The Best Martial Arts Actors/Actresses
by sergio91 | created - 06 Mar 2012 | updated - 12 Jul 2022 | Public
Top 250 Greatest Martial Arts Artists.
1. Bruce Lee
Actor | Jing wu men
Bruce Lee remains the greatest icon of martial arts cinema and a key figure of modern popular media. Had it not been for Bruce Lee and his movies in the early 1970s, it's arguable whether or not the martial arts film genre would have ever penetrated and influenced mainstream North American and ...
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Wing Chun (Hong Kong Boxing Champion; 2-time Long Beach International Karate Champion; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry), Jeet Kune Do (founder)
2. Chuck Norris
Actor | Walker, Texas Ranger
Chuck Norris is familiar to fans worldwide as the star of action films such as The Hitman (1991), The Delta Force (1986) and Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990). He also starred in Missing in Action (1984) and its sequels, Firewalker (1986) and Sidekicks (1992). He was an executive ...
Tang Soo Do (9th Dan; 7-time World Karate Champion; record: 183-10-2; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry), Chun Kuk Do (10th degree black belt) (founder), Tae Kwon Do (8th degree black belt), Karate (5th degree black belt), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (3rd degree black belt), Judo (black belt), Mixed Martial Arts Master
One of only eight Americans to achieve an 8th degree black belt or higher in Tang Soo Do
3. Steven Seagal
Actor | On Deadly Ground
Steven Frederic Seagal was born in Lansing, Michigan, to Patricia Anne (Fisher), a medical technician, and Samuel Seagal, a high school math teacher. His paternal grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants, and his mother had English, German, and distant Irish and Dutch, ancestry. The enigmatic ...
Aikido (7th Dan; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry), Kenjutsu, Karate, Judo, Shotokan Karate Was the first American to operate a dojo in Japan
4. Jet Li
Actor | Huo Yuan Jia
Jet Li born Li Lian Jie in Beijing, China. He started training at the Beijing wushu academy (wushu is China's national sport, largely a performance version of various martial art styles) at age eight. He won five gold medals in the Chinese championships, his first when he was only 11. In his teens,...
Wushu (Chinese National Champion; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry), Li is a master of several styles of wushu, Changquan (Northern Longfist Style), Fanziquan (Tumbling fist), Baguazhang (Eight trigram palm), Taijiquan (Supreme ultimate fist), Xingyiquan (Shape intent fist), Zuiquan (Drunken fist), Yingzhaoquan (Eagle claw fist), Tanglangquan (Praying mantis fist), Sanjiegun (Three section staff), Gun, Dao (Broadsword), Jian (Straight sword), Tai Chi.
5. Donnie Yen
Actor | Ip Man
Donnie Yen was born in Guangzhou, China. His mother, Bow-sim Mark, was a kung fu master and his father, Kylster Yen, a newspaper editor and amateur musician. When Donnie was just two years old, the family moved to Hong Kong and then, when he was 11, to Boston, Massachusetts.
There, Master Bow-sim ...
Wushu (Gold Medals in Wushu Competitions), Tae Kwon Do (6th Degree Black Belt), Judo (Black Belt), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Purple Belt), Tai Chi (Black Belt Hall of Fame entry) Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Hapkido, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Wing Chun, Mixed Martial Arts, Parkour.
6. Jackie Chan
Actor | Ngo si seoi
Hong Kong's cheeky, lovable and best-known film star, Jackie Chan endured many years of long, hard work and multiple injuries to establish international success after his start in Hong Kong's manic martial arts cinema industry.
Jackie was born Kong-sang Chan on April 7, 1954, on Hong Kong's famous ...
Karate, Hapkido, Judo , Tae Kwon Do (Black Belt Hall of Fame entry)
7. Michael Jai White
Actor | Black Dynamite
Michael Jai White is an American actor and martial artist who has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Spawn. White ...
Kyokushin, Goju-Ryu & Shotokan Karate (3rd Dan), Kobudo, Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu (black belts in all styles; 26 titles including US Open and North American Open), Jujutsu
8. Scott Adkins
Actor | John Wick: Chapter 4
Scott Edward Adkins was born on June 17, 1976 in Sutton Coldfield, England, into a family that for generations were butchers. Along with his elder brother Craig, he was raised by their parents, John and Janet (Sanders) Adkins, in a loving middle-class family. Scott attended Bishop Vesey's Grammar ...
Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Jujitsu (black belts in all styles), Kickboxing, Wushu, Krav Maga, Ninjutsu, Karate, Capoeira, Jeet Kune Do, Gymnastics.
9. Tony Jaa
Actor | Ong-bak 3
Japanom Yeerum was born on February 5, 1976, in the northeastern province of Surin, Thailand. His parents were elephant herders. Jaa watched martial arts films as a young kid and began to emulate some of his idols, from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan to Jet Li. Jaa studied martial arts at the local ...
