Mark Dacascos

Mark Alan Dacascos (born February 26, 1964) is an American actor and martial artist.[1] He won numerous karate and kung fu championships between the ages of 7 and 18. He is known for his roles as Wo Fat in Hawaii Five-0, Louis Stevens in Only the Strong, Mani in Brotherhood of the Wolf, Toby Wong in Drive, Ling in Cradle 2 the Grave, the title role in Crying Freeman and as Zero in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

Mark Dacascos
Dacascos in 2011
Born
Mark Alan Dacascos

(1964-02-26) February 26, 1964
Other names
  • Marc Dacascos
  • The Chairman
Alma materPortland State University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • martial artist
  • television personality
Years active1985–present
Spouse
Julie Condra
(m. 1998)
Children3
Websitedacascos.com

Perhaps best known as "The Chairman" on Food Network's Iron Chef America series since January 2005, he has continued the role as of 2022 on Netflix's Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. His other roles include Kung Lao in the web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy, Eric Draven in The Crow: Stairway to Heaven and Eubulon in Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight. He also competed in the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars.[2][3]

Early life

Dacascos was born February 26, 1964, in Oahu, Hawaii. His father, Al Dacascos, is from Hawaii and is a martial arts instructor whose parents originated from the Philippines and were of Chinese, Filipino and Spanish ancestry. His mother, Moriko McVey-Murray, is of Irish and Japanese ancestry.[4] In the History Channel presentation Samurai, Dacascos revealed that many members of his mother's family were killed in the bombing of Hiroshima. His stepmother is award-winning martial artist Malia Bernal. He attended Los Angeles Valley College, where he was on the gymnastics team. He also attended Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. He is proficient in his father's style of martial arts, Wun Hop Kuen Do and holds a 4th degree black belt. He has also extensively studied Muay Thai, capoeira with Amen Santo, and Wushu.[1]

Career

Dacascos in a production still taken during filming of a deleted scene in Wayne Wang's film Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart in 1983

Dacascos became an actor after being discovered walking down the street in San Francisco's Chinatown by Chris Lee (assistant director) and Rexall Chinn (hairstylist), who at the time were working for director Wayne Wang. He was cast in Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart, and though his scenes were cut from the final film, he went on to establish a film and television career primarily playing martial artists. He was originally set to play as the Red Ranger, Victor Lee, in Bio-Man, an adaptation of Choudenshi Bioman produced by Haim Saban. The show was not picked up at the time but the concept evolved into Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.[5]

His breakout role was in the 1993 film Only the Strong, in which he played Louis, a capoeira master who takes a high school's potential failures and turns their lives around by teaching them the Brazilian martial art based on the ritual combat technique of Angola. In the following year, Dacascos co-starred with Party of Five's Scott Wolf as Jimmy and Billy Lee, respectively, in the film Double Dragon, based on the video game with the same name.

He plays the role of the Chairman of Iron Chef America, Iron Chef Australia and Iron Chef Mexico. In the series' backstory he is the nephew of the original Iron Chef Chairman, Takeshi Kaga.

He has been featured in many action films such as Drive, Brotherhood of the Wolf, Crying Freeman and Cradle 2 the Grave, in which he squared off against Jet Li. He also performed in three video games: voice acting in Stranglehold, live acting in Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom and digitally recreating The Chairman in the Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine video game for Wii.

Dacascos was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2002 for his role in Brotherhood of the Wolf.[6] He also appeared in the television series The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, which was a follow-up to the 1994 film The Crow. He also appears in the children's television show Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight, where he portrays Eubulon, also known as the Advent Master, mentor of the Kamen Riders and creator of the Advent Decks.

Dacascos played the recurring role of Wo Fat on the CBS series Hawaii Five-0. He portrayed Kung Lao in the second season of the YouTube series Mortal Kombat: Legacy.[7] He had a recurring role in the third season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Mr. Giyera, an Inhuman servant of Hydra who can manipulate inanimate objects.

In May 2019, Dacascos played Zero, a lead antagonist in the action thriller film John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.[8] He starred in a recurring role on the Netflix series Wu Assassins.[9] He has reprised his role as The Chairman of the Iron Chef series in Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, which was released on Netflix in June 2022.[10]

Personal life

Dacascos is married to actress Julie Condra, who starred with him in Crying Freeman.[11] They have three children: two sons and a daughter.[12]

