Jeff Imada
Jeff Imada (born June 17, 1955) is an American martial artist, stuntman, and actor. He has performed stunts in over 100 films and television programs and authored one of the first books published in the US about the balisong. Jeff Imada is trained in Jeet Kune Do, Eskrima, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu, Kendo , Systema and Boxing.
Jeff Imada | |
|---|---|
 Imada in 2019 | |
| Born | June 17, 1955 Inglewood, California, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, director and stuntman |
Life and career
Imada was born in Inglewood, California, US, where he began studying martial arts at the age of fifteen. At El Camino College and UCLA, he majored in pre-med and minored in music as a classically trained pianist.[1] While in college, he started working as a film "extra", which led to his becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Stunts Unlimited and the Directors Guild of America. Jeff Imada has been the technical advisor on numerous films, including Dutch (1991), Tango & Cash (1989), Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Dreamscape (1984) and Streets of Fire (1984), and such television series as Magnum, P.I. (1980), Remington Steele (1982), Dynasty (1981), Matt Houston (1982), Airwolf (1984), Stingray (1986), Hart to Hart (1979) and Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982).
He was a close friend to Brandon Lee with whom he studied Jeet Kune Do under the tutelage of Dan Inosanto. He was the primary fight choreographer on Lee's final film, The Crow.[2]
Imada has authored two books on the history and use of the balisong and designed a particular grind known as the "Imada High Hollow" for Pacific Cutlery that was ground by knifemaker Jody Samson.[3][4] The Balisong Manual was one of the first books published in the US about this unusual knife.
Jeff Imada has recently come to further attention by being the chief fight coordinator in the Matt Damon action films The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum,[5] as well as participating as the motion capture artist for the Xbox and PlayStation game The Bourne Conspiracy.[6]
In 2015, Imada was recognized by East West Players (EWP) with the Visionary Award for raising "the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through [his] craft."[7] He had been involved with EWP "off and on" for many years due to his personal connection to Mako, one of the founders of the theatre company.[8]
Filmography
- Furious 7 (2015) (fight choreographer)
- Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012) (fight/stunt coordinator)[9]
- The Green Hornet (2011) (fight/stunt coordinator)[10]
- Hanna (2011) (fight/stunt coordinator)[11]
- Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011) (fight/stunt coordinator)[9]
- Repo Men (2010) (fight choreographer)
- The Book of Eli (2010) (stunt coordinator)[12]
- Eclipse (2010) (fight/stunt coordinator)[9]
- New Moon (2009) (fight/stunt coordinator)[9]
- Twilight (2008) (fight/stunt coordinator)[9]
- Mask of the Ninja (2008) (stunts)
- Role Models (2008) (stunt coordinator)[13]
- Balls of Fury (2007) (stunts)[14]
- The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) (fight stunt coordinator)[6]
- Planet Terror (2007) (stunts)[15]
- The Gene Generation (2007) (stunt action director)[16]
- Park (2006) (stunt coordinator)[17]
- When a Stranger Calls (2006) (stunt coordinator)[18]
- In Her Shoes (2005) (stunt coordinator)[19]
- Serenity (2005) (stunts)[20]
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) (utility stunts)[21]
- The Hard Easy (2005) (stunts)[22]
- Collateral (2004) (stunts) (uncredited)
- The Bourne Supremacy (2004) (fight stunt coordinator)[6]
- The Ladykillers (2004) (stunts)[23]
- Spartan (2004) (stunt coordinator)[24]
- Stuck on You (2003) (stunts)[25]
- Daredevil (2003) (stunt coordinator) (wire choreographer)[1]
