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Taimak

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Taimak
Taimak at the 2014 Florida Supercon
Born (1964-06-27) June 27, 1964 (age 60)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Martial artist
  • Stuntman
Years active1982–present

Taimak Guarriello[1] (born June 27, 1964), known mononymously as Taimak (/ˈtaɪmɑːk/), is an American actor, martial artist and stuntman, known for his lead role as Leroy Green ("Bruce Leroy") in the 1985 martial arts film The Last Dragon.[2]

Personal life

Taimak was born on June 27, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, to an Italian father and an African-American mother.[3] He currently lives in New York City.

Career

Taimak's leading role in Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon, in which he played Leroy Green, a Bruce Lee-inspired martial artist in search of "The Glow," was his first major break in acting. The film was a financial success and grossed more than $25 million at the box office.[4]

Since The Last Dragon, Taimak has appeared in a number of TV roles and over a dozen plays.[5]

Taimak later appeared in a number of TV roles and music videos including the lead male in Janet Jackson's "Let's Wait Awhile" music video and Debbie Allen's "Special Look" video. He played a date rapist in an episode of the TV show A Different World. He appeared in 36 Crazyfists' music video "Bloodwork."

Taimak has worked with a number of celebrities, including Madonna, and starred in the play Cheaters, which toured the United States. He starred in a hit Off-Broadway show called Roadhouse The Comedy, based on the Patrick Swayze film Road House, from December 9, 2003, to February 1, 2004, at the Barrow Street Theatre in New York.[6]

In 2002, Taimak opened a gym called Fitness Concepts on the East Side of Manhattan.[7] He published a fitness DVD titled Taimak FIT (Find Inner Transformation), intended to be the first of a series.[7]

He is an accomplished martial artist and has received black belts in Goju Ryu Karate, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun, Hapkido, Jujutsu, Taekwondo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He studied Chinese Goju under "The Black Dragon", Ron Van Clief.[8]

He officiated the preliminary MMA bouts at UFC 6 and UFC 7.[8]

In 2006 he made a few appearances alongside Jimmy Yang in Ring of Honor.[9] Yang's character at the time had adopted some of Leroy Green's traits as his own.

In November 2015, Taimak and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa were honorees for the Fists of Legends Legacy Award at the Urban Action Showcase & Expo at HBO.[10]

In March 2016, Incorgnito Publishing Press published Taimak's autobiography, Taimak, The Last Dragon.[1]

In 2018, Taimak starred in Sean Stone's martial arts comedy film Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece.

Filmography

  • Double Cross (2023- 2024) as Cade Cross
  • Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece (2018) as Dragon
  • They're Just My Friends (2006) as Captain Taimak
  • The System Within (2006) as Pastor Ricky
  • Book of Swords (2005) as Lucky
  • Third Watch as Spider (1 episode, 2004)
    • "Family Ties: Part 2" (2004) TV episode (as Taimak Guarriello) as Spider
  • Night Class (2001) as Kick boxing instructor
  • Masquerade (2000) (TV)
  • Beverly Hills, 90210
    • I Will Be Your Father Figure (2000) TV episode (as Taimak Guarriello) as Barback
    • That's the Guy (1999) TV episode (as Taimak Guari) as The Bartender
    • Dog's Best Friend (1999) TV episode (as Taimak Guari) as The Bartender
  • Dreamers (1999) as Sam
  • Red Shoe Diaries
    • The Forbidden Zone (1996) TV episode as Zoner
  • WMAC Masters
    • "Battle of the Brothers" (1996) TV episode as Striking Eagle
  • Kickback with Scott Pastore (1994) TV series as Guest
  • No More Dirty Deals (1993) as Sean Halloway
  • The White Girl (1990) as Bob
  • A Different World
    • "No Means No" (1989) TV episode as Garth Parks
  • The Last Dragon (1985) as Leroy Green

Stunts

  • Madonna: Drowned World Tour 2001 (2001) (TV) (martial arts coordinator) (as Taimak Guarriello)

Self

  • Acapulco Black Film Festival (2000) (TV) as Himself
  • Singled Out
    • Episode dated 13 December 1995 (1995) TV episode as Taimuk

References

  1. ^ a b Taimak Guarriello (2016-03-19). Taimak, The Last Dragon. Incorgnito Publishing Press. ISBN 978-1944589110.
  2. ^ Janet Maslin (1985-03-22). "The Last Dragon (1985) FILM: SCHULTZ DIRECTS 'LAST DRAGON'". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "I am Taimak | Living a life of excellence". Archived from the original on 2015-04-26.
  4. ^ Schultz, Michael (1985-03-22), The Last Dragon (Action, Comedy, Drama), Taimak, Vanity, Christopher Murney, Delphi III Productions, Motown Productions, TriStar Pictures, retrieved 2024-03-20
  5. ^ "31 Years After His Movie Debut, "The Last Dragon" Heads To Detroit - CBS Detroit". www.cbsnews.com. 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  6. ^ "Road House". Archived from the original on 2012-11-22.
  7. ^ a b Entertainment, Martial Arts (2014-09-09). "Taimak". Martial Arts & Action Entertainment. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  8. ^ a b McCarthy, "Big" John (2011). Let's Get It On!: The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee. Medallion Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-1-60542-200-8.
  9. ^ "Adam's World: Taimak – The Last Dragon Still Has The Glow". Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  10. ^ "2015 Urban Action Showcase International Action Film Festival & Honoree Awards". YouTube. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
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