Cast Bios David Carradine
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‘SON OF THE DRAGON’ CAST BIOS DAVID CARRADINE (Bird) – In a professional career spanning 45 years, David Carradine has more than 200 credits as an actor in film, television and stage. He is the man audiences immediately picture in their minds when they hear the words “kung fu.” Carradine has appeared in 118 films, 32 plays, 27 television movies of the week, miniseries and dramatic specials, starred in three series, and made over 35 guest appearances on various series. His second starring role, as Caine in “Kung Fu,” evolved into becoming one of the most iconic roles in the history of television. In addition to the smash hit series that garnered Carradine both Emmy ® and Golden Globe ® nominations, it also introduced many viewers to Asian martial arts and Chinese philosophy. There were also two television movies,”Kung Fu, The Way of the Dragon” and “Kung Fu the Movie.” Carradine resurrected his Caine character with a second series, “Kung Fu, The Legend Continues,” which he also co-produced. He also authored Spirit of Shaolin, a Handbook of Kung Fu Philosophy and voiced “Caine, The Kung Fu Adventure Online.” A member of one of Hollywood’s acting dynasties, Carradine followed his father, John, a star of screen and stage dating back to the golden era of Hollywood, into the family business. Carradine and his well-known brothers represent the second generation and many of their children make up a third generation of established actors. Affirming his status as an acting legend, Carradine has his own star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. In feature films, Carradine began working more than four decades ago appearing in such films as “Taggart” and ”Bus Riley’s Back in Town,” starring Ann-Margret. Highlights from his 118 films include Martin Scorsese’s first Hollywood feature “Box Car Bertha,” co-starring with Liv Ulmann in Ingmar Bergman’s only English language feature, “The Serpent’s Egg,” the Roger Corman cult classic, “Deathrace 2000,” starring as folk music legend Woody Guthrie in “Bound For Glory” for director Hal Ashby, a performance for which he was named Best Actor by the National Board of Review ® and nominated for a Golden Globe, Robert Altman’s “The Long Goodbye,” Scorsese’s classic, “Mean Streets,” co-starring with his brothers Keith and Robert, as well as other actors/brothers with the surnames of Quaid, Keach and Guest in Walter Hill’s western, “The Long Riders,” starring, directing, producing, editing and composing the main theme for “Americana,” a film which was awarded the People’s Prize at the Director’s Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival, the notorious title character in Quentin Tarantino’s smash hit, “Kill Bill Vol I.” -- another role which garnered him a Golden Globe nomination; the second part of Tarantino’s saga, “Kill Bill Vol. II” and his most bizarre performance to date in another cult classic, “Sonny Boy” -- portraying an ex-con living out his life cross-dressing as a mid-Western housewife, while running a gang of thieves. (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘SON OF THE DRAGON’ - Cast Bios – Page 2 Carradine is currently in production on “Fashion: The Movie,” with Michael Madsen, Faye Dunaway and Daryl Hannah, and recently completed filming a role in “Golden Boys,” starring alongside Bruce Dern, Rip Torn and Mariel Hemmingway. Carradine’s television work also covers more than four decades, dating back to appearances on such series as “East Side, West Side” starring George C. Scott, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Gunsmoke,” “Ironside” and “Rod Serling’s Night Gallery.” His first starring role in a series was as the title character in the series “Shane,” based on the classic film. He continued making guest appearances on such series as “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman,” “Profiler,” “Charmed” and “Medium.” He had recurring roles on the series “Alias,” “Family Law,” “Largo Winch” and “The Queen of Swords.” In the miniseries genre, Carradine starred in “Mr. Horn,” was impressionist artist Paul Gauguin in “Gauguin the Savage” and portrayed one of his most menacing characters ever in the Civil War era epic hit miniseries “North and South” and its sequel, “Love and War: North and South II.” His television movies and dramatic specials include productions of “The Bad Seed,” appearing opposite Mia Farrow in a David Susskind produced adaptation of “Johnny Belinda,” “Gambler IV – The Luck of the Draw,” “By Dawn’s Early Light” and “The Outsider,” among many others. In a theatre career that began while he studied drama at San Francisco State College, Carradine was soon appearing in some of the Bard’s classic works at both the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and the Ohio’s Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival. Even during his stint in the Army he continued to act, produce, direct and perform in musicals and dramas for the U.S. Army Entertainment Unit. Upon his honorable discharge from