Born: 30th July 1962
Martial artist and Film Star
9th Dan Taekwondo -United States Taekwondo Federation
9th Dan Hapkido - International Hapkido Federation
6th Dan Taekwondo - Kukkiwon
2nd Dan - Iternational Taekwondo Federation
If your on this site reading this , then you most likely would have heard of 'No Retreat No Surrender' The film basically shot Jean Claude Van Damme to fame and gave a good vehicle for it's star Kurt McKinney.
But when both stars refused to return for the sequels, Ng See Yuen and Roy Horan needed to find somebody to take their places , phoning round dojo's in the States they got round to the dojo that Mr Avedon was training in.
The guy that answered the phone did not quite understand what it was all about , so the phone was passed to Mr Avedon.
Alll he new was that Ng See Yuen was looking for someone with good skills to star in his latest film ''Raging Thunder''.
As Loren had answered the phone he was given a audition and ended up winning the part.
But that's the first time most of us would have heard of Loren Avedon , he had been a child actor starring in commercials and then also a model. As a matter of interest Loren is the nephew of Famous Photographer Richard Avedon.
Loren Started training at a reasonably young age (Unlike myself finally getting my arse in to gear when 29).
Anyway he was 11 years old living in England and at that time Bruce Lee mania was everywhere , he saw one of Bruce's films and was hooked, but it was not until the summer of 1980 and back in the States and finishing High School that he walked in to a Dojang ( Korean for Dojo) and signed up .
He was actually training like every day. But was also lucky ( or at least I would say is mighty lucky ) he got to train with Masters Phillip and Simon Rhee and Bill ''Superfoot'' Wallace who use to frequent the Dojang as well as other top instructors of including the Dojangs Chief Instructor Jun Chong.
What better grounding for your Taekwondo then to be taught by two of the finest exponents of it.
Loren Started training at a reasonably young age .(Unlike Me finally getting my arse in to gear when 29).Anyway he was 11 years old living in England and at that time Bruce Lee mania was everywhere ,he saw one of Bruce's films and was hooked ,but it was not until the summer of 1980 that back in the States and finishing High School that he walked in to a Dojang and signed up .He was actually training like every day.But was also lucky ( or at least i would say is mighty lucky ) he got to train with masters Phillip and Simon Rhee and Bill Wallace as well as other top instructors.
What better grounding for your Taekwondo then to be taught by two of the finest exponents of it.
So film wise Loren got to star in some of the classics , of course 'No Retreat No Surrender 2 ' was the film that got him in the limelight within the martial arts scene.
Taking the lead role and having the likes of Max Thayer and Cynthia Rothrock alongside assured the film would get the showings and I know within the UK it was one of the big martial arts films of the late 80's.
But it wasn't Loren Avedon's first foray into Martial arts films. Grandmaster Jun Chong apart from being a Taekwondo Instructor also made films , he had his own production company . Grandmaster Chong would get his students to appear in the films for authenticity and who doesn't want to be in a Martial arts film , especially in the 80's .
In 1985 Grandmaster Chong made a film called L A Streetfighters aka Ninja Turf. It starred Grandmaster Chong along with his students Philip and Simon Rhee , James Lew , Loren Avedon and the Legendary Bill Wallace.
I actually still have the original UK VHS release of of it to.
But after No Retreat'No Surrender 2 it did not stop there Loren had signed a 3 Picture deal with Seasonal and he followed this with Blood Brothers , aka No Retreat No Surrender 3 , in this film he got to star with Keith Vitali a well known and respected Champion Fighter and one many will know from Jackie Chan's Wheels On Meals.
Blood Brothers again was a massive video release and one that had cemented Loren's Action Star status.
The third film was King of the Kickboxers in this film Loren plays Jake a man who's past catches up with him when he finds out that the man that killed his brother in front of him ten years earlier is making Snuff movies in Thailand.
The film starred Billy Blanks as the main villain and also starred Keith Cooke from the China O'Brien films.
Basically King of the Kickboxers is very much like Jean Claude Van Damme's Kickboxer , but once you view King of the Kickboxers , Kickboxer will seem pale in comparison as it just doesn't stand up in the action stakes.
Of course Loren has not only made 3 films he has starred in around 18 features.
Films like Silent Force and Circuit with Oliver Gruner he made after his time with Seasonal .
There are quite a few films out there but not all readly available , especailly in the UK.
Silent Force I managed to track down but films like The Last Spy , Droid Gunner and Virtual combat still evade me.
Loren also starred in Tiger Claws 3 which he also Action choreographed and was the 2nd unit director for .
Now that's a film that goes for a pretty penny when it comes up for sale , I don't think many pressings where made of these on DVD as I have seen them go for £50.00 at times.
On top of that Loren also writes films as well .
Another rarity is Manhatten Chase (2000) which also see's him together with Cynthia Rothrock again.
Loren has had his stint in TV as well , not just the commercials as a child.
Loren has starred in quite a few American TV series Buffy , Martial Law , Thunder in Paradise with Hulk Hogan , Baywatch and Baywatch Hawaii.
Who knows what time will bring, Loren Avedon is one of the top action stars of 80's and 90's martial cinema , each one of his films has showcased great martial arts performed by a man dedicated to the art .
If you have read about Loren else where you would have read about the deals he turned down hoping to get better deals and then losing the contracts to Don Wilson as the production companies did not want to budge.
Also the incidents with Lorenzo Lamas and Sheri Rose , but then as I was once told by someone I worked for many years ago .
You go through life and be sure you are going to meet people that stab you in the Back or have no Honor .
It's just unfortunate that Loren met two in the same time frame .
Now Loren has many interests and apart from Film which we all hope he will return to in some form or another soon.
Loren spent some years with his family residing in Hawaii where he built a compound for them.
Then there's Loren's interests in Online media which he has developed with others like Online E commerce solutions and search engine tools .
Also while in Hawaii Loren opened a Martial arts studio in conjuction with BJ Penn to provide help to youngsters who have been on the wrong path .
By teaching them Martial arts and disapline and have respect for others and themselves.
On 27-08-2021 Loren was inducted into the ''Ultimate Warrior Cup Hall of Fame '' by Shidoshi Ron Van Clief and Sifu Al Dacascos.
Loren Currently resides in Florida with his Family.
To learn more visit Lorens official site .below or on the links page.
Now all I have to do now is thank Loren for agreeing to be featured on my sites banner for a month .
I was lucky enough to meet Loren at the 2010 Martial arts movie Convention in Berlin ,where I asked him .
In true style and as a true martial artist he said yes and thanked me.
Here on this site we Honor Martial artists ,some have inspired others to achieve their goals and others have even lent a hand in a more hands on approach.
On this Page we Honor Loren Avedon a genuine Mr,Nice Guy and Friend .
Thanks Loren
I also have to thank Loren's official website , run by one of our very own members .
Thanks Saj .
The Snake meets the Master Loren Avedon
The Films of Loren Avedon | About | Year |
Loren plays Scott whose out to free his Girfriend
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1987
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To avenge his father two brothers must unite
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1990
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Jake Donahue must face his past to survive
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1991
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Frank Castle eat your heart out,Frank Stevens is here
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2001
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L A Streetfighters aka Ninja Turf
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A film from Jun Chong , starring his students
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1985
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The Circuit
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Loren is a FBI agent in the Olivier Gruner Vehicle
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2002
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Manhatton Chase
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Loren teams up with Cynthia Rothrock again
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2000
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Page Updated August 2021