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| Gerald Okamura | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1940 (age 83–84) Hilo, Hawaii |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, martial artist, stuntman |
| Style | San Soo |
| Trainer | Jimmy H. Woo |
| Rank | 5th degree black belt in San Soo |
| Website | geraldokamura |
Gerald Okamura (born 1940) is an American actor, martial artist, and stuntman.
Early life
Okamura was born in Hilo, Hawaii in 1940. He began studying judo at the age of 13. He enlisted in the United States Army after graduating high school, where he was deployed to South Korea and was introduced to taekwondo. After his discharge, he moved to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in Jimmy H. Woo's San Soo school, eventually earning a 5th-degree black belt.
Okamura has also trained in kendo and aikido, and is a designer of various types of weaponry.
Career
Okamura began doing stunts in 1975, getting his first credited role in 1980. Since then he has appeared in 39 feature films, notably Big Trouble in Little China, Samurai Cop, Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance, Ninja Academy, 9½ Ninjas!, Ring of Fire, Blade, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Other roles he's played are Kai-Ogi in Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers, a sensei in Power Rangers Wild Force, and Chao Chong in VR Troopers.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Chesty Anderson, USN | Karate Expert | |
| 1980 | The Octagon | Ninja Instructor | |
| 1981 | Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen | Club Shanghai Bouncer | |
| 1983 | Angel of H.E.A.T. | Hans Zeisel | |
| 1984 | Ninja Busters | Master | |
| 1985 | My Science Project | Vietnamese Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1985 | Sword of Heaven | Third Monk | |
| 1986 | Big Trouble in Little China | Wing Kong Hatchet Man | |
| 1989 | Ninja Academy | Chiba | |
| 1989 | Time Burst: the Final Alliance | Master | |
| 1990 | Aftershock | Fighter | |
| 1991 | 9 1/2 Ninjas! | Master | |
| 1991 | Showdown in Little Tokyo | Hagata, the Torturer | |
| 1991 | Samurai Cop | Okamura | |
| 1991 | Capital Punishment | Henchman | |
| 1991 | The Master Demon | The Master Demon | |
| 1991 | Karate Wars | Nakaso | |
| 1992 | Deadly Bet | Fighter | |
| 1992 | Rapid Fire | Tau's Gunman at Laundry | Uncredited |
| 1992 | American Streetfighter | Ogawa | |
| 1992 | Shadow of the Dragon | Temple Priest | |
| 1993 | Ring of Fire II: Blood and Steel | Garbage Gang | |
| 1993 | Shootfighter: Fight to the Death | Shootfighting Ref | |
| 1993 | Hot Shots! Part Deux | Corrupt Kick Boxing Referee | |
| 1993 | Full Impact | Japanese fighter | |
| 1993 | Firepower | Fighter | Uncredited |
| 1993 | Fit to Kill | Commando | |
| 1994 | The Shadow | Tibetan Passenger | |
| 1994 | The Dallas Connection | Fu | |
| 1994 | Cage II | Dr. Wo | |
| 1995 | The Power Within | Yung | |
| 1995 | Mortal Kombat | Outworld Warrior | Uncredited |
| 1996 | For Life or Death | Ancient priest | |
| 1996 | Bloodsport III | Judge | |
| 1996 | Day of the Warrior | Fu | |
| 1996 | Carnival of Wolves | Bodyguard #2 | |
| 1997 | Little Bigfoot | Cook | |
| 1998 | Blade | Vampire | Uncredited |
| 1998 | L.E.T.H.A.L. Ladies: Return to Savage Beach | Fu | |
| 2002 | The Circuit 2: The Final Punch | Ming Li | |
| 2002 | Redemption | Kwai Lo | |
| 2005 | Confessions of an Action Star | Asian Master | |
| 2005 | Vampire Assassin | Master Kao | |
| 2009 | G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | Hard Master | |
| 2009 | Hellbinders | Buddhist Priest | |
| 2015 | Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance | Raizo |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | A Man Called Sloane | Henchman Guarding Maria | Episode: "Samurai" |
| 1984 | Matt Houston | Thug | Episode: "Return to Nam: Part 1" |
| 1985 | Knight Rider | Fuji Hakito | Episode: "Knight & Knerd" |
| 1985 | J.O.E. and the Colonel | Trainer | Television film |
| 1987 | Falcon Crest | Mr. Ito | Episode: "Lovers and Friends" |
| 1996 | VR Troopers | Chao Chong | Episode: "Despera Strikes Back" |
| 1996 | Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers | Kai-Ogi | Episode: "Along Came a Spider" |
| 2002 | Power Rangers Wild Force | Sensei | Episode: "A Father's Footsteps" |
| 2012, 2013 | Kickin' It | Grandmaster Po | 2 episodes |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Blade Runner | Zuben | Voice |
| 2004 | SWAT: Warhead One | Peter Chiang |
References
- Entertainment, Martial Arts (2015-02-24). "Gerald Okamura". Martial Arts & Action Entertainment. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ "Interview with Gerald Okamura - The Wing Kong Exchange". 2018-04-02. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
External links
Categories:- 1940 births
- Living people
- American aikidoka
- American male judoka
- American kendoka
- American male film actors
- American people of Japanese descent
- American stunt performers
- American male taekwondo practitioners
- People from Hilo, Hawaii
- Male actors from Hawaii
- 20th-century American people
- 20th-century American sportsmen