David Bradley
Quick Facts
Biography
David Bradley (born October 2, 1953) is an American actor and martial artist known for starring in numerous low-budget action and martial arts movies beginning in the late 1980s. He is perhaps best known for his work in the American Ninja sequels, and the Cyborg Cop films.
Life and career
David Bradley was born Bradley Simpson in Plano, Texas, on October 2, 1953.
Before making his entry in Hollywood, he worked as a car salesman on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles and practiced such martial arts as Shotokan Karate (black belt), Taekwondo (4th Dan black belt), Chinese Kempo, Tai Chi, and Aikido.
Bradley started his acting career in 1989 by being cast in the lead role of "Sean Davidson" in Cedric Sundstrom-directed American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt, the third sequel of the cult-film series American Ninja, alongside Steve James and Marjoe Gortner. At the screening of the film, Sundstrom said that he chose Bradley because he found a good balance between vulnerability and physical aspects in him. In 1990, he played the same character in American Ninja 4: The Annihilationand in 1993, he played "Joe Kastle" (replacing Michael Dudikoff) in Bob Bralver's American Ninja 5 alongside Lee Reyes and Anne Dupont.
Bradley also worked on television for a time. In 1991, he gave an intense, dramatic performance as "Sam Browning" alongside Elizabeth Gracen in Kristine Peterson's direct-to-video Lower Level.
In 1992, Bradley was seen as "Andrew 'Drew' Collins" in Sam Firstenberg's action film American Samurai opposite Mark Dacascos, who played the villain.
Bradley's other well-known roles were in Cyborg Cop (1993) opposite John Rhys-Davies and Cyborg Cop II (1994) as detective Jack Ryan alongside Morgan Hunterand Jill Pierce.
His last screen appearance was in the role of "Alex" in Jalal Merhi's 1997 action file Crisis with Brad Milne and Thorsten Nickel.
Personal life
Bradley is trained in Shotokan Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Aikido, and weapons. These days, he is focused on art and painting in his hometown Plano, Texas.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Crisis | Alex | aka Dead End |
Expext to Die | Dr. Vincent MaxIntyre | ||
Total Reality | Lieutenant Anthony Rand | ||
1996 | White Cargo | Joe Hargatay | |
Exit | Charles | aka Strip To Kill; Direct-to-video | |
1995 | Hard Justice | ATF Agent Nick Adams | Direct-to-video |
1994 | Blood Run | Brad Kingsbury | aka Outside the Law (USA) |
Cyborg Cop II | DEA Agent Jack Ryan | aka Cyborg Soldier | |
1993 | Blood Warriors | Wes Healey | TV movie |
Cyborg Cop | DEA Agent Jack Ryan | ||
American Ninja V | Joe Kastle | aka American Ninja 5 (USA) | |
1992 | American Samurai | Andrew 'Drew' Collins | aka Ninja: American Samurai (USA) |
1991 | Lower Level | Sam L. Browning | Direct-to-video |
1990 | American Ninja 4: The Annihilation | Agent Sean Davidson | |
1989 | American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt | Sean Davidson | aka The American Ninja |
Murder, She Wrote | Adam Perry | TV series ("Trevor Hudson's Legacy") |