Michael Dudikoff
Michael Dudikoff | |
---|---|
Born | Michael Joseph Stephen Dudikoff Jr.[1] October 8, 1954 |
Alma mater | Los Angeles Harbor College |
Occupation(s) | Actor, martial artist |
Years active | 1978–2004, 2013–present |
Spouse | Belle Dudikoff (m. 2004) |
Michael Joseph Stephen Dudikoff Jr. (born October 8, 1954) is an American actor and martial artist. Born in New York City, his family later moved to Los Angeles. Dudikoff did different jobs to pay for his education, during this time he became a model. This led him to do acting auditions. He played supporting roles in films and television shows, until he got his break as the lead in the martial arts action film American Ninja (1985).
Dudikoff became an action film leading man and followed up with American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1986), Avenging Force (1986), Platoon Leader (1988), River of Death (1989), Soldier Boyz (1996), Bounty Hunters (1996), Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball (1997), etc.
In the 2000s, Dudikoff started to work in real estate, and made film appearances in the 2010s.
Early life
Dudikoff's father, Michael Joseph Stephen Dudikoff Sr., was
Dudikoff graduated from
Career
Mid 1970s to 1985: Modeling and early roles
To pay for his education, Dudikoff worked at a rehabilitation center for abused youth called Cedar House and waited tables at Beachbum Burt's in Redondo Beach, California.[2] He was eventually approached to do some modelling, and did a catwalk at a shopping mall.
During lunch one day, Dudikoff served Max Evans, a fashion editor with Esquire magazine, who had come in with some models. Evans asked Dudikoff to walk in a Newport Beach fashion show, and his mother encouraged him to try it out.
After a couple of successful runways, Dudikoff retained an agent at the Mary Webb Davis Agency in Los Angeles. Dudikoff soon entered the high fashion world and counted Calvin Klein and GQ among his clients. He moved quickly to international print modeling and traveled between New York, Los Angeles, and Milan by his late 20s.
Dudikoff soon began acting, and he starred in several commercials for companies, including Coppertone, Coca-Cola for Japan, Army Reserve and Stridex.
Dudikoff's first television role took place after a meeting with theatrical agent Sid Craig.
Early 1980s to 1985: Subsequent roles and breakthrough
In 1980, Dudikoff acted in The Black Marble.[6]
In 1981, Dudikoff acted in Bloody Birthday,[7] and The Best Little Girl in the World.[8]
In 1982, Dudikoff acted in Neil Simon's I Ought to Be in Pictures,[9] Making Love,[10] and Tron.[11] Also that year he was one of the leads in the sitcom Star of the Family.
In 1983, he acted in Uncommon Valor,[12] one episode of Gimme a Break!, and played Huckleberry Finn in a Columbia Pictures movie-of-the-week called Sawyer & Finn directed by Peter H. Hunt.
In 1984, Dudikoff acted in the comedy film Bachelor Party.[13]
In 1985,
1986 to mid-2000s: Action film leading man
In 1986, Dudikoff returned to the title role of Joe Armstrong in
In 1987, he had signed an agreement with Cannon Films to star and produce seven films.[18]
In 1988, Dudikoff played the lead in
In 1989, Dudikoff starred as an adventurer in Steve Carver's River of Death.[20]
In 1989, Dudikoff turned down American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt because he didn't want to get type cast in martial arts movies and didn't want to go back to South Africa as he was firmly against the Apartheid movement.[21][22]
In 1990, he starred in the action-horror film Midnight Ride opposite Mark Hamill.[23]
In 1991, Dudikoff acted in the television film The Woman Who Sinned.[24] That year in American Ninja's fourth instalment American Ninja 4: The Annihilation, he returned to the role of Joe Armstrong.[25]
In 1992, Dudikoff starred in The Human Shield directed by Ted Post.[26]
In 1993, Dudikoff co-starred with Stephen Dorff in Arthur Allan Seidelman's Rescue Me.[27] Also that year, Dudikoff was the lead role in the action TV series Cobra. The hour-long show ran for 22 episodes from 1993 to 1994.[28]
In 1994, Dudikoff did his final film with
In 1995, Dudikoff starred in Cyberjack,[30] and Soldier Boyz.
