Martin Kove was born in Brooklyn, New York. Strong-featured, narrow-eyed actor who has portrayed a mixed bag of both good guys and bad guys! First turned up on screen in several minor roles, and got himself noticed as the villainous Nero the Hero in the low-budget road race Death Race 2000. Kove probably scored his greatest visibility to the public in the hugely successful The Karate Kid in which he played John Kreese, the head instructor of the Cobra Kai karate school.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
Barmageddon (2022)
Guest starring as Martin Kove
- Episode 1x04: Jay Pharoah vs. Martin Kove (Dec 26, 2022)
The Critics' Choice Super Awards (2021)
Guest starring as Martin Kove
- Episode 1x01: 1st Critics' Choice Super Awards (Jan 10, 2021)
Cobra Kai (2018)
Starring as John Kreese
(31 episodes)
- Episode 5x10: Head of the Snake (Sep 9, 2022)
- Episode 5x07: Bad Eggs (Sep 9, 2022)
- Episode 5x06: Ouroboros (Sep 9, 2022)
- Episode 5x05: Extreme Measures (Sep 9, 2022)
- Episode 4x10: The Rise (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 4x09: The Fall (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 4x08: Party Time (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 4x07: Minefields (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 4x06: Kicks Get Chicks (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 4x05: Match Point (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 4x04: Bicephaly (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 4x03: Then Learn Fly (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 4x02: First Learn Stand (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 4x01: Let's Begin (Dec 31, 2021)
- Episode 3x10: December 19 (Jan 1, 2021)
- Episode 3x09: Feel The Night (Jan 1, 2021)
- Episode 3x08: The Good, The Bad, and The Badass (Jan 1, 2021)
- Episode 3x07: Obstáculos (Jan 1, 2021)
- Episode 3x06: King Cobra (Jan 1, 2021)
- Episode 3x05: Miyagi-Do (Jan 1, 2021)
- Episode 3x04: The Right Path (Jan 1, 2021)
- Episode 3x02: Nature Vs. Nurture (Jan 1, 2021)
- Episode 3x01: Aftermath (Jan 1, 2021)
- Episode 2x10: No Mercy (Apr 24, 2019)
- Episode 2x07: Lull (Apr 24, 2019)
- Episode 2x06: Take a Right (Apr 24, 2019)
- Episode 2x05: All In (Apr 24, 2019)
- Episode 2x04: The Moment of Truth (Apr 24, 2019)
- Episode 2x03: Fire and Ice (Apr 24, 2019)
- Episode 2x02: Back in Black (Apr 24, 2019)
- Episode 2x01: Mercy, Part II (Apr 24, 2019)
Guest starring as John Kreese
- Episode 1x10: Mercy (May 2, 2018) [Special Guest Star]
NTSF:SD:SUV (2011)
Guest starring as Cell Leader
- Episode 1x04: The Risky Business of Being Alone in Your Home (Aug 12, 2011)
Dancing with the Stars (2005)
Guest starring as Martin Kove
(3 episodes)
- Episode 30x11: Finale (Nov 22, 2021)
- Episode 30x02: First Elimination (Sep 27, 2021)
- Episode 30x01: Season 30 Premiere (Sep 20, 2021)
Black Scorpion (2001)
Guest starring as Jack Aimes / FireArm
- Episode 1x01: Armed and Dangerous (Jan 5, 2001)
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995)
Guest starring as Demetrius
