Thomas ian griffith biography of michael

American actor, producer, obtain screenwriter (b. 1962)

Thomas Ian Griffith (born March 18, 1962)^[2][3] not bad an American actor, screenwriter, manufacturer, musician, and martial artist.^[4]

His best-known roles include Terry Silver wealthy John G.

Avildsen's 1989 military arts filmThe Karate Kid Scrap III, which he later reprised in the fourth through 6th seasons of the Netflix idiot box series Cobra Kai (2021–2025), pass for well as voicing his natural feeling in the video gameCobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising (2022);^[5] imagination vampire Jan Valek in Privy Carpenter's 1998 neo-Westernaction horror filmVampires; recurring character Larry Sawyer escort the first season of High-mindedness WB's teen drama series One Tree Hill (2004); and Catlin Ewing in NBC's soap operaAnother World, which he helmed get out of 1984–1987.

He also wrote, story edited, co-produced, or supervised produced over lx episodes of NBC's fantasypolice proceduraldramahorror program Grimm from its alternative through sixth and final opportunity ripe, and has written and served as a supervising producer attempt a dozen episodes of Netflix's romanticdrama seriesVirgin River.

Griffith cranium his wife, Mary Page Lecturer, formed the independent film handiwork company Ian Page Productions engross the late 1980s, through which they produced a handful hold films, including Night of decency Warrior (1991), Ulterior Motives (1991), Excessive Force (1992), and Avalanche (1999).

During the early Decennium, he was positioned to quip one of Hollywood's next allencompassing action stars.^[6][7] From critics spreadsheet journalists, he received frequent comparisons to actors like Jean Claude van Damme, Steven Seagal, Caress Norris, Jeff Speakman, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, nearby even Clint Eastwood, Harrison Crossing, and Mickey Rourke.

Writing backing the New York Daily News in 1992, Nancy Stedman offered "He's being touted as dexterous better-looking version of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jean-Claude Van Damme. However with a difference: Muscles shoot a sideline with Griffith; purify has spent years acting simple theater."^[8] At the eighth once a year ShowEast film industry conference kept in Atlantic City, New Shirt in October 1992, Griffith stodgy the Star of Tomorrow Award.^[9][10][11]

Early life

Birth and family background

Thomas Ian Griffith Jr.

was born school in Hartford, Connecticut on March 18, 1962, the son of Irish-American Hartford natives Mary Ann (née O'Neil; 1934–1990)^[12] and Dr. Socialist Joseph Griffith Sr. (1927–2017).^[13][2][14] Her majesty maternal grandfather, John J. O'Neil, was born in Killorglin, Colony Kerry, Ireland, and emigrated optimism Hartford in the 1920s.^[15] Fillet maternal grandmother, Margaret (née Galvin), was also born in Department Kerry, Ireland and spent heavy-handed of her life in Hartford.^[16] His paternal grandparents, Michael Tabulate.

Griffith and Mary Agnes (née Radigan), were both born fragment County Mayo, Ireland, and emigrated (separately) to Hartford in honesty 1910s.^[17][18]

Griffith's mother, who was progressing Mrs. Connecticut of 1964,^[19] was the founder and director perfect example the noted Irish dancing institution, The Griffith Academy of Romp in Wethersfield, Connecticut.^[20][12] She was a graduate of the Rule of Hartford, and received nifty Master's degree in counseling stay away from St.

Joseph College.^[12] She was also an accredited An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha and Teagascóir Coimisiún Le Rinci Gaelacha Country dance teacher.^[12] His paternal nanna, Mary Agnes, was also splendid member of The Irish Glistening Commission.^[21] His father served worry the Navy during World Clash II and later hosted unadorned weekly Sunday radio show, The Irish Hour (produced by enthrone brother William E.

Griffith).^[13][22] No problem earned a Bachelor of Study degree in Engineering from excellence University of Hartford and went on to earn three Bravura of Science degrees and spick PhD in Education from Beantown University.^[13] He was an report professor in business administration watch the University of Hartford,^[19] beforehand moving to Florida to tutor at Lynn University in Boca Raton and Broward College concern Davie.^[2][14]

Griffith has an older sisters, Colleen Marie, and a erstwhile sister, Mary Beth,^[12][19] both touch on whom continued in their mother's footsteps and teach at Influence Griffith Academy.^[14][23] His family's shimmer background and the taking be contaminated by of the academy by ruler sister after his mother's slipping away would later be developed wishy-washy Griffith into a television syllabus, The Dunnings.^[24][25]

Education and studies (1962–1980)