In 1996, Dudikoff starred Bounty Hunters, Moving Target, and Crash Dive.[31][32][33]
In 1997, Dudikoff starred in Strategic Command, Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball, and The Shooter.[34][35][36]
In 1998, Dudikoff starred in Black Thunder, Freedom Strike, Musketeers Forever , and Counter Measures a sequel to Crash Dive.[37][38][39][40][41] He also played acted in the Ringmaster starring Jerry Springer.[42]
In 1999, Dudikoff acted in Sidney J. Furie's In Her Defense,[43] Fred Olen Ray's Fugitive Mind,[44] and The Silencer.[45]
In 2001, Dudikoff acted in Ablaze.[46]
In 2002, Dudikoff played the main villain in Gale Force, starring Treat Williams. He also starred in Sam Firstenberg's Quicksand, and Fred Olen Ray's Stranded.[47][48]
2003 to present day: Current works
Moving forward, Dudikoff worked in real estate.[49]
In 2014, Dudikoff was interviewed for
In 2015, Dudikoff played a supporting role in Navy Seals vs. Zombies, released by Anchor Bay Entertainment.[51]
In 2018, Dudikoff acted in Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece.[52]
Personal life
Dudikoff has been married to Belle since 2004. They have three children: son, Michael Joseph Stephen III; opposite-sex twins, Lyzel and Andrei.[53]
Martial arts and fitness
Dudikoff had no martial arts training before making the first American Ninja movie, but he was already very athletic. Fight choreographer Mike Stone, an accomplished martial arts expert, assured the producers that Dudikoff would pick up the moves.[54]
Dudikoff has since trained in karate, aikido, judo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He began his training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Rorion Gracie and stays connected with the Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighting circuit, including Rigan Machado, an eighth degree red and black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and former world champion.[55][56]
In a 2012 Q&A, Dudikoff said that he doesn't lift weights, but is a swimmer and does isometric and dance exercises.[57]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | The Black Marble | Millie's Houseboy | |
1981 | Bloody Birthday | Willard | |
1982 | Making Love | Young Man In Bar #2 | |
I Ought to Be in Pictures |
Boy On Bus | ||
Tron | Conscript #2 | as Michael J. Dudikoff II | |
1983 | Uncommon Valor | Blaster's Assistant | |
1984 | Bachelor Party | Ryko | |
1985 | Radioactive Dreams | Marlowe Hammer | |
American Ninja | Private Joe Armstrong | ||
1986 | Avenging Force | Captain Matt Hunter | |
1987 | American Ninja 2: The Confrontation | Sergeant Joe Armstrong | |
1988 | Platoon Leader | Lieutenant Jeff Knight | |
1989 | River of Death | John Hamilton | |
1990 | Midnight Ride | Lawson | |
American Ninja 4: The Annihilation | Agent Joe Armstrong | ||
1992 | The Human Shield | Colonel Doug Matthews | |
1992 | Rescue Me | Daniel 'Mac' MacDonald | |
1994 | Chain of Command | Merrill Ross | |
1995 | Cyberjack | Nick James | |
Soldier Boyz | Major Howard Toliver | ||
1996 | Bounty Hunters | Jersey Bellini | Direct-to-video |
1997 | Moving Target | Sonny | |
Strategic Command | Dr. Rick Harding | ||
Crash Dive | James Carter | Direct-to-video | |
Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball | Jersey Bellini | Direct-to-video | |
The Shooter | Michael Atherton | ||
1998 | Freedom Strike | Tom Dickson | |
Black Thunder | Vince Conners | ||
Counter Measures | Captain Jake Fuller | Direct-to-video | |
Ringmaster | Rusty | ||
Musketeers Forever | D'Artagnan |
||
1999 | In Her Defense | Andrew Garfield | |
Fugitive Mind | Robert Dean | Direct-to-video | |
2000 | The Silencer | Quinn Simmons | |
2001 | Ablaze | Gary Daniels | Direct-to-video |
2002 | Gale Force | Jared | Direct-to-video |
Quicksand | Bill Turner | ||
Stranded | Ed Carpenter | Direct-to-video His last film before a ten-year hiatus | |
2015 | Navy Seals vs. Zombies | Lieutenant Commander Sheer | |
The Bouncer | Samuel James | ||
2018 | Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece | Superboss | |
TBA | Landfill | Mr. Lindbergh | |
Left Turn | Senator |
TV
