Steven Seagal

Early years

Youth

Born in Lansing, Michigan, Seagal relocated to Fullerton, California in his youth, and began studying the martial arts under the direction of renowned Shito-ryu karate master Fumio Demura and aikido under Rod Kobayashi, the President of the Western States Aikido Federation. This was the beginning of his life-long focus on Asian culture, with a particular emphasis on Japan. In his late teens, Seagal became part of Demura's Karate Demonstration Team and performed daily demonstrations in the former Japanese Village and Deer Park, in Southern California. In 1974, he was promoted by Kobayashi-sensei to shodan in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido.

Seagal developed his aikido career in Japan in the mid 1970s

He graduated from Buena Park High School in Buena Park, California, and held one of his first jobs at a Burger King. After college, Seagal moved to Japan c. 1970 with then-girlfriend Miyako Fujitani, native of Japan whom he later married, and lived with her parents, who owned an aikido school; allegations surfaced that he left in order to avoid the Vietnam draft at the time, and married Ms. Fujitani in order to provide reasonable evidence to his remaining there in spite of a possible draft-call.

Aikido in Japan

During his time in Japan, Seagal changed affiliation from Koichi Tohei's Ki Society and Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to the Aikikai. Seagal claims that he battled the yakuza (Japanese mafia) over the rights to the Tenshin Dojo, which he claims that his wife's father lost in a gambling game; however, his former wife Miyako Fujitani, claims "it's a lie", and that he yelled at some drunks, but "never fought anyone".

Seagal initially returned to Taos, New Mexico with senior student and later stuntman Craig Dunn. There, they opened a dojo, but Seagal spent much of his time pursuing a film career and other ventures. Under the title Master Take Shigemichi, Seagal was reputedly the first foreigner ever to own and operate an aikido dojo in Japan: the Aikido Tenshin Dojo in the city of Osaka. Dunn stayed in New Mexico and is there to this day, still running the dojo. Seagal returned to Japan, and came back to the U.S. with senior student Haruo Matsuoka in 1983. The two opened an aikido dojo. This school was initially located in Burbank, California, but later moved to the city of West Hollywood. Seagal left Matsuoka in charge of the dojo, which he ran until the two parted ways in 1997.

Seagal's years in Japan have been a source of pride in recent times: "I was raised in Japan. I was schooled in martial arts. I was given the title of master. They take a movie The Last Samurai. They have a five foot two inch little guy, whether he was straight or gay, I don't know. I don't care. He had never been to Japan. He doesn't speak Japanese. He has never held a sword. They make him the last samurai."

Hollywood career

1990s: the action hero years

Seagal Under Siege in 1992

From there, Seagal began work on his first film, Above the Law (also known as Nico in Europe and Canada), with director Andrew Davis. Following its success, Seagal made three more pictures (Hard to Kill, Marked for Death, and Out for Justice) that were decent box office hits, marking him as an action hero. Hard to Kill grossed $47 million in the United States. Seagal found wider mainstream success in 1992 with the release of Under Siege. The film reunited Seagal with the director Andrew Davis and was a blockbuster in America and abroad, grossing $156.4 million worldwide.

After the success of Under Siege, Seagal made his directorial debut with On Deadly Ground (1994) in which he also starred, alongside Michael Caine. The movie was a failure with both audiences and critics, and made a financial loss, costing an estimated $50 million to make and grossing less than $39 million in the United States.

To try and recoup popularity, Seagal filmed a sequel to Under Siege titled Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) and a cop drama (The Glimmer Man) (1996). In 1996, Seagal also had his first supporting role, in the Kurt Russell film Executive Decision, in which Seagal was incorrectly billed as having a starring role. He then tried again to make an environmentally-conscious film. In Fire Down Below (1997), Seagal played an EPA agent fighting industrialists dumping toxic waste in the Kentucky hills region, but the movie was not a commercial success.

Retreat to video

The next year, Seagal made The Patriot, another environmental thriller which was his first direct-to-video release in the United States (though it was released theatrically in most of the world). Seagal produced this film with his own money, and the film was shot on-location on and near his farm in Montana.

