Martin Kove (/ˈkoʊv/; born March 6, 1946[2]) is an American actor and martial artist. He is best known for his role as John Kreese, the main antagonist of The Karate Kid (1984). Kove reprised the role in The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and the television series Cobra Kai (2018–present). He also appeared as Nero the Hero in Death Race 2000 (1975), and afterward as Clem in White Line Fever (1975). Kove was a regular on the TV series Cagney and Lacey (1982–1988), portraying Police Detective Victor Isbecki. He appeared in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).
Martin Kove | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kove at the Louisville Supercon in 2018 | |
| Born | March 6, 1946 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, martial artist |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| Spouse | Vivienne Love (m.1981; div. 2005) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editMartin Kove was adopted by a Jewish American family on March 6, 1946, in Brooklyn.[3]
Career
edit
From 1982–88, Kove appeared in the main cast of Cagney & Lacey as New York City Detective Victor Isbecki, a supporting role he reprised in subsequent television movies for the series. During the same time, Kove appeared in the 1984 hit film The Karate Kid as Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese, whose fighting instruction of showing “no mercy” and to “sweep the leg” during the film’s karate tournament entered the American zeitgeist. After playing a traitorous helicopter pilot in the 1985 film Rambo: First Blood Part II, he returned as Kreese for the 1986 sequel The Karate Kid Part II and the 1989 sequel The Karate Kid Part III.[4]
In his seemingly only directorial effort, Kove directed a season 3 episode of Silk Stalkings in 1994.
Kove studied Okinawa-te Karate under prominent black belt Gordon Doversola Shihan.[5][6][7]
Kove appeared in the 2007 music video for the song "Sweep the Leg" by No More Kings as a caricature of himself and John Kreese from The Karate Kid.[8][9]
In 2018, Kove again returned to the character of Kreese for the YouTube Premium web series, Cobra Kai, a continuation of The Karate Kid franchise set 34 years after the original film. The series debuted on May 2, 2018, and was met with critical success. The show was renewed for a second season, which was published on April 24, 2019. In June 2020, Netflix purchased the series, producing a third, fourth,[10] fifth and sixth season.
In 2019, Kove parodied his Karate Kid character in a QuickBooks commercial, in which a kinder, gentler Kreese runs a "Koala Kai" dojo of preteen students who are encouraged to "support the leg" and to show "more mercy."[11]
Kove was one of the celebrities competing on season 30 of Dancing with the Stars in 2021.[12] He and his professional dance partner, Britt Stewart, were the first couple to be eliminated.[13]
Personal life
editKove is the father of twins, born in 1990.[14] One of the twins, Jesse, portrayed the young man who bullies the younger version of his father’s character, John Kreese, in flashbacks for seasons 3 and 4 of Cobra Kai.[15]
Filmography
edit| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Little Murders | Unknown | Uncredited |
| 1971 | Women in Revolt | Marty | |
| 1972 | Savages | Archie | |
| 1972 | The Last House on the Left | Deputy Harry | |
| 1973 | Cops and Robbers | Ambulance Attendant | |
| 1975 | The Wild Party | Editor | |
| 1975 | Capone | Peter "Goosey" Gusenberg | |
| 1975 | Death Race 2000 | Nero "The Hero" | |
| 1975 | White Line Fever | Clem | |
| 1976 | The Four Deuces | "Smokey" Ross | |
| 1977 | The White Buffalo | Jack McCall | |
| 1979 | Seven | Skip | |
| 1982 | Blood Tide | Neil Grice | |
| 1984 | The Karate Kid | Sensei John Kreese | |
| 1985 | Rambo: First Blood Part II | Michael Reed Ericson | |