- 8 Mile (2002) (stunt coordinator)[26]
- Serving Sara (2002) (stunt coordinator)[27]
- The Time Machine (2002) (stunt coordinator)[28]
- Rock Star (2001) (stunts)[29]
- Ghosts of Mars (2001) (stunt coordinator)[30]
- Ticker (2001) (stunts)[31]
- Little Nicky (2000) (stunt coordinator)[32]
- Forever Lulu (2000) (stunt coordinator)[33]
- Disney's The Kid (2000) (utility stunts)[34]
- Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) (stunts)[35]
- Wonder Boys (2000) (stunt coordinator)[36]
- Hanging Up (2000) (stunts)[37]
- The Green Mile (1999) (stunt coordinator)[38]
- Fight Club (1999) (stunt coordinator)[1]
- Crazy in Alabama (1999) (stunt coordinator)[39]
- Enemy of the State (1998) (stunt player)[40]
- Rush Hour (1998) (stunts)[41]
- Blade (1998) (stunt coordinator: additional photography) (stunts)[42]
- The Negotiator (1998) (stunts)[43]
- Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) (stunts)[44]
- Armageddon (1998/I) (stunts)[45]
- Vampires (1998) (stunt coordinator)[46]
- U.S. Marshals (1998) (stunts)[47]
- The Replacement Killers (1998) (stunts)[48]
- Most Wanted (1997) (stunts)[49]
- Nothing to Lose (1997) (stunts)[50]
- L.A. Confidential (1997) (stunt coordinator)[1]
- Volcano (1997) (stunts)[51]
- Spy Game (1997) (stunt coordinator)[52]
- Dante's Peak (1997) (stunt coordinator: second unit)[53]
- Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) (stunts)[54]
- Marshal Law (1996) (stunts)[55]
- The Glimmer Man (1996) (stunts)[55]
- Escape from L.A. (1996) as 'Mojo' Dellasandro (stunt coordinator)[1]
- Spy Hard (1996) (stunts)[55]
- From Dusk till Dawn (1996) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)[55]
- Heat (1995) (stunts)[55]
- Money Train (1995) (stunts)[55]
- Jade (1995) (stunts)[55]
- To the Limit (1995) (stunts: Los Angeles)[55]
- The Last Word (1995) (stunts)[55]
- Waterworld (1995) (stunts)[55]
- Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995) (stunt coordinator)[55]
- Mortal Kombat (1995) (fire stunt double: Scorpion)[55]
- Village of the Damned (1995) (stunt coordinator) (stunts)[55]
- In the Mouth of Madness (1995) (stunt coordinator) (stunts)[55]
- One Tough Bastard (1995) (stunts)[55]
- Double Dragon (1994) (stunt coordinator)[55]
- The Puppet Masters (1994) (stunts)[55]
- The Crow (1994) (stunt coordinator)[1]
- Naked Gun 331⁄3: The Final Insult (1994) (stunts)
- Vanishing Son (1994) (TV) (stunts)
- On Deadly Ground (1994) (stunts)[55]
- The Criminal Mind (1993) (stunts)[55]
- Showdown (1993/I) (stunt coordinator)
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)[55]
- Undercover Blues (1993) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)[55]
- Body Bags (1993) (TV) (stunt coordinator)[55]
- Rising Sun (1993) (stunt coordinator)[55]
- Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) (stunts)[55]
- Excessive Force (1993) (stunts)[55]
- Robot Wars (1993) (stunts)
- Falling Down (1993) (stunts)[55]
- Rapid Fire (1992) (stunt coordinator)[1]
- Raven (1992) TV series (stunt coordinator)[55]
- Patriot Games (1992) (stunts)[55]
- Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) (stunt coordinator)[56]
- Kuffs (1992) (stunts)[55]
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) (stunts)[55]
- Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) (stunts)[55]
- V.I. Warshawski (1991) (stunts)[55]
- Point Break (1991) (stunts)[55]
- Fever (1991) (TV) (stunt coordinator)[55]
- The Perfect Weapon (1991) (stunts)[55]
- Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) (stunts)[55]
- Kindergarten Cop (1990) (stunts)[55]
- Captain America (1990) (stunts)[55]
- The Rookie (1990) (stunts)[55]
- The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990) (TV) (stunt coordinator)[55]
- Marked for Death (1990) (stunts)[55]
- Come See the Paradise (1990) (stunts)[55]
- Ghost Dad (1990) (stunts)[55]
