Dave Lea started training in martial arts at a young age, traveling the world to learn from renowned teachers including Dan Inosanto, who was trained by Bruce Lee, and Joseph Cheng of Wing Chun fame. He also studied with Grand Master Leong Swee Lun of Shaolin 5 Animals in Malaysia.
Dave's early career included TV work, landing a recurring role on the UK's top TV show EastEnders, before taking an acting class. He then auditioned for the 1989 Batman film, stunt/fight doubling Michael Keaton.
His first movie in Los Angeles was Tango & Cash, starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell, where he was hired to train, choreograph, and fight Stallone, earning him the award for Best Fight Sequence. This movie catapulted him to fame, and he went on to work with A-list actors, preparing them for their action roles and choreographing the action.
As a stunt coordinator and fight choreographer, Dave has worked with numerous actors, including preparing them for action roles in seemingly impossible timing. His extensive repertoire of choreography includes close-range tactical, flashy, penitentiary, street fighting, gang fights, period fights, and more.
Dave's unique approach to action involves studying dance and incorporating it into his routines, saying, "Action is like dancing! Turn the music on and dance. The best action moves are the ones that simply appear in the choreography. You don't look for them, you feel them."
Dave is also known for his ability to get actors ready for their action roles within a tight schedule, as seen when he worked with Sandra Bullock on Demolition Man, preparing her in just 7 days.
Throughout his career, Dave has continued to stay motivated and innovative, seeking new ways to enhance the action. He believes that when passion is involved, the fights and stunts become true and real, and that his mother's influence on his physical and stretching abilities has been a significant inspiration.
Dave continues to train himself, saying, "It becomes a lifestyle and a wonderful challenge to keep the physical ability of kicking, stretching, and keeping finely tuned to all that works." He develops unique and explosive moves that even the most uncoordinated actor can perform, giving a sense of reality to their performance and action scenes.
Dave's motto is, "I do the impossible! God helps with the 'iracles'. Camera ready, Real 2 Reel! And action!"
