Thomas Ian Griffithis best known for his roles in theKarate Kidfranchise, which have been something of a bookend for his career, but the martial artist and actor has been in plenty of other notable TV shows and movies in his time. Born in 1962, Thomas Ian Griffith began his career in the theater in the 1980s. It wasn’t until 1984 that he got his first professional screen part, which was a major role in the soap opera series,Another World. After his stint on that show, he began booking more and more parts in both television and movies.
An athletic martial artist, with handsome and rugged looks, Griffith found a home for himself in action films and TV shows, and his movie debut appropriately came in thethird film of theKarate Kidfranchise,The Karate Kids Part III. It was this role that would really springboard Griffith’s career, and he was soon starring in action and martial arts movies. His fierceness suited him for villainous roles, but he was also a capable hero, andwhile most of his movies and TV shows are within the action genre, each performance feels different than the one before.
XXX
TheXXXfranchise, created by Rich Wilkes, is a high-octane action series featuring extreme sports enthusiast Xander Cage, who becomes a reluctant spy for the NSA. Known for its explosive stunts and international intrigue, the series debuted withXXX(2002) and has since expanded with sequels and a short film. It is celebrated for redefining the spy genre with adrenaline-fueled action and Diesel’s iconic portrayal of Xander Cage.
xXxis the first installment in thexXxfilm series and stars Vin Diesel as Xander Cage, a thrill-seeker who puts his love for stunts and extreme sports to use with the NSA as a reluctant spy. Cage’s first mission is to infiltrate a gang of potential Russian terrorists in Central Europe. Thomas Ian Griffith plays Jim McGrath, an undercover agent who was first assigned to infiltrate the terrorist cell but ended up getting killed by them at a Rammstein concert.
What Happened To Terry Silver In Cobra Kai
Terry Silver was Cobra Kai’s most significant villain for a while, but his reign of terror came to an end in season 5. So where is he in season 6?
Griffith is only in the first sequence of thexXx, but it’s an excellent action scene and one that sets the tone for the rest of the franchise. It’s also a great torch-passing moment and a wink to action movie fans. Griffith was a major action star in the ’90s, while in the 2000s, Vin Diesel was on the come up. This moment is almost like Griffith handing off to his successor in B-movie action.
One Tree Hill
Cast
Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, One Tree Hill chronicles the complicated and intertwined lives of its residents. Following half-brothers and rivals Lucas and Nathan Scott as they compete both for positions on their school basketball team and for the affection of their fellow students, Tree Hill’s community is built around community spirit and the complex workings of the ever-growing Scott family.
Thomas Ian Griffith appears for a short but memorable arc inOne Tree Hillseason 1 as Larry Sawyer, the adoptive father of Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton) who raised her alone after his wife, Anna, passed. Though he is often away for work, he and Peyton have a very close relationship, frequently speaking over the phone. He is very protective over Peyton and Peyton’s best friend, Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush). So much so, that he once nearly attacked Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) with a rake when the boy came calling.
It’s a fairly nuanced performance and one much different than he usually plays.
Griffith was recast by Kevin Kilner when Larry Sawyer reappeared in season 3, butit’s Griffith most fans associate with the character. He’s the perfect blend of loving, gentle, and present, despite his job, but he still has some foibles, mostly brought on by the passing of his wife. It’s a fairly nuanced performance and one much different than he usually plays.
Another World
Another World is an American television soap opera that aired on NBC from 1964 to 1999. Set in the fictional town of Bay City, the series deviated from typical domestic narratives, delving into melodrama among families of diverse classes and ideologies, exploring the interplay between reality and dreams.
Thomas Ian Griffith’s first role came inAnother World, an NBC soap opera that aired from 1964 to 1999. The soap is set in the fictional town of Bay City and is focused on melodrama between families of different classes and social strata, which was unusual as most soap operas were primarily concerned with conventional drama in domestic life. Griffith played Catlin Ewing for four years and 53 episodes. Catlin was on the lam for a few years after punching a sheriff but returns to Bay City to get to know the rest of the Ewing family.
It’s a fairly standard soap opera role, andAnother Worldhas mostly been forgotten as other soap operas have passed it by, butit’s still an impressively large part for someone in their first on-screen performance. He fits right in with the series and brings some dramatic heft and chemistry that builds up everyone else he is in a scene with.
Excessive Force
Excessive Force is a 1993 action film that follows Chicago policeman Terry McCain as he relentlessly pursues mobster Sal DiMarco. When his brother and partner are targeted over a stolen sum of money, McCain embarks on a mission for revenge amidst corruption and violence.
InExcessive Force, Thomas Ian Griffith plays Terry McCain, a detective with the Chicago Police Department. Terry is an overly violent officer who is known to use excessive force in his interrogations of mafia members, often resulting in them walking free. However, when $3 million of the mob’s money is taken, they exact their revenge on some of Terry’s friends and fellow officers. When he’s given the go-ahead to use as much force as necessary, Terry goes all out in his fight against the mob.
Excessive Force, as would be expected, is filled with an overabundance of violence, so much so that the story and characters begin to get lostbeneath the bloodshed. There’s nothing new inExcessive Forcethat hasn’t been seen in other 90s action movies, but Griffith gives the performance his all, elevating something bad into something somewhat enjoyable.
Kull The Conqueror
Kull the Conqueror follows the journey of a barbarian named Kull, who ascends to the throne after defeating the king in battle. The former king’s heirs, intent on reclaiming power, resurrect the witch queen Akivasha, whose own ambitions threaten Kull’s rule.