Griffith grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut.^[26] During the 1960s, he was part of the youth Gaelic dancing group The Griffith Dancers, under the direction of coronet mother.^[27][28] The dancing group travelled around the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom, performing become more intense taking part in competitions.^[29] Shut in addition to learning various forms of dancing (such as Country step-dancing and Celtic folk-dancing) get round his mother, he also perspicacious to sing and play various instruments, including the piano nearby the accordion.^[4] He was desirable proficient on the accordion renounce he won United States stand for Connecticut State championships.^[4] At estimate shows he would dance span jig and play his accordion,^[30] and would usually accompany Representation Griffith Dancers on the instrument.^[31][32] Of his dancing, he posterior said "I never had unadorned formal dance lesson in free life, I picked up recruit dancing while playing the softness for allowance money as on the rocks child in Hartford, Connecticut."^[4] Filmmaker also juggled and wrote songs.^[4]

He attended South Catholic High High school in Hartford, graduating with excellence class of 1978, where earth was Treasurer his junior collection, Vice-President his senior year, be proof against also co-editor of the school's yearbook, the Canticle.^[14][33] He won awards in algebra, biology, be first chemistry, and was a party of the State Creative Youth.^[33] He focused on sports surmount freshman year, playing football increase in intensity basketball, but was later ignored into music and theatre, significance a member of the school's madigral and glee club.^[33] Realm sophomore year, he joined rank school's drama club, The Southernmost Catholic Players, as their fortepiano accompanist.^[33][34] As a way extract meet girls that acted squash up the plays, Griffith also shock defeat up acting in the school's productions.^[34] His senior year, way in the direction of John Kiely, he played the lead, Albert Peterson, in a 1978 bargain of the musical comedy Bye Bye Birdie.^[33]

Griffith became obsessed fumble taekwondo when he was 12, studying at the S.K.

Tae Kwon Do Academy in Hartford, and earned a black region when he was 18.^[35][36] Bankruptcy later earned a black sash in American Kenpo while education the sport in New Dynasty under Hyung Yup Chung.^[3] Abaft moving to Los Angeles suspend the late 1980s, he stirred with Jun Chong.^[3] In probity 1990s, he picked up envelopment under Benny Urquidez.^[3] He pump up also trained in kickboxing, grappling, fencing, and stage combat.^[37][38]

Some large quantity state that he studied batter at the College of loftiness Holy Cross in Worcester, Colony, where he was a dean's list student before leaving name his junior year to "make it" as an actor discern New York.^[14][4] Other sources make a note of that he was an Openly and music major at wander same college, but that be active graduated before setting out do acting.^[39] The college's website lists him as a class attack 1982 student.^[40] Its 1980 yearly, the Purple Patcher, lists him as a resident student,^[41] long-standing its 1981 edition lists him as a player in righteousness lacrosse team,^[42] but he enquiry absent from the 1979 talented 1982 editions.^[43][44] Griffith later worthy taking part in the college's plays.^[34]

Career

Theater and soap operas (1980–1987)

In the summer of 1980, among his sophomore and junior class at College of the Blessed Cross,^[45] Griffith made his The west end debut when he replaced featured player Tom Cashin in primacy musical The Best Little Edifice in Texas, under the circuit of Peter Masterson and Serviceman Tune at the 46th Structure Theatre.^[14][4][46] In a 1984 interrogate with the Los Angeles Times, the actor confided that Consignment (for whom he audition)^[34] chartered him more for his figure and dancing skills than ruler acting abilities.^[39] He later rumbling The Star-Ledger in 1992, "They noticed 'Celtic step dancing' hang on to my resume, and I was asked if I could flaunt.

So I cranked out clean up little step. They loved it."^[47] Griffith performed various roles importance the play, including a clasp manager, a cameraman, and top-hole football player named Aggie #12 who does a specialty tap-dance.^[46][14][4] Having a steady role superimpose the play allowed the incident to move from Yonkers bear out Manhattan, though he continued house waiting upon College of the Holy Crucifix during the day.^[45] He likewise studied the Michael Chekhov fabrication technique in New York Be elastic during this time.^[34]

The next origin, he landed another role hassle the Broadway sports musical The First, which dramatized events reject the life of Jackie Player, the first African-American to ground Major League Baseball.^[48][4] In range play, which ran from Oct 19 to December 12, 1981, under the direction of Actress Charnin at the Martin Course Theatre, Griffith also played several parts (including Thurman the Borough Eagle photographer, a passenger, swell Brooklyn Dodgers rookie, and organized Pittsburg Pirates player).^[4][48] He likewise appeared in off-Broadway productions.^[3]

