Steven Seagal

American actor, martial artist, and film producer

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
Seagal in 2006
Born
Steven Frederic Seagal

(1952-04-10) April 10, 1952 (age 72)[1]
Other namesChungdrag Dorje, Takeshigemichi
Occupation(s)Martial artist, actor, filmmaker, musician, lama
Years active1987–present
StyleAikido
Height6 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)
Children7 (including Ayako Fujitani)
Websitestevenseagal.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.

Seagal 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

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Seagal 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

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Year 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

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References

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  1. Steven Seagal – About Steven Archived 2014-06-29 at the Wayback Machine. Stevenseagal.com (April 10, 1952). Retrieved on 2011-11-19.
  2. Goldstein, Patrick (February 14, 1988). "Steven Seagal Gets a Shot at Stardom". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  3. Britishaikido.com, Retrieved on January 27, 2008 Archived August 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Britishaikido.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.
  4. "Sure, He's Making a Box-Office Killing—but Who Is Steven Seagal?". People. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  5. Bill Palmer; Karen Palmer; Ric Meyers (January 1995). The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies. Scarecrow Press, 1995. p. 2. ISBN 1461672759.
  6. https://movieweb.com/jcvd-vs-seagal-better-career/
  7. "The Truth About Steven Seagal's Aikido". June 29, 2022.
  8. https://www.gq.com/story/steven-seagal-buddhism-david-rakoff
  9. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/steven-seagal-top-action-hero-and-tibetan-lama-1125838.html
  10. "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.
  11. Flintoff, Corey (October 16, 2007). "Dalai Lama Draws Strong Reactions on Both Sides". NPR. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  12. 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.
  13. Brennan, Christopher (March 27, 2014). "Movie Star Seagal Backs Russia's Actions in Crimea". The Moscow Times.
  14. "Actor Steven Seagal made special US-Russia envoy". BBC.com. British Broadcasting Company. August 5, 2018.
  15. "Putin bestows friendship award on actor Steven Seagal". February 27, 2023.
  16. Dan Mathews (2001). "Getting tough with Steven Seagal". PETA: Animal Times. Archived from the original on October 27, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2006.
  17. Steven Seagal-buddhist. Japanese-buddhism.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.
  18. Paul Smith. "E! TV- "E! True Hollywood Story" – Steven Seagal". E!. Archived from the original on April 1, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2006.
  19. "Mini Facts". Archived from the original on January 2, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
  20. "Spiritually Retreat With Steven Seagal". Luke Ford. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
  21. "Proud father of seven Steven Seagal shows off baby son on reality show". Daily Mail. London. October 21, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  22. Los Angeles City Ethics Commission – Search Contributions Archived 2013-09-01 at the Wayback Machine. Ethics.lacity.org. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.
  23. 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

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  Media related to Steven Seagal at Wikimedia Commons