Martin Kove (/ˈkoʊv/; born March 6, 1947 [2]) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as John Kreese, the main antagonist of The Karate Kid (1984). He reprised the role in The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and the television series Cobra Kai (2018–present). Kove also appeared as Nero the Hero in Death Race 2000 (1975), and afterward as Clem in White Line Fever (1975). He 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, 1947 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, martial artist |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouse | Vivienne Love (m.1981; div. 2005) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Martin Kove was born into a Jewish American family on March 6, 1946 in Brooklyn.[3]
Career
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.
He studied Okinawa-te Karate under prominent black belt Gordon Doversola Shihan.[4][5][6]
He 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.[7][8]
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 1984 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[9] and fifth 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".[10]
Kove was one of the celebrities competing on season 30 of Dancing with the Stars in 2021.[11] He and his professional dance partner, Britt Stewart, were the first couple to be eliminated.[12]
Personal life
Kove is the father of twins, born in 1990.[13] One of the twins, Jesse Kove, 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.[14]
Filmography
Film[15]
| 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 | |
| 1994 | Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone | 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 | |
| 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 |
Television[16]
| 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 |
| 1993–1994 | 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
- Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising (2022) as John Kreese (voice role)
References
Further reading
- 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
- Martin Kove at IMDb