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Ray Park
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Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Though you may recognize his moves,
his face has been curiously obscured in nearly every film in which he's
appeared. As part of one of the biggest franchises in movie history, martial
artist Ray Park was the man behind the ominous, almost demonic red and
black makeup of the nefarious Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom
Menace, and for his role in director Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, Park
wasn't even given the luxury of a head!
Born August 23, 1975, in Glasgow, Scotland, Park
began to nurture a love for martial arts from the age of seven, when his
father's love of Bruce Lee films sparked a fire in the youngster's mind
that would never extinguish. Specializing in the traditional Chinese Northern
Shaolin Kung-fu (in the Chin Woo style) for seven years, Park would move
on to master various other styles, most notably Wushu. Soon becoming a
regular fixture at martial arts exhibitions and tournaments, the now defined
athlete would top Great Britain's martial arts championships before later
traveling to Malaysia to refine his skills. Conquering numerous championships
worldwide and winning multiple medals, Park realized a personal dream
when he competed in the Martial Arts World Championships in 1995. It was
during one of Parks' frequent visits to Malaysia that he was approached
to audition as a stunt man for 1996's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Conjuring
memories of his youthful cinematic martial arts passion, Park attempted
to learn as much as possible about the process of filmmaking. Soon gaining
more scenes and becoming more natural on the set, he was later contacted
by stunt coordinator Nick Gillard to audition for George Lucas' upcoming
Star Wars prequel. Offered the job by producer Rick McCallum, Park was
given the creative freedom to develop his choreography by an impressed
Lucas, and was soon gaining the confidence to develop his role to the
best of his abilities. Later essaying the aforementioned headless horseman
in Sleepy Hollow, Park would finally see his face and voice joined on
the silver screen (regardless of his moves, his voice was dubbed in Episode
1) with his role as Toad in Bryan Singer's X-Men (2000). After returning
for the X-Men sequel in 2002, Park took the lead as the title character
in Iron Fist later the same year. Though curious Star Wars fanatics clamored
to rumors that Park would return as Darth Maul in the eagerly aniticpated
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, their many speculations
were shot down by George Lucas himself with the announcement that although
that specific character would not return for the sequel, Park would indeed
play a role in Episode II. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Iron Fist (2002) .... Iron Fist/Danny
Rand
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) .... Ross
X-Men (2000) .... Toad
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) .... Darth Maul
... aka Phantom Menace, The (1999) (USA: short title)
... aka Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (1999) (USA: video box title)
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) .... Lord Rayden (double)
... aka Mortal Kombat 2 (1997)
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