Michael Dudikoff
Encyclopedia
Michael Joseph Dudikoff 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), to name a few. He is in pre-production for Havana Heat, an action thriller.
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 in the mid-1970s and had five children. Dudikoff is the fourth of the group.
Dudikoff graduated from West Torrance High School
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.
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 Joni’s first boyfriend in the American sitcom Happy Days
. Other TV work included roles in Dallas, Gimme a Break!
, and a Columbia Pictures
movie-of-the-week called Sawyer & Finn.
By 1978, Dudikoff moved into the lead acting roles for several films. Dudikoff has filmed dozens of films on five continents.
He is widely recognized for playing the character Pvt. Joe Armstrong in the American Ninja
(1985). The American Ninja
series went on to become a five-movie sensation.
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 currently is in pre-production for Havana Heat. He also is in talks for other pending film projects.
. 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 kids. He also owns two chihuahuas.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who has been in numerous films, including the American Ninja
American Ninja
American Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff in the title role, with Steve James as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the...
series (1985–1990), Tron
Tron (film)
Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
(1982), Bachelor Party (1984), Platoon Leader
Platoon Leader (film)
Platoon Leader is a 1988 Cannon Films film set in the Vietnam War and directed by Aaron Norris; it starred Michael Dudikoff and Michael DeLorenzo....
(1988), River of Death (1989), Soldier Boyz (1996), Ringmaster
Ringmaster (film)
Ringmaster is a 1998 American comedy-drama film starring Jerry Springer playing himself as Jerry Farrelly, host of a show similar to his own, in this case called simply Jerry. There are three ongoing plots in the film...
(1998), and The Silencer
The Silencer (film)
The Silencer is a 1999 action movie starring Michael Dudikoff as a professional assassin hired to train a young man who may not be all he seems.-External links:*...
(1999), to name a few. He is in pre-production for Havana Heat, an action thriller.
Early life
Michael Joseph Dudikoff comes from a large family. His father was RussianRussians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
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 in the mid-1970s and had five children. Dudikoff is the fourth of the group.
Dudikoff graduated from West Torrance High School
West High School (Torrance)
West Torrance High School is a public high school in Torrance, California, United States. The mascot is the Warrior.-History:West Torrance High was established in 1962. It serves area bounded by 190th Street, Hawthorne, Sepulveda and west city boundary. The school colors are brown and gold. The...
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
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
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 Joni’s first boyfriend in the American sitcom Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
. Other TV work included roles in Dallas, Gimme a Break!
Gimme a Break!
Gimme a Break! is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief and his three daughters.-Premise:...
, and a Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
movie-of-the-week called Sawyer & Finn.
By 1978, Dudikoff moved into the lead acting roles for several films. Dudikoff has filmed dozens of films on five continents.
He is widely recognized for playing the character Pvt. Joe Armstrong in the American Ninja
American Ninja
American Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff in the title role, with Steve James as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the...
(1985). The American Ninja
American Ninja
American Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff in the title role, with Steve James as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the...
series went on to become a five-movie sensation.
Other Dudikoff films include Tron
Tron (film)
Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
(1982), Uncommon Valor (1983), Bachelor Party
Bachelor Party (film)
The soundtrack album from Bachelor Party was released in 1984.Side one:# "American Beat '84" – The Fleshtones # "Something Isn't Right" – Oingo Boingo # "Crazy Over You" – Jools Holland # "Little Demon" – Adrian Zmed...
(1984), Avenging Force
Avenging Force
Avenging Force is a 1986 film directed by Sam Firstenberg. The screenplay was written by James Booth, who co-starred in the film. It is a sequel to the 1985 film Invasion U.S.A., which starred Chuck Norris in the role of Matt Hunter.-Plot:...
(1986), River of Death (1989), The Human Shield (1991), Chain of Command
Chain of Command (film)
Chain of Command is a 2000 action/adventure film starring Roy Scheider and Patrick Muldoon.-Plot:New Secret Service agent Mike Connelly, assigned to protect President-elect Jack Cahill, becomes uneasy in having to protect a President who is having an affair with a friend's wife...
(1994), Soldier Boyz (1996), Bounty Hunters (1996), Ringmaster
Ringmaster (film)
Ringmaster is a 1998 American comedy-drama film starring Jerry Springer playing himself as Jerry Farrelly, host of a show similar to his own, in this case called simply Jerry. There are three ongoing plots in the film...