He was hired and cast in position 1983–1984 season of the Songster Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, advent in the first two plays, The Threepenny Opera (which ran from June 10 to July 17, 1983, directed by Liviu Ciulei) and Guys and Dolls (which ran from July 29 to September 18, 1983, determined by Garland Wright).^{[49][39][14][4]} The theater's production of The Threepenny Opera starred Theodore Bikel,^[50] while Guys and Dolls' starred Roy Thinnes, Jerry Stiller, Barbara Sharma, instruct Mike Mazurki.^[51][52] Griffith was out of order to appear in five keep inside productions at the Guthrie Region that season, The Entertainer (September 23 to October 23, 1983), The Seagull (October 28 express November 20, 1983), A Yule Carol (November 24, 1983 adjoin January 1, 1984), The Account of Being Ernest (January 6 to February 12, 1984), abide Hedda Gabler (February 17 suggest March 11, 1984), but prohibited departed for New York.^[49][39]

His leaf and theater roles were as is usual credited under his shortened reputation, Thomas Griffith;^[53] he would grizzle demand be credited as Thomas Ian Griffith until he was meaning in Another World in swindle 1983, to avoid confusion come together another actor, Tom Griffith (who appeared in horror films The Alien Factor (1978), Fiend (1980), Night of Horror (1981), obtain Nightbeast (1982)).^{[citation needed]}

A New Dynasty casting director caught Griffith's attention at the Guthrie Theater stall arranged for him an check for NBC in late 1983.^[39] From that single audition (in which he was paired investigate Mary Page Keller),^[8][54] he orthodox two simultaneous offers to response either Another World or Search for Tomorrow, both NBC ascendancy soap operas.^[39] The actor chose Another World, was signed tinge a nine-month contract, and was cast as the "troublemaking-womanizer" Catlin Ewing.^[4][39] Griffith had initially contrived to return to stage gratuitous after his nine-month contract dated, with the television experience speed up to his resumé, and powder took acting lessons when noteworthy had time off from shooting.^[39] He made his television-acting inauguration in January 1984 and recoil up playing Ewing for several years, until January 1987.^[55][56][14] Close to this time, he dated top co-star, onscreen love interest, come first future wife, Mary Page Keller; the couple eventually married valve 1991.^[14]

Appearing on Another World obligated him "one of daytime television's more familiar and possibly favoured faces,"^[57] a "matinee idol,"^[58] focus on a "soap superstar."^[59] He was also noted for performing move choreographing his own stunts untrue the show.^[60] By 1985, agreed was a frequently invited company at international trade shows careful exhibitions, where he met fans and signed autographs.^{[61][62][63][64]} During sole of these promotional tours persuade the Southern United States choose by ballot the fall of 1985,^[65] Filmmaker landed an uncredited bit wear away as an extra in nobleness Miami Vice episode "Phil prestige Shill," which was filmed go to see Miami, Florida in late Oct and early November 1985.^[66] Rank episode, which guest starred Phil Collins, was directed by Bathroom Nicolella and was broadcast break the rules NBC in December 1985.^[67] Hoot early as July 1986, information circulated that Griffith, although performing a popular character on Another World, was not going pile-up renew his contract once certification ended in January 1987, topmost the importance of his separate was gradually diminished in rectitude writing of the show.^[68][69]

Hollywood other Ian Page Productions (1987–1993)

After departure Another World in 1985, cap girlfriend Keller moved from Borough, New York (where most stand for the television series was filmed) to Los Angeles, California (she was a native of Town, California);^[70] Griffith joined her captive early 1987, when his pact expired.^[14][71] There, they made their home and formed an sovereign film production company, Ian Sheet Productions, named after their nucleus names, and he began chirography the screenplay for A Substitution to Hide (later filmed trade in Night of the Warrior).^[72] Guarantee 1988, Griffith had a visitor role on NBC's prime-time push crime drama series In rank Heat of the Night; sharp-tasting appeared in the two-part occasion two premiere episode "Don't Face Back," which aired in Dec 1988.^[73]

In late 1988, Griffith numberless his theatrical film debut conj at the time that he was cast as dignity lead villain in The Karate Kid Part III (released intensity June 1989).^[74] In the coating, he portrays Terry Silver, topping rival martial arts expert who influences Daniel LaRusso against tiara friend and mentor, Mr.

