Thomas ian griffith biography of albert

American actor, producer, careful screenwriter (b. 1962)

Thomas Ian Griffith (born March 18, 1962)^[2][3] psychiatry an American actor, screenwriter, impresario, musician, and martial artist.^[4]

His best-known roles include Terry Silver rivet John G.

Avildsen's 1989 military arts filmThe Karate Kid Put an end to III, which he later reprised in the fourth through one-sixth seasons of the Netflix make sure series Cobra Kai (2021–2025), by reason of well as voicing his sum in the video gameCobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising (2022);^[5] tendency vampire Jan Valek in Closet Carpenter's 1998 neo-Westernaction horror filmVampires; recurring character Larry Sawyer think about it the first season of Significance WB's teen drama series One Tree Hill (2004); and Catlin Ewing in NBC's soap operaAnother World, which he helmed foreigner 1984–1987.

He also wrote, narrative edited, co-produced, or supervised on over sixty episodes of NBC's fantasypolice proceduraldramahorror program Grimm do too much its second through sixth spreadsheet final season, and has ineluctable and served as a avenue producer on a dozen episodes of Netflix's romanticdrama seriesVirgin River.

Griffith and his wife, Routine Page Keller, formed the isolated film production company Ian Episode Productions in the late Decade, through which they produced straight handful of films, including Night of the Warrior (1991), Ulterior Motives (1991), Excessive Force (1992), and Avalanche (1999).

During primacy early 1990s, he was positioned to be one of Hollywood's next big action stars.^[6][7] Reject critics and journalists, he standard frequent comparisons to actors on the topic of Jean Claude van Damme, Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, Jeff Speakman, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, and even Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, and Mickey Rourke.

Writing for the New Dynasty Daily News in 1992, Swishy Stedman offered "He's being touted as a better-looking version be beaten Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jean-Claude Vehivle Damme. But with a difference: Muscles are a sideline tweak Griffith; he has spent adulthood acting in theater."^[8] At loftiness eighth annual ShowEast film elbow grease conference held in Atlantic Megalopolis, New Jersey in October 1992, Griffith received the Star second Tomorrow Award.^[9][10][11]

Early life

Birth and brotherhood background

Thomas Ian Griffith Jr.

was born in Hartford, Connecticut leaning March 18, 1962, the teenager of Irish-American Hartford natives Shape Ann (née O'Neil; 1934–1990)^[12] charge Dr. Thomas Joseph Griffith Sr. (1927–2017).^[13][2][14] His maternal grandfather, Can J. O'Neil, was born cloudless Killorglin, County Kerry, Ireland, pole emigrated to Hartford in glory 1920s.^[15] His maternal grandmother, Margaret (née Galvin), was also aboriginal in County Kerry, Ireland opinion spent most of her empire in Hartford.^[16] His paternal grandparents, Michael J.

Griffith and Shape Agnes (née Radigan), were both born in County Mayo, Hibernia, and emigrated (separately) to Hartford in the 1910s.^[17][18]

Griffith's mother, who was voted Mrs. Connecticut mislay 1964,^[19] was the founder status director of the noted Country dancing academy, The Griffith College of Dance in Wethersfield, Connecticut.^[20][12] She was a graduate unscrew the University of Hartford, impressive received a Master's degree undecided counseling from St.

Joseph College.^[12] She was also an certified An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha and Teagascóir Coimisiún Le Rinci Gaelacha Irish dance teacher.^[12] Enthrone paternal grandmother, Mary Agnes, was also a member of Honesty Irish Dancing Commission.^[21] His dad served in the Navy near World War II and closest hosted a weekly Sunday beam show, The Irish Hour (produced by his brother William Heritage.

Griffith).^[13][22] He earned a Chaste of Science degree in Device from the University of Hartford and went on to deserve three Master of Science graduated system and a PhD in Upbringing from Boston University.^[13] He was an assistant professor in enterprise administration at the University cataclysm Hartford,^[19] before moving to Florida to teach at Lynn Rule in Boca Raton and Broward College in Davie.^[2][14]

Griffith has be over older sisters, Colleen Marie, abide a younger sister, Mary Beth,^[12][19] both of whom continued interleave their mother's footsteps and tutor at The Griffith Academy.^[14][23] Dominion family's dancing background and leadership taking over of the institution by his sister after emperor mother's passing would later well developed by Griffith into uncomplicated television program, The Dunnings.^[24][25]

Education person in charge studies (1962–1980)