(1998), The Silencer
The Silencer (film)
The Silencer is a 1999 action movie starring Michael Dudikoff as a professional assassin hired to train a young man who may not be all he seems.-External links:*...
(1999), In Her Defense (1999), Gale Force (2002), and Quicksand
Quicksand (2002 film)
Quicksand is a 2002 American-Indian action film that was released direct-to-video in March 2003 after a short initial run in theatres in Los Angeles in March 2002. The film stars Michael Dudikoff, Brooke Theiss, Richard Kind and Dan Hedaya. In UK the film was released on DVD in August 2003...
(2002).
Dudikoff currently is in pre-production for Havana Heat. He also is in talks for other pending film projects.
Private life
Dudikoff mentors other actors and participates in martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu-JitsuBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
. He began his training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Rorion Gracie
Rorion Gracie
Rorion Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and instructor, a prominent member of the Gracie family, and a founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the oldest son of Hélio Gracie and one of the few people in the world to hold a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,...
and stays connected with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighting circuit, including Rigan Machado
Rigan Machado
Rigan Machado is an 8th degree red and black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu earning his rank under Carlos Gracie Jr. He is a former Jiu-Jitsu world champion and a veteran of the ADCC. Machado holds a victory over Ron Tripp, the only person credited with a victory over Rickson Gracie...
, an eighth degree red and black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and former world champion.
Dudikoff is married and has two kids. He also owns two chihuahuas.
Film and television credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Dallas Dallas (TV series) Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing... |
Joe Newcomb | TV Episode: "Triangle" |
| 1979 | Out of the Blue Out of the Blue (1979 TV series) Out Of The Blue is an American fantasy sitcom that aired on ABC during the fall of 1979. It is chiefly notable as having featured a Mork & Mindy crossover, and for the controversy surrounding its status as a spin-off of Happy Days.... |
Lenny | TV Episode: "The Random Bust" |
| 1979–1980 | Happy Days Happy Days Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America.... |
Jim/Jason | TV Episodes: "Smokin' Ain't Cool" (1979) "Joanie's Dilemma" (1980) |
| 1980 | The Black Marble The Black Marble -Plot:Pragmatic Sgt. Natalie Zimmermann of the LAPD is paired with Sgt. Valnikov, a romantic detective of Russian origin who is going through a midlife crisis. They fall in love while solving the case of the kidnapping of a socialite's valuable pet dog... |
Millie's houseboy | Film |
| 1981 | Bloody Birthday Bloody Birthday Bloody Birthday is a 1981 horror film directed by Ed Hunt. It was the first film to be produced by Gerald Olson.-Plot:In 1970, three children are born at the height of a total eclipse. Due to the sun and moon blocking Saturn, which controls emotions, these children become heartless and uncaring,... (aka: Creepers) |
Willard | Film |
| 1981 | The Best Little Girl in the World The Best Little Girl in the World The Best Little Girl in the World is a 1981 television film directed by Sam O'Steen and executive produced by Aaron Spelling. The film is based upon the 1978 novel of the same name written by Steven Levenkron.-Plot:... |
Chuck | TV Movie |
| 1981 | Enter the Ninja Enter the Ninja Enter the Ninja is a 1981 martial arts film directed by Menahem Golan and starring Franco Nero, Susan George and Shô Kosugi. Production was started in the Philippines with Emmett Alston directing, but when Charles Bronson refused to allow Menahem Golan to direct Death Wish II, Golan, a co-principal... |
Venarius' Man | Film (uncredited) |
| 1981 | The Grady Nutt Show | Randy | Film |
| 1982 | Making Love Making Love Making Love is a 1982 American film. It tells the story of a married man coming to terms with his homosexuality and the love triangle that develops around him, his wife and another man... |