Muay Boran, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Judo, Wushu, Kung Fu Styles (krabi krabong, lethwei and kino mutai)
10. Iko Uwais
Actor | Serbuan maut 2: Berandal
Iko Uwais was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, to Maisyaroh and Mustapha Kamaluddin. His grandfather, H. Achmad Bunawar, was a master of silat, an Indonesian traditional martial art, and founded a silat school. Iko himself has been learning silat since he was 10 years old. He became National Champion in...
Pencak Silat (Indonesian National Demonstration Champion)
11. Dolph Lundgren
Actor | Rocky IV
Dolph Lundgren was born as Hans Lundgren in Stockholm, Sweden, to Sigrid Birgitta (Tjerneld), a language teacher, and Karl Johan Hugo Lundgren, an engineer and economist for the Swedish government. He lived in Stockholm until the age of 13, when he moved in with his grandparents in Nyland, ...
Kyokushin & Goju-Ryu Karate (3rd Dan Black Belt; captain of Swedish Karate Team; 5-time Swedish/British/Australian Open Champion, European champion in 1980 and 1981), Tae Kwon Do, Judo
12. Jean-Claude Van Damme
Actor | Double Impact
Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium, to Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg, an accountant. "The Muscles from Brussels" started martial arts at the age of eleven. His father introduced him to martial arts when he saw his son was ...
Shotokan Karate (2nd degree black belt), Kickboxing (European PKA Middleweight Champion; member of Belgium National Team; record: 18-1), Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, Full-contact karate
13. Gary Daniels
Actor | The Expendables
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 ...
Kickboxing (WKBA Champion & PKA Light Heavyweight Champion; record: 22-4), Tae Kwon Do (2nd degree black belt), Sillum Wong Gar Kune, Muay Thai, Karate, Aikido, Judo, Kung Fu, boxing, ninjitsu, and Northern Shaolin kung fu
Was disqualified three times from Tae Kwon Do tournaments in England for knocking out his opponents
In his first United States match, Daniels defeated Sherman "Big Train" Bergman (The only kickboxer to have knocked down Jean-Claude Van Damme)
14. Don Wilson
Actor | Batman Forever
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 ...
Kickboxing (5th degree black belt), (11-time World Kickboxing Champion, 3-time WKO Champion; WKA, STAR, WKC, PKO, KICK, IKF, ISKA, & FCR World Light Heavyweight Champion; record: 72-5-2; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry), Pai Lum Tao, Goju-Ryu Karate, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Boxing.
15. Mark Dacascos
Actor | Le pacte des loups
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 ...
Wun Hop Kuen (2-time Long Beach International Champion), Chin Na, Shui Jao, Capoeira, Karate (2-time Hamburg Champion), Kung Fu ( Italian & European Kung Fu)
16. Wesley Snipes
Actor | Blade
Wesley Trent Snipes was born in Orlando, Florida, to Marian (Long), a teacher's assistant, and SMSGT Wesley Rudolph Snipes, an aircraft engineer. He grew up on the streets of the South Bronx in New York City, where he very early decided that dance and the theatre were to be his career. He attended ...
Shotokan Karate (5th Dan), Hapkido (2nd Dan), Capoeira, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kung fu, Kickboxing
17. Lorenzo Lamas
Actor | Body Rock
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 ...
Tae Kwon Do (3rd Dan), Karate, Kenpo, Jujitsu (black belts in all styles)
18. Darren Shahlavi
Actor | I Spy
Darren Shahlavi was seven years old when he started training in martial arts in an old drama theatre in Manchester, England. Inspired by Bruce Lees films and other action movies such as Star Wars, he dreamed of being a movie actor and would show up to his Judo class at the drama hall early to watch...
Judo, Karate, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Shotokan Karate, boxing,
19. Cung Le
Actor | Pandorum
Cung Le made his first appearance on the professional M.M.A. stage in 2006, and shortly after won the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship in 2008, setting high standards through his powerful kicks, skillful strikes, and well-timed take-downs. This U.S.-Viet Namese champion, actor, producer and ...
Sanshou Kickboxer (Black sash), (7-time US Open International & National Champion; record: 17-0), Kickboxing (IKF Champion; record: 22-0), Mixed Martial Arts (Strikeforce Middleweight Champion; record: 7-1), Wushu (former captain of US National Team), Tae Kwon Do (First degree black belt), Brazilian jiu-jitsu (Blue belt), Wrestling, Judo, Kuntao, Sambo
20. Brandon Lee
Actor | The Crow
Born on February 1, 1965 to Bruce Lee (Martial Arts idol) and Linda Lee Cadwell. Brother to Shannon Lee. In 1970-71, they moved to Hong Kong, where Brandon lived until age eight, becoming fluent in Cantonese. By the time he was able to walk, he was already involved in learning about martial arts ...
Kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do, Yee Chuen Tao (Black Belt Hall of Fame entry)
21. Randy Couture
Actor | Big Stan
Randy Couture is a collegiate wrestler and fighter turned actor from Everett, Washington. He served as a four time US Olympic wrestling team alternate as a soldier in the U.S. Army, and is also a 6 time world heavyweight and light heavyweight UFC champion and Hall of Famer. He is a graduate of ...
