It’s hard to believe it’s been over 30 years since martial artist and actor Michael Qissi burst onto the scene as the intimidating Muay Thai champion Tong Po in the cult classic Kickboxer. With his shaved head, muscular physique and menacing glare, Qissi left an indelible mark on fight film fans as the remorseless villain who viciously paralyzed his opponent.
The 1980s gave fans loads of action heroes and martial arts flicks to keep our adrenaline pumping. One such classic is 1988’s Bloodsport, the first film to feature now acclaimed action star Jean-Claude Van Damme in a lead role and help catapult him into super stardom.
Michael Qissi is the man behind one of the most despised villains in action-movie history. He would play the iconic Tong Po across two Kickboxer films and settle into a career making smaller films that continue even to this day.
But who is Michel Qissi? Read on to learn more about this martial-arts actor.