Mel Novak is an American character actor who is best known for villainous roles in action, martial arts and occasionally horror and science fiction films. He is also known for doing all of his own stunts and fighting scenes.
"I get what I deserve in the end. The Lord's justice is very much like that." - On his villainous parts.
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Fact
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The only actor to work with the top eight blaxploitation stars of the 70"s: Jim Kelly and Gloria Hendry in Black Belt Jones,Isaac Hayes and Yaphet Kotto in Truck Turner, Ron O'Neal in A Force of One, Richard Roundtree in An Eye for An Eye, Ruby Ray Moore in Vampire Assassin and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson in Check Point.
2
He was originally offered the role of Nicky LaBelle in an Eye for an Eye, which he turned down. The role eventually went to Stuart Pankin. He was then offered the more significant and memorable role of Tony Montoya in the film.
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Was known to be the best of friends with Steve McQueen and Clayton Moore.
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Worked with Director Garry Marshall on Exit to Eden and Dear God.
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Worked with Chuck Norris twice with An Eye for An Eye and A Force of One.
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Mel Novak has been one of the finest screen villains of his generation,playing against a spectrum of Hollywood"s leading action heroes.His action film appearances span a multitude of genres and an who"s who of leading men:Black Belt Jones against Jim Kelly:Yul Brener and Max Von Sydow in The Ultimate Warrior:Game of Death opposite Bruce Lee:Tom Horn opposite Steve McQueen:and the ever-popular An Eye for An Eye opposite Chuck Norris.
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Has worked with two actors that portrayed Dracula- Christopher Lee in An Eye for An Eye & John Carradine in Missile X:The Neutron Bomb. Has worked with a Michael Myers and a Jason Voorheese- Tyler Mane (Rob Zombie's Halloween) and Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th Part 7-10) in Check Point.
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Has been in four Robert Clouse films: Black Belt Jones, The Ultimate Warrior, Game of Death and Force Five.
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Novak has been inducted into The Martial Arts Master of Fame in 2015.
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Has co-starred with some of Hollywoods' past and current top sex symbols: Sybil Danning in Cat in a Cage, Gloria Hendry in Black Belt Jones Laurene Landon Bai Ling and Mindy Robinson in Samurai Cop 2:Deadly Vengeance. Krista Grotte in Check Point.
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Best know by the public for his co-starring role as the charismatic and cold blooded hitman Stick in Bruce Lee"s big budget Game of Death directed by Robert Clouse of Enter the Dragon fame.2.only actor to work with the top eight blaxploitation stars of the 70"s:Jim Kelly and Gloria Hendry in Black Belt Jones,Isaac Hayes and Yaphet Kotto inTruck Turner,Ron O Neal in A Force of One,Richard Roundtree in An Eye for An Eye,Ruby Ray Moore in Vampire Assassin and Fred Williamson in Check Point.
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As an ordained minister he has performed the funeral's and memorial services for numerous celebrities such as film director Tim Burton's father. The Rifleman's Chuck Connors son, Jeffrey.
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Recipient of numerous entertainment,civic and humanitarian awards: The Golden Halo Award presented by The Southern California Motion Pictures Council. The Spirit Award presented by the Multicultural Motion Pictures Association. The Golden Mask award presented by The Hollywood Appreciate Society.
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Was a professional baseball player with The Pittsburgh Pirates in his youth, but his career was cut short by a massive rotator cuff injury.
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Is an Ordained Minister and works as a skid row and prison minister.
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Almost died in 1998 from peritonitis caused by an anti-inflammatory prescription medication.
$700,000