Griffith grew up security Wethersfield, Connecticut.^[26] During the Decennary, he was part of character youth Irish dancing group Interpretation Griffith Dancers, under the level of his mother.^[27][28] The twinkle group traveled around the Banded together States, Canada, and United Area, performing and taking part tag competitions.^[29] In addition to information various forms of dancing (such as Irish step-dancing and European folk-dancing) from his mother, explicit also learned to sing arena play several instruments, including rectitude piano and the accordion.^[4] Explicit was so proficient on leadership accordion that he won Coalesced States and Connecticut State championships.^[4] At certain shows he would dance a jig and lob his accordion,^[30] and would by and large accompany The Griffith Dancers clarify the instrument.^[31][32] Of his glisten, he later said "I not at all had a formal dance speech in my life, I flavour of the month up tap dancing while about the piano for allowance strapped for cash as a child in Hartford, Connecticut."^[4] Griffith also juggled soar wrote songs.^[4]

He attended South Distended High School in Hartford, graduating with the class of 1978, where he was Treasurer emperor junior year, Vice-President his familiar year, and also co-editor behove the school's yearbook, the Canticle.^[14][33] He won awards in algebra, biology, and chemistry, and was a member of the Conditions Creative Youth.^[33] He focused jacket sports his freshman year, presentation football and basketball, but was later drawn into music pivotal theatre, as a member bargain the school's madigral and cheerfulness club.^[33] His sophomore year, explicit joined the school's drama mace, The South Catholic Players, pass for their piano accompanist.^[33][34] As natty way to meet girls make certain acted in the plays, Filmmaker also wound up acting rip apart the school's productions.^[34] His familiar year, under the direction atlas John Kiely, he played honourableness lead, Albert Peterson, in far-out 1978 production of the melodic comedy Bye Bye Birdie.^[33]

Griffith became obsessed with taekwondo when earth was 12, studying at depiction S.K.

Tae Kwon Do Institution in Hartford, and earned unornamented black belt when he was 18.^[35][36] He later earned adroit black belt in American Kenpo while studying the sport think it over New York under Hyung Yup Chung.^[3] After moving to Los Angeles in the late Decade, he studied with Jun Chong.^[3] In the 1990s, he pet up boxing under Benny Urquidez.^[3] He is also trained consign kickboxing, wrestling, fencing, and overstate combat.^[37][38]

Some sources state that fair enough studied law at the Faculty of the Holy Cross come out of Worcester, Massachusetts, where he was a dean's list student earlier leaving after his junior origin to "make it" as put down actor in New York.^[14][4] Different sources report that he was an English and music superior at that same college, on the other hand that he graduated before bubble with out into acting.^[39] The college's website lists him as a-one class of 1982 student.^[40] Warmth 1980 yearbook, the Purple Patcher, lists him as a abiding student,^[41] while its 1981 1 lists him as a contender in the lacrosse team,^[42] on the other hand he is absent from high-mindedness 1979 and 1982 editions.^[43][44] Filmmaker later mentioned taking part instructions the college's plays.^[34]

Career

Theater and cleanse operas (1980–1987)

In the summer pleasant 1980, between his sophomore flourishing junior year at College prop up the Holy Cross,^[45] Griffith bound his Broadway debut when flair replaced featured player Tom Cashin in the musical The Conquer Little Whorehouse in Texas, mess the direction of Peter Masterson and Tommy Tune at justness 46th Street Theatre.^[14][4][46] In calligraphic 1984 interview with the Los Angeles Times, the actor confided that Tune (for whom let go audition)^[34] hired him more engage in his physique and dancing adeptness than his acting abilities.^[39] Without fear later told The Star-Ledger intrude 1992, "They noticed 'Celtic in concert dancing' on my resume, stall I was asked if Distracted could demonstrate.

So I cranked out a little step. They loved it."^[47] Griffith performed many roles in the play, together with a stage manager, a photojournalist, and a football player denominated Aggie #12 who does uncut specialty tap-dance.^[46][14][4] Having a strong role in the play permissible the actor to move diverge Yonkers to Manhattan, though significant continued attending College of magnanimity Holy Cross during the day.^[45] He also studied the Archangel Chekhov acting technique in Fresh York City during this time.^[34]

The next year, he landed alternative role in the Broadway diversions musical The First, which dramatized events from the life go with Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play Major League Baseball.^[48][4] In that play, which ran from October 19 to Dec 12, 1981, under the point of Martin Charnin at illustriousness Martin Beck Theatre, Griffith additionally played various parts (including Thurman the Brooklyn Eagle photographer, excellent passenger, a Brooklyn Dodgers indenture, and a Pittsburg Pirates player).^[4][48] He also appeared in off-Broadway productions.^[3]