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Dallas | Joe Newcomb | 1 Episode |
1979 | Out of the Blue | Lenny | 1 Episode |
1979–1980 | Happy Days | Jason / Jim | 2 Episodes |
1981 | The Best Little Girl in the World | Chuck | TV movie |
1982 | Star of the Family | Douggie Krebs | 10 Episodes |
1983 | Gimme a Break! | Greg Hartman | 1 Episodes |
1986 | North and South, Book II |
Lieutenant Rudy Bodford | 6 Episodes |
1991 | The Woman Who Sinned | Evan Ganns | TV movie |
1994 | Historias de la puta mili | Special Appearance | 1 Episodes |
1993–1994 | Cobra | Robert 'Scanda' Jackson Jr. | 22 Episodes |
2013 | Zombie Break Room | 'Tank' Dempsey | also executive producer |
2019 | Green Valley | Uncle Rik |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Soldier Boyz | Major Howard Toliver | Voice role |
2018 | B-Team | General Dudikoff | Voice role |
References
- ^ "Michael J Dudikoff, Born 10/08/1954 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. 1954-10-08. Retrieved 2015-07-15.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Mendoza, N.F. (30 January 1994). "With An Eye On... : Michael Dudikoff rides the fast lane with 'Cobra' series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ King, Susan (1991-11-16). "Now That He's Had His Kicks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "Michael Dudikoff". 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
- ^ "On-camera Interview with Star Michael Dudikoff". "Avenging Force (DVD or Bluray)" (Interview). Kino Lorber. 2014.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "Bloody Birthday". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "The Best Little Girl in the World". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "Tron". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ Hartley, Mark (2015). "Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films". YouTube. Australia. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ "American Ninja". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ "American Ninja 2". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ "North and South: Book II". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
- ^ "Cannon inks Dudikoff to 7-pic pact; sequel to 'Cobra' planned". Variety. 1987-05-20. p. 37.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
- ^ "American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt Trivia". Imdb.
- ^ Erickson, Glenn (August 30, 2016). "American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt". Trailers From Hell.
- ^ "Midnight Ride". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ "The Woman Who Sinned". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "Cobra Cast & Crew". Imdb.
- ^ "Chain of Command (1994) Company Credits". Imdb.
- ^ "Cyberjack". Imdb.
- ^ "Crash Dive". Imdb.
- ^ "Bounty Hunters". Imdb.
- ^ "Moving Target". Imdb.
- ^ "Strategic Command". Imdb.
- ^ "Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball". Imdb.
- ^ "The Shooter". Imdb.
- ^ "Crash Dive Connections". Imdb.
- ^ "Freedom Strike". Imdb.
- ^ "Black Thunder". Imdb.
- ^ "Counter Measure". Imdb.
- ^ "Musketeers Forever". Imdb.
- ^ "Ringmaster". Imdb.
- ^ "In Her Defense (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "Fugitive Mind". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ "The Silencer". Imdb.
- ^ "Ablaze". Imdb.
- ^ "Quicksand". Imdb.
- ^ "Stranded". Imdb.
- ^ "Leinwandreporter: Michael Dudikoff Interview vom Hollywood Event". YouTube. Leinwandreporter TV. 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
- ^ Foundas, Scott (9 September 2014). "Toronto Film Review: 'Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films'". variety.
- ^ "Navy Seals vs. Zombies Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. 2015.
- ^ Fury of the Fist and The Golden Fleece, retrieved 2018-11-09
- ^ "Michael Dudikoff". IMDb.
- ^ Moore, David J. "American Ninja Retrospective". KungFuMagazine.
- ^ "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu". BJJ Heroes. 26 June 2011.
- ^ "Michael Dudikoff". Martial Arts Entertainment. 31 May 2015.
- ^ "Q&A with Michael Dudikoff [Day 1 & 2]". YouTube. Trashfellow. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.