Jim Kelly
Actor, Martial Artist
After co-starring as 'Williams' in one of the most famous martial arts films ever,
Enter the Dragon (1973), Kentucky-born martial artist Jim Kelly was offered a movie
contract by Warner Bros. studios. In an era when Bruce Lee kung fu pictures and black
action movies were making a significant impact at the box office, Kelly was groomed
as a new American action star of the 1970's.
The producer and director of Enter the Dragon gave Jim Kelly his first starring role
in Black Belt Jones (1974). Despite several solo action vehicles, Kelly found the
greatest exposure in his films with blaxploitation icons Fred Williamson and
Jim Brown; including the Gordon Parks directed Three the Hard Way.
Though his breakthrough role in Enter the Dragon was filmed in Hong Kong, Jim
only made one Hong Kong film. The Tattoo Connection, in which he starred as a
so-called "black Six Million Dollar Man", co-starred such classic kung fu stars as
Tan Tao Liang, Bolo Yeung, Chen Sing and Chiang Tao.
In the 1990's Jim Kelly made a guest appearance in "Blowfly and Friends" music video
"Fonky Party". Joining Isaac Hayes, members of Fishbone, Flea from Red Hot Chilli
Peppers, and Antonio Fargas, Jim and 70's actor/comedian Rudy Ray Moore faced
off in a parody of their former screen personas. With his featured role as the smooth,
afroed, fighting soul brother in Bruce Lee's last film, Jim Kelly is still remembered
by legions of fans.
Jim Kelly Filmography
| 1978 | The Tattoo Connection |
Jim Kelly -American Films
| Black Belt Jones |
| Black Samurai |
| Death Dimensions |
| Enter the Dragon |
| Golden Needles |
| Hot Potato |
| Melinda * |
| One Down, Two to Go |
| Take a Hard Ride |
| Three the Hard Way |
* debut film (1972)
Jim Kelly -Documentaries
| Cinema of Vengeance * |
* Jim Kelly is interviewed
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