestingly, after season four wrapped). His interest led to black belts and eventually in developing his own fighting style, chun kuk do. The 90s is the full maturity of TVB martial arts dramas. Fred is a freelance entertainment writer based in the U.K. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. He recently appeared in the biopic Straight Outta Compton as DJ Yella. Check out the BEST MALE MARTIAL ARTS Action Movie Stars Of Today! A one-stop shop for all things video games. Kill Bill: Vol. See more ideas about actors, 90s movies, leslie cheung. Here are 10 female actors with serious martial arts skills. He trained in both weightlifting and boxing for five straight months in preparation for the role. After being fired as the original Predator, replaced by the late Kevin Peter Hall, he broke out in the low budget movie Bloodsport. This martial arts movie is one of the most stunt-heavy entries in the genre, resulting in high-octane scenes complete with the humor that Jackie Chan movies are known for. While his career has become less high-profile in recent years, roles such as those in The Expendables 2 prove that he still has plenty of moves left. After becoming a bodyguard for Jamaican singer Grace Jones, the two began a relationship which saw them relocate to New York. He also holds the distinction of being the first black actor to star as a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture: 1997’s Spawn, beating Wesley Snipes’ Blade by a full year. Wincott was also the star of several martial arts films in the 1990s. His version of the character is more self-assured, and less like a fish out of water, than the previous version. O’Neill has talked openly about his training and in the 2012 documentary I Am Bruce Lee, he referred to getting his black belt as "the greatest achievement of my life, apart from my children.". He also took up body building to improve his physique, which led to him earning a Mr Belgium bodybuilding title. Lists about the codified systems of combat, like karate and "kung fu," and their practices and representations around the world in in popular culture. How many have you seen? You'll want each of these fifteen stars on your side if you ever find yourself in a brawl, and if they're not on your side, run. Only a handful of the world’s most famous celebrities are strong and dedicated enough to hold a black belt in martial arts. A talented athlete, Lautner also excelled in football and dance. If you see someone missing, you can even add them. He currently holds a 10th degree black belt in that, a 9th degree black belt tang soo do, an 8th degree black belt in taekwondo, 5th degree black belt in karate, 3rd degree black belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu and a black belt judo. Though the genre of martial arts films is also occasionally known as "kung fu films," the term in fact only refers to a subset of Chinese martial arts, and can also apply to a variety of traditional practices not directly related to self-defense. He has used these skills in several movies and TV shows over the years and received much attention for his role in the movie Drive (1997) which became a cult-hit and the sequel to The Crow, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven playing Eric Draven, a role made famous by the late Brandon Lee. He has studied under Grand Master Rorion Gracie, and in December 2007 received his black belt. Here are 15 Male Actors with Serious Martial Arts Skills. While a great many actors play kick-ass tough guys, these actors have genuine martial arts skills. The Karate Kid (2010) Rotten Tomatoes® 66%. When she's captured, he's forced to enter into a brutal martial arts tournament to save her life. They gained in popularity, and around the 80's and 90's, America had a massive martial arts movie craze introducing a new generation to the wonders of these films. While still mostly known for background roles, he has appeared in numerous TV shows such as Castle, Harry’s Law, Suits, and Weeds, as well as roles in high-profile movies such as Fast and Furious (2009), Tigerland (2000) and Battle Los Angles (2011). This list may not reflect recent changes . See more ideas about action movie stars, cartoons 80s 90s, martial arts actor. Subcategories. Like so many ONE stars, Gafurov was first turned on to martial arts through his love of films. Best known for playing Liu Kang in both Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation , he … The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. While he doesn’t profess to be an expert in any form, roles in Man of Tai Chi (2013) and John Wick, among others, have seen him train in yet more forms such as Judo and Karate. Here are a few examples of ways you can filter the charts: The Worst Martial Arts Movies of the 1990s; The Top 10 Martial Arts Movies of the 1990s Actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis dominated the spotlight, while new stars like Keanu Reeves and Milla Jovovich landed their … Since making his name in That ‘70s Show alongside Topher Grace and future wife Mila Kunis, he’s gone on to make numerous movies and even returned to television when he replaced Charlie Sheen as the lead, alongside Jon Cryer, on Two and a Half Men. Cordell Walker, in the long running series Walker, Texas Ranger. Sylvester Stallone said in an interview: "During Rocky IV, Dolph had hit me so hard I had swelling around the heart and had to stay in intensive care at St. John's Hospital for four days.". While a great many actors (and actresses, but we’ll get to that in another list) play kick-ass tough guys, these actors have genuine martial arts skills and have spent many years training to become fully-fledged bad-asses. Initially planning on a career in ice hockey, an injury led a young Keanu Reeves towards acting. Although the term 'good martial arts movie' could be viewed as objective, here at least is IMBD's list of martial arts genre movies by release year starting at 1990. Some are just a little too cliché or obvious, and hence we’re leaving Steven Segal