Martin Kove

Martin Kove
Kove in 2016
Born (1946-03-06) March 6, 1946
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Occupation Actor
Years active 1971–present
Spouse(s)
Vivienne Kove (m. 1981–2005)
Children 2

Martin Kove (born March 6, 1946)[1] is an American film and television actor most recognized for his role as the psychopathic Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese in the Karate Kid film series. He is also known for his work in films such as Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and on television series such as Cagney & Lacey as Victor Isbecki.

Early life

Martin Kove was born in Brooklyn, New York City and had a Jewish upbringing.[2]

Career

Kove appeared as Cully in the 1967-1969 CBS series, Gentle Ben, with Dennis Weaver and Clint Howard. He was cast as George Baker in the short-lived CBS series Code R (1977) about the emergency services (fire, police, and ocean rescue) in the California Channel Islands. His co-stars were James Houghton, Tom Simcox, and Joan Freeman.

He also starred in the short-lived science fiction series Hard Time on Planet Earth and made guest appearances on several television programs including Gunsmoke, Three for the Road, Kojak, Quincy, M. E., The Incredible Hulk, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, The Rockford Files, The Streets of San Francisco, and Black Scorpion.

Kove was a cast member on the 1982–1988 CBS television series Cagney & Lacey as Detective Victor Isbecki.

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 reprised his role 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.[3][4][5]

Kove appeared in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues as the Shadow Assassin in Episode 3, Season 1, "Shadow Assassin", which aired on 3 February 1993, and in Episode 23, Season 2, which aired on 26 January 1994.

In 2007, Kove appeared in the No More Kings video "Sweep The Leg", in a parody of his Karate Kid character. He appeared on Tosh.0 as his character from The Karate Kid, John Kreese, where he spoofed the final fight on the "Board Breaker Web Redemption". At the end of the skit, Daniel Tosh, dressed as Mr. Miyagi, honks Kove's nose, a reference to Mr. Miyagi's action in the scene at the beginning of The Karate Kid, Part II.

In 2018, Kove made a cameo appearance as John Kreese in Cobra Kai, a sequel series of the Karate Kid franchise which is set 34 years after the 1984 film. Kove is confirmed to have a featured role in the second season of the series which is scheduled to air on YouTube Premium in 2019.[6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971Little MurdersUncredited
Women in RevoltMarty
1972SavagesArchie
The Last House on the LeftDeputy
1973Cops and RobbersAmbulance Attendant
1975The Wild PartyEditor
CaponePete Gusenberg
Death Race 2000Nero the Hero
White Line FeverClem
1976 The Four Deuces Smokey Ross
1977The White BuffaloJack McCall
1979SevenSkip
1982Cry For The StrangersJeffTelevision film
Blood TideNeil Grice
1984The Karate KidSensei John Kreese
1985Rambo: First Blood Part IIEricson
1986The Karate Kid, Part IISensei John Kreese
1987Steele JusticeJohn Steele
1989The Karate Kid, Part IIISensei John Kreese
1991White LightSean Craig
1992Project ShadowchaserDesilvaDirect-to-video
Shootfighter: Fight to the DeathMr. Lee
1994Wyatt EarpEd Ross
Cagney & Lacey: The ReturnVictor IsbeckiTelevision film
1996TimelockAdmiral Danny Teegs
1996MercenaryPhoenix
2000Nowhere LandHank
2001Under Heavy FireFather BrazinskiTelevision film
2002Crocodile 2: Death SwampRoland
Curse of the Forty-NinerCaleb
2003Hard GroundFloydTelevision film
BarbarianMunkar
2005Glass TrapCorrigan
Miracle at Sage StreetJess
2006Max Havoc: Ring of FireLt. Reynolds
2007The Dead Sleep EasyBob Depugh
2008Chinaman's Chance: America's Other SlavesSheriff Jones
2009War WolvesMalickTelevision film
Middle MenUS Senator
2011SavageJack Lund
2014Falcon SongCaspian
Eternity: The MovieBarry Goldfield, Sr.
Tapped OutPrincipal Vanhorne
The Extendables[7]
2015The Dog Who Saved SummerVernon
2016TradedCavendish
Jokers WildGraham Palace
2017Bring Me A DreamSheriff Jack Miller
2018Paint It RedScabs
2019Once Upon a Time in HollywoodFilming

Television

YearTitleRoleEpisode(s)
1974GunsmokeGuthrie"In Performance of Duty"
1975Three for the Road"The Rip-off"
1976KojakBurl Stole"Law Dance"
The Streets of San FranciscoWillis Hines"The Drop"
1977The Rockford FilesHarry Smick"Dirty Money, Black Light"
Code RGeorge Baker12 episodes
The San Pedro Beach Bums"The Shortest Yard"
1977–1978We've Got Each OtherKen Redford5 episodes
1978The Incredible HulkHenry "Rocky" Welsh"Final Round"
1978–1979Barnaby JonesGreg Saunders, Stan Benson2 episodes
1979Quincy, M.E.Joe Kirby"The Death Challenge"
1982–1988Cagney & LaceyVictor Isbecki113 episodes
1985Murder, She WroteDr. Ellison"Armed Response"
1989Hard Time on Planet EarthJess13 episodes
1993RenegadeMitch Raines / Goliath2 episodes
1993–1994Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesChi'Ru Master2 episodes
1995Walker, Texas RangerFred Kimble"Flashback"
Hercules: The Legendary JourneysDemetrius"The Mother of All Monsters"
1998–1999Diagnosis: MurderCaptain Walter Newman3 episodes
2001Black ScorpionJames Ames / Firearm"Armed and Dangerous"
2011Tosh.0John Kreese"Broad Breaker"
2015Criminal MindsJohn Folkmore"Scream"
2017The GoldbergsKarate Sensai"The Kara-Te Kid"
2018Cobra KaiJohn Kreese"Quiver" (flashback) "Mercy"

References

  1. ↑ "Martin Kove Biography (1947-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  2. ↑ Tucker, Ernest (May 15, 1987). "`Kosher cowboy' bucks heavy image". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 71. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ Curran, Brad (June 11, 2014). "Interview with Martin Kove". Kung-fu Kingdom. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Star of Karate Kid talks with Ballinger Publishing". Ballinger Publishing. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  5. ↑ Angelus, Jerold (27 June 2011). Martin Kove. Duct Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 9786136779522. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (24 May 2018). "'Cobra Kai': Martin Kove Becomes Series Regular For Season 2 Of YouTube Show". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  7. ↑ 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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