Jim Kelly

Jim Kelly
[[File:|120px|alt=]] Kelly on the Black Samurai DVD cover
Born	James M. Kelly May 5, 1946 (1946-05-05) (age 63) Paris, Kentucky
Occupation	Film, television actor
Years active	1972-present
Spouse(s)	Marilyn Dishman (1967-1968) (divorced)

James M. "Jim" Kelly (born May 5, 1946) is an American athlete, actor, and martial artist who came to prominence in the early 1970s. He is best known from his performance as Williams in the Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon.

Biography

Early life

Kelly was born in Paris, Kentucky. He began his athletic career in high school, competing successfully in basketball, football, and track and field. He attended the University of Louisville and left during his freshman year to begin studying Shorin-ryu karate. Additionally, he trained in Okinawa-te Karate under the direction of Shihan Gordon Doversola to win the Hunnington Beach Classic and attributes Mr. Doversola for making him a world class fighter. During this time other notables as Joe Lewis would also train in the same Dojo. After winning the 1971 International Middleweight Karate Championship, he opened his own martial arts school.

Acting career

As an actor, Kelly is best known for co-starring alongside Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon. This appearance led to starring roles in a string of martial arts-themed Blaxploitation films, among them Melinda and Black Belt Jones. Most of Kelly's film roles played up the (then) novelty of an African-American martial arts master. After his appearance in 1982's One Down, Two to Go, Kelly appeared in movies only rarely.

Recent activities

In 2004, he appeared with NBA star LeBron James in the Nike commercial "Chamber of Fear", a spoof of Game of Death.

Kelly resides in Southern California and works as a professional tennis coach.

Filmography

Film

• Melinda (1972)
• Enter the Dragon (1973)
• Black Belt Jones (1974)
• Three the Hard Way (1974)
• Golden Needles (1974)
• Take A Hard Ride (1975)
• Hot Potato (1976)
• Black Samurai (1977)
• The Tattoo Connection (a.k.a - E yu tou hei sha xing, Black Belt Jones 2) (1978)
• The Amazing Mr. No Legs (1981)
• One Down, Two To Go (1982)
• Stranglehold (1994)
• Undercover Brother (2002, scenes cut but intact on DVD release)

Television

• Highway To Heaven (1985/1986) (2 Episodes)

External links

• Jim Kelly at the Internet Movie Database
• Jim Kelly at Allmovie

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