Miyagi. Although many reporters assumed put off he won the role have possession of Silver because of his physical knowledge of martial arts, Filmmaker explained that he landed position part solely because of circlet acting experience as the gut feeling of Silver, as originally in the cards when he auditioned, didn't own acquire much fighting in the film.^[3] The plot initially revolved get about Silver torturing LaRusso and malice aforethought his demise, but once rendering film's fight choreographer, Pat President, discovered Griffith's expertise with soldierly arts, he recommended that blue blood the gentry actor approach director John Ill-defined.

Avildsen for new scenes class be written.^[3] Avildsen was burning about expanding Silver's parts instruct reworked the script to be the character an equal nemesis.^[3]

Despite being offered similar martial terrace roles following The Karate Cosset Part III, the actor sincere not want to be typecast.^[3] When interviewed by Black Belt magazine, Griffith explained he necessary to keep his roles disconnected, and that although he adored doing action and martial humanities films, he was also impelled to keep playing straight screenplay parts, and was interested lecture in going back to plays playing field doing Shakespeare.^[3] He also gather the New York Daily News "I'm hoping that in amidst the big action films wide will be something more soulful."^[8] Griffith then landed another lodger role on CBS's prime-time the fourth estate crime drama series Wiseguy; unquestionable appeared in the two-part edible two finale episodes "Le Lacrime d'Amore Part 1: AKA Honesty Four-Letter Word" and "Le Lacrime d'Amore Part 2: AKA There's Plenty of Time," which a minute ago in May 1989.

Griffith plays the role of Roger Totland, Amber Twine's (Patti D'Arbanville) legal adviser who convinces her to delete ties with the protagonist, Vinnie Terranova (Ken Wahl), by irresistible and winning and dinning breach, in an attempt to be of advantage to from the sale of bring about company and real estate.^[75]

His opponent heard that ABC was shy for its television biopic claim late screen actor Rock Navigator and sent Griffith over exceed audition for director John Nicolella.^[34] Although Griffith only did neat cold reading, Nicolella loved sovereignty delivery and asked him discriminate repeat the audition for orderly dozen ABC executives; the people day, Griffith was informed go he had the part.^[34] Significance actor admitted to The Different York Times that prior fulfill the Hudson biopic, he was not a fan of picture screen legend's work and abstruse only seen Giant (1956), on the other hand that through research for decency role, he learned to provide work for the late actor's work mushroom found it to be calligraphic great role for him.^[76][75] Filmmaker was only one inch taller than Hudson and had adroit similar physique, but required a handful hours of makeup each offering (including darkening his brown yarn dyed in the wool c and wearing brown contacts apply for his blue eyes) to get paid into character, especially when portrayal Hudson's final years as filth was dying from AIDS.^[76][1] Fabricator Frank Konigsberg later told bat an eyelid reporters that he felt available was more important to negative an actor who could hurl Hudson's tortured spirit than archetypal exact lookalike,^[1] and that Filmmaker "has the presence, the high noon and the build of Crag.

He also has that marvellous kind of open, all-American sunny, a boyish innocence that assembles you really like the boy.

That's what Rock had, too."^[77] The two-hour Rock Hudson ep was broadcast on ABC lure January 1990.^[14][78]

Through Ian Page Mill, Griffith wrote and co-produced character action flic Night of depiction Warrior, which originated from clean screenplay and story he wrote in 1988 titled A Tighten to Hide.^[79][72][80] The film, just as initially scheduled to start insightful in late November 1988 (before being delayed when Griffith was cast in The Karate Skipper Part III), was a mystery-drama flic about a poet who works at a strip club.^[14][81] It was to be doomed by Scott Thomas and co-star Griffith and Keller with orderly cast that boasted Arlene Dah, Bill Erwin, Dana Ashbrook, celebrated Chris Lemmon, and be co-produced by Mike Erwin (son forfeited actor Bill Erwin).^[72][81] By 1989, the film's cast had clashing to star Lorenzo Lamas (Dahl's real-life son) replacing Griffith; interpretation former also came in translation co-producer through his film work hard company, Blueline Productions/Erwin, Lamas, Kirishima Productions (co-owned with Mike Erwin and J.

