real like fights made them famous but
their talents translated perfectly to
the big screen welcome to watchmojo.com
and today we’re counting down our picks
for the top 10 fighters turn to action
stars
before we begin we publish new videos
every day so be sure to subscribe for
more great content for this list we’re
looking at successful fighters that
managed to cross over into mainstream
cinema
we’ll be excluding those who did martial
arts before becoming famous but who
weren’t technically competitive fighters
so Jackie Chan and Jason Statham aren’t
eligible
we’re also excluding professional
wrestler stars like Dwayne the rock
Johnson as their original careers were
more about mass entertainment than
traditional fighting number 10 Michael
Jai White get busy check out my trunk
tell them the rest of my money by
Wednesday I’ll make him stick himself in
1995 this esteemed martial artist put on
the gloves to portray a fellow
Brooklynite in HBO’s Tyson and while the
role highlighted Michael Jai White’s
attack ability the film was essentially
an audition for more action-oriented
flicks
[Music]
as a master of the martial arts and with
eight black belts to his name white
utilized his skills for a groundbreaking
lead performance in the titular spawn in
1997 which opened the doors for black
actors in the superhero genre you sent
me to jail Jason
I’m here to return the favor over the
years he’s built an impressive resume
thanks to his multifaceted skills with
me roles in blood and bone and Black
Dynamite not to mention a rolling
Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight as
well enough from the clown number nine
chun-li
[Applause]
you’ve seen him in the UFC and you’ve
seen him alongside wu-tang’s RZA in
2012’s the man with the iron fists but
it was in Strikeforce where the South
Vietnamese coolie originally thrived
accumulating a seven to one record
between 2006 and 2009 and though Lee has
experienced plenty of drama inside the
Octagon he’s come a long way in the
entertainment industry since the 2001
appearance in Walker Texas Ranger
in fact 2009 marked perhaps his most
prolific year on screen with roles in
Tekken bodyguards and assassins Pandorum
and the appropriately titled fighting
opposite Channing Tatum as a three-time
world champion in kick boxing Lee is
proven to be more than valuable to
action directors
number eight Donnie Yen
known for his insane fitness regimen and
jaw-dropping action choreography this
Hong Kong native is a true icon of Asian
cinema North Americans probably know
Donnie Yen as the titular character of
the it man franchise and with good
reason
considering the exceptional action
sequences but as far back as 1992 he
starred alongside Jet Li in the film
once upon a time in China – this coming
nearly a decade after his film debut in
drunken Tai Chi as an actor gain can
handle his business but it’s his Wing
Chun routines and martial art abilities
that separate him from his peers number
7 Gina Carano you gonna do superhero
landing wait for it
during her mixed martial arts and
kickboxing careers Carano amassed a
record of 19 – and one named the hottest
woman in America in 2008 jina starred
alongside Michael Jai White in 2009’s
blood and boat and not just because of
her good looks
of course the performance didn’t go
unnoticed by one of cinema’s most
acclaimed directors Steven Soderbergh
who cast the fighter in a leading role
in haywire the action sequences in which
Jena performed her own stunts proved to
be phenomenal leading her to the Fast
and the Furious franchise and a role in
Deadpool gene is bound to be a unique
and lasting force in Hollywood for years
to come
number six Wesley Snipes
this esteemed actor may be a recognized
Hollywood figure but it was karate and
Hapkido that got him started in fact
Wesley Snipes earned black belts for
both martial arts in the early 70s a
full decade before he appeared in
Michael Jackson’s music video for bath
ru bad oh is that what they teach you up
at that little sissy school of yours
with his striking on-screen presence and
phenomenal agility it only made sense
that Snipes became a legit action star
in the early 90s for his performance in
demolition man Snipes earned a Best
Villain nomination at the MTV Movie
Awards is it cold in here or is it just
me Godin memory by the end of the decade
he choreographed and starred in the
box-office sensation blade in terms of
Hollywood Wesley Snipes first
demonstrated his acting talent and later
crossed over into action making him a
unique martial arts figure of his
generation
number 5 Jet Li he’ll let me go I’d like
to live this former wushu champion has
seen his martial arts skills translate
beautifully to the silver screen over
the years after establishing himself as
a bonafide action star in Chinese and
Hong Kong movies through the 80s and 90s
gently would first arrive into the
Hollywood scene in Lethal Weapon 4 he’d
then find himself
top billing in movies like Romeo Must
Die kiss of the Dragon and cradle to the
grave nowadays he’s been known for
starring among a host of other big-name
action heroes as martial arts expert yin
yang in the Expendables franchise
number four Randy cooter we all know I
wrestled in college right aside from
being a UFC Hall of Famer this veteran
brawler is also one of the original
Expendables during the mid-2000s Randy
Couture wasn’t exactly landing the
biggest rolls but he was in the midst of
an epic run as UFC champ and so his
absolute dominance in the Octagon set in