After taking a couple years to produce Prince of Central Park, Seagal released Exit Wounds in March 2001. The film had fewer martial arts scenes than Seagal's previous films, but it was a commercial success. However, his next two projects, Ticker co-starring Tom Sizemore and filmed in San Francisco, and Half Past Dead, starring rap star Ja Rule, were commercial failures.

As of November 2006, every film Seagal has made since 2003 has been released direct-to-video in North America, with only limited theatrical releases in the rest of the world. However, the regularity at which these films are produced makes Seagal one of the most prolific actors in the movie industry and the relative commercial and critical failure of recent efforts has done nothing to temper this. Steven Seagal is working on a comeback for 2007 with Action films Once Upon A Time In The Hood and Prince of Pistols which he will direct.

Steven Seagal, filmmaker

Seagal as director and star of the 1994 environmental thriller, On Deadly Ground.

Seagal intends to leave his cinematic canon to the ages; "I am hoping that I can be known as a great writer and actor some day, rather than a sex symbol." Indeed, he has been explicit regarding the intentions of his filmcraft; "Above the Law was a politically conscientious movie. On Deadly Ground was environmentally conscientious so I want to keep making movies like that which are more geared with a certain entertainment value but also bring people forward into contemplation."

Seagal has produced many of the movies that he stars in, and has also participated in writing and directing. Seagal's roles do not fit the standard action hero archetype; instead, Seagal's characters are usually "born perfect", displaying no limitations, character flaws, or character development (as is typically included in the story arc for most action heroes). His characters are often associated with attributes given to action movie antagonists or villains, such as clandestine government associations (Under Siege), great wealth and high-level corporate ties (On Deadly Ground), high-level biochemical research skill (The Patriot), et cetera. Seagal's characters are normally nigh-on invincible and are unable to be beaten or even slowed down. Reports state that Seagal insists on such roles, even allegedly becoming hysterical when his character was scripted to die even a heroic death in the movie Executive Decision, when director Stuart Baird insisted he must do it as scripted. Seagal held up filming for a few days, and finally acted the death scene as scripted after threat of contractual breach.

While his acting performance in Above The Law gained praise from the likes of Roger Ebert, Seagal has repeatedly faced criticism from both actors and fans who accuse him of playing the same character in many of his movies, as well as displaying a lack of emotional range.

Others have surmised that Seagal's unorthodox approach to film is actually an elaborate joke. This is supported by Seagal's statement regarding humor: "I'm a very funny guy, if you'll forgive me for saying so. When I did The Glimmer Man with Keenan Ivory Wayans, he and I were talking about who was funniest, and...I kicked his ass every day."

Stuntman abuse controversy

Seagal has reportedly been rough on stuntmen. During the filming of Exit Wounds, he injured a number of stuntmen, as well as his co-star, DMX. According to Steven Quadros, a fight trainer, Seagal has been known to "kick guys nuts to see if they were wearing cups." Seagal has also been the target of allegations centering on a reputed loss during a challenge match with stuntman and judo master Gene Lebell.

Music

Seagal and associates on the cover of Big City Blues, June/July 2006.

In addition to acting and aikido, Seagal also plays the guitar, and his songs have been featured in several of his movies (such as Fire Down Below and Ticker). In 2005, he released his first album, Songs from the Crystal Cave, which has a mix of pop, world, and blues music. It features duets with Tony Rebel, Lt. Stichie, Lady Saw, and Stevie Wonder. The soundtrack to Seagal's 2005 film Into the Sun features several songs from the album. One of his album tracks, "Girl It's Alright", was also released as a single in parts of the world alongside an accompanying music video created for it.

Seagal's second album, titled Mojo Priest, was released in April 2006. Subsequently, he spent summer 2006 touring the United States and Europe with his band, Thunderbox, in support of the album.

Seagal uses a blend of Blues, Country, and World Music in his unique compositions, reflecting the ecletic mosaic style of his martial arts and film work, both of which combine styles (aikido/gunfire and action/lecture are respective examples). Seagal has a found a measure of respect through his musicianship that may have been lacking in the reception to his film work.

Personal life

Steven Seagal was born to a Jewish father Stephen (a high school math teacher), and Irish Catholic mother Patricia (an emergency room technician). He now keeps a ranch in Colorado and a home in the Mandeville Canyon section of Brentwood, a wealthy suburb of Los Angeles. He has adopted many animals from shelters, including the cats "Sylvester" and "Gap", and the dogs "Gruff", "Cole", "Tyson", "Hamlet", and "Chaos".