Max Kirishima).^[82][79] Erwin, Lamas, and Griffith had reduce through their love of karate.^[83] With new producers Lamas alight Kirishima on board, the handwriting was drastically changed to prolong more martial arts and bend it into more of implication action film, about which Filmmaker was unhappy.^[14] The movie was finally filmed in 1990,^[84] add director Rafal Zielinski and leading Lamas, Kathleen Kinmont (Lamas' real-life wife, replacing Keller), Dahl, Erwin, Anthony Geary, and Danny Kamekona.^[14] It was distributed in 1991, in theaters via Trimark Big screen and on video and laserdisc via its division Vidmark Entertainment.^[14][72]

Griffith and Keller next co-wrote, co-produced, and co-starred in the bureaucratic action thriller film Ulterior Motives (working title Deadline^[84]) involving dinky New York Times reporter, Heath Boswell (Keller), who uncovers nifty story about a Japanese-American tradesman selling U.S.

defense secrets give somebody the job of Japan. She hires private investigator Jack Blaylock (Griffith) to whisper with the investigation.^[85] Directed lump James Becket, its cast too included Ken Howard, Ellen Actress, M.C. Gainey, Hayward Nishioka, Tyra Ferrell, and Joe Yamanaka. Ulterior Motives was again produced satisfaction cooperation with Erwin and Lamas' film production company, Erwin, Lamas, Kirishima Productions,^[86] and was filmed and edited in late 1990.^[87][88] It was screened in Feb and March 1991 at picture American Film Market in Santa Monica, California,^[89] and a foremost release happened two years adjacent in late 1992, when Queenly Entertainment issued it on videotape and laserdisc.^[90][14][72]

With several acting, script, and producing credits to enthrone name, Griffith was picked display for representation by talent means Creative Artists Agency.^[14] In 1991, his agent took Griffith's new-found screenplay for Excessive Force, fit into place which he plays Detective Fabric McCain, a Chicago police public servant who gets framed for illustriousness murder of a mob projection, to New Line Cinema.^[91][11] Imprisoned two weeks, New Line Cinema's president Michael Lynne had grand to finance and distribute character film and wanted Griffith hitch also star in it.^[11][92] Keeping pace, the offer evolved into clean three-picture writing-producing-starring-directing deal for Ian Page Productions, though Griffith plain-spoken not use his option taking place direct the film.^[14][91][92] Griffith held he wanted someone else explicate direct so that he could be focused on acting perpendicular the set.^[11]

Excessive Force was secure a $5.5 million budget^[11] extremity John Hess was hired identify direct, while Griffith produced, co-choreographed (with Bobby Bass), and marked in the film; he commode also be seen playing various jazz tunes on the piano.^[14][3] The movie was filmed get ready location in Chicago, Illinois 'tween March-May 1992,^[93][91] and included much notable stars as James Marquess Jones, Burt Young, and Surplus Henriksen.^[94] For his role, Filmmaker did research by spending span with real Chicago cops who patrolled rough areas of illustriousness city and was present mid a raid on a take to court house.^[11]Excessive Force received limited thespian releases starting on November 6, 1992 and into 1993,^[95] close which Griffith embarked on deft promotional tour to plug magnanimity film.^[11] The wide theatrical cleft of Excessive Force was bland February 1993,^[96] and by May well 1993, the film was pathway theaters everywhere.^[97] Although the filmed fared poorly at the coffer office, grossing only $1.1 cardinal in the US, it sell so well when issued expose VHS that same year by New Line Home Video, grossing a profit within months,^[97] deviate New Line Cinema was unlocked to a sequel.^[98] That result was eventually produced, Excessive Channel II: Force on Force, nevertheless without any input from Filmmaker.

Between 1991–1993, Griffith was positioned to be one of Hollywood's next big action stars.^[6] Liberate yourself from critics and journalists, he traditional frequent comparisons to actors liking Jean Claude van Damme, Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, Jeff Speakman, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, and even Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, and Mickey Rourke.^{[6][14][58][99][100][101][102][103]} Writing for the New Dynasty Daily News, Nancy Stedman offered "He's being touted as wonderful better-looking version of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jean-Claude Van Damme.

On the contrary with a difference: Muscles instruct a sideline with Griffith; let go has spent years acting discharge theater."^[8] When interviewed by Variety, New Line Cinema president Archangel Lynne described the actor brand "New Line's version of Steven Seagal."^[92] At the eighth once a year ShowEast film industry conference set aside in Atlantic City, New Woolly in October 1992, Griffith usual the Star of Tomorrow Award.^[9][10][11]

Starring roles in foreign productions (1993–1997)

Griffith was next cast to co-star alongside Christopher Plummer and Nastassja Kinski in the Canadian appreciate film Crackerjack, which was determined by Michael Mazo and filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia halfway September–November 1993.^[104][105] The film deals with a burnt-out cop (Griffith) who is taken to out mountain resort by his relative, sister-in-law, and newborn child pocket help him recover emotionally spread the death of his better half.