| 1986 | The Karate Kid Part II | Sensei John Kreese | |
| 1987 | Steele Justice | John Steele | |
| 1989 | The Karate Kid Part III | Sensei John Kreese | |
| 1991 | White Light | Sean Craig | |
| 1992 | Project Shadowchaser | DeSilva | Direct-to-video |
| 1992 | Shootfighter: Fight to the Death | Mr. Lee | |
| 1993 | Karate Tiger 7: To Be the Best | Rick Kulhane | |
| 1994 | Wyatt Earp | Ed Ross | |
| 1994 | Frank and Jesse | Unknown | Uncredited |
| 1994 | Future Shock | Dr. Langdon | |
| 1996 | Timelock | Admiral Danny Teegs | |
| 1996 | Mercenary | Mr. Phoenix | |
| 1998 | Joseph's Gift | Thompsonn | |
| 2000 | Nowhere Land | Hank | |
| 2002 | Crocodile 2: Death Swamp | Roland | |
| 2002 | Curse of the Forty-Niner | Caleb | |
| 2004 | Illusion Infinity | Taxi Driver | |
| 2005 | Glass Trap | Corrigan | |
| 2005 | Miracle at Sage Street | Jess | |
| 2006 | Max Havoc: Ring of Fire | Lieutenant Reynolds | |
| 2007 | The Dead Sleep Easy | Bob DePugh | |
| 2008 | Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves | Sheriff Jones | |
| 2009 | Middle Men | Senator | |
| 2011 | Savage | Jack Lund | |
| 2011 | The Life Zone | Randy Graves | |
| 2013 | I'm in Love with a Church Girl | Terry Edgemond | |
| 2014 | Falcon Song | Caspian | |
| 2014 | Eternity: The Movie | Barry Goldfield Sr. | |
| 2014 | Tapped Out | Principal Vanhorne | |
| 2014 | The Extendables | Aye Lewis | |
| 2015 | The Dog Who Saved Summer | Vernon | |
| 2016 | Traded | Cavendish | |
| 2016 | Jokers Wild | Graham Palace | |
| 2017 | Bring Me A Dream | Sheriff Jack Miller | |
| 2018 | Paint It Red | Scabs | |
| 2019 | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Sheriff On Bounty Law | |
| 2019 | VFW | Lou Clayton | |
| 2020 | Elvis From Outer Space | State Trooper | |
| 2020 | A Wrestling Christmas Miracle | Warden Jeffries | |
| TBA | Killing Mary Sue † | TBA | Post-production[16] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Rhoda | Gary | Episode: "Anything Wrong" |
| 1974 | Gunsmoke | Guthrie | Episode: "In Performance of Duty" |
| 1975 | Three for the Road | Unknown | Episode: "The Rip-off" |
| 1975 | Switch | Bud | Episode: "The Deadly Missiles Caper" |
| 1976 | Kojak | Burl Stole | Episode: "Law Dance" |
| 1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Willis Hines | Episode: "The Drop" |
| 1977 | The Rockford Files | Harry Smick | Episode: "Dirty Money, Black Light" |
| 1977 | Code R | George Baker | 12 episodes |
| 1977 | The San Pedro Beach Bums | Denny Evans | Episode: "The Shortest Yard" |
| 1977 | Charlie’s Angels | George | s2e14 |
| 1977–1978 | We've Got Each Other | Ken Redford | 5 episodes |
| 1978 | The Incredible Hulk | Henry "Rocky" Welsh | Episode: "Final Round" |
| 1978–1979 | Barnaby Jones | Greg Saunders / Stan Benson | 2 episodes |
| 1979 | Quincy, M.E. | Joe | Episode: "The Death Challenge" |
| 1979 | Starsky and Hutch | Jimmy | Episode: "Birds of a Feather" |
| 1979 | CHiPs | Joe Kirby | Episodes: "The Death Challenge"; "Hot Wheels" |
| 1980–1981 | The Edge of Night | Romeo Slade | 16 episodes |
| 1982 | Cry for the Strangers | Jeff | Television film |
| 1982–1988 | Cagney & Lacey | Victor Isbecki | Main role |
| 1983 | The Optimist | The Rival | Episode: "The Good, The Bad, and the Nasty" |
| 1985 | Murder, She Wrote | Gary Ellison | Episode: "Armed Response" |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | Joe | Episode: "Opening Day" |
| 1989 | Hard Time on Planet Earth | Jesse | 13 episodes |
| 1993 | Renegade | Mitch Raines / Goliath | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Tales from the Crypt (TV series) | Police Officer | Episode: "Half-Way Horrible" |
| 1993–1994 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Chi'Ru Master | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Cagney & Lacey: The Return | Victor Isbecki | Television film |
