Gary Daniels

Gary Edward Daniels (born 9 May 1963) is an English actor and former kickboxer, known for appearing mostly in action-oriented martial arts B-films. Daniels has been in over 50 films since his start as an extra in an episode of the 1980s television series Miami Vice. He is best known for playing Kenshiro in the live-action version of Fist of the North Star. He is also known for his roles in the Jackie Chan film City Hunter, and as Bryan Fury in the 2010 live-action film Tekken, based upon the popular fighting game series. He was also seen in the Sylvester Stallone film The Expendables as Lawrence "The Brit" Sparks, an ally of the villain James Munroe. --- Gary Daniels was born in London, England, on 9 May 1963. Inspired by the Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon, he began training in martial arts at the age of 8 at a local school where he learned a hybrid martial art known as "Mongolian kung fu". He then took up taekwondo at 12 years old and received his black belt after 3 years. At 16, he became a 2nd dan and began competing in ITF taekwondo tournaments. His aggressive style did not sit well with British officials, however, and he lost 3 fights by disqualification. Daniels began kickboxing at the age of around 17 under the tutelage of former British Army boxing champion Mickey Byrne. After debuting in 1979, he won his first 12 fights by knockout before losing to Michael J. Heming by disqualification. He then KO'd Heming in a rematch. Daniels also lost two more fights by disqualification. In the late 1980s, Daniels moved to California and began practicing Muay Thai at at Benny Urquidez's Jet Center and Yuki Horiuchi's Piston Kickboxing Gym. In November 1990, he won the WKBA California State Light Heavyweight Championship in the US and the PKA World Light Heavyweight Championship in England within the space of a month. On 3 December 1991 in Birmingham, England, Daniels fought a 3-round, No Decision, exhibition match with Don "The Dragon" Wilson at the World Martial Arts Extravaganza. --- Daniels began his film career in the Philippines, appearing in two low-budget films Final Reprisal and The Secret of King Mahis Island. His first starring film role was in the David Huey film Capital Punishment in 1991. He played a villain alongside Richard Norton in the film adaptation of City Hunter starring Jackie Chan; he was particularly known for a fight scene where he and Chan transform into various characters from the video game Street Fighter II. Among Daniels's fans, films that stand out include American Streetfighter, White Tiger, Bloodmoon, Recoil, Rage, Firepower, Heatseeker and Cold Harvest. Fist of the North Star  also holds a considerable cult following. In 2012 he was in a film called "The Encounter: Paradise Lost" --- He has five children with his wife, Maricyn.