There, he befriends a expedition guide (Kinski), but the adequate resort is soon held detainee by a master criminal (Plummer) and his henchmen, who menace to bury it under diversity avalanche using explosives. Crackerjack was distributed theatrically in the Allied States by Worldvision Enterprises ray had its world premiere draw on the American Film Market early payment February 25, 1994.^[106]

He then marked in Nu Image's suspense-action contracts Blood of the Innocent, which was filmed on location gravel Nieborów, Czerwińsk nad Wisłą, playing field Warsaw, Poland between August cranium September 1994,^[107] and co-starred Lav Rhys-Davies and Rutger Hauer.

Nobleness movie follows a Chicago officer (Griffith) who travels to Polska to find the hoods who killed his brother. Aided rough the local police captain (Rhys-Davies), he discovers that his relative was murdered by the Slavonic mafia, who are killing shut up shop peasants and selling their meat on the black market rearguard a doctor (Hauer) dismembers them.^[108] The film premiered on Offset in December 1994,^[109] and was later released on VHS element Republic Pictures in 1995, botchup the alternative titleBeyond Forgiveness.^[108]

He was again cast by Nu Manner in Hollow Point, an action-comedy film co-produced with Canada's Heavenly Programming Enterprises, Phoenician Films, put forward Filmline International.^[110] Though some hold on to footage of Boston's landscape was used during the opening, advocate the police cars bared ditch city's name, the movie was shot entirely in Montreal, Quebec during seven weeks between Apr and May 1995.^[111]Hollow Point was directed by Sidney J.

Furie and co-starred Tia Carrere, Can Lithgow, and Donald Sutherland.^[112][110] Filmmaker (who shows off his operatic singing during several scenes) stars as a DEA agent who teams up with an Task agent (Carrere) and a ornamented hitman (Sutherland) to takedown skilful criminal syndicate lead by orderly financial adviser (Lithgow).^[110] The membrane premiered on HBO in June 1996.^[113]Vidmark Entertainment released the skin on VHS in the Leagued States, Sterling Entertainment Group insecure it on DVD in picture United States, while TVA Movies issued it on DVD divert Canada.^[110]

In 1995, Griffith wrote, doomed, and co-produced the children'smartial artseducational filmKick Time!, which starred immaturity martial arts instructor Robert "Karate Bob" Meltzer (who co-produced).^[114] Magnanimity thirty-minute made-for-video film co-starred Lecturer (who also co-produced) as Kirby the clown, along with Meltzer's pupils, the Kick Time Offspring, showing a basic skills quiescent, non-contact program.^[114] Originally released appreciate VHS in 1995 through Filmmaker, Keller, and Meltzer's Kick Intention Productions, it was later re-issued on DVD in 2005.^[115]

In 1996, Griffith was cast in put in order co-starring role in Raffaella Break into Laurentiis Productions' sword and enchantment picture Kull the Conqueror, which was shot in Slovakia prep added to Croatia between August and Oct 1996.^{[116][117][118]} The actor was re-teamed with director John Nicolella (from the Rock Hudson biopic) current Tia Carrere (from Hollow Point).^[119] The movie starred Kevin Sorbo and featured Gary "Litefoot" Actress, Roy Brocksmith, Harvey Fierstein, service Karina Lombard.

The story deals with a barbarian, Kull (Sorbo), who wins the throne wink Valusian in a sword go into battle, much to the dismay fortify Taligaro (Griffith) and others who each feel they are say publicly rightful inheritors of that character, and who attempt to thoughtful him. The film was at large via Universal Pictures in Grand 1997.^[120]

Griffith next starred in To-do Picture Corporation of America's Hunter Pictures-distributed action/war filmBehind Enemy Lines.^[121] Directed by Mark Griffiths, record co-stars Chris Mulkey, Mushond Histrion, Courtney Gains, and Maury True, and was filmed in primacy Philippines.^[121] The story deals be different ex-United States Marine Corps Microphone Weston (Griffith) who is drive back to Vietnam to liberate his friend Jones (Mulkey), authority latter of whom was undone behind on their last mission.^[122] After Weston is betrayed streak imprisoned, three of his preceding Marine friends (Lee, Gaines, focus on Sterling), along with his coddle and a Vietnamese compatriot, revealing to rescue the pair.^[122]Behind Antipathetic Lines premiered on HBO complicated May 1997.^[123][124]

In March 1997, NBC announced it had filmed neat pilot episode for a outlook television drama series named The Angel (later renamed The Guardian), for its fall 1997 schedule.^[125][126] The premise of the well-known, which was written and secured by Rob Cohen, had Filmmaker starring as Ray Angelotti (known as The Guardian Angel), insinuation ex-thief and martial arts citation with a sixth-degree Kenpo Karate black belt, who comes blockage of prison determined to without delay wrongs and make up farm his past misdeeds.^[127] The opening episode also included Stephanie Niznik, Rebecca Rigg, Brian Thompson, perch Tippi Hedren.^[127] The show was not picked up.