Mixed Martial Arts (6-time UFC Champion; record: 19-11) (three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion), Boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling (Black belt), Greco-Roman Wrestling
A 3-time alternate for the American Olympic wrestling team
United States Army Rank: Sergeant
22. Jason Statham
Actor | Crank
Jason Statham was born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, to Eileen (Yates), a dancer, and Barry Statham, a street merchant and lounge singer. He was a Diver on the British National Diving Team and finished twelfth in the World Championships in 1992. He has also been a fashion model, black market salesman ...
Mixed Martial Arts, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
23. Rati Tsiteladze
Actor | Little Things
Rati Tsiteladze was born in post-Soviet Georgia. He studied acting and filmmaking at the Hybrid Conservatory, Los Angeles. He is an alumnus of Locarno Academy, TIFF Filmmaker Lab, HFPA Film Independent and Berlinale Talent Project Market.
At age 21, he won the title of World Champion in martial arts...
Kickboxing (World Champion-2008 under K-1 rules), Kyokushinkai Karate (1st dan black belt) (Caucasus Champion-2008 in Super Heavyweight categor), Neko-Ryu Karate (1st dan black belt), Kung-Fu (National Champion of Georgia under Kung-Fu Sanda rules in Super Heavyweight category), Goju-Ryu Karate, ck]Full contact Karateck], Shidokan, K-1 , Kyokushin/Shinkyokushin karate (European Champion 2009)
24. Ronda Rousey
Actress | Fast & Furious 7
Ronda Rousey burst onto the women's MMA scene in August of 2010. Born in Riverside County, California on February 1, 1987 to parents Ron Rousey and AnnMaria DeMars, little Ronda was born with an umbilical cord wrapped around her neck that damaged her vocal cords. She didn't speak coherently until ...
4th dan black belt in Judo (First U.S. woman to earn an Olympic medal in Judo at the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008), boxing, Mixed martial arts (She is the first and current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion)
25. Danny Trejo
Actor | Machete
Danny Trejo was born Dan Trejo in Echo Park, Los Angeles, to Alice (Rivera) and Dan Trejo, a construction worker. A child drug addict and criminal, Trejo was in and out of jail for 11 years. While serving time in San Quentin, he won the lightweight and welterweight boxing titles. Imprisoned for ...
boxer (The Lightweight and Welterweight Boxing Champion)
26. Michael Dudikoff
Actor | Platoon Leader
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 September 18, 2004. They have three children.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
27. Lateef Crowder
Actor | Tekken
Lateef Crowder was born on November 23, 1977 in San Jose, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Tekken (2010), Wonder Woman (2017) and The Mandalorian (2019). He was previously married to Andressa Vallotti.
Capoeira, Martial arts
28. Michael Clarke Duncan
Actor | The Green Mile
Michael Clarke Duncan was born on December 10, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. Raised on Chicago's South Side by his single mother, Jean, a house cleaner, Duncan grew up resisting drugs and alcohol, instead concentrating on school. He wanted to play football in high school, but his mother wouldn't let ...
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
29. David Carradine
Actor | Kill Bill: Vol. 2
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 ...
Northern Shaolin & Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Law Horn Kuen, Ling Po, Tai Chi, Qi Gong
30. Katheryn Winnick
Actress | Vikings
Award-winning actress, director, producer, Katheryn Winnick, is best known for starring and directing the critically acclaimed, Emmy award-winning television series "Vikings." Winnick made her directorial debut in sixth and final season which earned her "Best Director" at the 2020 WIN Awards. She ...
Tae Kwon Do (3rd Dan), Karate (2nd Dan) (black belt at Age 13)
31. Mickey Rourke
Actor | Sin City
Mickey Rourke was born Phillip Andre Rourke, Jr. on September 16, 1952, in Schenectady, New York, the son of Annette Elizabeth (Cameron) and Philip Andre Rourke. His father was of Irish and German descent, and his mother was of mostly English and French-Canadian ancestry. When he was six years old,...
Boxer, Mixed martial Arts.
32. Bryan Genesse
Actor | Bad Guys
Bryan Genesse was born on March 20, 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is an actor and writer, known for Bad Guys (2000), Street Justice (1991) and The Alternate (2000). He has been married to Brooke Theiss since June 18, 1994. They have two children.
Hung Gar, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai
33. Robin Shou
Actor | Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Robin Shou is the fourth child of a Shanghai tailor and homemaker. His family moved to the US in 1971. Their first home in Los Angeles was a 2 bedroom apartment near Olympic and Vermont, today known as Koreatown.
Shou didn't start attending martial arts classes until he was 19. He took Kenpo (Karate...
Wushu (International Forms Champion; former member and Gold & Silver medalist of Chinese National team; 4-time Traditional Forms Grand Champion), Kenpo
34. Eric Roberts
Actor | Runaway Train
Roberts is an Academy Award nominee for his role in Runaway Train, and a three-time Golden Globe nominee for Runaway Train, Star 80, and King of the Gypsies.
