Igor Breakenback
Encyclopedia
Igor Smiljevic - also known as Igor Breakenback - is an Australia
n/Austria
n actor
, martial artist, stunt performer
, stunt coordinator
, director
and film producer
.
He has appeared as an actor in 22 films and television series; has been a stunt performer or coordinator for 16 productions; and has been involved in production, editing, directing, writing, sound and cinematogography.
He was a stunt fighter in Alexander
(uncredited), and did stunt work in Stealth
, Ultraviolet
, and Superman Returns
. He was stunt coordinator for Waz (in which he was also the stunt double
for Stellan Skarsgård
), and for Outlaw
(where he doubled for Danny Dyer
.) Breakenback also had small acting parts in both films.
He founded Breakenback Films in 2005. The company has completed one film (in 2007) - Good Luck With That - in which Breakenback starred and also directed. The movie purports to include never-before-seen and never-before-attempted stunts.
After practicing in over 100 dojos around the world, he joined AXIS Jiu Jitsu Academy (formerly known as the Gracie Japan Dojo) under Sensei Taka Watanabe.
After arriving in Australia
in 2002, he practiced BJJ under Vincent Perry on the Gold Coast
, and Paulo Guimaraes in Sydney
. He also practiced Thai boxing under Krumsak Leg in preparation for his Vale Tudo
fight in Sydney.
In 2003, judo practice became a big part his regime, under Warren Rosser and John Buckley at the University of New South Wales
Judo Club. In 2004, Breakenback opened the Trilogy Academy in Sydney with Tux Akindoyeni (Australian Kickboxing and Kung Fu Champion.)
Since 1991, Breakenback has been teaching martial arts seminars around the world. His current belt rankings include:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n/Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, martial artist, stunt performer
Stunt performer
A stuntman, or daredevil is someone who performs dangerous stunts, often as a career.These stunts are sometimes rigged so that they look dangerous while still having safety mechanisms, but often they are as dangerous as they appear to be...
, stunt coordinator
Stunt coordinator
A stunt coordinator, usually an experienced stunt performer, is hired by a TV, film or theatre director or production company to arrange the casting and performance of stunts for a film, television programme or a live audience...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
.
Film & television work
Breakenback began his television career on Austrian National Television at age 15. He moved to Hollywood when he was 19.He has appeared as an actor in 22 films and television series; has been a stunt performer or coordinator for 16 productions; and has been involved in production, editing, directing, writing, sound and cinematogography.
He was a stunt fighter in Alexander
Alexander (film)
Alexander is a 2004 epic film based on the life of Alexander the Great. It is not a remake of the 1956 film which starred Richard Burton. It was directed by Oliver Stone, with Colin Farrell in the title role...
(uncredited), and did stunt work in Stealth
Stealth (film)
Stealth is a 2005 American science fiction action film starring Jessica Biel, Josh Lucas, Jamie Foxx, and Sam Shepard. The film was directed by Rob Cohen, director of The Fast and the Furious and xXx....
, Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet (film)
Ultraviolet is a 2006 American science fiction action film written and directed by Kurt Wimmer and produced by Screen Gems. It stars Milla Jovovich as Violet Song and Cameron Bright as Six. It was released in North America on March 3, 2006...
, and Superman Returns
Superman Returns
Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
. He was stunt coordinator for Waz (in which he was also the stunt double
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
for Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan John Skarsgård is a Swedish actor, known internationally for his film roles in Angels & Demons, Breaking the Waves, The Hunt for Red October, Ronin, Good Will Hunting, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist,...
), and for Outlaw
Outlaw (2007 film)
Outlaw is a 2007 action-crime-drama film written and directed by British filmmaker Nick Love. Outlaw stars Sean Bean, Danny Dyer, Bob Hoskins, Lennie James, Rupert Friend and Sean Harris.The film is set in the United Kingdom in 2006...
(where he doubled for Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer is an English actor, media personality, and chairman of Greenwich Borough, a non-League football team.-Biography:Daniel John Dyer was born in Custom House, an area of East London, to Antony and Christine Dyer...
.) Breakenback also had small acting parts in both films.
He founded Breakenback Films in 2005. The company has completed one film (in 2007) - Good Luck With That - in which Breakenback starred and also directed. The movie purports to include never-before-seen and never-before-attempted stunts.
Martial arts career
Breakenback's martial arts career began at the age of 10 at the jujutsu club Olympia; and at the age of 14, he also began training in Kickboxing and Gōjū-ryū Karate at the Octagon Gym - both in Vienna. At the age of 16, he began pracicing Tae Kwon Do. With suich a busy traiign schedule, he began to concentrate on Kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do. In all, he spent ten years at Octogan training under Fritz "Der Dicke" Exenberger.After practicing in over 100 dojos around the world, he joined AXIS Jiu Jitsu Academy (formerly known as the Gracie Japan Dojo) under Sensei Taka Watanabe.
After arriving in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 2002, he practiced BJJ under Vincent Perry on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, and Paulo Guimaraes in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He also practiced Thai boxing under Krumsak Leg in preparation for his Vale Tudo
Vale tudo
Vale tudo are full-contact unarmed combat events, with a limited number of rules, that became popular in Brazil during the 20th century. Vale tudo has been considered a combat sport by some observers...
fight in Sydney.
In 2003, judo practice became a big part his regime, under Warren Rosser and John Buckley at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
Judo Club. In 2004, Breakenback opened the Trilogy Academy in Sydney with Tux Akindoyeni (Australian Kickboxing and Kung Fu Champion.)
Since 1991, Breakenback has been teaching martial arts seminars around the world. His current belt rankings include:
- I Go Ryu Jiu-Jitsu - 4th dan black belt
- KickboxingKickboxingKickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
- 3rd dan black belt (WKA and IAKSA) - Gōjū-ryū Karate - 1st dan black belt (AKA)
- Wadō-ryū Jiu-Jitsu - 1st dan black belt
- Brazilian Jiu-JitsuBrazilian Jiu-JitsuBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
- 1st dan black belt (BJJA) - KobudoOkinawan kobudoOkinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...
- 1st dan black belt - JudoJudois a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
- 1st kyu brown belt (JFA) - Tae Kwon Do - 2nd kup red belt (WTF)
- Freestyle WrestlingFreestyle wrestlingFreestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...