- The Last of the Finest (1990) (stunts)[55]
- Angel Town (1990) (stunt coordinator)[55]
- Tremors (1990) (stunts)[55]
- Why Me? (1990) (stunts)[55]
- Vietnam, Texas (1990) (stunts)[55]
- Tango & Cash (1989) (stunts)[55]
- Road House (1989) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)[55]
- Hyper Space (1989) (stunt coordinator)[55]
- Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)[55]
- Who's Harry Crumb? (1989) (stunts)[55]
- Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects (1989) (stunts)[55]
- Gleaming the Cube (1989) (stunts)[55]
- One Man Force (1989) (stunts)[55]
- They Live (1988) (stunt coordinator)[1]
- The Dead Pool (1988) (stunts)[55]
- The Presidio (1988) (stunts)[55]
- Prince of Darkness (1987) (stunt coordinator)[57]
- Beauty and the Beast (1987) TV series (stunts)
- Steele Justice (1987) (stunts)[55]
- Lethal Weapon (1987) (stunts)[55]
- The Golden Child (1986) (stunts)[55]
- Big Trouble in Little China (1986) (as "Needles") (stunts)[58]
- Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) (stunts)[55]
- Gung Ho (1986) (stunts)[55]
- Hollywood Vice Squad (1986) (stunts)[55]
- House (1986) (stunts)[55]
- Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) (stunts)[55]
- Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) (stunts) (as Jeffrey Imada)[55]
- Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985) (stunts)[55]
- Dreamscape (1984)[55]
- Uncommon Valor (1983) (stunts)[55]
- Breathless (1983) (stunts)[55]
- Fire and Ice (1983) (stunts)[55]
- Blue Thunder (1983) (stunts)[55]
- The A-Team (1983) TV series (stunts)[55]
- Matt Houston (1982) TV series (stunts)[55]
- Blade Runner (1982) (stunts)[59]
- Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams (1981) (Wine steward)[60]
References
- Kreng, John (January 1, 2008). Fight Choreography: The Art of Non-Verbal Dialogue. Cengage Learning. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-59200-680-9.
- Beasley, Jerry (2001), Jeet Kune Do Experience: Understanding Bruce Lee's Ultimate Martial Art, Paladin Press, p. 216, ISBN 1-58160-131-X
- Imada, Jeff (1984), The Balisong Manual, California: Unique Publications, p. 130, ISBN 0-86568-102-3
- Imada, Jeff (1987), The Advanced Balisong Manual, California: Unique Publications, p. 216, ISBN 0-86568-117-1
- Matt Damon trains in Kali for ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’, Clyde Erwin Barretto, May 30, 2016
- Bowman, Paul (April 2, 2013). Beyond Bruce Lee: Chasing the Dragon through Film, Philosophy, and Popular Culture. Columbia University Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-231-16528-0.
- Wood, Ximón. "Golden Anniversary Visionary Awards Dinner and Silent Auction". East West Players. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- IdeateTV (April 22, 2015), Jeff Imada - EWP Visionary Awards 2015, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved July 22, 2019
- Stein, Marc. Twilight Exposed! The Inside Story of a Billion Dollar Franchise. Marc Charles. p. 57. GGKEY:JPPXYAXK2ZS.
- "THIS HORNET HAS NO STINGER; SETH ROGEN MAKES 'THE GREEN HORNET' AN EMPTY EXCUSE TO SPEND A LOT OF STUDIO CASH.(Tempo)". Taos News. January 27, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- "New course of action". New Zealand Herald. August 27, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- "BY THE 'BOOK' 'ELI' STAR DENZEL WASHINGTON TAKES HANDS-ON APPROACH". Daily News. January 10, 2010. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- Harvey, Dennis (October 21, 2008). "Role Models.(Movie review)". Daily Variety. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- Robert Ben Garant (Director) (2007). Balls of Fury (DVD). Rogue.
- Robert Rodriguez(Director) (2007). Planet Terror (DVD). Dimension.
- Pearry Reginald Teo (Director) (2007). The Gene Generation (DVD). Lionsgate.
- Kurt Voelker (Director) (2006). Park (DVD). Lionsgate.
