Phillip Rhee
Encyclopedia
Phillip Rhee is a Korea
n-American
actor and director, most famous for his role in the Best of the Best
movie series.
Phillip Rhee was raised in San Francisco. He is a martial artist, actor, director and producer who has created, produced and starred in six films, including the Best of the Best film series. The first Best of the Best film has become a cult classic and has also spawned three sequels; Best of the Best II, Best of the Best III and Best of the Best IV.
Rhee began studying martial arts at the age of four. He holds ranks of 6th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a 3rd degree black belt in Hap Ki Do and a 1st degree black belt in Kendo. Rhee decided at an early age to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, who was one of Korea's most prominent film directors. However, because Rhee realized that few opportunities existed for Asian American lead actors in traditional Hollywood films, he began creating, writing, and producing his own films. Rhee jokes that in his first picture, "we needed a convertible car, which was not budgeted, so we just took a car and sawed off the top. . . we just did what we needed to do to make the picture." Armed with his camera and a script, he shot his first film on a shoestring budget. Today, his trademark brand of action films are distributed around the world by Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Miramax/Dimension Films
Rhee holds ranks of 6th degree black belt
in Tae Kwon Do, 3rd degree black belt in Hap Ki Do
and 1st degree black belt in Kendo
. He is also skilled in Wing Chun
and Boxing
. He is the younger brother of Simon Rhee.
He currently lives in the Los Angeles
vicinity and is working on a screenplay.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor and director, most famous for his role in the Best of the Best
Best of the Best
Best of the Best is a 1989 martial arts film. The plot revolves around a team of Americans facing a team of Koreans in a taekwondo tournament. Several sub plots pop up in the story - moral conflicts, the power of the human spirit triumphing over adversity are some themes...
movie series.
Phillip Rhee was raised in San Francisco. He is a martial artist, actor, director and producer who has created, produced and starred in six films, including the Best of the Best film series. The first Best of the Best film has become a cult classic and has also spawned three sequels; Best of the Best II, Best of the Best III and Best of the Best IV.
Rhee began studying martial arts at the age of four. He holds ranks of 6th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a 3rd degree black belt in Hap Ki Do and a 1st degree black belt in Kendo. Rhee decided at an early age to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, who was one of Korea's most prominent film directors. However, because Rhee realized that few opportunities existed for Asian American lead actors in traditional Hollywood films, he began creating, writing, and producing his own films. Rhee jokes that in his first picture, "we needed a convertible car, which was not budgeted, so we just took a car and sawed off the top. . . we just did what we needed to do to make the picture." Armed with his camera and a script, he shot his first film on a shoestring budget. Today, his trademark brand of action films are distributed around the world by Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Miramax/Dimension Films
Rhee holds ranks of 6th degree black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in Tae Kwon Do, 3rd degree black belt in Hap Ki Do
Hapkido
Hapkido is a dynamic and also eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, techniques of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks...
and 1st degree black belt in Kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
. He is also skilled in Wing Chun
Wing Chun
Wing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
and Boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He is the younger brother of Simon Rhee.
He currently lives in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
vicinity and is working on a screenplay.
Filmography
- 1998 Best of the Best 4: Without WarningBest of the Best 4: Without WarningBest of the Best 4: Without Warning is a 1998 direct-to-video martial arts-action film written and directed by the film's star, Phillip Rhee. It is the third sequel in the Best of the Best film series. The film co-stars Ernie Hudson, Tobin Bell, Paul Gleason, and Sven-Ole Thorsen.-Plot:A group of...
- 1995 Best of the Best 3: No Turning BackBest of the Best 3: No Turning BackBest of the Best 3: No Turning Back is a 1996 direct-to-video martial arts action film directed by the film's star Phillip Rhee. It is the second sequel in the Best of the Best film series. The film co-stars Christopher McDonald, Gina Gershon, Dee Wallace and an uncredited R. Lee Ermey.-Plot:The...
- 1993 Best of the Best 2Best of the Best 2Best of the Best 2 is a 1993 martial arts film directed by Robert Radler, and starring Eric Roberts and Phillip Rhee. It is the first sequel to the 1989 film Best of the Best. The plot follows three of the characters from the original film, and was released on DVD on February 6, 2007.-Plot:After...
- 1989 Best of the BestBest of the BestBest of the Best is a 1989 martial arts film. The plot revolves around a team of Americans facing a team of Koreans in a taekwondo tournament. Several sub plots pop up in the story - moral conflicts, the power of the human spirit triumphing over adversity are some themes...
- 1988 Silent Assassins Bernard
- 1986 Hell Squad Karate fighter
- 1985 L.A. StreetfightersNinja TurfNinja Turf aka Los Angeles Streetfighter is an 1986 martial arts film starring Loren Avedon and Phillip Rhee.Thomas F. Wilson appears in this film in a very small role.-Cast:*Jun Chong as Young*Phillip Rhee as Tony*James Lew as Chan...
- 1985 Crime Killer Guard
- 1984 Furious Spiritual Master
- 1977 The Kentucky Fried MovieThe Kentucky Fried MovieThe Kentucky Fried Movie is an American comedy film, released in 1977 and directed by John Landis. The film's writers were the team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker. This same team would go on to write and direct Airplane!, Top Secret! and the Police Squad! television series and its...
Klahn's Guard (segment "A Fistful of Yen")