Young Man in Bar 2 | Film |
| 1982 | I Ought to Be in Pictures I Ought to Be in Pictures (film) Neil Simon's I Ought to Be in Pictures is a 1982 American comedy film directed by Herbert Ross and based on Neil Simon's play of the same name. The film stars Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret, and Dinah Manoff... |
Boy on bus | Film |
| 1982 | Tron Tron (film) Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy... |
Conscript #2 | Film (as Michael Dudikoff II) |
| 1982 | Star of the Family Star of the Family Star of the Family was a short-lived television situation comedy starring veteran actor, Brian Dennehy, as fire chief Leslie "Buddy" Krebs, and Kathy Maisnik as his singer daughter, Jennie Lee Krebs... |
Douggie Krebs | TV Series (10 episodes) |
| 1983 | Sawyer and Finn | Huckleberry Finn Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic Mark Twain novel.Huckleberry Finn may also refer to:*Huckleberry Finn , a fictional character in the Adventures of Tom Sawyer... |
TV Movie |
| 1983 | Gimme a Break! Gimme a Break! Gimme a Break! is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief and his three daughters.-Premise:... |
Greg Hartman | TV Episode: "Nell Gets Sick" |
| 1983 | Uncommon Valor Uncommon Valor Uncommon Valor is a 1983 action/war film written by Joe Gayton and directed by Ted Kotcheff, about a Marine officer who puts together a team to try to rescue his son, who he believes is among those still held in Laos after the Vietnam War... |
Blaster's Assistant | Film |
| 1984 | Young Hearts Young Hearts Young Hearts is a compilation album by the Steve Miller Band released in September 2003 by Capitol Records.-Track listing:# "Take the Money and Run" – 2:52# "Abracadabra" – 3:41# "Rock'n Me" – 3:08# "Swingtown" – 3:39# "The Joker" – 4:29... |
Keith | TV Movie |
| 1984 | Bachelor Party Bachelor Party (film) The soundtrack album from Bachelor Party was released in 1984.Side one:# "American Beat '84" – The Fleshtones # "Something Isn't Right" – Oingo Boingo # "Crazy Over You" – Jools Holland # "Little Demon" – Adrian Zmed... |
Ryko | Film |
| 1985 | Radioactive Dreams Radioactive Dreams Radioactive Dreams is a 1985 post-apocalyptic science fiction-comedy film. The film was directed by Albert Pyun, and stars Michael Dudikoff, Don Murray, and Lisa Blount... |
Marlowe Hammer | Film |
| 1985 | American Ninja American Ninja American Ninja is a 1985 ninja action film produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus's Cannon Films. Directed by Sam Firstenberg, who specialized in this genre in the 1980s, the film stars Michael Dudikoff in the title role, with Steve James as his side-kick. Domestic box office grosses for the... |
Pvt. Joe Armstrong | Film |
| 1986 | North and South, Book II | Lt. Rudy Bodford | TV mini-series |
| 1986 | Avenging Force Avenging Force Avenging Force is a 1986 film directed by Sam Firstenberg. The screenplay was written by James Booth, who co-starred in the film. It is a sequel to the 1985 film Invasion U.S.A., which starred Chuck Norris in the role of Matt Hunter.-Plot:... |
Capt. Matt Hunter | Film |
| 1987 | American Ninja 2: The Confrontation American Ninja 2: The Confrontation American Ninja 2: The Confrontation is a 1987 action/adventure sequel starring Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, Jeff Weston, Gary Conway, Michelle Botes and Larry Poindexter... |
Sgt. Joe Armstrong | Film |
| 1988 | Platoon Leader Platoon Leader (film) Platoon Leader is a 1988 Cannon Films film set in the Vietnam War and directed by Aaron Norris; it starred Michael Dudikoff and Michael DeLorenzo.... |
Lt. Jeff Knight | Film |
| 1989 | River of Death | John Hamilton | Film |
| 1990 | Midnight Ride | Lawson | Film |
| 1990 | Air America Air America (film) Air America is a 1990 American action comedy film directed by Roger Spottiswoode, starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. as Air America pilots, during the Vietnam War, flying missions in Laos... |
General Lee | Film (uncredited) |