Marriages

Miyako Fujitani (1975 - 1986) (divorced) 2 children

Adrienne La Russa (1984) (annulled)

Kelly LeBrock (September 5, 1987 - 1996) (divorced) 3 children

Seagal (a.k.a. Chungdrag Dorje) associates with influential buddhists. L to R: Dalai Lama, Chungdrag

Seagal has gained some notoriety for being a bigamist. When he left his first wife Miyako Fujitani to go back to America (reportedly, Steven's last words to her were, "You are crazy; I want a divorce"), he married former Days of Our Lives actress Adrienne La Russa, despite his divorce to Fujitani not yet being finalized. During his marriage to La Russa he met actress/model Kelly LeBrock, with whom he began a relationship and who eventually became pregnant with his child. When news of this emerged, Seagal's marriage to La Russa was annulled, and he then married LeBrock in September 1987. Their marriage lasted until 1994, when LeBrock filed divorce papers citing "irreconciable differences". During this time, Seagal was having an affair with Arrissa Wolf, who was hired to be a nanny to Seagal and Lebrock's children.

Children

Seagal has six known children from three relationships in which he has been involved. With Fujitani, he had a son, Kentaro Seagal (a.k.a. "Take Kentaro", b. October 3, 1975), and a daughter, Ayako Fujitani (b. December 5, 1979). His three children with LeBrock are daughters Annaliza (b. 1987) and Arrissa (b. 1993), and son Dominic (b. 1990). Seagal and Wolf have one daughter, Savannah (b. 1996).

In addition to his biological children, Seagal's Tibetan Buddhist beliefs have also placed him in the role of guardian to a Tibetan child, Yabshi Pan Rinzinwangmo. Rinzinwangmo, or "Renji", is the only child of the 10th Panchen Lama of Tibet. Renji studied in the United States for 10 years, and her family relied on Seagal for her safekeeping, as Seagal's martial arts mastery makes him an ideal bodyguard.

Animal rights work

Steven Seagal has long-standing peer relationships with animals. Source: http:gucky.guck.net

Seagal has been an outspoken opponent of animal cruelty. This is consistent with his views on spirituality, as well as his environmentalist views (as showcased in On Deadly Ground). Seagal is also a vegetarian. Seagal believes in reincarnation: "When I walk into a room some people see a dog, some people see a cow. I am all of what they see. It is their perception."

Steven has described his activism method as "shaming companies into changing," a theme that is visible in such films as On Deadly Ground and Fire Down Below. He has worked with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to discourage the fur trade, and has written to the Prime Minister of India to seek increased legal protection for cows. Seagal worked effectively towards saving dogs destined to drown in Taiwan; he pressured the Premier of Taiwan to sign legislation limiting animal cruelty.

Baby Elephants

This activism has not diminished in recent years. Seagal single-handedly prevented the export of baby elephants from South Africa to Japan. For these and other efforts, Seagal was awarded a PETA Humanitarian Award in 1999.

In 2003, Seagal wrote an open letter to the leadership of Thailand, urging them to enact law to prevent the torture of baby elephants.

Mystical dog incident

While being interviewed by PETA, Seagal was asked to provide an example of a special interaction with an animal. To lend context and meaning to his animal rights work, Seagal offered the story about a dog which approached him during his early aikido years in Japan. Seagal described feeling as if he had known this white dog forever. After keeping the dog for a few days, the dog (by barking) warned Seagal that his dojo was on fire. Seagal quickly summoned help to put out the conflagration. Seagal never saw the dog again.

Royal Friendship

Steven Seagal has fans all over the world, in all classes of society. One of them is King Carl Gustaf XVI Of Sweden. The king has had Steven Seagal as his favourite actor for a long time, and during the last decade they have been reported close friends, after meeting on several occasions, and sharing their views on the environment and movies.

Business ventures

Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt Energy Drink

Steven Seagal Enterprises markets an energy drink known as Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt, as well as an herbal oil product line. Seagal personally endorses this drink, "I have traveled the world creating this drink; there is none better that I know."