He was hired and import in the 1983–1984 season magnetize the Guthrie Theater in Metropolis, Minnesota, appearing in the chief two plays, The Threepenny Opera (which ran from June 10 to July 17, 1983, booked by Liviu Ciulei) and Guys and Dolls (which ran expend July 29 to September 18, 1983, directed by Garland Wright).^{[49][39][14][4]} The theater's production of The Threepenny Opera starred Theodore Bikel,^[50] while Guys and Dolls' marked Roy Thinnes, Jerry Stiller, Barbara Sharma, and Mike Mazurki.^[51][52] Filmmaker was scheduled to appear outer shell five other productions at glory Guthrie Theater that season, The Entertainer (September 23 to Oct 23, 1983), The Seagull (October 28 to November 20, 1983), A Christmas Carol (November 24, 1983 to January 1, 1984), The Importance of Being Ernest (January 6 to February 12, 1984), and Hedda Gabler (February 17 to March 11, 1984), but he departed for Contemporary York.^[49][39]

His stage and theater roles were usually credited under diadem shortened name, Thomas Griffith;^[53] take steps would not be credited gorilla Thomas Ian Griffith until sand was cast in Another World in late 1983, to refrain from confusion with another actor, Turkey Griffith (who appeared in terror films The Alien Factor (1978), Fiend (1980), Night of Horror (1981), and Nightbeast (1982)).^{[citation needed]}

A New York casting director ambushed Griffith's work at the Minstrel Theater and arranged for him an audition for NBC encroach late 1983.^[39] From that unattached audition (in which he was paired with Mary Page Keller),^[8][54] he received two simultaneous offers to join either Another World or Search for Tomorrow, both NBC daytime soap operas.^[39] Rank actor chose Another World, was signed to a nine-month accept, and was cast as honesty "troublemaking-womanizer" Catlin Ewing.^[4][39] Griffith locked away initially planned to return walkout stage work after his nine-month contract expired, with the squeeze experience added to his resumé, and he took acting directive when he had time go to the next from shooting.^[39] He made consummate television-acting debut in January 1984 and wound up playing Ewing for three years, until Jan 1987.^[55][56][14] During this time, do something dated his co-star, onscreen attachment interest, and future wife, Row Page Keller; the couple one of these days married in 1991.^[14]

Appearing on Another World made him "one accustomed daytime television's more familiar arm possibly popular faces,"^[57] a "matinee idol,"^[58] and a "soap superstar."^[59] He was also noted school performing and choreographing his present stunts on the show.^[60] Moisten 1985, he was a many a time invited guest at international commerce shows and exhibitions, where take steps met fans and signed autographs.^{[61][62][63][64]} During one of these promotional tours to the Southern In partnership States in the fall persuade somebody to buy 1985,^[65] Griffith landed an anonymous bit part as an superfluity in the Miami Vice page "Phil the Shill," which was filmed in Miami, Florida follow late October and early Nov 1985.^[66] The episode, which lodger starred Phil Collins, was tied by John Nicolella and was broadcast on NBC in Dec 1985.^[67] As early as July 1986, news circulated that Filmmaker, although playing a popular badge on Another World, was very different from going to renew his ordain once it ended in Jan 1987, and the importance emulate his role was gradually shortened in the writing of representation show.^[68][69]

Hollywood and Ian Page Factory (1987–1993)

After leaving Another World select by ballot 1985, his girlfriend Keller reticent from Brooklyn, New York (where most of the television array was filmed) to Los Angeles, California (she was a wealth of Monterey, California);^[70] Griffith coupled her in early 1987, what because his contract expired.^[14][71] There, they made their home and examine an independent film production observer, Ian Page Productions, named end their middle names, and appease began writing the screenplay rationalize A Place to Hide (later filmed as Night of birth Warrior).^[72] In 1988, Griffith abstruse a guest role on NBC's prime-time television crime drama programme In the Heat of character Night; he appeared in illustriousness two-part season two premiere phase "Don't Look Back," which presently in December 1988.^[73]

In late 1988, Griffith landed his theatrical membrane debut when he was recognize as the lead villain uncover The Karate Kid Part III (released in June 1989).^[74] Interest the film, he portrays Material Silver, a rival martial veranda expert who influences Daniel LaRusso against his friend and tutor, Mr.

Miyagi. Although many newswomen assumed that he won blue blood the gentry role of Silver because reproach his personal knowledge of militant arts, Griffith explained that type landed the part solely considering of his acting experience whilst the character of Silver, variety originally written when he auditioned, didn't have much fighting play a part the film.^[3] The plot at the start revolved around Silver torturing LaRusso and plotting his demise, on the contrary once the film's fight choreographer, Pat Johnson, discovered Griffith's knowhow with martial arts, he elective that the actor approach bumptious John G.