In addition, Roberts received acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival for his role in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints and It's My Party. He ...
Tae Kwon Do (1st Dan)
35. Gina Carano
Actress | The Mandalorian
From pioneering women's MMA to blazing a trail in movies, GINA CARANO is one of Hollywood's most unique rising stars. Carano began her training with Muay Thai to competitive MMA, where she competed in Strikeforce and EliteXC. Her popularity led to her being called the "Face of Women's MMA" and she ...
Muay Thai (record: 12-1-1), Mixed Martial Arts (record: 7-1), Kickboxing
36. Phillip Rhee
Actor | Best of the Best
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 ...
Tae Kwon Do (6th Dan), Hapkido (3rd Dan), Kendo (1st Dan), Wing Chun
37. Ryan Phillippe
Actor | Crash
Ryan Phillippe was born on September 10, 1974 in New Castle, Delaware, to Susan (Thomas), a nurse, and Richard Phillippe, a chemical technician. He has three sisters, Kirsten, Lindsay, and Katelyn, and attended New Castle Baptist Academy. Ryan's acting career began with the soap opera One Life to ...
Black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
38. Shô Kosugi
Actor | Ninja Assassin
Easily the best known actor/martial artist during the 1980s ninja cinema craze, Kosugi was a proficient martial artist & skilled weapons performer which was highlighted in his several starring roles.
Kosugi grew up as the youngest child and only son of a Tokyo fisherman, and began his martial arts ...
Ninjutsu (All Japan Karate Champion) Shindō jinen-ryū Karate, Kendo, Judo, Iaido, Kobudo, Aikido.
39. Billy Blanks
Actor | The Last Boy Scout
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 ...
Karate, Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do (7th Dan; 7-time PKL World Karate Champion; Karate Hall of Fame entry; captain of US Olympic Karate Team) creator of the Tae-Bo exercise program
40. Loren Avedon
Actor | The King of the Kickboxers
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 ...
Tae Kwon Do (5th Dan), Hapkido (8th Dan)
41. Michael Worth
Actor | Killing Cupid
Born in Philadelphia, Michael came from a line of German sailors on one side and American Delaware Indians on the other. As a 10 year old Michael directed his first film entitle The Tire. It was shot with a super-8 camera his mother bought him. He continued making short films into his late teens. ...
Tang Soo Do (1st Dan), Escrima, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, Aikido, Judo
42. Jeff Wincott
Actor | The Night Of
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 ...
“ Shotokan Karate (5th Dan; Ontario Open & North American Open Champion), Tae Kwon Do (1st Dan)
43. Channing Tatum
Actor | 21 Jump Street
Channing Tatum was born in a small town, Cullman, Alabama, 50 miles north of Birmingham. He is the son of Kay (Faust), an airline worker, and Glenn Matthew Tatum, who worked in construction. Growing up, he was full of energy and somewhat troublesome, so his parents decided to enroll him in ...
Gor-Chor, Karate
44. Jeff Speakman
Actor | The Perfect Weapon
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 ...
Kenpo (8th, 4th, and 2nd Dan under different masters; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry), Goju-Ryu Karate (7th Dan) founder of the AKKS karate organization, currently operating 50 schools internationally
45. Olivier Gruner
Actor | Sector 4
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 ...
Kickboxing (French National Champion; World Middleweight Champion), Shotokan Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
46. Matthias Hues
Actor | Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich
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 ...
Tae Kwon Do (1st Dan), Kickboxing
47. Taylor Lautner
Actor | Twilight
Taylor Daniel Lautner was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Deborah, a software company worker, and Daniel Lautner, a pilot for Midwest Airlines. He and his younger sister Makena were raised in a well-mannered, Roman Catholic household in Hudsonville, Michigan. He is of English, German, Dutch, and...
Karate (Junior Black Belt Forms & Weapons champion) Xtreme Martial Arts (Black belt by the age of eight, and winning several junior world championships)
48. Daniel Bernhardt
Actor | Atomic Blonde
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 ...
Kickboxing, Karate, Tae Kwon Do
49. Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
Stunts | Ip Man
Born in Hong Kong, Sammo Hung's acting career began while he was training in acrobatics, martial arts and dance as a child at the China Drama Academy, and he received acclaim for his performance with a troupe called "The Seven Little Fortunes." He made his feature film debut as an actor at the age ...
Wing Chun, Judo, Hapkido
50. JeeJa Yanin
Actress | Chocolate
Yanin "Jeeja" pronounced "ChiCha" Vismitananda was born in Bangkok, Thailand. Her mother is Prasita Vismitananda and her father, Pawadol Borirak, was a businessman who died when his daughter was 17, she has an older brother, Nantapong "Jeed" Vismitananda. She is mainly of Thai descent with some ...
Taekwondo (3rd Dan black belt)
51. Gary Busey
Actor | The Buddy Holly Story
A blond-haired, fair-complexioned actor with a toothy grin and capable of an unsettling glint in his eyes, Gary Busey was born in Goose Creek, Texas, and was raised in Oklahoma. He is the son of Sadie Virginia (Arnett), a homemaker, and Delmar Lloyd Busey, a construction design manager. He has ...
