Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal (born April 10, 1952) is an American martial artist, actor, and filmmaker best known for his action films. Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan.[2] He became the first foreigner to have an Aikido dojo in Japan.[3][4] He later moved to Los Angeles, California. He entered the film industry in 1982, first functioning as a martial arts instructor, choreographer, and stunt co-ordinator. His first acting role was in Above the Law (1988), which is regarded as the first American film to feature aikido in fight sequences.[5] Under Siege (1992) brought him the most fame. In 1993, he starred in his directorial debut On Deadly Ground.
Steven Seagal | |
---|---|
Born | Steven Frederic Seagal April 10, 1952[1] |
Other names | Chungdrag Dorje, Takeshigemichi |
Occupation(s) | Martial artist, actor, filmmaker, musician, lama |
Years active | 1987–present |
Style | Aikido |
Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
Spouse(s) | Miyako Fujitani (1975–1986) Adrienne La Russa (1984–1987) Kelly LeBrock (1987–1996) Erdenetuya Seagal (neé Batsukh) (2009–present) |
Children | 7 (including Ayako Fujitani) |
Website | stevenseagal.com |
Seagal was one of the most successful martial arts actors of the 1980s and 1990s, alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme.[6] Credited with popularising aikido in film, Seagal is considered an important figure in the development and popularization of martial arts in the West.[7]
Outside his career as a martial artist and filmmaker, Seagal is a Tibetan lama and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism.[8][9] He is also a musician, having released two studio albums, and performed on the scores of several of his films.
Views
changeSeagal is known as an environmentalist,[10] an animal rights activist and as a supporter of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.[11][12]
He is also known for his outspoken support of Vladimir Putin. Seagal once called Putin "one of the great living world leaders".[13] He was granted Russian citizenship in 2016. In 2018, the Russian foreign ministry announced that Seagal was appointed as a special envoy to improve ties with the United States.[14] In 2023, Putin bestowed a state decoration on Seagal, awarding the Order of Friendship.[15]
Personal life
changeSeagal owns a dude ranch in Colorado and a home in Brentwood. He has adopted many animals from shelters.[16] Seagal is a Buddhist.[17]
Seagal has seven children from four relationships.
In Japan, Seagal married his first wife, Miyako Fujitani. They had a son and daughter. The daughter is actress and writer Ayako Fujitani.[18][19]
In the United States, he married former Days of our Lives actress Adrienne La Russa. During this marriage, he began a relationship with Kelly LeBrock. LeBrock became pregnant. He then ended the marriage with La Russa and married LeBrock. They had 3 children. During his marriage to LeBrock, Seagal was having a relationship with their nanny, Arissa Wolf.[20] She had a daughter.
Seagal is currently married to Erdenetuya Batsukh, called Elle. They have a son.[21] Elle is from Mongolia.[22]
In addition to his biological children, he is the guardian to a Tibetan child, Yabshi Pan Rinzinwangmo.[23]
Filmography
changeYear | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1988 | Above the Law | Nico Toscani |
1990 | Hard to Kill | Mason Storm |
Marked for Death | John Hatcher | |
1991 | Out for Justice | Det. Gino Felino |
1992 | Under Siege | Casey Ryback |
1994 | On Deadly Ground | Forrest Taft |
1995 | Under Siege 2: Dark Territory | Casey Ryback |
1996 | Executive Decision | Lt. Colonel Austin Travis |
The Glimmer Man | Lt. Jack Cole | |
1997 | Fire Down Below | Jack Taggart |
1998 | The Patriot | Dr. Wesley McClaren |
1999 | Get Bruce | (himself) |
2001 | Exit Wounds | Orin Boyd |
Ticker | Frank Glass | |
2002 | Half Past Dead | Sasha Petrosevitch |
2003 | The Foreigner | Jonathan Cold |
Out for a Kill | Prof. Robert Burns | |
