Steven Seagal

Steven Frederic Seagal (born April 10, 1952) is an American martial artist, actor, and filmmaker best known for his action films. Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan. He became the first foreigner to have an Aikido dojo in Japan.Britishaikido.com, Retrieved on January 27, 2008 . Britishaikido.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2011. He later moved to Los Angeles, California. He entered the film industry in 1982, first functioning as a martial arts instructor, choreographer, and stunt co-ordinator. His first acting role was in Above the Law (1988), which is regarded as the first American film to feature aikido in fight sequences. Under Siege (1992) brought him the most fame. In 1993, he starred in his directorial debut On Deadly Ground. 

At the height of his career, Seagal was one of the most successful martial arts actors of the 1980s and 1990s, alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme.https://movieweb.com/jcvd-vs-seagal-better-career/ Credited with popularising aikido in film, Seagal is considered an important figure in the development and popularization of martial arts in the West. 

Outside his career as a martial artist and filmmaker, Seagal is a Tibetan lama and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism.https://www.gq.com/story/steven-seagal-buddhism-david-rakoffhttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/steven-seagal-top-action-hero-and-tibetan-lama-1125838.html He is also a musician, having released two studio albums, and performed on the scores of several of his films.

Views
Seagal is known as an environmentalist, an animal rights activist and as a supporter of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

He is also known for his outspoken support of Vladimir Putin. Seagal once called Putin "one of the great living world leaders". He was granted Russian citizenship in 2016. In 2018, the Russian foreign ministry announced that Seagal was appointed as a special envoy to improve ties with the United States. In 2023, Putin bestowed a state decoration on Seagal, awarding the Order of Friendship.

Personal life
Seagal owns a dude ranch in Colorado and a home in Brentwood. He has adopted many animals from shelters. Seagal is a Buddhist.Steven Seagal-buddhist. Japanese-buddhism.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.

Seagal has seven children from four relationships.

In Japan, Seagal married his first wife, Miyako Fujitani.  They had a son and daughter.  The daughter is actress and writer Ayako Fujitani.

In the United States, he married former Days of our Lives actress Adrienne La Russa. During this marriage, he began a relationship with Kelly LeBrock.  LeBrock became pregnant.  He then ended the marriage with La Russa and married LeBrock. They had 3 children.  During his marriage to LeBrock, Seagal was having a relationship with their nanny, Arissa Wolf.  She had a daughter.

Seagal is currently married to Erdenetuya Batsukh, called Elle. They have a son. Elle is from Mongolia.Los Angeles City Ethics Commission – Search Contributions . Ethics.lacity.org. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.

In addition to his biological children, he is the guardian to a Tibetan child, Yabshi Pan Rinzinwangmo.

Filmography
 Year  Title  Role 1988  Above the Law  Nico Toscani1990  Hard to Kill  Mason StormMarked for Death  John Hatcher 1991  Out for Justice  Det. Gino Felino 1992  Under Siege  Casey Ryback 1994  On Deadly Ground  Forrest Taft 1995  Under Siege 2: Dark Territory  Casey Ryback1996  Executive Decision  Lt. Colonel Austin TravisThe Glimmer Man  Lt. Jack Cole 1997  Fire Down Below  Jack Taggart 1998  The Patriot  Dr. Wesley McClaren 1999  Get Bruce  (himself)2001  Exit Wounds  Orin BoydTicker  Frank Glass 2002  Half Past Dead  Sasha Petrosevitch2003  The Foreigner  Jonathan ColdOut for a Kill  Prof. Robert BurnsBelly of the Beast  Jake Hopper2004  Out of Reach  William LansingClementine  Jack Miller2005  Into the Sun  Travis HunterSubmerged  Chris CodyToday You Die  Harlan BanksBlack Dawn  Jonathan Cold2006  Mercenary for Justice  John SeegerShadow Man  Jack FosterAttack Force  Cmdr. Marshall Lawson2007  Flight of Fury  John SandsUrban Justice  Simon Ballister2008  Pistol Whipped  Matt ConlinThe Onion Movie  Cock PuncherKill Switch  Jacob2009  Against the Dark  TaoDriven to Kill  RuslanThe Keeper  Roland Sallinger2009–Steven Seagal: Lawman  (himself) 2010  A Dangerous Man  Shane DanielsMachete  Torrez 2011  Born to Raise Hell  Samuel Axel 2012  Maximum Conviction  Cross 2013   Force of Execution  John Alexander

Discography
 2005: Songs from the Crystal Cave
 2006: Mojo Priest

References

Other websites



Category:American movie actors
Category:Russian movie actors
Category:American television actors
Category:American environmentalists
Category:American animal rights activists
Category:1951 births
Category:Living people
Category:Actors from Michigan
Category:People from Lansing, Michigan
Category:American police officers