- Simon West (Director) (2006). When a Stranger Calls (DVD). Screen gems.
- Curtis Hanson(Director) (2005). In Her Shoes (DVD). Fox 2000 Pictures.
- Joss Whedon (Director) (2005). Serenity (DVD). Universal Pictures.
- Doug Liman (Director) (2005). Mr. & Mrs. Smith (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- Ari Ryan (director) (2005). The Hard Easy (DVD). HBO.
- Ethan Coen (director) (2004). The Lady Killers (DVD). Buena Vista.
- David Mamet (Director) (2004). Spartan (DVD). Columbia Pictures.
- Peter Farrelly (Director) (2003). Stuck on You (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- Curtis Hanson (Director) (2001). 8 Mile (DVD). Universal.
- Reginald Hudlin(Director) (2002). Serving Sara (DVD). Paramount.
- "The Time Machine". Daily Variety. March 8, 2002. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- Stephen Herek (Director) (2001). Rock Star (DVD). Warner bros.
- "Evil stalks the Red Planet". New Straits Times. March 24, 2002. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- Albert Pyun (Director) (2001). Ticker (DVD). Artisan.
- Steven Brill (Director) (2000). Little Nicky (DVD). New Line.
- John Kaye,(director) (2000). Forever Lulu, (DVD). Buena Vista.
- Jon Turteltaub(Director) (2000). Disney's The Kid (DVD). Walt Disney.
- Dominic Sena (Director) (2000). Gone in 60 Seconds (DVD). Buena Vista.
- Curtis Hanson (director) (2000). Wonder Boys (DVD). Warner bros.
- Diane Keaton(Director) (2000). Hanging Up (DVD). Columbia.
- Frank Darabont (director) (1999). The Green Mile (DVD). Warner bros.
- Antonio Banderas (director) (1999). Crazy in Alabama (DVD). Columbia.
- Tony Scott (director) (1998). Enemy of the State (DVD). Buena Vista Pictures.
- Brett Ratner(director) (1998). Rush Hour (DVD). New Line.
- Stephen Norrington (director) (1998). Blade (DVD). New Line.
- F. Gary Gray (director) (1998). The Negotiator (DVD). Warner bros.
- Willis, John (May 1, 2000). Screen World 1999. Hal Leonard. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-55783-410-2.
- Michael Bay (Director) (1998). Armageddon (DVD). Buena Vista Pictures.
- John Carpenter (Director) (1998). Vampires (DVD). Columbia Pictures.
- Stuart Baird (director) (1998). U.S. Marshals (DVD). Warner bros.
- Antoine Fuqua (director) (1998). The Replacement Killers (DVD). Columbia.
- vid Hogan (director) (1997). Most Wanted (DVD). New Line.
- Steve Oedekerk(director) (1997). Nothing to Lose (DVD). Touchstone.
- Mick Jackson (Director) (1997). Volcano (DVD). 20th Century Fox Pictures.
- Tony Scott(Director) (1997). Spy Game (DVD). Universal Pictures.
- Roger Donaldson(Director) (1997). Dante's Peak (DVD). Universal Pictures.
- Dennis Dugan (Director) (1997). Beverly Hills Ninja (DVD). TriStar Pictures.
- Freese, Gene Scott (July 1998). Hollywood stunt performers: a dictionary and filmography of over 600 men and women, 1922-1996. McFarland & Co. pp. 111–112. ISBN 978-0-7864-0511-4.
- Mavis, Paul (March 3, 2011). The Espionage Filmography: United States Releases, 1898 through 1999. McFarland. p. 954. ISBN 978-1-4766-0427-5.
- Speed, F. Maurice; Cameron-Wilson, James (2003). Film Review. W. H. Allen. p. 27. ISBN 9781903111680.
- Muir, John Kenneth (2000). The films of John Carpenter. McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-7864-0725-5.
- Ridley Scott(Director) (1982). Blade Runner (DVD). Warner bros.
- Tommy Chong (Director) (1981). Nice Dreams (DVD). Columbia Pictures.
External links
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