Mel Novak (born June 16, 1942) is an American actor who is best known
for villainous roles in Black Belt Jones, Game of Death, and An Eye
for an Eye. He is also known for doing all of his own stunts and
fighting scenes.Born in Pittsburgh to Serbian parents as Milan
Mrdjenovich (Serbian: Милан МрÑ'еновић, Milan
MrÄ'enović), Novak made his film debut in 1974, appearing in two
blaxploitation films, Truck Turner starring Isaac Hayes and Black Belt
Jones starring Jim Kelly that was directed by Robert Clouse that led
to a part in Clouse's The Ultimate Warrior (1975) starring Yul
Brynner. Cat in the Cage (1978) starring Sybil Danning, and others
followed. One of his more high-profile parts from the 70's was as the
hitman Stick in Game of Death (1978), again directed by Robert Clouse.
Novak also had roles in two Chuck Norris films, A Force of One (1979)
and An Eye for an Eye (1981). Since the turn of the 80's, Novak has
been acting mostly in independent features, such as Lovely But Deadly
(1981) for director/producer David Sheldon, starring B-movie heroine
Lucinda Dooling.In the 90's, he appeared in two films for director
Garry Marshall: Exit to Eden (1994), based on the novel by Anne Rice,
and Dear God (1996).In 2005, he appeared in the action/horror film
Vampire Assassin, also featuring Gerald Okamura, with whom Novak has
acted in several films, and Rudy Ray Moore. In 2008, Novak was
inducted in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in London. In 2015, Novak
had a prominent role in the action film, Samurai Cop 2: Deadly
Vengeance.
for villainous roles in Black Belt Jones, Game of Death, and An Eye
for an Eye. He is also known for doing all of his own stunts and
fighting scenes.Born in Pittsburgh to Serbian parents as Milan
Mrdjenovich (Serbian: Милан МрÑ'еновић, Milan
MrÄ'enović), Novak made his film debut in 1974, appearing in two
blaxploitation films, Truck Turner starring Isaac Hayes and Black Belt
Jones starring Jim Kelly that was directed by Robert Clouse that led
to a part in Clouse's The Ultimate Warrior (1975) starring Yul
Brynner. Cat in the Cage (1978) starring Sybil Danning, and others
followed. One of his more high-profile parts from the 70's was as the
hitman Stick in Game of Death (1978), again directed by Robert Clouse.
Novak also had roles in two Chuck Norris films, A Force of One (1979)
and An Eye for an Eye (1981). Since the turn of the 80's, Novak has
been acting mostly in independent features, such as Lovely But Deadly
(1981) for director/producer David Sheldon, starring B-movie heroine
Lucinda Dooling.In the 90's, he appeared in two films for director
Garry Marshall: Exit to Eden (1994), based on the novel by Anne Rice,
and Dear God (1996).In 2005, he appeared in the action/horror film
Vampire Assassin, also featuring Gerald Okamura, with whom Novak has
acted in several films, and Rudy Ray Moore. In 2008, Novak was
inducted in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in London. In 2015, Novak
had a prominent role in the action film, Samurai Cop 2: Deadly
Vengeance.
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