| 1995 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Fred Kimble | Episode: "Flashback" |
| 1995 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys | Demetrius | Episode: "The Mother of All Monsters" |
| 1997 | Assault on Devil's Island | Andy Powers | TV film |
| 1998–1999 | Diagnosis: Murder | Captain Walter Newman | 3 episodes |
| 1999 | Assault on Death Mountain | Andy Powers | TV film |
| 2001 | Under Heavy Fire | Father Brazinski | Television film |
| 2001 | Black Scorpion | James Ames / Firearm | Episode: "Armed and Dangerous" |
| 2003 | Hard Ground | Floyd | Television film |
| 2003 | Barbarian | Munkar | Television film |
| 2009 | War Wolves | Malick | Television film |
| 2011 | Tosh.0 | John Kreese | Episode: "Broad Breaker" |
| 2013 | Our Wild Hearts | Grizz | Movie |
| 2015 | Criminal Minds | John Folkmore | Episode: "Scream" |
| 2017 | The Goldbergs | Master John | Episode: "The Kara-Te Kid" |
| 2018–Present | Cobra Kai | John Kreese | Guest (season 1) Main role (seasons 2–present) |
| 2021 | Dancing with the Stars | Himself / Contestant | Season 30 |
| 2024 | A Taste of Love | Glenn | Television film (Hallmark) |
Video games
edit- Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising (2022) as John Kreese (voice role)
References
edit- ^ "Martin Kove - C&I Magazine". Cowboys and Indians Magazine. July 5, 2021. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ Rahman, Abid (August 28, 2020). "'Cobra Kai' Star Martin Kove On Returning to Play Iconic Character". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
...the 74-year-old [as of August 2020]
- ^ Tucker, Ernest (May 15, 1987). "'Kosher cowboy' bucks heavy image". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 71. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2015.(subscription required)
- ^ "Martin Kove". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ Curran, Brad (June 11, 2014). "Interview with Martin Kove". Kung-fu Kingdom. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ "Star of Karate Kid talks with Ballinger Publishing". Ballinger Publishing. October 27, 2014. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ Angelus, Jerold (June 27, 2011). Martin Kove. Duct Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 9786136779522. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ Frye, Cory (March 10, 2018). "Of Being and Johnny Lawrence (Sweep the Leg)". Albany Democrat-Herald. Corvallis Gazette-Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ Strauss, Chris (October 9, 2014). "'Karate Kid' villain Billy Zabka is still best friends with the Cobra Kais". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "'Cobra Kai' Gets Early Season 4 Renewal at Netflix | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- ^ "- YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ^ "'Dancing With the Stars' 2021: Meet the season 30 celebrity cast". Good Morning America. September 8, 2021. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
- ^ Mizoguchi, Karen (September 27, 2021). "DWTS: Cobra Kai Star Martin Kove Is the First Contestant to Be Eliminated on season 30". PEOPLE.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "Who Is Martin Kove? 5 Things to Know About 'DWTS' Season 30 Cast Member". Us Weekly. September 21, 2021. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy. "'Cobra Kai' star Martin Kove on working with his son in season 3, a possible love interest for Kreese". EW.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (September 27, 2024). "Sierra McCormick & Dermot Mulroney Leading Action Caper 'Killing Mary Sue' With Bleiberg Launching Sales; First Look Revealed". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
Further reading
edit- Voisin, Scott, Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting. BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59393-342-5.
External links
edit- Martin Kove at IMDb