Thomas Ian Griffith
 |
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2010) |
| Thomas Ian Griffith | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 18, 1962 Hartford, Connecticut |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1964–2007 |
| Spouse | Mary Page Keller (m. 1991) 2 children |
Thomas Ian Griffith (born March 18, 1962) is an American actor and martial artist who has starred in films and on television.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Griffith was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Mary Ann (née O'Neil), who worked at a dance studio, and Thomas Joseph Griffith.[1] He attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.[citation needed]
[edit] Career
Griffith's first feature film was the 1989 sequel The Karate Kid, Part III, in which he played Terry Silver, a toxic-waste dumper and rival martial arts expert who influences Daniel LaRusso against his friend and mentor, Mr. Miyagi. In 1996, Griffith starred in the film Hollow Point alongside Tia Carrere, as DEA agent Max Parish and FBI agent Diane Norwood respectively. In the film, they try to find a money launderer who hired a hitman (Donald Sutherland) to kill Diane's FBI partner in revenge for a wedding gone wrong, which resulted in the death of a Russian mobster's son.
Griffith also appeared in the 1994 film Crackerjack which was given a three star rating from the DVD & Video Guide 2005 with a statement that the movie "would have been even better if star Thomas Ian Griffith were a better actor." [2] He also appeared in the 1998 John Carpenter film Vampires as head vampire Jan Valek, and in the 2002 film xXx, in which he portrayed Agent Jim McGrath.
His first TV role was on the soap opera Another World, as Catlin Ewing, who he played from 1984 to 1987. In 1999, he starred in the TV movie Secret of Giving with Reba McEntire; earlier in 1999, he had appeared in Reba's video for the song "What Do You Say". He also starred as Rock Hudson in a 1990 TV movie about Hudson's life. He has made guest appearances on a number of television shows, including In the Heat of the Night, Wiseguy, and One Tree Hill.
[edit] Personal life
Griffith is married to his former Another World costar Mary Page Keller, and they have two children together. He holds black belts in Kenpo Karate and Tae Kwon Do.[3]
[edit] Filmography
- One Tree Hill (2004)
- Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision (2003)
- xXx (2002)
- Black Point (2001)
- The Sea Wolf (2001)
- Beyond the Prairie, Part 2: the True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder (2000)
- For the Cause (2000)
- Avalanche (1999)
- Secret of Giving (1999) (TV)
- Vampires (1998)
- Behind Enemy Lines (1997)
- Kull the Conqueror (1997)
- Hollow Point (1996)
- Crackerjack (1994)
- Beyond Forgiveness (1994)
- Excessive Force (1993)
- Ulterior Motives (1992)
- Rock Hudson (1990) (TV)
- The Karate Kid, Part III (1989)
[edit] References
- ^ Thomas Ian Griffith Biography (1960?-)
- ^ DVD & Video Guide 2005, Mick Martin & Marsha Porter. Ballantine Books. p. 232. [1]
- ^ tigriffith.com