Transition nigh co-starring and supporting roles (1997–1999)

Griffith was next cast as co-star in director John Carpenter's neo-Westernaction horror filmVampires, playing the pretend of head vampire Jan Valek. The movie starred James Wood, Daniel Baldwin, and Sheryl Gladness, and was shot from June to August 1997 in Pristine Mexico.^[128][129] The plot deals form a junction with a modern-day vampire hunter (Woods) and his partner (Baldwin), labour for the world's first bloodsucker (Griffith) in the American southernmost, using his latest victim (Lee) to track him down.

Ethics film, which was produced be diagnosed with Storm King Production, was movable through Columbia Pictures in Oct 1998.

In The First Vampire, a bonus feature included strain Vampires' collector's edition Blu-ray, Filmmaker recalls coming into the acquire through an audition with Carpenter's wife, producer Sandy King, erstwhile to going to the Archipelago to film Behind Enemy Lines.^[130] While filming Behind Enemy Lines, Griffith received news from authority agent that he got nobility part in Vampires.^[130] When Watery and Carpenter first met mount Griffith, his hair was similar long from his role play in Kull the Conqueror, but powder had since cut his curls short for the war picture; this gave the producers description idea of giving Valek eke out a living hair and sent Griffith bring in for extensions.^[130] Carpenter also brainy Griffith not to take terminate in pre-production rehearsals with dignity other actors, so that top character would be intentionally isolated and emotionless.^[130] Griffith would parade up to film scenes receipt never met his co-stars, soar often found it difficult remote to laugh at Woods' inane improvised lines.^[130]

The actor next co-starred in The Unexpected Mrs.

Pollifax a spy-mystery for Corymore Mill (in co-production with Scripps Player Productions), owned by actress Angela Lansbury and her producer mate Peter Shaw.^[131][132] The movie was directed by their son, Suffragist Pullen Shaw, and was filmed between November and December 1997, on location in Ireland, Author, and Morocco.^{[131][133][132]} The story gos next Emily Pollifax (Landsbury), a sexagenarian widow who applies to grow a CIA agent, and from one side to the ot a mix-up is mistaken cart a real agent and kink on a foreign mission.

Say publicly CIA sends their own carrier Jack Farrell (Griffith) to override her and see that trinket happens to her, but report himself caught up in influence action.^[131]The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax a minute ago on CBS in May 1999,^[134] and the network hoped whoosh would lead to additional Emily Pollifax films.^[131]

Griffith next starred urgency the action-adventure-disaster filmAvalanche, which blooper co-produced through Ian Page Output, in co-operation with producers Richard Pepin and Joseph Merhi's Arch Entertainment Group, and writer-director Steve Kroschel's Kroschel Films.^[135] Griffith extremely helped with the script.^[136] Class film was shot at Hatcher Pass, Knik Glacier, and Refuge, Alaska from October to Dec 1998, and included footage be defeated real avalanches, which Kroschel locked away spent four years documenting gift filming beforehand.^[137][138] The film's conspiracy deals with a helicopter airman (Griffith) who helps an green try to prevent a vital avalanche by oil companies.^[139] Illustriousness film premiered at the Metropolis Film Festival in May 1999, out of competition,^[140][136] and difficult its American television premiere nationstate UPN in January 2001.^[134][141] In the chips received numerous home media releases, notably a VHS in justness United Kingdom by Entertainment Appearance Video in 1999,^[142] a VHS and DVD by First Measure Home Entertainment in April 2002, under the alternative title Escape from Alaska.^{[134][143][144]} It was posterior re-issued on DVD by Reverberate Bridge Home Entertainment in 2017, also under its alternative fame.

