Martin Kove
Encyclopedia
Martin Kove is an American
actor who has appeared in feature film
s and television series.
as Detective
Victor Isbecki and in the 1984
hit film The Karate Kid as Cobra Kai Sensei John Kreese. He reprised his role as Kreese in the 1986
hit sequel The Karate Kid, Part II
and the 1989
sequel The Karate Kid, Part III
. He studied Okinawa-te Karate under a prominent black belt of Shihan Gordon Doversola. In 1985
Kove played a traitorous helicopter pilot in Rambo: First Blood Part II
.
(1977) about the emergency
services (fire, police, and ocean rescue) in the California Channel Islands. His co-stars were James Houghton, Tom Simcox
, and Joan Freeman
.
He also starred in the short-lived science fiction series Hard Time on Planet Earth
and made guest appearances on several television programs including Gunsmoke
, Three for the Road
, Kojak
, The Incredible Hulk, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
, The Streets of San Francisco
, and Black Scorpion
. In 2007, Kove appeared in the No More Kings
video "Sweep The Leg", in a parody
of his Karate Kid character. Kove appeared in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues as the Shadow Assassin in Episode 3, Season 1, "Shadow Assassin", which aired on 3 February 1993, and in Episode 23, Season 2, which aired on 26 January 1994.
He appeared on Tosh.0
as his character from The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai Sensei John Kreese, where he spoofed the final fight on the "Board Breaker Web Redemption". At the end of the skit, Daniel Tosh
- dressed as Mr. Miyagi - honks Martin's nose, a reference to Mr. Miyagi's action in the scene at the beginning of The Karate Kid, Part II
.
, New York City
and had a Jewish upbringing. He was married to Vivienne Kove from 1981 to 2005. In 1990, they had twins
, Jesse and Rachel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor who has appeared in feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
s and television series.
Film appearances
His best-known roles may have been on the 1980s hit CBS television series Cagney & LaceyCagney & Lacey
Cagney & Lacey is an American television series that originally aired on the CBS television network for seven seasons from October 8, 1981 to May 16, 1988...
as Detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
Victor Isbecki and in the 1984
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
hit film The Karate Kid as Cobra Kai Sensei John Kreese. He reprised his role as Kreese in the 1986
1986 in film
-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
hit sequel The Karate Kid, Part II
The Karate Kid, Part II
The Karate Kid, Part II is a 1986 American martial arts film and is a sequel to 1984's The Karate Kid. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita reprise their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi, respectively. The original music score was composed by Bill Conti...
and the 1989
1989 in film
-Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million...
sequel The Karate Kid, Part III
The Karate Kid, Part III
The Karate Kid, Part III is a 1989 martial arts film, and the second sequel to the hit motion picture The Karate Kid . The film stars Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Thomas Ian Griffith, Robyn Lively, and Martin Kove. Like the first two films, it was directed by John G. Avildsen and written...
. He studied Okinawa-te Karate under a prominent black belt of Shihan Gordon Doversola. In 1985
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
Kove played a traitorous helicopter pilot in Rambo: First Blood Part II
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Rambo: First Blood Part II is a 1985 action film. A sequel to 1982's First Blood, it is the second installment in the Rambo series starring Sylvester Stallone, who reprises his role as Vietnam veteran John Rambo...
.
Television appearances
Kove appeared as George Baker in the short-lived CBS series Code RCode R (TV series)
Code R is an American action-adventure television series that aired on CBS from January 21 to June 10, 1977. It focuses on the emergency services of the California Channel Islands. The series stars James Houghton, Martin Kove and Tom Simcox and ran for a single season of thirteen episodes.Simcox...
(1977) about the emergency
Emergency
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative...
services (fire, police, and ocean rescue) in the California Channel Islands. His co-stars were James Houghton, Tom Simcox
Tom Simcox
Thomas William Simcox, known as Tom Simcox is a former actor who resides in the unincorporated community of Leona Valley west of Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California....
, and Joan Freeman
Joan Freeman
Joan Freeman is an American actress.Freeman was a child actor, having appeared in her first film in 1949 at the age of seven...
.
He also starred in the short-lived science fiction series Hard Time on Planet Earth
Hard Time on Planet Earth
Hard Time on Planet Earth is a short-lived American science fiction series that aired on CBS as a midseason replacement in 1989. Airing for 13 episodes, the series starred Martin Kove and was created by Jim and John Thomas....
and made guest appearances on several television programs including Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
, Three for the Road
Three for the Road (TV series)
Three for the Road was a 12-episode CBS drama television series about a recently widowed father and his two sons who in an attempt to assuage their grief, sell their house, procure a recreational vehicle, called the "Zebec", and travel around the United States...
, Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
, The Incredible Hulk, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
, The Streets of San Francisco
The Streets of San Francisco
The Streets of San Francisco is a 1970s television police drama filmed on location in San Francisco, California, and produced by Quinn Martin Productions, with the first season produced in association with Warner Bros...
, and Black Scorpion
Black Scorpion (TV series)
Black Scorpion is an action-crime TV series that aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2001. The series is based on two Roger Corman movies, Black Scorpion, and the sequel Black Scorpion II: Aftershock. The show focuses on a female police officer, who, by night, takes to the streets and fights crime as...
. In 2007, Kove appeared in the No More Kings
No More Kings
No More Kings are a Los Angeles-based rock band fronted by lead singer Pete Mitchell . No More Kings' music is known for its frequent references to figures in pop culture,...
video "Sweep The Leg", in a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of his Karate Kid character. Kove appeared in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues as the Shadow Assassin in Episode 3, Season 1, "Shadow Assassin", which aired on 3 February 1993, and in Episode 23, Season 2, which aired on 26 January 1994.
He appeared on Tosh.0
Tosh.0
Tosh.0 is an American television series hosted by comedian Daniel Tosh, who provides sarcastic commentary on online video clips, society, celebrities, and other parts of popular culture.-History:...
as his character from The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai Sensei John Kreese, where he spoofed the final fight on the "Board Breaker Web Redemption". At the end of the skit, Daniel Tosh
Daniel Tosh
Daniel Dwight Tosh is an American stand-up comedian and host of the Comedy Central television show, Tosh.0.-Personal life:...
- dressed as Mr. Miyagi - honks Martin's nose, a reference to Mr. Miyagi's action in the scene at the beginning of The Karate Kid, Part II
The Karate Kid, Part II
The Karate Kid, Part II is a 1986 American martial arts film and is a sequel to 1984's The Karate Kid. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita reprise their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi, respectively. The original music score was composed by Bill Conti...
.
Personal life
Kove was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and had a Jewish upbringing. He was married to Vivienne Kove from 1981 to 2005. In 1990, they had twins
TWINS
Two Wide-Angle Imaging Neutral-Atom Spectrometers are a pair of NASA instruments aboard two United States National Reconnaissance Office satellites in Molniya orbits. TWINS was designed to provide stereo images of the Earth's ring current. The first instrument, TWINS-1, was launched aboard USA-184...
, Jesse and Rachel.
Filmography
- Little MurdersLittle MurdersLittle Murders is a 1971 black comedy film starring Elliott Gould and Marcia Rodd, directed by Alan Arkin. It is the story of a girl, Patsy , who brings home her boyfriend, Alfred , to meet her severely dysfunctional family amidst a series of random shootings, garbage strikes and electrical outages...
(1971) - The Last House on the LeftThe Last House on the Left (1972 film)The Last House on the Left is a 1972 horror film written and directed by Wes Craven and produced by Sean S. Cunningham.The story is inspired by the 1960 Swedish film The Virgin Spring, directed by Ingmar Bergman, which in turn is based on the 13th century Swedish ballad "Töres döttrar i Wänge"...
(1972) - Women in RevoltWomen in RevoltWomen In Revolt is a 1971 satire film produced by Andy Warhol and directed by American filmmaker Paul Morrissey.The stars of the film are Jackie Curtis, Candy Darling and Holly Woodlawn, three transgendered superstars of Andy Warhol's Factory scene. Jackie and Candy had previously appeared in Flesh...
(1972) - Savages (1972)
- Cops and Robbers (1973)
- The Wild PartyThe Wild Party (1975 film)The Wild Party is a 1975 Merchant Ivory Productions film directed by James Ivory, produced by Ismail Merchant, and starring James Coco and Raquel Welch....
(1975) - White Line FeverWhite Line Fever (film)White Line Fever is an American movie about truck drivers released in 1975 and starring Jan-Michael Vincent.-Backstory:Sam Hummer was a local truck driver from Tucson Arizona who worked for a Tucson-based produce-shipper called "Red River". His driving partners were Duane Haller and "Pops" Dinwiddie...
(1975) - Death Race 2000Death Race 2000Death Race 2000 is a 1975 cult action film directed by Paul Bartel, and starring David Carradine, Simone Griffeth and Sylvester Stallone. The film takes place in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, where the murderous Transcontinental Road Race has become a form of national entertainment...
(1975) - The White BuffaloThe White BuffaloThe White Buffalo is a 1977 western film starring Charles Bronson, Kim Novak, Jack Warden, Slim Pickens, and Will Sampson. The movie is rated PG in the USA. The film is directed by J. Lee Thompson, who frequently teamed with Bronson. It was also the final film Bronson made for United...
