Michael Dudikoff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Dudikoff
Dudikoff in 2013
Born	Michael Joseph Stephen Dudikoff Jr. (1954-10-08) October 8, 1954 (age 70) Redondo Beach, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Los Angeles Harbor College
Occupation	Actor, martial artist
Years active	1978–2004, 2013–present
Spouse(s)	Belle Dudikoff (m. 2004)
Children	3

Michael Dudikoff (born October 8, 1954) is an American actor. He is best known for starring in action movies, especially the American Ninja film series. Michael started his career doing different jobs and modeling before becoming a famous action star.

He became a lead actor in many action films. These included American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1986), Avenging Force (1986), and Platoon Leader (1988). Later, in the 2000s, Dudikoff also worked in real estate. He has continued to appear in films in recent years.

Early Life and Education

Michael Dudikoff Jr. was born in New York City. His family later moved to California. His father, Michael Sr., was from a Bulgarian family. His mother, Rita, was a French-Canadian piano player. Michael was the fourth of five children. He was diagnosed with dyslexia, which means he sometimes had trouble with reading and writing.

He went to West High School in Torrance, California. After high school, he studied child psychology at Harbor College.

How He Started Acting

Modeling and First Roles

To pay for his college, Michael worked at a center for young people. He also waited tables at a restaurant. One day, a fashion editor saw him and asked him to try modeling. Michael's mother encouraged him to do it.

He quickly became a successful model. He worked for big brands like Calvin Klein and GQ magazine. He traveled to cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Milan for his modeling jobs.

Soon, Michael started acting in commercials. He appeared in ads for Coppertone sunscreen, Coca-Cola (for Japan), and the U.S. Army Reserve.

Dudikoff as Douggie Krebs on Star of the Family in 1982

His first TV role was in 1978. He got a small part in the popular show Dallas. Soon after, he appeared in the sitcom Happy Days. The president of Paramount Studio saw him and offered him an acting contract.

Becoming an Action Star

In the early 1980s, Michael acted in several movies. These included The Black Marble (1980) and Bloody Birthday (1981). He also had a main role in the TV show Star of the Family. In 1984, he was in the comedy film Bachelor Party.

His big break came in 1985. An independent film company called The Cannon Group was looking for an actor for their action film American Ninja. Over 400 people auditioned! The director, Sam Firstenberg, and producer, Menahem Golan, chose Michael. They believed he would be a huge star. This was a surprise because Michael was mostly known for comedies.

American Ninja was a big success. It cost $1 million to make but earned over $10 million in the U.S. and did very well around the world. This movie made Michael Dudikoff a regular action star for The Cannon Group.

Life as an Action Hero

Leading Man Roles

After American Ninja, Michael Dudikoff became a popular action film star.

• In 1986, he returned as Joe Armstrong in American Ninja 2: The Confrontation.
• That same year, he starred in Avenging Force with his co-star Steve James.
• In 1988, he played the lead in the Vietnam War film Platoon Leader.
• In 1989, he starred in the adventure film River of Death. He also turned down American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt because he didn't want to be known only for martial arts movies. He also disagreed with the Apartheid movement in South Africa, where the film was shot.
• In 1990, he was in the action-horror film Midnight Ride.
• In 1991, he returned for the fourth American Ninja movie, American Ninja 4: The Annihilation.
• From 1993 to 1994, Michael was the lead in the action TV series Cobra.
• He continued to star in many action films throughout the 1990s. These included Soldier Boyz (1995), Bounty Hunters (1996), and Strategic Command (1997).

Recent Work

In the 2000s, Michael Dudikoff started working in real estate. However, he still made some film appearances.

• In 2014, he was interviewed for two documentaries about The Cannon Group, the film company that made him famous.
• In 2015, he had a supporting role in Navy Seals vs. Zombies.
• He also appeared in Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece in 2018.

Personal Life

Michael Dudikoff married Belle in 2004. They have three children together.

Martial Arts and Fitness

Before making the first American Ninja movie, Michael Dudikoff did not have any martial arts training. However, he was already very athletic. The fight choreographer, Mike Stone, who was a martial arts expert, believed Michael could learn the moves quickly.

Since then, Michael has trained in several martial arts styles. These include karate, aikido, judo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He trained with famous martial artists like Rorion Gracie and Rigan Machado.

Michael has said that he does not lift weights. Instead, he stays fit by swimming and doing isometric and dance exercises.

Filmography

Film Roles

TV Shows

Video Games

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See also

In Spanish: Michael Dudikoff para niños