Michael Dudikoff

Michael Dudikoff

Dudikoff in 2013
Born Michael Joseph Dudikoff II[1]
Redondo Beach, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1978-2004, 2013-present
Spouse(s) Bel Dudikoff (m. 2004)

Michael Joseph II (born October 8, 1954) is an American actor who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja series (1985–1990), Tron (1982), Bachelor Party (1984), Platoon Leader (1988), River of Death (1989), Soldier Boyz (1996), Ringmaster (1998) and The Silencer (1999).[2][3]

Biography

Early life

Dudikoff comes from a large family. His father, Michael Joseph Dudikoff, was from a Christian Orthodox family from Russia, and served in the Army before marrying Dudikoff’s mother, a French-Canadian native from Quebec who was extremely talented on the piano. The couple moved to California and had five children. Dudikoff is the fourth of the group.

Dudikoff graduated from West High School in Torrance, California and was studying child psychology at Harbor College, when he was discovered as a model. During this time, he also worked at a rehabilitation center for abused youth called Cedar House. He waited tables at Beachbum Burt’s in Redondo Beach, California to pay for his education.

During lunch one day, Dudikoff served Max Evans, a fashion editor with Esquire magazine, who came 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.

Film career

Dudikoff soon began acting, and he starred in several commercials for companies, including Coppertone, Coca-Cola for Japan, Army Reserve and Stridex.

His first television role took place after a meeting with theatrical agent Sid Craig. It was at this time that he landed the part as Joanie’s first boyfriend in the American sitcom Happy Days. Other television work included roles in Dallas, Gimme a Break!, and a Columbia Pictures movie-of-the-week called Sawyer & Finn. He is widely recognized for playing the character Private Joe Armstrong in the American Ninja (1985). There were five movies in the American Ninja series of which Dudikoff appears in the first, second and fourth films.

Other Dudikoff films include Tron (1982), Uncommon Valor (1983), Bachelor Party (1984), Avenging Force (1986), River of Death (1989), The Human Shield (1991), Chain of Command (1994), Soldier Boyz (1996), Bounty Hunters (1996), Ringmaster (1998), The Silencer (1999), In Her Defense (1999), Gale Force (2002) and Quicksand (2002).

Dudikoff mentioned in an interview with TRASHOTHEK in September 2012 that he had a desire to be in The Expendables 3. He also hinted at a possible sequel to American Ninja and Avenging Force.[4]

Private life

Dudikoff mentors other actors and participates in martial arts, including 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.

Dudikoff is married and has two children. The Dudikoffs also own two chihuahuas.[5] He can speak a little Russian.[6]

Filmography

Dudikoff as Douggie Krebs on Star of the Family in 1982
Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Black Marble Millie's Houseboy Film
1981 Bloody Birthday Willard Film
1981 Enter the Ninja Venarius' Man Film (uncredited)
1982 Making Love Young Man in Bar #2 Film
1982 I Ought to Be in Pictures Boy on bus Film
1982 Star of the Family Douggie Krebs TV series
1982 Tron Conscript #2 Film (as Michael J. Dudikoff II)
1983 Uncommon Valor Blaster's assistant Film
1984 Bachelor Party Ryko Film
1985 Radioactive Dreams Marlowe Hammer Film
1985 American Ninja Pvt. Joe Armstrong Film
1986 Avenging Force Capt. Matt Hunter Film
1986 North and South Lt. Rudy Bodford TV mini-series
1987 American Ninja 2: The Confrontation Sgt. Joe Armstrong Film
1988 Platoon Leader Lt. Jeff Knight Film
1989 River of Death John Hamilton Film
1990 Midnight Ride Lawson Film
American Ninja 4: The Annihilation Joe Armstrong Film
1991 The Woman Who Sinned Evan Ganns TV Movie
1992 The Human Shield Doug Matthews Film
1993 Rescue Me Daniel 'Mac' MacDonald Film
Cobra Robert "Scandal" Jackson, Jr. TV Movie
1994 Cobra 2 Robert "Scandal" Jackson, Jr. TV Movie
Chain of Command Merrill Ross Film
1995 Cyberjack Nick James Film
Soldier Boyz Toliver Film
1996 Bounty Hunters Jersey Bellini Video
1997 Moving Target Sonny Film
Strategic Command Dr. Rick Harding Film
Crash Dive James Carter Video
Soldier Boyz Toliver Video Game
Hardball (aka: Bounty Hunters 2) Jersey Bellini Video
The Shooter Michael Atherton Film
1998 Freedom Strike Tom Dickson Film
Black Thunder Vince Film
Counter Measures Capt. Jake Fuller Video
Ringmaster Rusty Film
Musketeers Forever D'Artagnan Film
1999 In Her Defense Andrew Garfield Film
Fugitive Mind Robert Dean Video
2000 The Silencer Quinn Simmons Film
2001 Ablaze Daniels Film
2002 Gale Force Jared Video
Quicksand Bill Turner Film
2004 Black Horizon Ed Carpenter Last Film before a ten-year hiatus
2013 Zombie Break Room (TV Series) Tank Dempsey
2015 Navy SEALs vs. Zombies Commander Sheer
The Bouncer Samuel James
2016 Enter the Fist and the Golden Fleecing Superboss Film

References

  1. ↑ "Michael J Dudikoff, Born 10/08/1954 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. 1954-10-08. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  2. ↑ Wren, Celia (1992-02-23). "FILM; Martial-Arts Movies Find a Home In South Africa". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  3. ↑ "Now That He's Had His Kicks . . .". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  4. ↑ Video on YouTube
  5. ↑ "Michael Dudikoff - The Greatest Action Hero/Action Movie Star you never heard of". Therevolverreport.blogspot.com. 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
  6. ↑ "Michael Dudikoff". Movies.nytimes.com. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
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