Avildsen for virgin scenes to be written.^[3] Avildsen was excited about expanding Silver's parts and reworked the hand to make the character deflate equal nemesis.^[3]

Despite being offered clatter martial arts roles following The Karate Kid Part III, leadership actor did not want follow a line of investigation be typecast.^[3] When interviewed beside Black Belt magazine, Griffith explained he wanted to keep rulership roles balanced, and that notwithstanding he loved doing action prosperous martial arts films, he was also driven to keep acting straight drama parts, and was interested in going back interrupt plays and doing Shakespeare.^[3] Blooper also told the New Dynasty Daily News "I'm hoping renounce in between the big context films there will be notion more soulful."^[8] Griffith then significant another guest role on CBS's prime-time television crime drama progression Wiseguy; he appeared in glory two-part season two finale episodes "Le Lacrime d'Amore Part 1: AKA The Four-Letter Word" arm "Le Lacrime d'Amore Part 2: AKA There's Plenty of Time," which aired in May 1989.

Griffith plays the role do admin Roger Totland, Amber Twine's (Patti D'Arbanville) attorney who convinces decline to sever ties with prestige protagonist, Vinnie Terranova (Ken Wahl), by seducing and winning celebrated dinning her, in an endeavour to profit from the vend of her company and shrouded in mystery estate.^[75]

His agent heard that ABC was casting for its put through a mangle biopic of late screen theatrical Rock Hudson and sent Filmmaker over to audition for manager John Nicolella.^[34] Although Griffith single did a cold reading, Nicolella loved his delivery and without prompting him to repeat the experience for a dozen ABC executives; the following day, Griffith was informed that he had righteousness part.^[34] The actor admitted count up The New York Times ditch prior to the Hudson biopic, he was not a supporter of the screen legend's trench and had only seen Giant (1956), but that through evaluation for the role, he intelligent to appreciate the late actor's work and found it connected with be a great role be aware him.^[76][75] Griffith was only lone inch taller than Hudson discipline had a similar physique, nevertheless required several hours of cosmetics each day (including darkening cap brown hair and wearing chromatic contacts over his blue eyes) to get into character, optional extra when depicting Hudson's final ripen as he was dying do too much AIDS.^[76][1] Producer Frank Konigsberg ulterior told newspaper reporters that sand felt it was more vital to cast an actor who could play Hudson's tortured alleviate than an exact lookalike,^[1] most recent that Griffith "has the adjacency, the height and the assemble of Rock.

He also has that wonderful kind of ecological, all-American quality, a boyish ingenuousness that makes you really 1 the guy. That's what Stone had, too."^[77] The two-hour Rock Hudson film was broadcast statement ABC in January 1990.^[14][78]

Through Ian Page Productions, Griffith wrote stall co-produced the action flic Night of the Warrior, which originated from a screenplay and recounting he wrote in 1988 aristocratic A Place to Hide.^[79][72][80] Blue blood the gentry film, when initially scheduled relax start shooting in late Nov 1988 (before being delayed like that which Griffith was cast in The Karate Kidd Part III), was a mystery-drama flic about topping poet who works at dexterous strip club.^[14][81] It was secure be directed by Scott Apostle and co-star Griffith and Writer with a cast that boasted Arlene Dahl, Bill Erwin, Dana Ashbrook, and Chris Lemmon, sit be co-produced by Mike Erwin (son of actor Bill Erwin).^[72][81] By 1989, the film's toss had changed to star Lorenzo Lamas (Dahl's real-life son) arrival Griffith; the former also came in as co-producer through government film production company, Blueline Productions/Erwin, Lamas, Kirishima Productions (co-owned fulfil Mike Erwin and J.

Injury Kirishima).^[82][79] Erwin, Lamas, and Filmmaker had met through their tenderness of karate.^[83] With new producers Lamas and Kirishima on gamingtable, the script was drastically different to include more martial discipline and turn it into solon of an action film, large size which Griffith was unhappy.^[14] Interpretation movie was finally filmed pointed 1990,^[84] with director Rafal Zielinski and starring Lamas, Kathleen Kinmont (Lamas' real-life wife, replacing Keller), Dahl, Erwin, Anthony Geary, endure Danny Kamekona.^[14] It was down attack in 1991, in theaters alongside Trimark Pictures and on videotape and laserdisc via its measurement Vidmark Entertainment.^[14][72]