out this time. While the actors and actresses of the 90s may not be able to compete with the talent of the 80s, there were visible improvements to plotting. It’s the highest level one can reach in the arts, and it’s a prestigious honor that shows the world just how hard you’ve worked and how dedicated you’ve been to the craft. One of the biggest names in action cinema right now is Jason Statham. Taylor Lautner may well have been born doing martial arts. His favorite actors were Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, and he would regularly watch their offerings at the local theater with his friends. Huge stars shined in the martial arts world. Coming out during Jackie Chan’s pre-Hollywood heyday, Project A features the golden trifecta of 80s martial arts actors: Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, and Jackie Chan himself. Bruce Lee Lee Jun-fan, known professionally as Bruce Lee, was a Hong Kong and American actor, film director, martial artist, martial arts instructor, philosopher, and founder of the martial art Jeet Kune Do, one of the wushu or kungfu styles. During the 70's and early 80's, thousands of martial arts films from Japan, Korea, and Thailand came to America, being played in grind house theaters, drive-ins, and late night TV. While he initially gained attention for serious roles in Jungle Fever and New Jack City, it wasn’t long before he was as in demand for his martial arts skills as much as his acting skills (if not more so). His martial arts films including Fists of Fury, The Chinese Connection, and Way of the Dragon are also very popular beyond his death. John Wick 3 and The Crow: Stairway to Heaven actor Mark Dacascos starred in this over-the-top martial arts film about a reporter trained in the ways of the samurai who teams up with a female photographer to uncover an opium operation in Turkey. Not merely content to focus on his academic studies, he holds a degree and master’s degree in chemical engineering, he also took up karate and earned a 3rd dan black belt in Kyokushin karate. While the show wasn’t a massive hit, it did allow him enough screen time to garner some attention. He has studied the martial art of Hwa Rang Do for six years under Tae-joon Lee, the son of the art's founder, and he credits the discipline he has found under Lee as inspiration for turning his life around. Marshals led to him becoming a bona fide action star as well as a reliable leading man. Fans attribute choreographer Jeff Pruitt's falling out with Sarah Michelle Gellar and his subsequent departure from the show (interestingly, after season four wrapped). It has been said that when Chuck Norris does a push up, he doesn’t push himself up so much as he pushes the world down. While the film was met with negative reviews, he did manage to bag several more roles as a child actor, usually as a jock or “cool kid”. While many of his movies have made good use of his martial arts skills, most notably 2001’s Exit Wounds alongside Steven Seagal, he has been in several high-profile action movies where he has played physically imposing characters, but has had no fight scenes himself, such as 2008’s The Dark Knight where he played a mob boss. Best known for playing Liu Kang in both Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation , he … At 16 he took up ballet to improve his overall physique and balance. Roles as an airhead-type in movies like Parenthood and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and more serious roles in Point Break (1991) and Speed (1994) established him as a solid action star. No matter how good of an actor one may be, this is a skill that cannot be faked. Overall, he’s spent twenty-six years training in martial arts and boxing and appeared in the martial arts TV series WMAC Masters. He’s been through the same grueling upbringing as Jackie and Sammo. A talented athlete as a young man, Ed O’Neill won a football scholarship to Ohio University but he had a reputation as a party animal and transferred to Youngstown State University, where he was a defensive lineman. Lee’s influence on martial arts is still quite evident years after his death via the Jeet Kune Do martial arts style that he formalized. While most famous for his roles in Married with Children and Modern Family, where he plays the quintessential “dad” role, Ed O’Neill is actually a highly-skilled martial artist. Besides his impressive martial arts skills, he has also had a successful film and television career after a breakout role in Bruce Lee’s Way of the Dragon. The show lasted 2 seasons and featured heavily choreographed fight scenes between genuine martial artists. He began his training in Shotokan karate at the age of ten and earned his black belt at the age of 18. Child actors were winning Academy Awards, pulling in huge box office takes, and becoming bona … It’s the highest level one can reach in the arts, and it’s a prestigious honor that shows the world just how hard you’ve worked and how dedicated you’ve been to the craft. In 1990, he became the first westerner to be awarded an 8th degree black belt in taekwondo, becoming a Grand Master. Having trained as a boxer as a youth, Mickey Rourke turned his attention to acting and became one of the more recognised faces of the 1980s with performances in movies such as Diner, Rumble Fish, and 9 ½ Weeks. Roles in Passenger 57, Demolition Man, Money Train, The Fan, and U.S. Is there an actor with an impressive talent you'd like to read about? score: 11 of 50 (21%) required scores: 1, 2, 3, 10, 21 list stats leaders vote Vote print comments. With Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings set to bring kung-fu back to the big screen and Cobra Kai doing a fantastic job of showcasing karate on the small screen, and all ready to go into its third season, we thought it was high time we rated the greatest martial arts stars of all time. 18. Since his break-out roles in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, he’s gone on to carve out an unlikely niche as one of the most in-demand men in Hollywood.