Filmography

Dacascos (center) in a deleted scene from Dim Sum

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990Angel TownStoner Driver
1992American SamuraiKenjiro Sanga
1993Only The StrongLouis Stevens
RoostersFilipino's SonCameo
1994Double DragonJimmy Lee
1995Deadly PastLeo
Kickboxer 5Matt Reeves
Crying FreemanYo Hinomura / Freeman
1996The Island of Dr. MoreauLo-Mai
SabotageMichael Bishop
Wing Commander IV: The Price of FreedomTroy 'Catscratch' CarterInteractive film
1997DriveToby WongDirect-to-video
SanctuaryLuke Kovak
DNADr. Ash Mattley
DeathlineMerrick
1998Boogie BoyJesse Page
No Code of ConductPaul DeLucca
1999The BaseMajor John Murphy / Corporal John Dalton
2000China Strike ForceTony Lau
2001Brotherhood of the WolfMani
Instinct To KillJ.T. Dillon
2002ScorcherRyan Beckett
2003Cradle 2 the GraveLing
2005Final ApproachKato
2006Only the BraveSteve "Zaki" Senzaki
The Hunt for Eagle OneLieutenant Matt DanielsDirect-to-video
The Hunt for Eagle One: Crash PointDirect-to-video
NomadSharish
2007Code Name: The CleanerEric Hauck
Alien AgentRykker
I Am OmegaRenchard
2008Gideon FallsSet
2009Serbian ScarsPeter Olsen Obilich
2010Shadows in ParadiseLieutenant Max Forrester
Secret of the Sultan
2011The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone"King Cobra"
2014Roger Corman's Operation RogueCaptain Max Randall
The Extendables[13]Cameo
2016Showdown in ManilaMatthew WellsAlso director and producer
2017Maximum ImpactTony Lin
2017Ultimate JusticeGus
2018The Legend of HallowaiianPonoVoice, Direct-to-video
2019John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum"Zero"
The DriverThe Driver
Lucky DayLouis
2020One Night in BangkokKai Kahale
2021Batman: Soul of the DragonRichard DragonVoice, Direct-to-video
2022The RayBrando
Blade of the 47 RoninLord ShinshiroNetflix Original Film
2023Knights of the ZodiacMylockLive-action Saint Seiya

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986Bio-ManVictor Lee / Biorhythm RedPilot
1986–1997General HospitalPolice Cadet4 episodes
1990Doogie Howser, MDJulianEpisode: "The Grass Ain't Always Greener"
The FlashOsakuEpisode: "Child's Play"
New DragnetKevin ChowEpisode: "Queen of Hearts"
1991Dead on the MoneyMartial Arts TeacherTelevision film
1994Dragstrip GirlJohnny RamirezTelevision film
Tales from the CryptFelix JohnsonEpisode: "The Pit"
1995One West WaikikiMokuEpisode: "Rest in Peace"
1998–1999The Crow: Stairway to HeavenEric Draven22 episodes
1999Martial LawSteven GarthEpisode: "Ninety Million Reasons to Die"
2002CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationAnandaEpisode: "Felonious Monk"
2004–2018Iron Chef AmericaThe Chairman236 episodes
2006Solar AttackLucas FosterTelevision film
2007–2008Stargate AtlantisTyre2 episodes
2007–2012The Next Iron ChefThe Chairman16 episodes
2008The Legend of Bruce LeeThai Boxer King Charles[14]3 episodes
The MiddlemanSensei PingEpisode: "The Sino-Mexican Revelation"
2009Kamen Rider: Dragon KnightEubulon / Advent Master9 episodes
Dancing with the StarsHimself7 episodes
2010–2020Hawaii Five-0Wo Fat17 episodes
2014Chicago P.D.Jimmy ShiEpisode: "Different Mistakes"
2015–2016Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Giyera[15]11 episodes
2016LuciferKimo VanzandtEpisode: "Weaponizer"
2017The Perfect BrideDaniel CounterTelevision film
2019Wu AssassinsMonk/ Kun ZiRecurring role[9]
2022Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron LegendThe Chairman
2023WarriorKong Pak[16]Main Role (Season 3)
2023 SpongeBob SquarePantsGuru GreasetrapEpisode: "Spatula of the Heavens"

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kung Lao 4 episodes

Awards

YearWorkAwardResult
2002Brotherhood of the WolfSaturn Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated

References

  1. "Discovering the Samurai Within". Inside Kung Fu. Archived from the original on May 9, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  2. "Dancing With The Stars Season 9 Cast". Archived from the original on August 19, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  3. Eng, Joyce (August 17, 2009). "Dancing with the Stars 2009 Season 9 Cast Revealed!". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 18, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  4. Kim, Serena (May 7, 2019). "Meet Actor Mark Dacascos—The Martial Artist Behind Zero in 'John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum'". CharacterMedia. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  5. Dacascos, Mark (March 2001). "IMPACT 90 Mark Dacascos: Kung Fou Style (fou for crazy)" (Interview). Interviewed by Damien Granger. Translated by The Wolfsisters. www.markdacascos.de. Archived from the original on May 24, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2018.{{cite interview}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. Munoz, Lorenza (January 3, 2003). "Little pictures have a big year". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  7. "Web Series 'Mortal Kombat: Legacy 2′ Hitting February 17th". Latino Review. Archived from the original on December 6, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  8. Busch, Anita (May 21, 2018). "Halle Berry, Anjelica Huston Join Returning Cast For 'John Wick". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  9. Petski, Denise (August 15, 2018). "'Wu Assassins': JuJu Chan & Mark Dacascos To Recur In Netflix Martial Arts Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  10. Rice, Lynette (May 2, 2022). "All New 'Iron Chef' Coming To Netflix In June; Alton Brown Returns As Host With Kristen Kish". Deadline. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  11. Palan, Michael (June 4, 2021). "What Happened To The Original Cast Of The Wonder Years?". Looper.
  12. Mossman, Bill (September 16, 2020). "The Chairman Never Rests". Midweek.
  13. Thompson, Brian (October 22, 2013). "THE EXTENDABLES Trailer". Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2018 via YouTube.
  14. "Mark Dacascos Interview". Martial Arts Unlimited. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  15. Petski, Denise (November 6, 2015). "Marvel's 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Casts Mark Dacascos In Recurring Role". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  16. Petski, Denise (July 27, 2022). "'Warrior': Mark Dacascos & Chelsea Muirhead Joins Season 3 Cast Of HBO Max Series". deadline.com. Deadline. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
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