Jujitsu, Hapkido, Kendo (black belts in all styles), Capoeira
52. Vince Murdocco
Stunts | The Incredible Hulk
Vince Murdocco gained fame in the kickboxing world when he was the North American Cruiserweight Champion. He soon made the transition from kickboxing to film, like many world champions back in the 1990s. However, Vince made his film debut in a softcore porn comedy, Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic ...
Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing (WKA, North American & Canadian Cruiserweight Champion; Japanese Shoot Boxing Champion)
53. Russell Wong
Actor | Romeo Must Die
Russell Wong has earned a reputation as a sexy, charismatic leading man whose good looks are matched by his skills as an actor. The sixth of seven children, Russell Wong was born in Troy, New York; the son of restaurateur William Wong and Dutch-American artist Connie Van Yserloo. When Russell was ...
Tae Kwon Do, Shoji-Ryu Karate, Fu Jow Pai chosen by Goldsea Asian American Daily as among the "100 Most Inspiring Asian-Americans of All Time
54. Adrian Paul
Actor | Highlander
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...
Kung Fu forms choy La Fut and Hung Gar, Tae-Kwon-Do, Wing Chun, and boxing; Has also done extensive sword training with the Japanese Katana
55. Bas Rutten
Actor | Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Bas Rutten is a world-renowned mixed martial artist who has also made a name for himself outside the ring as an actor, host, and television personality.
As an actor Rutten can be seen co-starring in the Kevin James feature film Here Comes the Boom (2012) for Columbia Pictures. Rutten previously ...
Mixed Martial Arts (UFC Heavyweight Champion; King of Pancrase Champion; record: 28-4-1), Kyokushin Karate (5th Degree Black Belt), Tae Kwon Do (2nd Degree Black Belt), ShinTai Karate (2nd Degree Black Belt), Muay Thai (record: 14-2), Submission Wrestling.
56. Jerry Trimble
Actor | Heat
Jerry Trimble was born in Newport, Kentucky. He was an insecure, fearful and bullied kid. At age 14 he was inspired by Bruce Lee and began studying Taekwon-Do. In six months he began teaching the art. At 15, Jerry earned the rank of first-degree black belt and became the number one point fighter in...
Kickboxing (Southeast & United States Champion; PKA & PKC Light/Welterweight Champion; Kentucky State Champion; record: 36-2), Tae Kwon Do (6th Dan) is officially one of the fastest kickers in the world, with a hook kick clocking 118 MPH
57. Ray Park
Actor | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Ray Park was born in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He moved with his parents, younger brother and sister to London, UK, at the age of seven. Ray always wanted to be in the movies, and be like their heroes. He also began to nurture a love for martial arts from the age of seven, when his father's fondness ...
Northern Shaolin (Great Britain's Martial Arts National Champion), Wushu ('95 World Championships 2nd place winner; member of British National Team), Kickboxing won Britain's National Championship at age 16
58. Johnny Tri Nguyen
Actor | Da 5 Bloods
Johnny Tri Nguyen was born in Vietnam into a family with a rich martial arts tradition. At the age of 9, he immigrated to America. Throughout the 90s, Nguyen's talent in martial arts led him to compete and won many award in various championships as well as representing the US in the national Wushu ...
Wushu (member of US National Team; Pan-American Form & Sword Gold medalist), Lien Feng Kwon, Tae Kwon Do, Vovinam, Tai Chi, Aikido
59. Chris Casamassa
Actor | Mortal Kombat
Chris Casamassa is the son of American Martial arts pioneer Louis D. Casamassa. He is a world class Martial art expert with a 9th degree black belt in Red Dragon Karate and over 35 years of experience. Casamassa currently presides over the 12 Red Dragon Karate Schools in Southern California. He ...
Karate (7th Dan; 5-time International Forms & Weapons Champion; AKKF Hall of Fame entry)
60. Ho-Sung Pak
Actor | Lesser of Three Evils
Korean-American born Ho-Sung Pak is best known for two accomplishments in martial arts. A wushu champion, Ho was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1991. His first accomplishment was that he played both Liu Kang and Shang Tsung in the video game that started a fad and 2 movies, Mortal ...
Wushu, Tae Kwon Do, Shaolin & Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Lama Pai (Black Belt Hall of Fame entry; member of Professional Karate League & North American Karate Association)
61. Wenzhuo Zhao
Actor | Su Qi-er
Wenzhuo Zhao was born on April 10, 1972 in Ning'an, Heilongjiang, China. He is an actor and director, known for True Legend (2010), Once Upon a Time in China IV (1993) and Yingxiong Zheng Chengong (2001). He has been married to Danlu Zhang since June 1, 2006. They have three children.
wushu, Tai Chi, Wushu (Harbin team member; National Chinese Junior, All-Around & Martial Arts Champion)
62. Dominique Vandenberg
Actor | Inland Empire
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 ...
Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai
63. Noah Ringer
Actor | The Last Airbender
Noah Andrew Ringer is an American actor who starred as Aang in the film The Last Airbender. He was discovered in an open casting call for Airbender in Texas. He was also cast in the film Cowboys & Aliens as Emmett.
Ringer is a young taekwondo practitioner who was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. At...
Tae Kwon Do (2nd dan; ATA World & Texas State champion; 80-time ATA regional Gold medalist), Bagua Zhang, Tai Chi, Wushu (Extreme Martial Arts: Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons, Sparring, X-Treme Forms, and X-Treme Weapons)
64. Robert Wall
Actor | Enter the Dragon
Robert Wall was born on August 22, 1939 in San Jose, California, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Enter the Dragon (1973), The Way of the Dragon (1972) and Game of Death (1978). He was married to Lillian Prescott. He died on January 30, 2022 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Tang Soo Do (9th Dan; 1970 PKC Champion; PKA Hall Of Fame entry), Kickboxing, Okinawa-Te & Shorin-Ryu Karate, Judo, Jujitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
65. Jason Yee
Actor | The Girl from the Naked Eye
Jason Yee is an actor, director and producer who transitioned from an acclaimed career as a professional martial artist. He was born and raised in Boston's inner city by his single mom and grandparents. In his early 20s Jason won numerous martial arts championships and became the first American to ...
Sanshou (Unified Super-Middleweight Sanshou Champion; Kung Fu Hall of Fame entry), Wushu (Beijing Free Fighting Champion)
66. Rick Yune
Actor | The Fast and the Furious
Rick Yune was born on August 22, 1971 in Washington D.C., USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Fast and the Furious (2001), Die Another Day (2002) and Olympus Has Fallen (2013).
Tae Kwon Do
67. Hakim Alston
Actor | Mortal Kombat
Hakim Alston is a Kickboxing champion with over 30 years of martial arts experience. He started his training in Tae Kwon Do when he was 10 and has a 4th degree black belt. He also trained in Karate. His skills brought him to be a member of the USA Karate Team from 1984-1990.
After becoming a world ...
Kickboxing (ISKA, WKC, PKL, NASKA & WUKO Champion/Gold medalist), Tae Kwon Do (4th Dan; member of US National Karate Team)
68. Jason Scott Lee
Actor | Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Of Hawaiian and Chinese descent, Jason Scott Lee was born in Los Angeles, California, but raised in Hawaii from the age of two. His interest in acting began while studying in high school. It blossomed further when he enrolled in Fullerton College, where he studied under acting coach Sal Romeo. His ...
Jeet Kune Do
69. Siu-Lung Leung
Actor | Kung fu
Born in Hong Kong in 1948, 'Bruce' Leung Siu-Lung was the eldest of twelve brothers (which included stuntman/martial arts actor/action choreographer 'Tony' Leung Siu-Hung) and he obtained his martial arts training from his father at the Cantonese Opera. He also learned different forms of Karate and...
Gōjū-Ryū Karate, Wing Chun
70. Cam Gigandet
Actor | Twilight
Cam graduated from Auburn High School in Auburn, Washington, in 2001. His family lives in Lake Tapps, WA. His father's name is Jay, his mother's name is Kim, and he has one older sister, Kelsie. His father is one of the founders of a popular restaurant chain called The Rock, Wood Fired Pizza & ...
Krav Maga (Black Belt)
71. Tanit Phoenix
Actress | Gallowwalkers
Tanit Phoenix was born on September 24, 1980 in Durban, Natal, South Africa. She is an actress, known for Gallowwalkers (2012), Death Race 2 (2010) and Hardcore Henry (2015). She has been married to Sharlto Copley since February 15, 2016. They have one child.
Muay Thai, Tai Chi
72. Gerald Okamura
Actor | G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Born in Hilo, Hawaii in 1940. Gerald started Martial Arts with Judo in 1953. He has practiced Kendo, Aikido, Taekwondo, and he is currently a 5th degree black belt in Kung Fu San Soo (his sensei was the late Jimmy H. Woo). Gerald is a designer of various types of weaponry that have been featured in...
San Doo (5th Dan), Judo, Kendo, Aikido, Tae Kwon Do
73. Jason David Frank
Actor | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
Jason David Frank is well-known for his role of Tommy Oliver in the long-running family television show Power Rangers. He is the voice of Emissary in Transformers: Titans Returns and brings Bloodshot to life in the highly-anticipated project Ninjak vs.the Valiant Universe. Always one looking for ...
Karate (7th Dan; World Karate Union & Black Belt Hall of Fame entry), Toso Kune Do (founder), Muay Thai (MTIA gold medalist), Mixed Martial Arts (record: 4-0)
74. Richard Norton
Actor | Under a Red Moon
A powerful screen presence, Richard Norton wins the applause of international audiences with his engaging ability to play either the hero or the heavy. Rare versatility and focused work ethic have enabled him to build an expanding library of almost 100 film and television titles. The disciplines ...