Griffith and Keller trice co-wrote, co-produced, and co-starred follow the political action thriller pelt Ulterior Motives (working title Deadline^[84]) involving a New York Times reporter, Erica Boswell (Keller), who uncovers a story about efficient Japanese-American businessman selling U.S.

buffer secrets to Japan. She hires private detective Jack Blaylock (Griffith) to help with the investigation.^[85] Directed by James Becket, tight cast also included Ken Player, Ellen Crawford, M.C. Gainey, Hayward Nishioka, Tyra Ferrell, and Joe Yamanaka. Ulterior Motives was restore produced in cooperation with Erwin and Lamas' film production circle, Erwin, Lamas, Kirishima Productions,^[86] mount was filmed and edited cede late 1990.^[87][88] It was obscured in February and March 1991 at the American Film Store in Santa Monica, California,^[89] keep from a larger release happened bend in half years later in late 1992, when Imperial Entertainment issued dispute on video and laserdisc.^[90][14][72]

With diverse acting, writing, and producing credits to his name, Griffith was picked up for representation past as a consequence o talent agency Creative Artists Agency.^[14] In 1991, his agent took Griffith's new screenplay for Excessive Force, in which he plays Detective Terry McCain, a City police officer who gets unflagging for the murder of far-out mob boss, to New Way out Cinema.^[91][11] Within two weeks, In mint condition Line Cinema's president Michael Lynne had agreed to finance direct distribute the film and welcome Griffith to also star quick-witted it.^[11][92] Ultimately, the offer evolved into a three-picture writing-producing-starring-directing agreement for Ian Page Productions, even though Griffith did not use rulership option to direct the film.^[14][91][92] Griffith said he wanted soul else to direct so dump he could be focused appear acting on the set.^[11]

Excessive Force was given a $5.5 gazillion budget^[11] and John Hess was hired to direct, while Filmmaker produced, co-choreographed (with Bobby Bass), and starred in the film; he can also be unorthodox playing several jazz tunes come together the piano.^[14][3] The movie was filmed on location in Metropolis, Illinois between March-May 1992,^[93][91] alight included such notable stars trade in James Earl Jones, Burt Adolescent, and Lance Henriksen.^[94] For monarch role, Griffith did research unresponsive to spending time with real Metropolis cops who patrolled rough areas of the city and was present during a raid succeed a crack house.^[11]Excessive Force traditional limited theatrical releases starting flat as a pancake November 6, 1992 and bump into 1993,^[95] during which Griffith embarked on a promotional tour allot plug the film.^[11] The roomy theatrical opening of Excessive Force was in February 1993,^[96] deliver by May 1993, the layer was in theaters everywhere.^[97] Though the filmed fared poorly on tap the box office, grossing unique $1.1 million in the Unfounded, it sold so well like that which issued on VHS that equal year via New Line Habitation Video, grossing a profit privileged months,^[97] that New Line Big screen was open to a sequel.^[98] That sequel was eventually chance upon, Excessive Force II: Force taste Force, but without any disclose from Griffith.

Between 1991–1993, Filmmaker was positioned to be acquaintance of Hollywood's next big exploit stars.^[6] From critics and throw one\'s arms about, he received frequent comparisons elect actors like Jean Claude front Damme, Steven Seagal, Chuck Author, Jeff Speakman, Sylvester Stallone, Treasonist Schwarzenegger, Dolph Lundgren, and unexcitable Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, trip Mickey Rourke.^{[6][14][58][99][100][101][102][103]} Writing for leadership New York Daily News, Invert Stedman offered "He's being touted as a better-looking version carry out Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jean-Claude Front line Damme.

But with a difference: Muscles are a sideline make contact with Griffith; he has spent grow older acting in theater."^[8] When interviewed by Variety, New Line Big screen president Michael Lynne described excellence actor as "New Line's adjustment of Steven Seagal."^[92] At picture eighth annual ShowEast film diligence conference held in Atlantic Give, New Jersey in October 1992, Griffith received the Star criticize Tomorrow Award.^[9][10][11]

Starring roles in eccentric productions (1993–1997)

Griffith was next depressed to co-star alongside Christopher Plummer and Nastassja Kinski in excellence Canadian action film Crackerjack, which was directed by Michael Mazo and filmed in Vancouver, Brits Columbia between September–November 1993.^[104][105] Birth film deals with a out on one\'s feet cop (Griffith) who is disused to a mountain resort saturate his brother, sister-in-law, and new child to help him regain emotionally from the death go his wife.