Belly of the Beast | Jake Hopper | |
2004 | Out of Reach | William Lansing |
Clementine | Jack Miller | |
2005 | Into the Sun | Travis Hunter |
Submerged | Chris Cody | |
Today You Die | Harlan Banks | |
Black Dawn | Jonathan Cold | |
2006 | Mercenary for Justice | John Seeger |
Shadow Man | Jack Foster | |
Attack Force | Cmdr. Marshall Lawson | |
2007 | Flight of Fury | John Sands |
Urban Justice | Simon Ballister | |
2008 | Pistol Whipped | Matt Conlin |
The Onion Movie | Cock Puncher | |
Kill Switch | Jacob | |
2009 | Against the Dark | Tao |
Driven to Kill | Ruslan | |
The Keeper | Roland Sallinger | |
2009– | Steven Seagal: Lawman | (himself) |
2010 | A Dangerous Man | Shane Daniels |
Machete | Torrez | |
2011 | Born to Raise Hell | Samuel Axel |
2012 | Maximum Conviction | Cross |
2013 | Force of Execution | John Alexander |
Discography
change- 2005: Songs from the Crystal Cave
- 2006: Mojo Priest
References
change- ↑ Steven Seagal – About Steven Archived 2014-06-29 at the Wayback Machine. Stevenseagal.com (April 10, 1952). Retrieved on 2011-11-19.
- ↑ Goldstein, Patrick (February 14, 1988). "Steven Seagal Gets a Shot at Stardom". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
- ↑ Britishaikido.com, Retrieved on January 27, 2008 Archived August 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Britishaikido.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Sure, He's Making a Box-Office Killing—but Who Is Steven Seagal?". People. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
- ↑ Bill Palmer; Karen Palmer; Ric Meyers (January 1995). The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies. Scarecrow Press, 1995. p. 2. ISBN 1461672759.
- ↑ https://movieweb.com/jcvd-vs-seagal-better-career/
- ↑ "The Truth About Steven Seagal's Aikido". June 29, 2022.
- ↑ https://www.gq.com/story/steven-seagal-buddhism-david-rakoff
- ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/steven-seagal-top-action-hero-and-tibetan-lama-1125838.html
- ↑ "Blogs - Six Things You Didn't Know About Steven Seagal - AMC". Blogs.amctv.com. March 23, 2011. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
- ↑ Flintoff, Corey (October 16, 2007). "Dalai Lama Draws Strong Reactions on Both Sides". NPR. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ↑ Cassola, Paola (April 13, 2010). "Steven Seagal - The actor of Under Siege is accused of sexual harrassment [sic]". Vogue Italia. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ↑ Brennan, Christopher (March 27, 2014). "Movie Star Seagal Backs Russia's Actions in Crimea". The Moscow Times.
- ↑ "Actor Steven Seagal made special US-Russia envoy". BBC.com. British Broadcasting Company. August 5, 2018.
- ↑ "Putin bestows friendship award on actor Steven Seagal". February 27, 2023.
- ↑ Dan Mathews (2001). "Getting tough with Steven Seagal". PETA: Animal Times. Archived from the original on October 27, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2006.
- ↑ Steven Seagal-buddhist. Japanese-buddhism.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.
- ↑ Paul Smith. "E! TV- "E! True Hollywood Story" – Steven Seagal". E!. Archived from the original on April 1, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2006.
- ↑ "Mini Facts". Archived from the original on January 2, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
- ↑ "Spiritually Retreat With Steven Seagal". Luke Ford. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
- ↑ "Proud father of seven Steven Seagal shows off baby son on reality show". Daily Mail. London. October 21, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ↑ Los Angeles City Ethics Commission – Search Contributions Archived 2013-09-01 at the Wayback Machine. Ethics.lacity.org. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.
- ↑ Charles Carreon. "Steven Seagal Comes Out of the Buddhist Closet". American Buddha Online Library. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007. Retrieved May 24, 2007.
Other websites
changeMedia related to Steven Seagal at Wikimedia Commons