He co-starred in his consequent film, For the Cause (also known as Final Encounter), filmed in April 1999 in Bulgaria.^[145][146]

He was next cast in combine video productions by country chanteuse Reba McEntire, both produced jab her company, Starstruck Entertainment.^[147][148] Distinction first was a Christmas-time sentiment drama set in Oregon implement 1903, starring McEntire as Cherry Cameron, a widow whose house is about to be foreclosed by dishonest bank president Harlan Gotch (Ronny Cox), only break down be reluctantly rescued by Follow Withers (Griffith), a lone condition in town.^[149] Originally titled Christmas in Calico, after the game park on which it is based,^[150][151] it was retitled to Secret of Giving, a song integrity singer recorded for the pelt and which is included medal her album Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection, which serves as its semi-soundtrack.^[152][153] The be grateful for was directed by Sam Pillsbury and was filmed in Maple Ridge, Vancouver, and Kamloops, Island Columbia, Canada from June line of attack July 1999.^{[154][150][155]} It aired disguise CBS on Thanksgiving day turn a profit November 1999.^[156]

The actor also co-starred in McEntire's music video reach her song "What Do Order around Say," the lead single expend her album So Good Together, released in November 1999 conj albeit the record label MCA Nashville.^[157] The video was co-produced take directed by Robert Deaton abstruse his firm Deaton-Flanigen Productions, prep added to depicts a mother dying ad infinitum cancer and how it affects her husband (Griffith) and their two adolescent children.^[152] The song video was filmed after justness movie but aired on small screen first, when the song was released as a single tenuous September 1999.

The music tape, as well as a making-of-the-video feature showing the sets current actors at work were limited as bonus features on description enhanced section of the So Good Together CD.^[158]

He acted sufficient A Vision of Murder: Class Story of Donielle, which was filmed in late 1999 on the other hand released in early 2000.

More starring, co-starring, and supporting roles (2000–2007)

In February 2000, he unmixed with the Metropolitan Talent Authority, where he was represented wedge Chris Barrett and Karen Forman.^[159] He was also managed tough Himber Entertainment.^[159] He starred since a pirate in The High seas Wolf (also known as SeaWolf: The Pirate's Curse), filmed elaborate 2000 but only released expose 2002.

In 2001, he marked in High Adventure and snare 2002 co-starred in Black Point and played a supporting duty in Beyond the Prairie II: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder Continues. In 2002, Griffith had a featured apportionment in the film xXx, arbitrate which he portrayed Agent Jim McGrath.

In 2003 he co-starred as the antagonist in Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision (a sequel to Jean-Claude van Damme's 1994 film Timecop).

In 2004 he was cast in probity recurring role of Larry Longicorn during the first season cataclysm One Tree Hill. In 2005 he appeared in one incident of The Closer and revere 2006 in one episode spot Cold Case. In 2007 explicit was in the television steam The Kidnapping (also known since Black Friday).

In the early 2000s, he returned to stage exert yourself to appear in several Screenland musical revivals, including 1776 (2001),^[160][161]I'm Getting My Act Together most important Taking It on the Road (2004),^[162]Camelot (2005),^[163][164] and Chess (2007).^[165][166] He also appeared in integrity Gianni Schicchiopera for a USC Opera production.^[167]

Focus on writing trip producing (2008–present)

In 2008, Griffith leave from acting to focus advise screenwriting.

In 2009 he wrote the film Mr. Troop Mom. Starting in 2013 for integrity program's second season, he occasionally wrote episodes for the NBC television series Grimm, contributing cardinal in total by the series' end. In its fourth period, he became the story rewriter and worked on all .22 episodes, in its fifth opportunity ripe, he became the co-producer ground worked on all twenty-two episodes, and for its sixth person in charge final season, he was grandeur supervising producer and worked tone with all thirteen episodes.

Griffith faked on a total of 61 Grimm episodes. He co-created loftiness comic book series Asylum (2014–2016) with John Carpenter and top wife, producer Sandy King.^[168][169]

He concentrate on his wife, Mary Page Writer, also collaborated to write leadership sixth episode of the clowning drama series Dolly Parton's Heartstrings in 2019, as well laugh an episode for Netflix keep fit Virgin River.^[170] In 2020, crystal-clear was a producer on Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square. They later co-wrote the ladies series The Dunnings for NBC but it was never made.^[24][25] Another series, The Translator's Daughter, was developed in 2019, as well for NBC but remains unmade.^[171]

In 2021, Griffith came out honor his retirement from acting protect reprise the role of Toweling Silver in the fourth, 5th, and sixth seasons of Cobra Kai.^[172][173] He also voiced government character in the 2022 videocassette game Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising.

Personal life

Griffith has archaic married to his former Another World co-star Mary Page Author since November 16, 1991.^[2][174] Significance pair have two sons together,^[175] Conner O'Neil Griffith (born June 3, 1994),^[174] who is topping video artist and animator,^[176] stream Eamon Michael Griffith (born Walk 28, 1997),^[174] who is calligraphic musician.^[177]

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References