Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

With his funky Afro hairstyle, super cool attitude and superb karate skills, Jim Kelly was instantly identifiable, and one of the top martial arts film stars of the early 1970s. After appearing in a minor film role, Kelly's second screen effort was as one of the invited guests to the deadly Han's Island in Enter the Dragon (1973). Kelly quickly cropped up in several more martial arts influenced "blaxploitation" films including Three the Hard Way (1974), Golden Needles (1974) and Black Belt Jones (1974), with its interesting fight finale in a soap filled car wash! He then appeared in several other action films of the late seventies, however since 1980, Kelly has only cropped up in two minor roles. A talented athlete, winning ranked titles both in tennis and karate, Jim Kelly was an integral part of the African-American & martial arts cinematic explosion of the 1970s.

Became a professional tennis player in 1975, rising to No. 2 in
California in the senior men&#39;s doubles rankings and reaching the
state&#39;s top ten in senior men&#39;s singles.

Was first interested in karate after leaving the University of
Louisville as a freshman and moving to Lexington; began studying
martial arts under karate instructor Parker Sheldon

International Middle Weight Karate Champion (1971)

He resided in Southern California and worked as a
professional tennis coach.

Spent part of his childhood in San Diego but graduated from high school in Kentucky--Bourbon County High School --where he starred in several sports, including track and football.

Second cousin of baseball star <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0563092/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Willie Mays</a>.

In addition to Karate, he was also extensively trained in Wushu, Taekwondo and Jeet Kune Do.

Trivia

Jim Kelly

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