Goju-Ryu Karate (5th Dan), Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu (4th degree black belt), Zen Do Kai (co-founder, 5th Dan), Chun Kuk Do (5th Dan), Judo, Aikido, Muay Thai a former "bodyguard to the stars
75. Aaron Norris
Producer | Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire
Aaron Norris was born in Gardena, California, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005), Ant-Man (2015) and Not Easily Broken (2009). He has been married to Rebecca since September 15, 1981. They have three children.
Chun Kuk Do (9th Dan), Tang Soo Do
76. Cynthia Rothrock
Actress | The Martial Arts Kid
Cynthia Rothrock is a martial arts expert and athlete, who went on to become a film actress, starring in a number of highly successful B 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 ...
Tang Soo Do (6th Dan), Tae Kwon Do, Eagle Claw, Wushu, Northern Shaolin, Pai Lum (black belts in all disciplines; 5-time World Champion in Weapons & Forms; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry)
77. David Bradley
Actor | American Ninja 4: The Annihilation
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. ...
Karate Shotokan, Kempo, Tai Chi and Aikido Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Iaido, Wing Chun, Judo, Jujitsu
78. Bolo Yeung
Actor | Bloodsport
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 ...
Wing Chun, Tai Chi
79. Eric Lee
Actor | Big Trouble in Little China
Eric started his training with his father after dinner. The martial art was Choi Li Fut. At that time, everybody practiced Kung Fu. Eric Lee was inspired by the black and white series Won Duck Hing. At the age of 15 his formal martial arts training started. Now he trained some Wing Chun and ...
Wun Hop Kuen (7th Dan), Kajukenbo (9th degree black belt), Jeet Kune Do, Northern/Southern Shaolin, Choy Lay Fut, Tai Chi, Chin-Na, Judo, Wing Chun, Hung Gar (Black Belt Hall of Fame entry)
80. Benny Urquidez
Actor | Grosse Pointe Blank
Benny Urquidez was raised in a very athletic family. His mother was a professional wrestler and his father a professional boxer, with all of his siblings black belts. He has earned black belts in nine different martial arts and trained in other styles.
The Jet decided to pursue full-contact karate ...
Kickboxing (8-time WKA Champion; record: 58-0; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry), Ukidokan Karate (founder), Judo, Kajukenbo, Shotokan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Lima Lama, White Crane kung fu, Jujutsu, Aikido
81. Vincent Cassel
Actor | Black Swan
Blue-eyed Vincent Cassel was born in Paris to a leading actor father, Jean-Pierre Cassel, and a journalist mother, Sabine Litique. Often labeled as a tough guy because of his roles, eclectic choices and talent have made of him a star of European cinema. First in La haine (1995), the young actor, ...
Capoeira
Kickboxing, Shorin-Ryu Karate (10th Dan; WPKC World Heavyweight Champion; US National Black Belt Kata & Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion; record: 14-4), Jeet Kune Do won the first "official" martial arts tournament; upon victory
83. Taimak
Actor | The Last Dragon
Taimak was born on June 27, 1964 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor and director, known for The Last Dragon (1985), Dreamers (1999) and Repeat Offenders: Jamais Vu (2011).
Gōjū-Ryū Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu
84. Jeong-lee Hwang
Actor | Ying zhao tie bu shan
Hwang Jang-Lee is the ultimate bootmaster. Known for his powerful and deadly kicks on screen as well as off, Hwang has a reputation as the Lord of the Superkickers. Born in Japan, Hwang's family moved back to their native Korea, where at the age of 14, Hwang began taking the national martial art of...
Tae Kwon Do (9th Dan)
85. Yasuaki Kurata
Actor | Blood: The Last Vampire
Yasuaki Kurata was born on March 20, 1946 in Ibaraki, Japan. He is an actor and producer, known for Blood: The Last Vampire (2009), God of War (2017) and Fist of Legend (1994).
Karate (5th Dan), Judo (3rd Dan), Aikido (2nd Dan), Kendo
86. Michael Chaturantabut
Assistant_director | Reign
Mike Chat as his friends call him, represents a new wave of Kung Fu, with over 14 years of experience, combining Okinawan Shorei-Ryu as a 4th degree black belt, Tae Kwon Do, Chinese Wushu, Kickboxing, yoga, ballet, dance and acrobatics. Mike was inducted in the World martial Arts Hall of Fame in ...
Shorei-Ryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, Kickboxing (ISKA, WAKO, NASKA & US Grand Open Champion in Weapons & Forms; Black Belt & World Martial Arts Hall of Fame entry) co-creator Xtreme Martial Arts
87. Keith Cooke
Actor | Mortal Kombat
Keith Cooke is a man of many qualities, accomplished in the arts of Wushu, Tae Kwon Do and Karate.
He started his WuShu training in 1973, under Roger Tung. In 1980 he went to China and he trained for 5 hours a day and entered the competition circuit in 1983. He immediately gained a second place in ...
Wushu (WAKO World Champion in Forms & Weapons, 5-time US World/Open Karate Grand Champion), Tae Kwon Do, Karate is of Scottish and Japanese ancestry
88. Matt Mullins
Stunts | Divergent
From his humble beginnings of watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Matt Mullins has risen to become world renown in martial arts, and as a star in the CW4Kids show "Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight".
