Jim Kelly

Biography

Jim Kelly was an American martial artist and actor who became the first Black martial arts film star. Born in Paris, Kentucky, he competed in basketball, football and track and field at high school, then studied Shorin-ryu karate and won several championships, including a world middleweight title at the Long Beach International Karate Championships in 1971. Opening his own studio led to a first film role in the thriller Melinda (1972), and he broke through opposite Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon (1973) as Williams. Warner Brothers signed him to a contract for three films, starting with Black Belt Jones (1974). He appeared with Jim Brown and Fred Williamson in Three the Hard Way (1974), Take a Hard Ride (1975) and One Down, Two to Go (1982), starred in low-budget films such as Death Dimension (1978) and The Tattoo Connection (1978), and later acted on Highway to Heaven. He played senior tennis and died in 2013.

67years old at death

Born May 5, 1946Paris
Died June 29, 2013San Diego
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
James Milton Kelly (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 9
Career span: 42 years1973 to 2015

Genres

Action67%, 6 films
Crime33%, 3 films
Documentary22%, 2 films
Drama22%, 2 films
Comedy11%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Kelly's first role was in the 1972 thriller Melinda, where he played a martial arts instructor. One of his students introduced him to the film's writer, who asked him to teach martial arts to star Calvin Lockhart.
Big break
Kelly's breakout role was Williams in Enter the Dragon (1973), alongside Bruce Lee. Rockne Tarkington was originally cast but dropped out just before filming in Hong Kong, so producer Fred Weintraub went to Kelly's Los Angeles studio.
A first
Kelly won four prestigious karate championships in 1971, including the world middleweight title at the Long Beach International Karate Championships.
A change of course
Kelly opened his own studio. It was visited by many Hollywood celebrities, and this is what eventually got him into the movies.
A change of course
In 1975, Kelly joined the USTA Senior Men's Circuit. He went on to rank second in California in senior men's doubles and among the state's top 10 in senior men's singles.

Jim Kelly movies on Netflix

Four Falls of Buffalo2015IMDb rating 8.1as Himself
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee2001IMDb rating 7.0as Himself
Death by Misadventure: The Mysterious Life of Bruce Lee1993IMDb rating 6.5as Himself
Death Dimension1978IMDb rating 4.1as Lt. Detective J. Ash
The Tattoo Connection1978IMDb rating 5.3as Lucas
Take a Hard Ride1975IMDb rating 5.7as Kashtok
Black Belt Jones1974IMDb rating 6.2as Black Belt Jones
Three the Hard Way1974IMDb rating 6.2as Mister Keyes
Enter the Dragon1973IMDb rating 7.6as Williams

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Enter the Dragon1973 Action, Crime, Dramaas Williams
IMDb rating 7.6122K votes
Black Belt Jones1974 Action, Comedy, Crimeas Black Belt Jones
IMDb rating 6.23.0K votes
Four Falls of Buffalo2015as Himself
IMDb rating 8.11.6K votes
Three the Hard Way1974as Mister Keyes
IMDb rating 6.22.0K votes
Death Dimension1978as Lt. Detective J. Ash
IMDb rating 4.1984 votes
The Tattoo Connection1978as Lucas
IMDb rating 5.3544 votes
Take a Hard Ride1975as Kashtok
IMDb rating 5.71.7K votes
Death by Misadventure: The Mysterious Life of Bruce Lee1993as Himself
IMDb rating 6.5158 votes

Most often with

Robert Clouse directed two of these films. Six actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Fred Williamson

Jim Brown

Bolo Yeung

George Lazenby

Bruce Lee

Charles McGregor

Robert ClouseDirector, 2 films

Films together

Fred Williamson2 films together, 1974 to 1975
Fred Williamson's page
- Take a Hard Ride1975IMDb rating 5.7Kelly as KashtokWilliamson as Tyree
- Three the Hard Way1974IMDb rating 6.2Kelly as Mister KeyesWilliamson as Jagger Daniels
Jim Brown2 films together, 1974 to 1975
Jim Brown's page
- Take a Hard Ride1975IMDb rating 5.7Kelly as KashtokBrown as Pike
- Three the Hard Way1974IMDb rating 6.2Kelly as Mister KeyesBrown as Jimmy Lait
Bolo Yeung2 films together, 1973 to 1978
Bolo Yeung's page
- The Tattoo Connection1978IMDb rating 5.3Kelly as LucasYeung as Ta Niu(Bolo Yung)…
- Enter the Dragon1973IMDb rating 7.6Kelly as WilliamsYeung as Bolo
George Lazenby2 films together, 1978 to 1993
George Lazenby's page
- Death by Misadventure: The Mysterious Life of Bruce Lee1993IMDb rating 6.5Kelly as HimselfLazenby as Himself
- Death Dimension1978IMDb rating 4.1Kelly as Lt. Detective J. AshLazenby as Capt. Gallagher
Bruce Lee2 films together, 1973 to 2001
Bruce Lee's page
- The Unbeatable Bruce Lee2001IMDb rating 7.0Kelly as HimselfLee as Himself
- Enter the Dragon1973IMDb rating 7.6Kelly as WilliamsLee as Lee
Charles McGregor2 films together, 1974 to 1975
Charles McGregor's page
- Take a Hard Ride1975IMDb rating 5.7Kelly as KashtokMcGregor as Cloyd
- Three the Hard Way1974IMDb rating 6.2Kelly as Mister KeyesMcGregor as Charley
Robert ClouseDirector, 2 films, 1973 to 1974
All films by Robert Clouse
- Black Belt Jones1974IMDb rating 6.2Kelly as Black Belt Jones
- Enter the Dragon1973IMDb rating 7.6Kelly as Williams

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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