Seagal also appeared in adverts for the cell phone company Orange SA, and in a Mountain Dew commercial.

Parody portrayals

In the TV show, Mad TV, Seagal was portrayed by Will Sasso. In various skits involving the actor, Seagal was portrayed to be an unintelligent, disrespectful, and egotistical actor for comedic effect. The trademark slapstick humor ranges from attempting to do stunts, but failing miserably, to random attacks on other characters in the scene (most notably, random chops, or snapping necks.)

Filmography

Above the Law. (1988)-Playing a Chicago cop who discovers a web of corruption in the city's police department, directed by Andrew Davis.

Hard to Kill (1990)-Playing a cop out for vengeance, with assistance from a nurse (played by then-wife Kelly LeBrock).

Marked for Death (1990)-Playing a retired DEA agent who returns to his hometown, to find an evil drug lord in charge.

Out for Justice (1991)-Playing an NYPD cop in Brooklyn on the hunt for an old childhood rival who killed his best friend

Under Siege (1992)-Another Andrew Davis movie, about a cook on a Navy ship who prevents nuclear armageddon. This was his most successful movie.

On Deadly Ground (1994)-A movie in which he befriends an Alaskan Native Indian tribe and fights against an evil oil company. This is Seagal's directorial debut; he also produced. However, the movie underperformed at the box office and damaged his career.

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)-Seagal returns as Casey Ryback, this time out to foil a mad scientist who tries to hijack a satellite weapon hidden on board a train.

Executive Decision (1996)-Playing the head of an elite military team that must stop a plane carrying a nerve-gas bomb. The only time Seagal is killed during the course of a movie in which he has appeared.

The Glimmer Man (1996)-Playing a detective who (along with Keenan Ivory Wayans) must find a serial killer.

Fire Down Below (1997)-Playing a hard-hitting EPA agent investigating a mine in Kentucky.

The Patriot (1998)-Playing a Canadian who foils an evil, virus-releasing militia.

Prince of Central Park (2000)-Credited as producer.

Exit Wounds (2001)-Playing a tough urban detective who tries to clean up his precinct with the help of a wealthy business man who in turn is trying to free his brother from jail.

Ticker (2001)-Playing the leader of a bomb squad.

Half Past Dead (2002)-Playing a Russian FBI agent, Sasha Petrosevitch, who goes to jail undercover.

The Foreigner (2003)-Political intrigue and scandal plague Seagal's character, Jonathan Cold, in this film.

Out for a Kill (2003)-Playing an archaeologist who avenges the death of his wife by the Chinese Triads.

Belly of the Beast (2003)-Playing a retired agent who must go to Thailand with his old partner to save his kidnapped daughter and her friends.

Out of Reach (2004)-Seagal attempts to save a kidnapped girl.

Clementine (2004)-Guest stars in this Korean martial arts film.

Unititled Onion Project (unreleased as of 2005)-Guest stars in a spoof of himself by the makers of The Onion.

Into the Sun (2005)-Playing a CIA operative in Tokyo who must take on the yakuza.

Submerged (2005)-Playing a mercenary who must fight terrorists.

Today You Die (2005)-Seagal plays a former thief who is trying to go straight and seeks vengeance on those who framed him

Black Dawn (2005)-Seagal returns as Jonathan Cold in this continuation of "Foreigner" franchise.

Seagal in one of his recent film roles

Mercenary for Justice (2006)-Playing a mercenary who is blackmailed into a mission to save his family, only to turn the tables on his blackmailers.

Shadow Man (2006)-Playing a former intelligence operative who must find his kidnapped daughter in Bucharest while also defeating various parties who believe he has a lethal virus.

Attack Force (2006)-Plays Marshall Lawson, the leader of a strike-team.

Flight of Fury (2007)-Playing John Sands a former soldier who is sent to retrive a stolen stealth bomber.

Prince of Pistols (2008)-Tentative project said to be a "modern day tale of revenge". Seagal reportedly wants to film in New Orleans to bring some money into its economy after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. As of March 2006, filming has been pushed back, and will begin in July once Seagal finishes touring to promote his album.

Once Upon A Time In The Hood (2007)-Out for revenge after his son is shot dead by the local gang leader.

Judas Times (2008) Thriller starring Steven Seagal and set in Detroit

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