- Episode 2x07: The Mother of All Monsters (Oct 27, 1995)
Hard Time on Planet Earth (1989)
Starring as Jesse
(13 episodes)
- Episode 1x13: Wally's Gang (Jun 21, 1989)
- Episode 1x12: The All American (Jun 14, 1989)
- Episode 1x11: Not in Our Stars (May 31, 1989)
- Episode 1x10: Rodeo (May 10, 1989)
- Episode 1x09: Jessie's Fifteen Minutes (May 3, 1989)
- Episode 1x08: The Hot Dog Man (Apr 26, 1989)
- Episode 1x07: Death Do Us Part (Apr 12, 1989)
- Episode 1x06: Battle of the Sexes (Apr 5, 1989)
- Episode 1x05: All That You Can Be (Mar 29, 1989)
- Episode 1x04: The Way Home (Mar 22, 1989)
- Episode 1x03: Losing Control (Mar 15, 1989)
- Episode 1x02: Something to Bank On (Mar 8, 1989)
- Episode 1x01: Stranger in a Strange Land (Mar 1, 1989)
Cagney & Lacey (1982)
Starring as Victor Isbecki
(104 episodes)
- Episode 7x19: Friendly Fire (Apr 5, 1988)
- Episode 7x18: Amends (Mar 29, 1988)
- Episode 7x17: Button, Button (Mar 22, 1988)
- Episode 7x12: Shadow of a Doubt (Jan 26, 1988)
- Episode 7x11: Trading Places (Jan 19, 1988)
- Episode 7x10: Old Flames (Jan 12, 1988)
- Episode 7x09: Do I Know You? (Jan 5, 1988)
- Episode 7x08: Secrets (Nov 23, 1987)
- Episode 7x07: Greed (Nov 16, 1987)
- Episode 7x06: Video Verite (Nov 9, 1987)
- Episode 7x05: You've Come a Long Way, Baby (Oct 26, 1987)
- Episode 7x04: Different Drummer (Oct 19, 1987)
- Episode 7x03: Loves Me Not (Oct 5, 1987)
- Episode 7x02: The City is Burning (Sep 28, 1987)
- Episode 7x01: No Vacancy (Sep 21, 1987)
- Episode 6x22: Turn, Turn, Turn (2) (Mar 30, 1987)
- Episode 6x21: Turn, Turn, Turn (1) (Mar 30, 1987)
- Episode 6x20: Happiness is a Warm Gun (Mar 23, 1987)
- Episode 6x19: Special Treatment (Mar 16, 1987)
- Episode 6x18: Right to Remain Silent (Mar 9, 1987)
- Episode 6x17: Divine Couriers (Feb 23, 1987)
- Episode 6x16: To Sir, with Love (Feb 16, 1987)
- Episode 6x15: Easy Does It (Feb 9, 1987)
- Episode 6x14: Ahead of the Game (Feb 2, 1987)
- Episode 6x13: Favors (Jan 26, 1987)
- Episode 6x11: Cost of Living (Jan 12, 1987)
- Episode 6x09: Revenge (Dec 8, 1986)
- Episode 6x08: Rites of Passage (Dec 1, 1986)
- Episode 6x07: The Marathon (Nov 24, 1986)
- Episode 6x06: The Zealot (Nov 10, 1986)
- Episode 6x05: Role Call (Nov 3, 1986)
- Episode 6x04: Disenfranchised (aka Incest) (Oct 27, 1986)
- Episode 6x03: Sorry, Right Number (Oct 20, 1986)
- Episode 6x02: Culture Clash (Oct 6, 1986)
- Episode 6x01: Schedule One (Sep 29, 1986)
- Episode 5x24: Parting Shots (May 26, 1986)
- Episode 5x23: Model Citizen (May 25, 1986)
- Episode 5x22: A Safe Place (May 12, 1986)
- Episode 5x20: Capitalism (Apr 7, 1986)
- Episode 5x19: Exit Stage Centre (Mar 10, 1986)
- Episode 5x18: The Man Who Shot Trotsky (Mar 3, 1986)
- Episode 5x17: Post Partum (Feb 17, 1986)
- Episode 5x16: Family Connections (Feb 10, 1986)
- Episode 5x15: The Gimp (Jan 27, 1986)
- Episode 5x14: DWI (Jan 20, 1986)
- Episode 5x13: Act of Conscience (Jan 13, 1986)
- Episode 5x12: The Rapist (Jan 6, 1986)
- Episode 5x11: Play It Again, Santa (Dec 23, 1985)
- Episode 5x10: Power (Dec 16, 1985)
- Episode 5x09: Old Ghosts (Dec 9, 1985)
