Actor, producer and director Mark DiSalle passed away at 79 in August last year, and that news only broke a few days ago through reporter Steve Seigh at JoBlo. The cause and circumstances of his passing remain unknown.
DiSalle has worked on only a handful of films in these facets. If you’re in action fan, hardcore or not, his credits also stand as core memories, including films like Bloodsport and Death Warrant, and Jeff Speakman’s breakout The Perfect Weapon. He also co-directed 1989’s Kickboxer with David Worth, and produced Speakman’s Albert Magnoli-directed Street Knight, as well as Notorious Nick, Aaron Leong’s 2021 biopic focused on congenital amputee and lightweight MMA competitor Nick Newell, played by Cody Christian.
DiSalle’s limited screentime saw him in bit roles such as a football coach in The Perfect Weapon in which he tends to a bully that gets knocked out by Tom Hermann’s younger iteration of lead actor Jeff Speakman’s main role, and as a line cook in Deran Serafian’s Death Warrant. In Bloodsport, an scene sees DiSalle’s character approaching kumite contender Jackson (Donald Gibb) asking about it, to which he says “I love anything with full contact, I need a few more scars on my face” to which DiSalle’s part adds “But I heard you can get killed at that kumite”, and Jackson replies “Only if you fuck up!”.
News of DiSalle’s passing otherwise adds to the grief period brought on by the passing of actor and martial artist Chuck Norris last week at the age of 86. Read more at JoBlo.
Lead image: Cannon Films