Happy Birthday Jim Kelly

“When it comes I won’t even notice… I’ll be too busy lookin’ good” - Jim Kelly

(Jim Kelly)

Jim Kelly was born as James Kelly on May 5th, 1946 in Millersburg, Kentucky, USA. In high school Kelly played basketball, football and track. He attended the university of Louisville where he played football. He left his freshman year and he began to practice Shorin ryu karate. He began practicing karate in Lexington, KY. In 1967 Kelly got married.

(Kelly’s wedding)

In 1968 Kelly got divorced.  He also trained in Okinawan karate.

(Kelly in the early 1970’s)

In the early 1970’s Kelly became one of the most decorated world karate champions. In 1971 Kelly won four prestigious championships. He also won the World Middleweight Karate title at the 1971 Long Beach International Karate Championships. Kelly then opened his own dojo. Kelly taught actor Calvin Lockhart karate for a role in a film.

(Kelly in Melinda (1972))

Kelly was also a professional tennis player on the USTA Senior Men's Circuit.

(Kelly with a tennis racket)

Kelly became the 1st Black martial arts film star. In 1973 he was featured with Bruce Lee in the movie Enter The Dragon (1973).

(Kelly (Left) with Bruce Lee (Right))

In 1974 Kelly starred in the movie Black Belt Jones (1974).

(Kelly (Left) and Gloria Hendry (Right) in Black Belt Jones (1974))

Also in 1974 Kelly was in the film Three The Hard Way (1974).

(Kelly (Center) with Fred Williamson (Left) and Jim Brown (Right) in Three The Hard Way (1974))

In 1975 Kelly got married again. In 1976 he starred in Hot Potato (1976). From 1977 to 1978 Kelly starred in Black Samurai (1977), Death Dimension (1978), and Tattoo Connection (1978).In 1977 Kelly got divorced. In 1980 Kelly got married for the last time. After appearing in the movie One Down, Two to Go (1982) Kelly rarely appeared in movies. His last movie appearance was Afro Ninja (2009).

(Kelly in Afro Ninja (2009))

On June 29th, 2013 Jim Kelly died of cancer in San Diego, California, USA. He was 67 years old.

(Kelly in 2013)

Today is his 70th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Jim Kelly.

Movie Starring Jim Kelly

• Melinda (1972) as Charles Atkins
• Enter the Dragon (1973) as Williams
• Black Belt Jones (1974) as Black Belt Jones
• Three the Hard Way (1974) as Mister Keyes
• Golden Needles (1974) as Jeff
• Take a Hard Ride (1975) as Kashtok
• Hot Potato (1976) as Jones
• Black Samurai (1977) as Robert Sand
• The Tattoo Connection (1978) as Jones
• Death Dimension (1978) as Lt. Detective J. Ash
• The Amazing Mr. No Legs (1979)
• One Down, Two To Go (1982) as Chuck
• Stranglehold (1994) as Executive #4
• Ultimatum (1994) as Executive
• Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted (2004) as Executive #4
• Afro Ninja (2009) as Cleavon Washington

Videos of Jim Kelly

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB-QGOChuQc  “Enter The Dragon (1973 Trailer)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYFgoh4YTE8  “THREE THE HARD WAY crooked cops scene JIM KELLY 1974 action movie jim brown Fred Williamson”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CYHzi7jDG8  “Jim Kelly talks about Bruce Lee's Sparring Ability”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=null7aDTkGo  “Black Belt Jones (1974) - Theatrical Trailer - Blaxploitation Movie Trailers”