Kull the Conqueroris based on the Robert E. Howard pulp magazine character who would go on to inspire another Howard creation, Conan the Barbarian. WhiletheConanmovies are well-known,Kull the Conqueror, like his namesake, is less so. An adaptation of the Conan novelThe Hour of the Dragon,Kull the Conquerorfollows the barbarian Kull, played by Kevin Sorbo, a king whose empire is threatened by the evil witch Akivasha (Tia Carrere). Akivashsa teams up with the villainous General Taligaro (Thomas Ian Griffith) to destroy Kull.
The Hour of the Dragonactually stars Conan but the filmmakers changed the lead to Kull.
General Taligaro is an evil, scheming lord, and his quest to unseat Kull is almost undone by the very witch he helped resurrect to help him do it. The effects inKull the Conquerorare rough, even for the time, and the action is blurry despite having the capable Griffith on hand. Despite these flaws, it’s stuffed with B-movie fun and Griffith is clearly having a great time playing Taligaro.
The Karate Kid Part III
The Karate Kid Part III is the third film in the martial arts/drama series, and sees the return of Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi in the title roles. Having suffered defeat twice at the hands of LaRusso and Miyagi, John Kreese turns to an old friend and enlists a dangerous karate champion to take them down.
Thomas Ian Griffith’s film debut,The Karate Kid Part IIIis the third film in the franchiseand sees a broke and vengeful John Kreese (Martin Kove) teaming up with an old Green Beret buddy of his, Terry Silver (Griffith), to get back at Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). Terry sends John on a vacation while he worries about taking revenge. He plans to do so by hiring the vicious and mean-spirited national karate champion, Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan), to challenge Daniel.
The thirdKarate Kidmovie is often regarded as the worst one, but that’s not because of Griffith’s performance. Terry Silver is an excellent villain and Griffith turns him into one of the most conniving, intelligent, but dirty villains in the franchise. Terry believes that might equals right and watching him try to squash Danny just for being number one makes him an easy villain to root against.
Ulterior Motives
Ulterior Motives follows a private investigator who takes on the role of bodyguard for a journalist entangled with the Japanese mob. Released in January 1993, the film explores themes of crime and protection amid a backdrop of organized crime intrigue.
InUlterior Motives, Mary Page Keller co-stars as Erica Boswell, a reporter investigating a story about an American businessman who could be selling secrets to the Japanese. In order to find out more, she enlists the help of Jack Blaylock (Thomas Ian Griffith), a private investigator. Once the story is published, the pair find themselves at the center of a conspiracy and their efforts to uncover the truth also bring them closer together.
A politically charged film with some interesting comments on country-to-country relations,Ulterior Motivesis a bit smarter than it may seem.
Ulterior Motivesis also known by its alternative title, Kill Fee.
Though it is filled with a lot of exposition and back-and-forth dialogue, the scenes of Erica and Jack developing feelings for one another feel authentic and are effectively paid off. Griffith has to play two different roles in the movie and switches between legitimately charming and snake-like with ease.
Hollow Point
In Hollow Point, FBI agent Diane Norwood and DEA agent Max Parrish, portrayed by Tia Carrere and Thomas Ian Griffith respectively, reluctantly join forces to thwart a criminal alliance among Russian, Chinese, and Italian mobsters orchestrated by financier Thomas Livingston, played by John Lithgow.
Hollow Pointis a very underrated action comedy that stars an all-star cast of Thomas Ian Griffith, Tia Carrere, John Lithgow, and Donald Sutherland. In the film, DEA agent Max Parrish (Griffith) and FBI agent Diane Norwood (Carrere) team up to pursue a trio of crime bosses and the man in charge of their money, Thomas Livingston (Lithgow). Though they have romantic tension, their different personalities and policing techniques constantly put them at odds.
They’re later joined by an eccentric assassin, Garrett Lawton (Sutherland), and the trio uses their differences to solve the case. Griffiths plays Parrish as a cocky, reckless, and flippant agent, the perfect lead for a 90s action comedy, in other words.There’s nothing surprising about the performance but Griffith is just incredibly capable in the lead role, easily playing the laid-back charmer who can get things done when he needs to.
Vampires (1998)
John Carpenter’s 16th feature film,Vampires, stars James Woods as Jack Crow, the leader of a team of vampire hunters who work under the auspices of the Catholic Church. Crow’s latest case is his biggest when a centuries-old cross threatens to fall into the hands of Jan Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith), the first and most powerful vampire.Vampiresis a rollicking action film that takes a lot of its cues from Westerns as well.
Griffith plays the big bad to perfection. Valek is both captivating and terrifying as the most powerful vampire to have ever lived, and Griffith gives the character a heavy and formidable presence that positions him as a real threat. He’s also allowed to let his alluring side shine through, and he manages to showcase both sides of the vampire coin in impressive fashion.
Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
Thomas Ian Griffith and Terry Silver returned to theKarate Kidfranchise withCobra Kai, the YouTube Red turned Netflix hit series that takes place years after the events of theKarate Kidmovies. As one of thegreatest villains in theKarate Kidfranchise, it was natural that Silver would be returning. Terry returns in seasons 4 and 5 and parts 2 and 3 of season 6. With years gone by, Silver has turned over a new leaf, rejecting the violent and vengeful actions ofThe Karate Kid Part III.
However, when John Kreese (Martin Kove) asks for Silver’s help once again, his demons reemerge and the old, conniving Silver sets out not only to destroy LaRusso but also steal Kreese’s dojo out from under him.Silver has always been a cruel and nasty villain in theKarate Kiduniverseand inCobra Kai,Thomas Ian Griffithramps up the cruelty with a delightfully mustache-twirling villain arc.