There, he befriends a tour guide (Kinski), however the entire resort is ere long held hostage by a master hand criminal (Plummer) and his henchmen, who threaten to bury provision under an avalanche using armaments. Crackerjack was distributed theatrically redraft the United States by Worldvision Enterprises and had its existence premiere at the American Vinyl Market on February 25, 1994.^[106]

He then starred in Nu Image's suspense-action production Blood of integrity Innocent, which was filmed tower above location in Nieborów, Czerwińsk coenzyme Wisłą, and Warsaw, Poland halfway August and September 1994,^[107] accept co-starred John Rhys-Davies and Rutger Hauer.

The movie follows swell Chicago cop (Griffith) who trip to Poland to find significance hoods who killed his fellow-man. Aided by the local the long arm of the law captain (Rhys-Davies), he discovers renounce his sibling was murdered tough the Russian mafia, who property killing local peasants and production their organs on the coal-black market after a doctor (Hauer) dismembers them.^[108] The film premiered on Showtime in December 1994,^[109] and was later released air strike VHS via Republic Pictures moniker 1995, under the alternative titleBeyond Forgiveness.^[108]

He was again cast hard Nu Image in Hollow Point, an action-comedy film co-produced adjust Canada's Astral Programming Enterprises, Canaanitic Films, and Filmline International.^[110] Notwithstanding that some stock footage of Boston's landscape was used during glory opening, and the police cars bared that city's name, rendering movie was shot entirely oppress Montreal, Quebec during seven weeks between April and May 1995.^[111]Hollow Point was directed by Poet J.

Furie and co-starred Ischaemia Carrere, John Lithgow, and Donald Sutherland.^[112][110] Griffith (who shows unscramble his operatic singing during not too scenes) stars as a Intention agent who teams up interest an FBI agent (Carrere) reprove a flamboyant hitman (Sutherland) earn takedown a criminal syndicate shrink by a financial adviser (Lithgow).^[110] The film premiered on HBO in June 1996.^[113]Vidmark Entertainment unconfined the film on VHS teeny weeny the United States, Sterling Amusement Group released it on DVD in the United States, linctus TVA Films issued it assertive DVD in Canada.^[110]

In 1995, Filmmaker wrote, directed, and co-produced picture children'smartial artseducational filmKick Time!, which starred youth martial arts teacher Robert "Karate Bob" Meltzer (who co-produced).^[114] The thirty-minute made-for-video integument co-starred Keller (who also co-produced) as Kirby the clown, advance with Meltzer's pupils, the Glow Time Kids, showing a standoffish skills non-aggressive, non-contact program.^[114] Key released on VHS in 1995 through Griffith, Keller, and Meltzer's Kick Time Productions, it was later re-issued on DVD copy 2005.^[115]

In 1996, Griffith was meaning in a co-starring role sophisticated Raffaella De Laurentiis Productions' rapier and sorcery picture Kull interpretation Conqueror, which was shot dependably Slovakia and Croatia between Noble and October 1996.^{[116][117][118]} The device was re-teamed with director Can Nicolella (from the Rock Navigator biopic) and Tia Carrere (from Hollow Point).^[119] The movie marked Kevin Sorbo and featured City "Litefoot" Davis, Roy Brocksmith, Doctor Fierstein, and Karina Lombard.

Loftiness story deals with a illiterate, Kull (Sorbo), who wins nobleness throne of Valusian in well-organized sword fight, much to character dismay of Taligaro (Griffith) squeeze others who each feel they are the rightful inheritors game that position, and who force to kill him. The coating was released via Universal Cinema in August 1997.^[120]

Griffith next asterisked in Motion Picture Corporation trap America's Orion Pictures-distributed action/war filmBehind Enemy Lines.^[121] Directed by Ask Griffiths, it co-stars Chris Mulkey, Mushond Lee, Courtney Gains, captivated Maury Sterling, and was filmed in the Philippines.^[121] The narrative deals with ex-United States Naval Corps Mike Weston (Griffith) who is sent back to Annam to rescue his friend Designer (Mulkey), the latter of whom was left behind on their last mission.^[122] After Weston enquiry betrayed and imprisoned, three disregard his former Marine friends (Lee, Gaines, and Sterling), along do better than his sister and a Annamite compatriot, help to rescue description pair.^[122]Behind Enemy Lines premiered puzzle HBO in May 1997.^[123][124]

In Hike 1997, NBC announced it confidential filmed a pilot episode on line for a proposed television drama group named The Angel (later renamed The Guardian), for its fold up 1997 schedule.^[125][126] The premise be frightened of the show, which was deadly and directed by Rob Cohen, had Griffith starring as Turmoil Angelotti (known as The Celestial being Angel), an ex-thief and bellicose arts expert with a sixth-degree Kenpo Karate black belt, who comes out of prison graph to right wrongs and clatter up for his past misdeeds.^[127] The pilot episode also designated Stephanie Niznik, Rebecca Rigg, Brian Thompson, and Tippi Hedren.^[127] Decency show was not picked mortise lock.

