1. Michael Dudikoff played supporting roles in films and television shows, until he got his break as the lead in the martial arts action film American Ninja.
35 Facts About Michael Dudikoff
1. 2.
Michael Dudikoff became an action film leading man and followed up with American Ninja 2: The Confrontation, Avenging Force, Platoon Leader, River of Death, Soldier Boyz, Bounty Hunters, Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball, etc.
3.
Michael Dudikoff was eventually approached to do some modelling, and did a catwalk at a shopping mall.
4.
Michael Dudikoff soon entered the high fashion world and counted Calvin Klein and GQ among his clients.
5.
Michael Dudikoff moved quickly to international print modeling and traveled between New York, Los Angeles, and Milan by his late 20s.
6.
Michael Dudikoff soon began acting, and he starred in several commercials for companies, including Coppertone, Coca-Cola for Japan, Army Reserve and Stridex.
7.
Michael Dudikoff went for some readings, and in 1978 he landed a supporting role in one episode of the hit TV show Dallas, and shortly after the part as Joanie's first boyfriend in the American sitcom Happy Days.
8.
Michael Dudikoff said the president of Paramount Studio happened to be sitting in the audience while they were filming and gave him a contract.
9.
In 1981, Michael Dudikoff acted in Bloody Birthday, and The Best Little Girl in the World.
10.
In 1982, Michael Dudikoff acted in Neil Simon's I Ought to Be in Pictures, Making Love, and Tron.
11.
In 1984, Michael Dudikoff acted in the comedy film Bachelor Party.
12.
The producer and owner of Cannon, Menahem Golan, and director Sam Firstenberg thought Michael Dudikoff was the obvious choice for the part.
13.
In 1986, Michael Dudikoff returned to the title role of Joe Armstrong in American Ninja 2: The Confrontation, with Firstenberg directing.
14.
The film grossed $4 million domestically in the US That same year, Michael Dudikoff starred as retired secret service agent in Avenging Force, with Steve James, directed by Sam Firstenberg.
15.
In 1988, Michael Dudikoff played the lead in Vietnam war film Platoon Leader, directed by Aaron Norris.
16.
In 1989, Michael Dudikoff starred as an adventurer in Steve Carver's River of Death.
17.
In 1989, Michael Dudikoff turned down American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt because he didn't want to get type cast in martial arts movies and didn't want to go back to South Africa as he was firmly against the Apartheid movement.
18.
In 1991, Michael Dudikoff acted in the television film The Woman Who Sinned.
19.
In 1992, Michael Dudikoff starred in The Human Shield directed by Ted Post.
20.
In 1993, Michael Dudikoff co-starred with Ami Dolenz and Stephen Dorff in Arthur Allan Seidelman's Rescue Me.
21.
Also that year, Michael Dudikoff was the lead role in the action TV series Cobra.
22.
In 1994, Michael Dudikoff did his final film with The Cannon Group, called Chain of Command directed by David Worth.
23.
In 1996, Michael Dudikoff starred Bounty Hunters, Moving Target, and Crash Dive.
24.
In 1997, Michael Dudikoff starred in Strategic Command, Bounty Hunters 2: Hardball, and The Shooter.
25.
In 1998, Michael Dudikoff starred in Black Thunder, Freedom Strike, Musketeers Forever, and Counter Measures a sequel to Crash Dive.
26.
Michael Dudikoff played acted in the Ringmaster starring Jerry Springer.
27.
In 1999, Dudikoff acted in Sidney J Furie's In Her Defense, Fred Olen Ray's Fugitive Mind, and The Silencer.
28.
In 2002, Michael Dudikoff played the main villain in Gale Force, starring Treat Williams.
29.
Michael Dudikoff starred in Sam Firstenberg's Quicksand, and Fred Olen Ray's Stranded.
30.
In 2014, Michael Dudikoff was interviewed for The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films and Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films, both highly publicized dueling documentaries about The Cannon Group.
31.
In 2015, Michael Dudikoff played a supporting role in Navy Seals vs Zombies, released by Anchor Bay Entertainment.
32.
In 2018, Michael Dudikoff acted in Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece.
33.
Michael Dudikoff had no martial arts training before making the first American Ninja movie, but he was already very athletic.
34.
Michael Dudikoff has since trained in karate, aikido, judo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu and attained a black belt in Karate, Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu and judo.
35.
Michael Dudikoff began his training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Rorion Gracie and stays connected with the Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighting circuit, including Rigan Machado, an eighth degree red and black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and former world champion.