Martin Kove, a strong-featured and narrow-eyed actor, was born on March 6, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York. He initially made a mark on the screen by taking on minor roles, showcasing his versatility by portraying both good and bad characters.
One of his earliest notable performances was as Nero the Hero in the low-budget road race film Death Race 2000 (1975),followed by a menacing turn as Clem, a sadistic rigger, in White Line Fever (1975),where he infamously broke Jan-Michael Vincent's ribs.
Kove then appeared on the popular television series Cagney & Lacey (1981) as honest Police Detective Isbecki, before facing off against Sylvester Stallone's iconic character in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985).
However, it was his role as John Kreese, the head instructor of the Cobra Kai karate school, in The Karate Kid (1984) that brought him widespread recognition. He reprised this role in the sequels The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989),cementing his status as a memorable movie villain.
Throughout his career, Kove has remained consistently busy, primarily working in the action-thriller genre, and has accumulated over 80 film appearances to date, as well as numerous television guest roles, solidifying his position as a respected and accomplished actor in the industry.