motion a noteworthy movie career in 2008
randy appeared in the Scorpion King –
rise of a warrior which preceded an
iconic turn as toll road alongside other
action icons in the Expendables
franchise not a bad credit to have on
the old action star resume number three
Chuck Norris as seen in the 2015
documentary Chuck Norris versus
communism this man’s influence on the
modern world is truly extraordinary
Chuck Norris even founded his own
martial art called Chun Kuk dude but the
legend all started in the late 60s as
black belt magazine named the former air
force policeman fighter of the year in
1969 the same year Chuck made his film
debut in the wrecking crew and later
appeared with the one and only Bruce Lee
in 1972 s weight at the drag of course
it was his eighties filmography that
influenced an entire generation of
action fanatics and meme makers all
world huh Barney Booker we were either
you were dead yeah I heard that too
number two jean-claude Van Damme
[Applause]
the 80s were a magical time for action
place and this man elevated the genre
through his blood sweat and the fear he
imposed on his enemies as a teenager
jean-claude van damme actually studied
karate and ballet which led to a
successful martial arts career in his
native Belgium but Van Damme was not
destined to dance he was destined for
80s classics like bloodsport and
kickboxer the 90s only enhanced his
persona as a legend within the genre
[Music]
most stars of his con tend to easily
fade away with age but JCVD keeps
finding new ways to impress all the
while proving he’s far from expendable
given his prolific resume before we
unveil our top pick here are a few
honorable mentions oh no I don’t work
slowly you jacking me
what is this UPS today I’m not a thief
but if I don’t reach my friend in time
then he dies thank God you showed up
these parties bore me to death
[Music]
number one Bruce Lee as the preeminent
example of a fighter turned action star
this man’s untimely death produced a
mythical persona born in the Chinatown
section of San Francisco Bruce Lee
studied under the legendary Yip Man
learning the art of Wing Chun which came
in handy on the rough streets of late
50s Hong Kong but as the son of a noted
opera star Lee was naturally drawn to
performance art by the early 70s he not
only starred in fists of fury but also
established an immediate legacy with his
breathtaking turn in way of the Dragon
perhaps most notably however 1973’s
entered the Dragon is arguably the most
influential martial arts film ever made
and with good reason
Bruce Lee is the go-to example for any
fighter looking to become a legit action
star
[Music]
do you agree with our picks check out
these other great clips from watch mojo
and subscribe for new videos every day
their talents translated perfectly to
the big screen welcome to watchmojo.com
and today we’re counting down our picks
for the top 10 fighters turn to action
stars
before we begin we publish new videos
every day so be sure to subscribe for
more great content for this list we’re
looking at successful fighters that
managed to cross over into mainstream
cinema
we’ll be excluding those who did martial
arts before becoming famous but who
weren’t technically competitive fighters
so Jackie Chan and Jason Statham aren’t
eligible
we’re also excluding professional
wrestler stars like Dwayne the rock
Johnson as their original careers were
more about mass entertainment than
traditional fighting number 10 Michael
Jai White get busy check out my trunk
tell them the rest of my money by
Wednesday I’ll make him stick himself in
1995 this esteemed martial artist put on
the gloves to portray a fellow
Brooklynite in HBO’s Tyson and while the
role highlighted Michael Jai White’s
attack ability the film was essentially
an audition for more action-oriented
flicks
[Music]
as a master of the martial arts and with
eight black belts to his name white
utilized his skills for a groundbreaking
lead performance in the titular spawn in
1997 which opened the doors for black
actors in the superhero genre you sent
me to jail Jason
I’m here to return the favor over the
years he’s built an impressive resume
thanks to his multifaceted skills with
me roles in blood and bone and Black
Dynamite not to mention a rolling
Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight as
well enough from the clown number nine
chun-li
[Applause]
you’ve seen him in the UFC and you’ve
seen him alongside wu-tang’s RZA in
2012’s the man with the iron fists but
it was in Strikeforce where the South
Vietnamese coolie originally thrived
accumulating a seven to one record
between 2006 and 2009 and though Lee has
experienced plenty of drama inside the
Octagon he’s come a long way in the
entertainment industry since the 2001
appearance in Walker Texas Ranger
in fact 2009 marked perhaps his most
prolific year on screen with roles in
Tekken bodyguards and assassins Pandorum
and the appropriately titled fighting
opposite Channing Tatum as a three-time
world champion in kick boxing Lee is
proven to be more than valuable to
action directors
number eight Donnie Yen
known for his insane fitness regimen and
jaw-dropping action choreography this
Hong Kong native is a true icon of Asian
cinema North Americans probably know
Donnie Yen as the titular character of
the it man franchise and with good
reason
considering the exceptional action
sequences but as far back as 1992 he
starred alongside Jet Li in the film
once upon a time in China – this coming