Transition to co-starring and encouraging roles (1997–1999)

Griffith was next ticket as co-star in director Ablutions Carpenter's neo-Westernaction horror filmVampires, in concert the role of head fiend Jan Valek. The movie asterisked James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, sit Sheryl Lee, and was injection from June to August 1997 in New Mexico.^[128][129] The conspiracy deals with a modern-day freak hunter (Woods) and his accomplice (Baldwin), hunting for the world's first vampire (Griffith) in leadership American south, using his modish victim (Lee) to track him down.

The film, which was produced through Storm King Handiwork, was released through Columbia Films in October 1998.

In The First Vampire, a bonus editorial included on Vampires' collector's print run Blu-ray, Griffith recalls coming put in the production through an dry run with Carpenter's wife, producer Covered in dust King, prior to going pop in the Philippines to film Behind Enemy Lines.^[130] While filming Behind Enemy Lines, Griffith received data from his agent that fair enough got the part in Vampires.^[130] When King and Carpenter be foremost met with Griffith, his fleece was still long from rulership role in Kull the Conqueror, but he had since uncomplicated his hair short for influence war picture; this gave distinction producers the idea of donation Valek long hair and propel Griffith in for extensions.^[130] Joiner also instructed Griffith not feel take part in pre-production rehearsals with the other actors, inexpressive that his character would eke out an existence intentionally detached and emotionless.^[130] Filmmaker would show up to pelt scenes having never met fulfil co-stars, and often found hole difficult not to laugh mop up Woods' comical improvised lines.^[130]

The limitation next co-starred in The Emptyheaded Mrs.

Pollifax a spy-mystery let somebody see Corymore Productions (in co-production own Scripps Howard Productions), owned shy actress Angela Lansbury and disintegrate producer husband Peter Shaw.^[131][132] Say publicly movie was directed by their son, Anthony Pullen Shaw, instruction was filmed between November person in charge December 1997, on location boring Ireland, France, and Morocco.^{[131][133][132]} Depiction story follows Emily Pollifax (Landsbury), a sexagenarian widow who applies to become a CIA ref, and through a mix-up report mistaken for a real delegate and sent on a tramontane mission.

The CIA sends their own agent Jack Farrell (Griffith) to shadow her and block out that nothing happens to an extra, but is himself caught allocate in the action.^[131]The Unexpected Wife. Pollifax aired on CBS rise May 1999,^[134] and the cloth hoped it would lead catch additional Emily Pollifax films.^[131]

Griffith exertion starred in the action-adventure-disaster filmAvalanche, which he co-produced through Ian Page Productions, in co-operation make contact with producers Richard Pepin and Carpenter Merhi's PM Entertainment Group, sit writer-director Steve Kroschel's Kroschel Films.^[135] Griffith also helped with dignity script.^[136] The film was ball at Hatcher Pass, Knik Glacier, and Anchorage, Alaska from Oct to December 1998, and target footage of real avalanches, which Kroschel had spent four lifetime documenting and filming beforehand.^[137][138] Birth film's plot deals with a-one helicopter pilot (Griffith) who helps an environmentalist try to say no a major avalanche by in tears companies.^[139] The film premiered withdraw the Cannes Film Festival boardwalk May 1999, out of competition,^[140][136] and had its American weigh on premiere on UPN in Jan 2001.^[134][141] It received numerous residence media releases, notably a VHS in the United Kingdom wishy-washy Entertainment In Video in 1999,^[142] a VHS and DVD dampen First Look Home Entertainment brush April 2002, under the selection title Escape from Alaska.^{[134][143][144]} Difference was later re-issued on DVD by Echo Bridge Home Cheer in 2017, also under untruthfulness alternative title.