| 1990 | American Ninja 4: The Annihilation American Ninja 4: The Annihilation American Ninja 4: The Annihilation is a 1990 action/martial arts film starring Michael Dudikoff, David Bradley, and James Booth. It was the fourth film in the American Ninja series and was directed by Cedric Sundstrom. The film marked Michael Dudikoff's final appearance in the American Ninja film... |
Joe Armstrong | Film |
| 1991 | The Woman Who Sinned | Evan Ganns | TV Movie |
| 1992 | The Human Shield The Human Shield The Human Shield is a 1991 film directed by Ted Post. It stars Michael Dudikoff and Tommy Hinkley. It is about a former government agent who must save his diabetic brother from Iraqi abductors.-External links:*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9wbWOHLF4A... |
Doug Matthews | Film |
| 1993 | Rescue Me | Daniel 'Mac' MacDonald | Film |
| 1993–1994 | Cobra Cobra (TV series) Cobra was an American television action/adventure series starring Michael Dudikoff. It ran for just one season in syndication.-Premise:Robert "Scandal" Jackson, Jr., is an ex-Navy SEAL who went A.W.O.L. after refusing to blow up an enemy command center housing civilians... |
Robert "Scandal" Jackson, Jr. | TV Series |
| 1994 | Chain of Command | Merrill Ross | Film |
| 1995 | Cyberjack Cyberjack Cyberjack was the name for a Web browser application created by Delrina in 1995. It was sold as a stand-alone product, and was also bundled as part of Delrina's CommSuite 95 offering.... |
Nick James | Film |
| 1996 | Soldier Boyz Soldier Boyz Soldier Boyz is a 1995 action film directed by Louis Mourneau. The film revolves around a group of convicts on a mission in Vietnam to rescue the daughter of a rich man.-Plot summary:... |
Toliver | Film |
| 1996 | Bounty Hunters | Jersey Bellini | Video |
| 1997 | Moving Target | Sonny | Film |
| 1997 | Strategic Command Strategic Command (film) Strategic Command is a 1997 air hijack movie starring Michael Dudikoff and Richard Norton. The film was originally titled Executive command, but was renamed Strategic Command.-Plot:... |
Dr. Rick Harding | Film |
| 1997 | Crash Dive | James Carter | Video |
| 1997 | Soldier Boyz | Toliver | Video Game |
| 1997 | Hardball (aka: Bounty Hunters 2) | Jersey Bellini | Video |
| 1997 | The Shooter | Michael Atherton | Film |
| 1998 | Freedom Strike | Tom Dickson | Film |
| 1998 | Black Thunder | Vince | Film |
| 1998 | Counter Measures | Capt. Jake Fuller | Video |
| 1998 | Ringmaster Ringmaster (film) Ringmaster is a 1998 American comedy-drama film starring Jerry Springer playing himself as Jerry Farrelly, host of a show similar to his own, in this case called simply Jerry. There are three ongoing plots in the film... |
Rusty | Film |
| 1998 | Musketeers Forever | D'Artagnan D'Artagnan Charles Ogier de Batz de Castelmore, Comte d'Artagnan served Louis XIV as captain of the Musketeers of the Guard and died at the Siege of Maastricht in the Franco-Dutch War. A fictionalized account of his life by Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras formed the basis for the d'Artagnan Romances of... |
Film |
| 1998 | In Her Defense In Her Defense In Her Defense is a 1998 thriller directed by Sidney J. Furie.Lawyer Andrew Garfield begins having an affair with a deaf woman, played by Marlee Matlin, when one day her husband catches them. Andrew Garfield then kills him. From then on in the film, the lawyer must defend his lover who's blamed for... |
Andrew Garfield | Film |
| 1999 | Fugitive Mind | Robert Dean | Video |
| 2000 | The Silencer The Silencer (film) The Silencer is a 1999 action movie starring Michael Dudikoff as a professional assassin hired to train a young man who may not be all he seems.-External links:*... |
Quinn Simmons | Film |
| 2001 | Ablaze | Daniels | Film |
| 2001 | Dengue Fever | Himself | Film |
| 2002 | Gale Force | Jared | Video |
| 2002 | Quicksand Quicksand (2002 film) Quicksand is a 2002 American-Indian action film that was released direct-to-video in March 2003 after a short initial run in theatres in Los Angeles in March 2002. The film stars Michael Dudikoff, Brooke Theiss, Richard Kind and Dan Hedaya. In UK the film was released on DVD in August 2003... |
Bill Turner | Film |
External links
- Michael Dudikoff on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/MichaelDudikoff.official
- Michael Dudikoff Official Site http://www.michael-dudikoff.com/