Martin Kove

Martin Kove (born March 6, 1946) is an American actor and martial artist best known for The Karate Kid (1984), in which he played John Kreese, the head teacher of the Cobra Kai karate dojo. He has reprised the role in two sequels, The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989) as well as the 2018 television sequel series Cobra Kai. He 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
Kove at the Louisville Supercon in 2018
Born (1946-03-06) March 6, 1946
New York City, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor, martial artist
Years active1971–present
Children2

Early life

Kove was born to a Jewish family in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York.

Career

From 1982-88, Kove appeared in Cagney & Lacey as Detective Victor Isbecki. In addition to that supporting role, he also appeared in that same role in subsequent movies based on the series. During the same time, Kove appeared in the 1984 hit film The Karate Kid as Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese. After playing a traitorous helicopter pilot in the 1985 film Rambo: First Blood Part II, he appeared again as Kreese in 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.[1][2][3]

Kove in 2015

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.[4][5]

In 2018, Kove returned to the character of John Kreese for the YouTube Premium web series, Cobra Kai, a sequel series 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, the series was purchased by Netflix which would produce a third season. Several months later in October 2020, a fourth season was renewed in advance.[6]

In 2019, Kove again parodied his Karate Kid character in an ad for QuickBooks, 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".[7]

In September 2021, Kove was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 30 of Dancing with the Stars.[8] He and his professional dance partner, Britt Stewart, were the first couple to be eliminated.[9]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1971Little MurdersUnknownUncredited
1971Women in RevoltMarty
1972SavagesArchie
1972The Last House on the LeftDeputy Harry
1973Cops and RobbersAmbulance Attendant
1975The Wild PartyEditor
1975CaponePeter "Goosey" Gusenberg
1975Death Race 2000Nero "The Hero"
1975White Line FeverClem
1976The Four Deuces"Smokey" Ross
1977The White BuffaloJack McCall
1979SevenSkip
1982Blood TideNeil Grice
1984The Karate KidSensei John Kreese
1985Rambo: First Blood Part IIMichael Reed Ericson
1986The Karate Kid Part IISensei John Kreese
1987Steele JusticeJohn Steele
1989The Karate Kid Part IIISensei John Kreese
1991White LightSean Craig
1992Project ShadowchaserDeSilvaDirect-to-video
1992Shootfighter: Fight to the DeathMr. Lee
1994Wyatt EarpEd Ross
1994Frank and JesseUnknownUncredited
1994Future ShockDr. Langdon
1996TimelockAdmiral Danny Teegs
1996Mercenary"Phoenix"
1998Joseph's GiftThompsonn
2000Nowhere LandHank
2002Crocodile 2: Death SwampRoland
2002Curse of the Forty-NinerCaleb
2004 Illusion InfinityTaxi Driver
2005Glass TrapCorrigan
2005Miracle at Sage StreetJess
2006Max Havoc: Ring of FireLieutenant Reynolds
2007The Dead Sleep EasyBob DePugh
2008Chinaman's Chance: America's Other SlavesSheriff Jones
2009Middle MenSenator
2011SavageJack Lund
2011The Life ZoneRandy Graves
2014Falcon SongCaspian
2014Eternity: The MovieBarry Goldfield Sr.
2014Tapped OutPrincipal Vanhorne
2014The ExtendablesAye Lewis[10]
2015The Dog Who Saved SummerVernon
2016TradedCavendish
2016Jokers WildGraham Palace
2017Bring Me A DreamSheriff Jack Miller
2018Paint It Red"Scabs"
2019Once Upon a Time in HollywoodSheriff On Bounty Law
2019VFWLou Clayton
2020 Elvis From Outer Space

"State Trooper"

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1974GunsmokeGuthrieEpisode: "In Performance of Duty"
1975Three for the RoadUnknownEpisode: "The Rip-off"
1975SwitchBudEpisode: "The Deadly Missiles Caper"
1976KojakBurl StoleEpisode: "Law Dance"
1976The Streets of San FranciscoWillis HinesEpisode: "The Drop"
1977The Rockford FilesHarry SmickEpisode: "Dirty Money, Black Light"
1977Code RGeorge Baker12 episodes
1977The San Pedro Beach BumsDenny EvansEpisode: "The Shortest Yard"
1977–1978We've Got Each OtherKen Redford5 episodes
1978The Incredible HulkHenry "Rocky" WelshEpisode: "Final Round"
1978–1979Barnaby JonesGreg Saunders / Stan Benson2 episodes
1979Quincy, M.E.JoeEpisode: "The Death Challenge"
1978Starsky and HutchJimmyEpisode: "Birds of a Feather"
1979CHiPsJoe KirbyEpisodes: "The Death Challenge"; "Hot Wheels"
1980–1981The Edge of NightRomeo Slade16 episodes
1982Cry for the StrangersJeffTelevision film
1982–1988Cagney & LaceyVictor IsbeckiMain role
1985Murder, She WroteDr. Gary EllisonEpisode: "Armed Response"
1985The Twilight ZoneJoeEpisode: "Opening Day"
1989Hard Time on Planet EarthJess13 episodes
1993RenegadeMitch Raines / Goliath2 episodes
1993–1994Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesChi'Ru Master2 episodes
1994Cagney & Lacey: The ReturnVictor IsbeckiTelevision film
1995Walker, Texas RangerFred KimbleEpisode: "Flashback"
1995Hercules: The Legendary JourneysDemetriusEpisode: "The Mother of All Monsters"
1998–1999Diagnosis: MurderCaptain Walter Newman3 episodes
2001Under Heavy FireFather BrazinskiTelevision film
2001Black ScorpionJames Ames / FirearmEpisode: "Armed and Dangerous"
2003Hard GroundFloydTelevision film
2003BarbarianMunkarTelevision film
2009War WolvesMalickTelevision film
2011Tosh.0John KreeseEpisode: "Broad Breaker"
2015Criminal MindsJohn FolkmoreEpisode: "Scream"
2017The GoldbergsMaster JohnEpisode: "The Kara-Te Kid"
2018–PresentCobra KaiJohn KreeseGuest (season 1)
Main role (seasons 2–present)
2021 Dancing with the Stars Himself / Contestant Season 30

References
  1. Curran, Brad (June 11, 2014). "Interview with Martin Kove". Kung-fu Kingdom. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  2. "Star of Karate Kid talks with Ballinger Publishing". Ballinger Publishing. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  3. Angelus, Jerold (June 27, 2011). Martin Kove. Duct Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 9786136779522. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  4. Frye, Cory (March 10, 2018). "Of Being and Johnny Lawrence (Sweep the Leg)". Albany Democrat-Herald. Corvallis Gazette-Times. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  5. Strauss, Chris (October 9, 2014). "'Karate Kid' villain Billy Zabka is still best friends with the Cobra Kais". USA Today. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  6. "'Cobra Kai' Gets Early Season 4 Renewal at Netflix | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2fo1jnbk8
  8. "'Dancing With the Stars' 2021: Meet the season 30 celebrity cast". Good Morning America. September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  9. September 27, Karen Mizoguchi; Pm, 2021 10:07. "DWTS: Cobra Kai Star Martin Kove Is the First Contestant to Be Eliminated on Season 30". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. THE EXTENDABLES Trailer on YouTube

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.
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