By Hayley Anderson
10:09, 19 Nov 2024
Cobra Kai is almost over with just one more batch of episodes left to be released, but what is there to know about actor Martin Kove?
Explore Cobra Kai star Martin Kove's life from adoption to acting alongside his son in Netflix drama (Image: GETTY)
Cobra Kai's Martin Kove, who graced screens in the latest chapter of the Netflix hit martial arts series, has returned as villain Kreese for the final series.
The sixth instalment, which was divided into three parts, saw its second section released earlier in the month on Netflix and follows the intense battles at the Sekai Tekai tournament.
During a live TV spectacle, complete pandemonium ensued with Kreese, enacted by Martin Kove, seizing an opportunity to ambush Terry Silver, played by Ian Thomas Griffith.
Kreese dropped his knife en route to confronting Terry, leading Cobra Kai protege Kwon, played by Brandon H. Lee, to arm himself with the intention to attack Axel from Iron Dragons, portrayed by Patrick Luwis.
A scuffle results in Kwon accidentally fatally stabbing himself, leaving Kreese's future in question.
While viewers are at the edge of their seats for part three, here's the lowdown on Martin Kove's life beyond his fame as the formidable Kreese on Cobra Kai.
Adoption
Martin Kove was born in March 1946, but he was not acquainted with his biological parents as he was adopted early on by Jewish parents Frances and Theodore "Teddy" Kove.
His mother held a position as a bookkeeper, and his father was employed in a hardware store.
Cobra Kai star Martin Kove was behind Victor Isbecki in Cagney and Lacey. ( Image:
CBS)
Martin describes them as "frightened people" in a conversation with The Jewish Journal due to their experiences during the Depression.
However, now aged 78, he expresses deep appreciation for them since they supported his acting ambitions, a dream sparked by his participation in school plays.
"They were very loving, very caring. I was the only child, and they just supported me the whole time," he shared.
"They just wanted me to do whatever I could do to be happy, and they were always very giving that way.
"They never got in the way, and they never said, 'Do something you can fall back on'.
"You know, that's the line we hear all the time. They never did that. They just supported me all the way through."
Acting success
Kove's acting career took off with his first role in the 1971 film Little Murders, before landing roles in Code R, The Hardy Boys, We've Got Each Other, Barnaby Jones, The Edge of Night and Laboratory.
His big break came in 1982 when he bagged the role of Victor Isbecki in the detective series Cagney and Lacey.
A few years later, he underwent martial arts training for a movie The Lion in Ireland which was being filmed in London but was later cancelled.
Following this, Kove auditioned for The Karate Kid in 1984 and landed the part of Kreese, a role he reprised in the subsequent two films and the series Cobra Kai.
Netflix co-star son
Kove met his ex-wife Vivienne in 1981 and they were married for over two decades before parting ways in 2005.
The couple had two children, Jesse and Rachel Kove. He later worked with his son Jesse in the third season of Cobra Kai, where Jesse played a character named David who bullied Kreese as teenagers.
Actor Martin Kove's son Jesse Kove appeared in a flashback in Cobra Kai season 3. (
Image: NETFLIX)
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Kove recounted: "There are a lot of flashbacks taking you back to Vietnam discussing why he is the way he is, and it gives you a multi-faceted character through these flashbacks.
"In fact, my son plays in episode two. You think my son is me, and he isn't. He plays a bully, and he bullies my character..
"You learn a lot about my character. I don't look at him as a bully. I just look at him as being misunderstood."
His son Jesse then shared his feelings on joining the franchise: "It was such an honour to play in this world that I was brought up around my whole life.
"It felt like I was joining this legacy of The Karate Kid universe but it also felt like this dream experience. How could I ever be in this universe?
"And these flashbacks were a perfect vehicle for that. I hope I made my dad proud."
What's next
While Cobra Kai is gearing up for its final episodes, Kove's career isn't slowing downhe's linked to four upcoming films listed on IMDb as in post-production: The Highwayman, A Gunfighter's Deal, Dante's Inferno, and Killing Mary Sue.
Adding to the excitement for fans is the news that Kove will once again share the screen with his son in both Killing Mary Sue and A Gunfighter's Deal.
The release dates for these anticipated films remain under wraps for now.
Cobra Kai is available to watch on Netflix.
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