photo: http://static.tvfanatic.com/files/mark-dacascos.jpg
Biography
Mark Dacascos (born February 26, 1964, Honolulu, Hawaii) is an actor and martial arts expert, winning numerous karate and kung fu championships between the age of 9 and 18 [1]. He has been featured in such films as Only The Strong and Cradle 2 the Grave.
His father, Al Dacascos, is a Filipino martial arts instructor of Malay, Spanish, and Chinese ancestry. His mother, Moriko McVey, is of Irish and Japanese ancestry. Dacascos refers to McVey as his "natural mother" and his stepmother, martial artist Malia Bernal, as his "second mother."
Beginning in January 2005, Dacascos has portrayed "the Chairman" on Food Network's Iron Chef America. This role was previously played by Takeshi Kaga in the original Japanese Iron Chef. IMDB incorrectly states that Takeshi Kaga is his uncle on his mother's side. This likely stems from confusion over Dacascos playing the character of the nephew of "Chairman Kaga" in Iron Chef America. The misunderstanding most probably arises over "Chairman Kaga" himself being a fictional character.
Dacascos became an actor after being discovered walking down the street in San Francisco's Chinatown by two men working for director Wayne Wang. Though Dacascos' first scenes ended up on the cutting room floor, he has gone on to establish a film and television career mostly playing martial artists.
Filmography
Rahan (2006) .... Rahan
The Cleaner (2006)
Only The Brave (2005) .... Steve "Zaki" Senzaki
The Hunt For Eagle One (2006) (V) .... Lt. Matt Daniels
Junior Pilot (2006) .... Kato
Solar Strike (2005) (TV) ... Lucas Foster
Nomad (2004) .... Sharish
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) .... Ling
Scorcher (2002) .... Ryan Beckett
Instinct To Kill (2001) ... aka The Perfect Husband (USA)....J.T. Dillon
Le Pacte des loups (2001) ...aka Brotherhood of the Wolf (USA).... Mani
Lei ting zhan jing (2000) ...aka China Strike Force (Hong Kong: English title).... Tony Lau
The Base (1999) (V) .... Maj. John Murphy/Cpl. John Dalton
No Code Of Conduct (1998) .... Paul DeLucca
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998) TV Series .... Eric Draven
Boogie Boy (1998) ... Jesse
Deathline (1997) ...aka Redline (USA).... Merrick
Drive (1997) .... Toby Wong
DNA (1997) .... Dr. Ash Mattley
Sanctuary (1997) .... Luke Kovak
Sabotage (1996) .... Michael Bishop
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) .... Lo-Mai
Crying Freeman (1995) .... Yo Hinomura/Freeman
Kickboxer 5 (1995) (TV) ...aka Redemption: Kickboxer 5.... Matt Reeves
Deadly Past (1995) .... Leo
Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom (1995) (Video Game) .... 2nd Lt. Troy 'Catscratch' Carter
Double Dragon (1994) .... Jimmy Lee
Dragstrip Girl (1994) (TV) .... Johnny
Roosters (1993) .... Filipino's Son
Only The Strong (1993) ...aka Street Fighters.... Louis Stevens
American Samurai (1992) .... Kenjiro
Dead On The Money (1991) (TV)
Angel Town (1990) .... Stoner's Driver
[2]
