While Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone dominated action cinema in the 1970s and 80s, many other incredible action stars left their mark during this golden age of explosive entertainment. Here are 9 forgotten heroes who kicked, punched, and shot their way through this epic era:
Sho Kosugi
In the 1980s ninja craze, Japanese actor Kosugi wasn’t just playing a character — he was living it. A legitimate martial arts master who brought authenticity to classics with his lightning-fast moves in action films like Bruce Lee Fights Back From the Grave (1976), Enter the Ninja (1981), and Rage of Honor (1987)—Kosugi performed his own stunts, choreographed fight scenes, and even trained Hollywood stars in martial arts between takes.
In Revenge of the Ninja (1983), Kosugi stars as Cho Osaki, a skilled ninja who is forced to return to his warrior ways to protect his son; in Pray for Death (1985), he plays Akira Saito, a retired ninja who seeks vengeance for his wife’s brutal murder.
Before mysteriously fading into obscurity, Kosugi had built an empire that included his own merchandise line, fan club, and martial arts business. Though he made a few appearances in early 1990s films and briefly returned as an antagonist in the 2009 martial arts film Ninja Assassin, his action film career never regained its former prominence.
Michael Dudikoff
Michael Dudikoff dominated the Hollywood action film scene in the 80s and 90s, beginning with American Ninja (1985) and American Ninja 2 (1986), his first starring role as Army Special Forces operative Joe Armstrong, a soldier trained in the ways of the shadow warriors.
His other prominent roles, in which he brought solid martial arts credentials, include Avenging Force (1986), where he plays Captain Matt Hunter, a retired Secret Service agent, and Platoon Leader (1988), a Vietnam War film, where he portrays Lieutenant Jeffrey Knight.
In River of Death (1989), Dudikoff stars as adventurer John Hamilton, who leads a group of investigators to find out the cause of a disease outbreak in the middle of a South American jungle. Unfortunately, despite headlining multiple action franchises, Dudikoff never achieved the mainstream recognition of his contemporaries.
Steve James
The unsung hero of 1980s action cinema, James brought both acting chops and fighting skills to supporting roles in the Avenging Force (1986) and the American Ninja series. In American Ninja, James portrays Corporal Curtis, a tough and skilled military police officer who initially challenges but later befriends Joe Armstrong (Michael Dudikoff), bringing both superior martial arts abilities and charismatic screen presence to the role of the loyal sidekick.
In The Delta Force (1986), James played Bobby Lee, a member of the Delta Force unit and friend to Major Scott McCoy (Chuck Norris), who fought alongside Lee Marvin and Chuck Norris in their mission to rescue hostages. Despite scene-stealing performances alongside bigger names, James never got the leading roles his talent deserved, making him one of the era’s most overlooked talents.
Fred Ward
Before he took on the role of CURE agent Remo Williams, Vietnam vet turned actor Fred Ward made several television and film appearances, including supporting roles in The Age of the Medici (1973 TV series), Ginger in the Morning (1974 film), Escape from Alcatraz (1979 film) and Southern Comfort (1981).
His turn in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) showcased a uniquely American take on martial arts mysticism, blending blue-collar toughness with Eastern philosophy. Ward was positioned to launch an American James Bond-style franchise with the film. Though the franchise never materialized, Ward’s performance created a cult following that has endured for decades.
Gary Busey
Before becoming known for his rather eccentric personality, Busey established himself as a recognizable action star in the 1980s. In Eye of the Tiger (1986), he took the lead as Buck Matthews, a Vietnam vet forced to take on a vicious motorcycle gang.
While most remember his villainous turn as Mr. Joshua in Lethal Weapon, Busey continued to prove his action-hero credentials in the 90s, with roles in films like Predator 2 (1990), Point Break (1991), Under Siege (1992), Black Sheep (1996), and Soldier (1998) though by then, he had transitioned more into supporting characters rather than leading roles.
Carl Weathers
While most remember him from the Rocky films (1976–1985), Weathers carved out a significant action career in the 1970s and 80s that deserves recognition. Starting with small roles in blaxploitation films like Friday Foster and Bucktown (1975), he broke through as Apollo Creed in 1976’s Rocky.
After appearing in Force 10 from Navarone (1978), he established himself as one of the few actors who could hold his own against both Stallone and Schwarzenegger. His biggest shot at action stardom came with 1988’s Action Jackson as Sergeant Jericho “Action” Jackson, where he finally got top billing in a film that grossed $20 million at the box office.
What set Weathers apart was his unique combination of athletic prowess (as a former NFL player), commanding screen presence, and the ability to bring depth to action roles — particularly as Colonel Al Dillon in Predator (1987), where he showcased both physical intensity and complex character work.
Miles O’Keeffe
From college football player to prison counselor in the Tennessee penal system, O’Keeffe had an unlikely path to action stardom before landing his breakout role as Tarzan in 1981’s Tarzan, the Ape Man. While the Bo Derek-centered Tarzan film received poor reviews, it was a commercial success nonetheless – O’Keeffe emerged unscathed and went on to build a significant action career throughout the 1980s. Sadly, though, modern audiences have largely forgotten his name.
O’Keeffe found his niche in sword-and-sorcery films, most notably as Ator in a series of Italian-produced adventures starting with Ator: The Fighting Eagle (1982). His football background and 6’2” frame made him convincing in combat scenes, while his classical good looks made him perfect for the musclebound hero roles that dominated low-budget action cinema of the era.
Though he never achieved mainstream success, O’Keeffe developed a dedicated following through films like Sword of the Valiant (1984) and Iron Warrior (1987), eventually transitioning into action-crime dramas by the late 1980s.
Richard Norton
This Australian martial artist turned action star carved a unique path through 1980s action cinema. Starting as a bodyguard for rock royalty like The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and ABBA, Norton transitioned to films with a memorable fight against Chuck Norris in The Octagon (1980) – a scene that Fighting Stars Magazine ranked #13 on their greatest fight scenes list.
He truly made his mark in Hong Kong action films of the mid-80s, becoming one of the few Western actors trusted enough to work repeatedly with Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung in classics like Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985) and Millionaire’s Express (1986). In The Fighter (1989), Norton starred as Ryan Travers, a man fresh out of Bangkok prison who turns to underground fighting to pay for his sister’s operation after the local mob kills his parents.
Though mainstream stardom eluded him, Norton’s signature combination of martial arts expertise (holding black belts in multiple disciplines) made him a constant presence in action cinema. His versatility was evident in his ability to effectively play heroes and villains, leading to a career spanning over 70 motion pictures.
Don “The Dragon” Wilson
A world-champion kickboxer turned actor, Wilson headlined multiple action franchises in the late 80s and early 90s but remained primarily in the direct-to-video market. Before becoming a B-movie action star in the late 1980s, Wilson dominated kickboxing for over a decade as one of the most accomplished fighters in the sport’s history. Starting his career in 1974 after training in Pai Lum kung fu, he went on to win 11 world championships across three weight divisions under six different sanctioning bodies.
His impressive record of 72-5-2 with 47 knockouts earned him the title of “perhaps the greatest kick boxer in American history” by STAR, the leading kickboxing rating service of the 80s. Wilson transitioned to acting on Chuck Norris’s suggestion, catching the eye of legendary filmmaker Roger Corman, who initially signed him to a two-picture deal.
This led to starring roles in the Bloodfist series, the Ring of Fire franchise, and other direct-to-video action films throughout the late 80s and early 90s. While never achieving mainstream success like Van Damme or Seagal, Wilson’s combination of legitimate fighting credentials and natural screen presence kept him consistently working in action cinema for over three decades.