nearly a decade after his film debut in
drunken Tai Chi as an actor gain can
handle his business but it’s his Wing
Chun routines and martial art abilities
that separate him from his peers number
7 Gina Carano you gonna do superhero
landing wait for it
during her mixed martial arts and
kickboxing careers Carano amassed a
record of 19 – and one named the hottest
woman in America in 2008 jina starred
alongside Michael Jai White in 2009’s
blood and boat and not just because of
her good looks
of course the performance didn’t go
unnoticed by one of cinema’s most
acclaimed directors Steven Soderbergh
who cast the fighter in a leading role
in haywire the action sequences in which
Jena performed her own stunts proved to
be phenomenal leading her to the Fast
and the Furious franchise and a role in
Deadpool gene is bound to be a unique
and lasting force in Hollywood for years
to come
number six Wesley Snipes
this esteemed actor may be a recognized
Hollywood figure but it was karate and
Hapkido that got him started in fact
Wesley Snipes earned black belts for
both martial arts in the early 70s a
full decade before he appeared in
Michael Jackson’s music video for bath
ru bad oh is that what they teach you up
at that little sissy school of yours
with his striking on-screen presence and
phenomenal agility it only made sense
that Snipes became a legit action star
in the early 90s for his performance in
demolition man Snipes earned a Best
Villain nomination at the MTV Movie
Awards is it cold in here or is it just
me Godin memory by the end of the decade
he choreographed and starred in the
box-office sensation blade in terms of
Hollywood Wesley Snipes first
demonstrated his acting talent and later
crossed over into action making him a
unique martial arts figure of his
generation
number 5 Jet Li he’ll let me go I’d like
to live this former wushu champion has
seen his martial arts skills translate
beautifully to the silver screen over
the years after establishing himself as
a bonafide action star in Chinese and
Hong Kong movies through the 80s and 90s
gently would first arrive into the
Hollywood scene in Lethal Weapon 4 he’d
then find himself
top billing in movies like Romeo Must
Die kiss of the Dragon and cradle to the
grave nowadays he’s been known for
starring among a host of other big-name
action heroes as martial arts expert yin
yang in the Expendables franchise
number four Randy cooter we all know I
wrestled in college right aside from
being a UFC Hall of Famer this veteran
brawler is also one of the original
Expendables during the mid-2000s Randy
Couture wasn’t exactly landing the
biggest rolls but he was in the midst of
an epic run as UFC champ and so his
absolute dominance in the Octagon set in
motion a noteworthy movie career in 2008
randy appeared in the Scorpion King –
rise of a warrior which preceded an
iconic turn as toll road alongside other
action icons in the Expendables
franchise not a bad credit to have on
the old action star resume number three
Chuck Norris as seen in the 2015
documentary Chuck Norris versus
communism this man’s influence on the
modern world is truly extraordinary
Chuck Norris even founded his own
martial art called Chun Kuk dude but the
legend all started in the late 60s as
black belt magazine named the former air
force policeman fighter of the year in
1969 the same year Chuck made his film
debut in the wrecking crew and later
appeared with the one and only Bruce Lee
in 1972 s weight at the drag of course
it was his eighties filmography that
influenced an entire generation of
action fanatics and meme makers all
world huh Barney Booker we were either
you were dead yeah I heard that too
number two jean-claude Van Damme
[Applause]
the 80s were a magical time for action
place and this man elevated the genre
through his blood sweat and the fear he
imposed on his enemies as a teenager
jean-claude van damme actually studied
karate and ballet which led to a
successful martial arts career in his
native Belgium but Van Damme was not
destined to dance he was destined for
80s classics like bloodsport and
kickboxer the 90s only enhanced his
persona as a legend within the genre
[Music]
most stars of his con tend to easily
fade away with age but JCVD keeps
finding new ways to impress all the
while proving he’s far from expendable
given his prolific resume before we
unveil our top pick here are a few
honorable mentions oh no I don’t work
slowly you jacking me
what is this UPS today I’m not a thief
but if I don’t reach my friend in time
then he dies thank God you showed up
these parties bore me to death
[Music]
number one Bruce Lee as the preeminent
example of a fighter turned action star
this man’s untimely death produced a
mythical persona born in the Chinatown
section of San Francisco Bruce Lee
studied under the legendary Yip Man
learning the art of Wing Chun which came
in handy on the rough streets of late
50s Hong Kong but as the son of a noted
opera star Lee was naturally drawn to
performance art by the early 70s he not
only starred in fists of fury but also
established an immediate legacy with his
breathtaking turn in way of the Dragon
perhaps most notably however 1973’s
entered the Dragon is arguably the most
influential martial arts film ever made
and with good reason
Bruce Lee is the go-to example for any
fighter looking to become a legit action
star
[Music]
do you agree with our picks check out
these other great clips from watch mojo
and subscribe for new videos every day
Please follow and like us: