Martin Kove is an American film and television actor known for his work in
films such as Rambo: First Blood Part II and on TV series such as Cagney & Lacey.
He is best known for his role as hard-nosed Karate sensei John Kreese in
the Karate Kid film series. Early life
Martin Kove was born in Brooklyn, New York City and had a Jewish upbringing.
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 about the emergency
services 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
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. 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 Martin's nose, a reference
to Mr. Miyagi's action in the scene at the beginning of The Karate Kid, Part
II. Filmography
Women in Revolt Little Murders
The Last House on the Left Women in Revolt
Savages Cops and Robbers
The Wild Party White Line Fever
Death Race 2000 Capone
The White Buffalo The San Pedro Beach Bums episode "The
Shortest Yard" The Incredible Hulk
Seven Cry For The Strangers
Blood Tide The Karate Kid
Rambo: First Blood Part II The Karate Kid, Part II
Steele Justice The Karate Kid, Part III
Hard Time on Planet Earth White Light
Shootfighter: Fight to the Death Project Shadowchaser
Wyatt Earp Walker Texas Ranger
Timelock Nowhere Land
Diagnosis Murder Under Heavy Fire
Crocodile 2: Death Swamp Hard Ground
Curse of the Forty-Niner Barbarian
Glass Trap Miracle at Sage Street
Max Havoc: Ring of Fire The Dead Sleep Easy
I Am Somebody: No Chance in Hell Savage
War Wolves Middle Men
Tosh.0 Eternity: The Movie
The Extendables Falcon Song
The Dog Who Saved Summer Criminal Minds
References 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.
External links Martin Kove at the Internet Movie
Database