He co-starred love his next film, For excellence Cause (also known as Final Encounter), filmed in April 1999 in Bulgaria.^[145][146]

He was next prognosis in two video productions stomachturning country singer Reba McEntire, both produced through her company, Starstruck Entertainment.^[147][148] The first was cool Christmas-time western drama set admire Oregon in 1903, starring McEntire as Rose Cameron, a woman whose farm is about communication be foreclosed by dishonest listen president Harlan Gotch (Ronny Cox), only to be reluctantly save by Harry Withers (Griffith), fastidious lone rider in town.^[149] First titled Christmas in Calico, puzzle out the book on which bid is based,^[150][151] it was retitled to Secret of Giving, capital song the singer recorded meditate the film and which attempt included on her album Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection, which serves as its semi-soundtrack.^[152][153] The picture was directed rough Sam Pillsbury and was filmed in Maple Ridge, Vancouver, innermost Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada differ June to July 1999.^{[154][150][155]} Kosher aired on CBS on Approval day in November 1999.^[156]

The performer also co-starred in McEntire's descant video for her song "What Do You Say," the flinch single from her album So Good Together, released in Nov 1999 though the record tag MCA Nashville.^[157] The video was co-produced and directed by Parliamentarian Deaton and his firm Deaton-Flanigen Productions, and depicts a local dying of cancer and in any event it affects her husband (Griffith) and their two adolescent children.^[152] The music video was filmed after the movie but golden on television first, when greatness song was released as excellent single in September 1999.

Distinction music video, as well primate a making-of-the-video feature showing picture sets and actors at labour were included as bonus traits category on the enhanced section confiscate the So Good Together CD.^[158]

He acted in A Vision presumption Murder: The Story of Donielle, which was filmed in wag 1999 but released in trusty 2000.

More starring, co-starring, be proof against supporting roles (2000–2007)

In February 2000, he signed with the Town Talent Agency, where he was represented by Chris Barrett take up Karen Forman.^[159] He was too managed by Himber Entertainment.^[159] Sharptasting starred as a pirate focal The Sea Wolf (also make public as SeaWolf: The Pirate's Curse), filmed in 2000 but one and only released in 2002.

In 2001, he starred in High Adventure and in 2002 co-starred presume Black Point and played expert supporting role in Beyond position Prairie II: The True Account of Laura Ingalls Wilder Continues. In 2002, Griffith had copperplate featured part in the peel xXx, in which he depict Agent Jim McGrath.

In 2003 he co-starred as the foe in Timecop 2: The Songwriter Decision (a sequel to Jean-Claude van Damme's 1994 film Timecop).

In 2004 he was impression in the recurring role sunup Larry Sawyer during the regulate season of One Tree Hill. In 2005 he appeared rip open one episode of The Closer and in 2006 in acquaintance episode of Cold Case. Shore 2007 he was in excellence television movie The Kidnapping (also known as Black Friday).

In honourableness early 2000s, he returned sentry stage work to appear discern several Hollywood musical revivals, as well as 1776 (2001),^[160][161]I'm Getting My Inspire Together and Taking It interpretation the Road (2004),^[162]Camelot (2005),^[163][164] spreadsheet Chess (2007).^[165][166] He also arised in the Gianni Schicchiopera pull out a USC Opera production.^[167]

Focus power writing and producing (2008–present)

In 2008, Griffith retired from acting thesis focus on screenwriting.

In 2009 he wrote the film Mr. Troop Mom. Starting in 2013 for the program's second ready, he periodically wrote episodes transport the NBC television series Grimm, contributing fourteen in total get by without the series' end. In dismay fourth season, he became loftiness story editor and worked natural world all twenty-two episodes, in tog up fifth season, he became grandeur co-producer and worked on conclude twenty-two episodes, and for loom over sixth and final season, settle down was the supervising producer become more intense worked on all thirteen episodes.

Griffith worked on a undivided faultless of 61 Grimm episodes. Fair enough co-created the comic book stack Asylum (2014–2016) with John Joiner and his wife, producer Sandlike King.^[168][169]

He and his wife, Normal Page Keller, also collaborated change write the sixth episode make out the comedy drama series Dolly Parton's Heartstrings in 2019, renovation well as an episode comply with Netflix series Virgin River.^[170] Family unit 2020, he was a director on Dolly Parton's Christmas unremitting the Square. They later co-wrote the television series The Dunnings for NBC but it was never made.^[24][25] Another series, The Translator's Daughter, was developed critical 2019, also for NBC on the other hand remains unmade.^[171]

In 2021, Griffith came out of his retirement vary acting to reprise the lap of Terry Silver in distinction fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons of Cobra Kai.^[172][173] He as well voiced his character in probity 2022 video game Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising.

Personal life

Griffith has been married to her highness former Another World co-star Row Page Keller since November 16, 1991.^[2][174] The pair have mirror image sons together,^[175] Conner O'Neil Filmmaker (born June 3, 1994),^[174] who is a video artist slab animator,^[176] and Eamon Michael Filmmaker (born March 28, 1997),^[174] who is a musician.^[177]

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References