- Episode 5x08: Filial Duty (Dec 2, 1985)
- Episode 5x07: Mothers & Sons (Nov 25, 1985)
- Episode 5x06: The Clinic (Nov 11, 1985)
- Episode 5x05: Entrapment (Nov 4, 1985)
- Episode 5x04: Lottery (Oct 28, 1985)
- Episode 5x03: The Psychic (Oct 21, 1985)
- Episode 5x02: Ordinary Hero (Oct 7, 1985)
- Episode 5x01: On the Street (Sep 30, 1985)
- Episode 4x22: Organized Crime (Apr 8, 1985)
- Episode 4x21: Violation (Mar 18, 1985)
- Episode 4x20: Con Games (Mar 11, 1985)
- Episode 4x18: Lost and Found (Feb 25, 1985)
- Episode 4x17: Who Says It's Fair (2) (Feb 18, 1985)
- Episode 4x16: Who Says It's Fair (1) (Feb 11, 1985)
- Episode 4x15: Stress (Feb 4, 1985)
- Episode 4x14: Rules of the Game (Jan 28, 1985)
- Episode 4x13: Happily Ever After (Jan 14, 1985)
- Episode 4x12: American Dream (Jan 7, 1985)
- Episode 4x11: Out of Control (Dec 31, 1984)
- Episode 4x10: Lady Luck (Dec 17, 1984)
- Episode 4x09: Hooked (Dec 10, 1984)
- Episode 4x08: Thank God It's Monday (Dec 3, 1984)
- Episode 4x07: Unusual Occurence (Nov 26, 1984)
- Episode 4x06: Taxi Cab Murders (Nov 19, 1984)
- Episode 4x05: Fathers and Daughters (Nov 12, 1984)
- Episode 4x04: Old Debts (Nov 5, 1984)
- Episode 4x03: Insubordination (Oct 29, 1984)
- Episode 4x02: Heat (Oct 22, 1984)
- Episode 4x01: Child Witness (Oct 15, 1984)
- Episode 3x07: Choices (May 14, 1984)
- Episode 3x06: Partners (May 7, 1984)
- Episode 3x05: Baby Broker (Apr 30, 1984)
- Episode 3x04: The Bounty Hunter (Apr 23, 1984)
- Episode 3x03: Victimless Crime (Apr 16, 1984)
- Episode 3x02: A Killer's Dozen (Mar 26, 1984)
- Episode 2x22: The Informant (May 9, 1983)
- Episode 2x21: A Cry for Help (May 2, 1983)
- Episode 2x20: The Gang's All Here (Mar 28, 1983)
- Episode 2x18: Chop Shop (Mar 14, 1983)
- Episode 2x17: Burn Out (Mar 7, 1983)
- Episode 2x16: Date Rape (Feb 21, 1983)
- Episode 2x15: Jane Doe #37 (Feb 14, 1983)
- Episode 2x12: The Grandest Jewel Thief of Them All (Jan 17, 1983)
- Episode 2x11: Hopes and Dreams (Jan 10, 1983)
- Episode 2x10: Recreational Use (Dec 27, 1982)
- Episode 2x09: I'll Be Home for Christmas (Dec 20, 1982)
- Episode 2x08: Conduct Unbecoming (Dec 13, 1982)
- Episode 2x07: Mr. Lonelyhearts (Dec 6, 1982)
- Episode 2x06: Internal Affairs (Nov 29, 1982)
- Episode 2x05: Hot Line (Nov 22, 1982)
- Episode 2x04: High Steel (Nov 15, 1982)
- Episode 2x03: Beauty Burglars (Nov 8, 1982)
- Episode 2x02: One of Our Own (Nov 1, 1982)
- Episode 2x01: Witness to an Incident (Oct 25, 1982)
Guest starring as Victor Isbecki
(6 episodes)
- Episode 1x06: Better Than Equal (Apr 29, 1982) [Co-Star]
- Episode 1x05: Suffer the Children (Apr 22, 1982) [Co-Star]
- Episode 1x04: Street Scene (Apr 15, 1982) [Co-Star]
- Episode 1x03: Beyond the Golden Door (Apr 8, 1982) [Co-Star]
- Episode 1x02: Pop Used to Work Chinatown (Apr 1, 1982) [Co-Star]
- Episode 1x01: You Call This Plain Clothes? (Mar 25, 1982) [Co-Star]
Charlie's Angels (1976)
Guest starring as Georgie
- Episode 2x14: Sammy Davis, Jr. Kidnap Caper (Dec 7, 1977)
Petrocelli (1974)
Guest starring as Frank Harris
- Episode 2x18: Six Strings of Guilt (Feb 25, 1976) [Co-Star]