Jim Kelly (martial artist)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2013) |
Jim Kelly | |
|---|---|
 Kelly in Black Samurai (1977) | |
| Born | James Milton Kelly May 5, 1946 Millersburg, Kentucky, U.S.[1] |
| Died | June 29, 2013 (aged 67) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Martial artist, actor, athletic instructor |
| Years active | 1972–2013 |
| Spouse | Marilyn Dishman (1967–1968; divorced) |
| Website | Jim Kelly official webpage |
James Milton "Jim" Kelly (May 5, 1946 – June 29, 2013) was an American athlete, actor, and martial artist who rose to fame during the Blaxploitation film era of the early 1970s. Kelly is perhaps best known for the films Enter the Dragon (1973)[2] and Black Belt Jones (1974).
Early life
Kelly was born in Millersburg, Kentucky. His father ran a locker-rental service for Navy personnel.[3] He began his athletic career at Bourbon County High School in Paris, Kentucky, competing in basketball, football, and track and field. He attended the University of Louisville, where he played football, but left during his freshman year to begin studying Shorin-ryu karate.[citation needed]
Kelly began his martial arts career under the tutelage of Sin Kwan The (Shaolin-Do) in Lexington, Kentucky. He trained in Okinawan karate under the direction of Parker Shelton, Nate Patton, and Gordon Doversola. During the early 1970s, Jim Kelly became one of the most decorated world karate champions in the sport. In 1971, Kelly won four prestigious championships that same year, most notably, the World Middleweight Karate title at the 1971 Long Beach International Karate Championships.[citation needed]
He opened his own dojo, which was frequented by numerous Hollywood celebrities. He taught karate to actor Calvin Lockhart for a role in a thriller feature film Melinda (1972) and plays a martial arts instructor in the movie.[4] Kelly was also a professional tennis player on the USTA Senior Men's Circuit. He played amateur tennis in the 1970s at Plummer Park in West Hollywood.[citation needed]
Acting career
| This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2015) |
As an actor, Kelly became the first Black martial arts film star. He co-starred alongside Bruce Lee in the blockbuster, Enter the Dragon (1973) in a role originally intended for actor Rockne Tarkington, who unexpectedly dropped out days before shooting in Hong Kong. Producer Fred Weintraub had heard about Kelly's karate studio in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, went there to see him, and was immediately impressed.[5]
This appearance led to starring roles in a string of martial arts-themed blaxploitation films, among them Melinda (1972),[6] and Black Belt Jones (1974). This was the only role in which he was the primary star; most of Kelly's film roles played up the novelty of an African-American martial arts master. He earned a three-film contract with Warner Brothers and made Three the Hard Way (1974) with Jim Brown and Fred Williamson, and Hot Potato (1976), in which he rescues a diplomat's daughter from the jungles of Thailand.[citation needed]
After his contract ended with Warner Brothers, he starred in low-budget films Black Samurai (1977), Death Dimension (1978), and Tattoo Connection (1978). After his appearance in One Down, Two to Go (1982), Kelly rarely appeared in movies. A deleted scene from the film Undercover Brother (2002), included on the DVD extra features, shows him in a cameo appearance with Eddie Griffin. In his last film, Kelly made a cameo appearance as Cleavon Washington in Afro Ninja (2009), produced, directed by, and starring veteran stuntman Mark Hicks.[7]
Death
On June 29, 2013, Kelly died of cancer at his home in San Diego, California. He was 67 years old.[1]
Filmography
Film
- Melinda (1972) as Charles Atkins
- Enter the Dragon (1973) as Williams
- Black Belt Jones (1974) as Black Belt Jones
- Three the Hard Way (1974) as Mister Keyes
- Golden Needles (1974) as Jeff
- Take a Hard Ride (1975) as Kashtok
- Hot Potato (1976) as Jones
- Black Samurai (1977) as Robert Sand
- The Tattoo Connection (a.k.a. E yu tou hei sha xing, Black Belt Jones 2) (1978)[8] as Jones
- Death Dimension (1978) as Lt. Detective J. Ash
- The Amazing Mr. No Legs (a.k.a. Mr. No Legs) (1979)[9]
- One Down, Two To Go (1982) as Chuck
- Stranglehold (1994)[10]
- Ultimatum (1994)[11] as Executive
- Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted (2004)[12] as Executive #4
- Afro Ninja (2009) as Cleavon Washington
Television
- Highway To Heaven (1985/1986) (2 episodes) as Reporter
References
- ^ a b Yardley, William (July 1, 2013), "Jim Kelly, Star of Martial Arts Movies, Dies at 67", The New York Times, retrieved August 16, 2015
- ^ Ryfle, Steve (January 10, 2010). "DVD set is devoted to 1970s martial arts star Jim Kelly". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ^ Horn, John (July 1, 2013). "Jim Kelly, 'Enter the Dragon' star, dies at 67". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Calhoun, Bob (April 13, 2010). "Jim Kelly, "Enter the Dragon's" baddest mother". Salon.com.
- ^ Horn, John (July 1, 2013), "Jim Kelly, 'Enter the Dragon' star, dies at 67", The Los Angeles Times, retrieved August 19, 2015
- ^ Melinda. IMDb. 1972.
- ^ Staff (December 9, 2009). "Afro Ninja (Video 2009)". imdb.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; April 9, 2014 suggested (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Black Belt Jones 2. IMDb. 1978.
- ^ The Amazing Mr. No Legs. IMDb. 1979.
- ^ Stranglehold. IMDb. 1994.
- ^ Ultimatum. IMDb. 1994.
- ^ Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted. IMDb. 2004.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1946 births
- 2013 deaths
- American male film actors
- American wushu practitioners
- American Jeet Kune Do practitioners
- American taekwondo practitioners
- American karateka
- Cancer deaths in California
- People from Millersburg, Kentucky
- Male actors from Kentucky
- African-American male actors
- American male television actors