With 5 martial art world titles in hand, Matt moved from Naperville, IL to Hollywood and quickly began ...
Shōrei-Ryū Karate (4th Dan; 5-time WKA World Champion)
89. Forest Whitaker
Actor | The Last King of Scotland
Forest Steven Whitaker has packaged a king-size talent into his hulking 6' 2", 220 lb. frame. He won an Academy Award for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the film The Last King of Scotland (2006), and has also won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. He is the fourth African-American male to...
Karate (1st Dan)
90. Dale Cook
Actor | Eternal Fist
Dale Cook was born on November 24, 1958 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. He is an actor, known for Eternal Fist (1992), Blood Ring (1991) and Blood Ring 2 (1995).
Karate (7th Dan), Kickboxing (WKA & UK Super Middleweight Champion)
91. Karen Sheperd
Actress | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Karen Sheperd is an accomplished American actress with numerous credits in film, television and theatre. Also a highly accomplished athlete, Karen found an early fascination with theatre as a very young girl. Working backstage on a regional production of "The King and I' in Oregon, Karen found ...
Kajukenbo, Wun Hop Kuen (US Open Karate Grand Champion; US Black Belt Forms Champion; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry; WKC Gold medalist)
92. Michael Bernardo
Actor | Batman & Robin
Michael Benardo started his martial arts training at the age of 8. His parents put him on to Judo, to gain self confidence, and from there he became interested in Karate at the same school. Michael trained at four schools and got his black belt from Richard Kim in California.
At the age of 17, he ...
Judo, Karate (7th Dan; 15-time Canadian/North American Forms, Weapons & Fighting Champion, 4-time American Middleweight Fighting Champion; Black Belt Hall of Fame entry)
93. Simon Rhee
Stunts | Inception
Simon Rhee is a 7th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 4th Degree Black Belt in Hap Ki Do. He is a World-Class Martial Artist known for his beautiful kicks and incredible forms, and is a many-time Grand Champion of the tournament circuit. Karate Illustrated noted that, "Simon Rhee has the ...
Tae Kwon Do (7th Dan), Hapkido (4th Dan), Wing Chun
94. Kariim Ratcliff
Actor | Lord of the City
Kariim Ratcliff was born in Brooklyn, New York to Levester and Ida Ratcliff. Kariim's early interest in the martial arts led him to an acting career. Growing up in Bedford Stuyvesant, the middle child of ten, his seven brothers showed great ability in basketball, while Kariim showed no interest, ...
Tae Kwon Do (7th Dan), Kemet-Jitsu (co-founder)
95. Ernie Reyes Jr.
Actor | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Ernie Reyes Jr. was born on January 15, 1972 in San Jose, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), The Rundown (2003) and Red Sonja (1985). He has been married to Lisa Reyes since November 11, 2009. They have two ...
Tae Kwon Do (4th Dan), Muay Thai
96. Ernie Reyes Sr.
Actor | Art of Submission
Ernie Reyes Sr. grew up with his parents, working in the labor field. There he had his first lessons in discipline. This didn't work at school, because Ernie would be the first to fall asleep and the last being able to read. He did however, excel in all sports his young friends were playing; ...
Tae Kwon Do (7th Dan; Black Belt & Tae Kwon Do Hall of Fame entry)
97. Professor Toru Tanaka
Actor | Last Action Hero
Built like the proverbial Patton tank, Professor Toru Tanaka was arguably the successor to Harold Sakata as the archetypal Asian henchman who possessed incredible strength, and clobbered those foolish enough to tangle with him. Born Charles Kalani, he was a successful wrestler and served for over ...
Boxer, Martial Artist
98. Randall 'Tex' Cobb
Actor | Raising Arizona
Former Heavyweight boxing contender Randall "Tex" Cobb has had 3 highly colorful careers; kickboxer, pro boxer, and movie actor. Born in Bridge City, Texas on May 7, 1950, the 6'3", 225 pound Cobb excelled in high school football and martial arts. Enjoying "extreme" sports to the max, Cobb launched...
Boxer, full contact kickboxing, Karate (Black belt)
99. Keith Vitali
Actor | Superfights
Started his martial arts career at the University Of South Carolina in 1971 and in only two years, earned his 1st degree Black Belt. Competed in regional tournaments and major events throughout the world. Was World Karate Champion and US National Karate Champion for 3 consecutive years. (1978-1980)...
Karate (3-time World Karate/US National Champion; PKA National Champion; Officials Karate's Legion Of Honor; Diamond Nationals & Black Belt Hall of Fame entry)
100. Stephen Chow
Actor | Kung fu
Stephen Chow was the only boy of his family, and has grown up as a Bruce Lee fan and a martial arts addict. His career started on TV, where he presented a children show ( "430 Space Shuttle" (1983)) and started becoming popular. He got some supporting roles, after that, and won the Taiwanese Golden...
Wing Chun
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