Country: United States
Steven Frederic Seagal (born April 10, 1952) is an American actor, martial artist, producer, screenwriter, and musician, best known for popularizing aikido in Hollywood films. A 7th-dan black belt and shihan in Aikikai aikido, Seagal began his career as a martial arts instructor in Japan, becoming the first non-Japanese to operate an aikido dojo. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s, continuing to teach aikido while breaking into acting with his debut film Above the Law (1988), recognized as the first American movie to feature aikido fight sequences. Seagal achieved mainstream fame with hits such as Under Siege (1992) and On Deadly Ground (1994), and although he later transitioned to mostly direct-to-video films, he remained a notable action star and martial arts figure. In addition to his acting, Seagal is a musician, releasing two albums—Songs from the Crystal Cave and Mojo Priest—and performing on several film soundtracks. He has also worked as a reserve deputy sheriff, starring in the reality series Steven Seagal: Lawman, and has pursued various business ventures, including energy drinks, knives, and firearms promotion. Seagal’s personal life includes multiple marriages, seven children, and Buddhist practice, with claims of being a tulku within Tibetan Buddhism. He holds citizenship in the United States, Russia, and Serbia and has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, receiving the Order of Friendship in 2023. Seagal’s career has been marked by controversy. He has faced numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault, lawsuits, conflicts with stunt performers, and extortion attempts from organized crime figures, though some cases were dismissed or settled. His films are often noted for their recurring themes, including espionage, environmentalism, and martial arts, while his acting has received criticism for typecasting and limited emotional range. Politically, Seagal has supported Russian policies including the annexation of Crimea and…
Gallery