the military, Carradine found himself in New York and began working his way up in the theatre world at the same time he was beginning to pursue his film and television career. He landed a leading role on Broadway in The Deputy . For another play on Broadway, The Royal Hunt of the Sun , starring opposite Christopher Plummer, Carradine was named Most Promising New Personality by Theatre World. He continued to do classical and contemporary theatre work in New York and on major regional stages around the country. Carradine the published author has also written his autobiography, Endless Highway , as well as The Kill Bill Diary , a day-to-day journal of his experience on the film set and beyond, and two martial arts related instructional books, David Carradine’s Tai Chi Workout and The Healing Art of Chi Gung . He has produced and starred in a series of martial arts workout videos, beginning with “David Carradine’s Kung Fu Workout” and a number of others on Tai Chi, Chi Gung, Cheng Tai Chi Meditation and Kung Fu Kick Boxing. In addition to his ongoing pursuits as an actor, producer, director and writer, Carradine also is a composer, musician and singer. He has released the albums Grasshopper and As Is , as well as several singles. # # # (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘SON OF THE DRAGON’ - Cast Bios – Page 3 JOHN REARDON (Devil Boy/DB) – John Reardon has an extensive resume of work in film and television. He recently starred in the Sci Fi Channel series “Painkiller Jane,” as the romantic interest to the lead character Jane (Kristanna Loken). Reardon’s charismatic star turn as the title character in the miniseries “Merlin’s Apprentice,” a sequel to the hit miniseries “Merlin,” found him portraying a reluctant hero in the world of Camelot, appearing opposite Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson. “Son of the Dragon” reunites Reardon with the creative talent behind “Merlin’s Apprentice,” including executive producer Robert Halmi, Sr., producers Matthew O’Connor and Michael O’Connor, and director/editor David Wu. A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Reardon graduated from Mount Allison University, a prestigious liberal arts institution in New Brunswick, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. During his college years, his natural athleticism included being an all-star player for the school’s football team. A few years later he made his professional acting debut with a television appearance on musician Chris Issac’s surreal mix of fact and fiction comedy series, “The Chris Issac Show.” Other roles followed, including guest star appearances on television series such as “The Twilight Zone,” “Andromeda” and Showtime’s critically acclaimed ensemble drama “The L Word.” Reardon also landed a three-episode arc on the supernatural drama series “Tru Calling,” starring Eliza Dushku and Jason Priestley. His motion picture credits include “White Chicks,” “Scary Movie 4,” “Severed” and “Sea Ghost.” Television movie credits include James Patterson’s “First to Die.” An accomplished athlete, Reardon is an avid SCUBA diver and has a passion for travel, having toured much of the world. In addition to acting, Reardon is a writer who has two scripts under his belt, both currently circulating in the marketplace. One of the scripts takes a page from his extensive travel and chronicles events during the civil war in Cambodia, where he was able to do much research on the subject. # # # RUPERT GRAVES (King of the North) – Born and raised in Britain, Rupert Graves is known to motion picture, television and theatre audiences for his broad range of characterizations, including some classic literary adaptations. Graves made his professional stage debut in a production of The Killing of Mr. Toad and was soon co-starring opposite Harvey Fierstein in the London West End production of Torch Song Trilogy . He continued to work in theatre as well in television. (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘SON OF THE DRAGON’ - Cast Bios – Page 4 Only a few years into his professional career, Graves was cast in his first feature film, “A Room With a View.” Based on the E.M. Forster novel and from the prestigious producing team of Ishmael Merchant and James Ivory, who also directed, Graves was part of an ensemble cast which included Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Julian Sands, Judi Dench, Daniel Day- Lewis and Simon Callow. The film received eight Academy Award ® nominations, including Best Picture and went on to win three Oscars. The film also received multiple nominations and wins in various categories from the BAFTA Awards ®, The Golden Globe ® Awards and many other awards organizations throughout Britain, the United States and Europe. Graves continued his affiliation with Merchant Ivory Productions when he co-starred in another E.M. Forster adaptation, “Maurice,” also directed by James Ivory. A gay love story set among the British upper class in the early part of the twentieth century, the cast also included, Hugh Grant, Simon Callow and Ben Kingsley.