(1977) - The Incredible Hulk (1978)
- Blood TideBlood TideBlood Tide is a 1982 British film directed by Richard Jefferies.The film is also known as Bloodtide and Demon Island...
(1982) - The Karate Kid (1984)
- Rambo: First Blood Part IIRambo: First Blood Part IIRambo: First Blood Part II is a 1985 action film. A sequel to 1982's First Blood, it is the second installment in the Rambo series starring Sylvester Stallone, who reprises his role as Vietnam veteran John Rambo...
(1985) - The Karate Kid, Part IIThe Karate Kid, Part IIThe Karate Kid, Part II is a 1986 American martial arts film and is a sequel to 1984's The Karate Kid. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita reprise their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi, respectively. The original music score was composed by Bill Conti...
(1986) - Steele JusticeSteele Justice-Taglines:"When the police needed someone to stop the Vietnamese Mafia, there was only one choice...""You don't recruit John Steele. You unleash him.""The only law is the Black Tiger's. The only justice is John Steele's."-Plot:...
(1987) - The Karate Kid, Part IIIThe Karate Kid, Part IIIThe Karate Kid, Part III is a 1989 martial arts film, and the second sequel to the hit motion picture The Karate Kid . The film stars Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Thomas Ian Griffith, Robyn Lively, and Martin Kove. Like the first two films, it was directed by John G. Avildsen and written...
(1989) - Hard Time on Planet EarthHard Time on Planet EarthHard Time on Planet Earth is a short-lived American science fiction series that aired on CBS as a midseason replacement in 1989. Airing for 13 episodes, the series starred Martin Kove and was created by Jim and John Thomas....
(1989) - Shootfighter: Fight to the DeathShootfighter: Fight to the Death-Summary:Two friends are tricked into fighting in the Shootfight, a deadly fight to the death, by an evil man . Their sensei Shingo must step in and save the day.-Notability:...
(1992) - Project ShadowchaserProject ShadowchaserProject Shadowchaser, also known as Shadowchaser and Project: Shadowchaser, is a 1992 science fiction film by director John Eyres. It is the first installment in the Project Shadowchaser film series.-Synopsis:...
(1992) - Wyatt EarpWyatt Earp (film)Wyatt Earp is a 1994 American semi-biographical Western film, written by Dan Gordon and Lawrence Kasdan and directed by Kasdan. It stars Kevin Costner in the title role as lawman Wyatt Earp, and features an ensemble cast that includes Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, Isabella Rossellini, Mark Harmon,...
(1994) - Walker Texas Ranger (1995)
- Black Sheep (1996)
- Timelock (1996)
- Nowhere Land (1998)
- Under Heavy FireUnder Heavy FireUnder Heavy Fire, also known as Going Back is a 2001 American made-for-TV war film. It stars Casper Van Dien, Jaimz Woolvett, Bobby Hosea, Joseph Griffin, Carre Otis, Kenneth Johnson, Daniel Kash, Martin Kove and is directed by Sidney J. Furie. It was filmed in Canada, Philippines and Vietnam.The...
(2001) (TV) - Crocodile 2: Death SwampCrocodile 2: Death SwampCrocodile 2: Death Swamp, called Crocodile 2: Death Roll when broadcast on TV, is a 2002 horror film directed by Gary Jones and released directly to DVD on August 1, 2002. The film is a loose sequel to the 2000 film Crocodile. It was filmed in Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, India...
(2002) - Hard Ground (2003) (TV)
- Curse of the Forty-NinerCurse of the Forty-NinerCurse of the Forty-Niner is a 2002 horror film directed by John Carl Buechler. It is known more commonly by its video title, Miner's Massacre.-Plot:...
(2003) - BarbarianBarbarian (film)Barbarian, also known as Kane the Barbarian, is an American sword and sorcery action direct-to-video film released in 2003. It can almost be considered a remake from the 1983 film Deathstalker...
(2003) - Glass Trap (2004)
- Miracle at Sage Street (2005)
- The Dead Sleep EasyThe Dead Sleep EasyThe Dead Sleep Easy is a 2008 Canadian drama film, a co-production of Odessa Filmworks and Zed Filmworks produced on location in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico...
(2008) - Savage (2009)
- War Wolves (2009) (TV)
- Middle MenMiddle MenIn the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Men of Twilight was a term used by the Númenóreans for Men of Middle-earth who were related to the Edain, the ancestors of the Númenóreans themselves...
(2009) - Tosh.0Tosh.0Tosh.0 is an American television series hosted by comedian Daniel Tosh, who provides sarcastic commentary on online video clips, society, celebrities, and other parts of popular culture.-History:...
(2011) (TV)