News
Biography
Filmography
Multimedia
Words
Forum
F.A.Q.
Merchandise
Links
Updates
Guestbook
Last update:
01 August 2006
Mark Dacascos - a Biography
I have put together Mark Dacascos's biography from snippets I have found on the internet and in interviews.
"I want to be an actor and a martial artist, not a martial arts actor."
Mark describes himself as a "surfer dude".
Stats
Born: 26 February 1964, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.Mark is part Chinese, Spanish and Filipino on his father's side and Japanese and Irish on his mother's.
Parents: Al Dacascos and stepmother Malia Bernal. Biological mother Moriko McVey.
Siblings: Yes, several.
Family: Yes
Growing up
Mark lived in Hawaii from 0 to 6 years old.Colorado and California 6 - 10.
Hamburg, Germany 10 - 18.
Taiwan, 6 months when he was 17.
School
German school.Liberal Arts at Valley College, Van Nuys, California
Chinese and drama at Portland State University
Physical
Competed on the Valley College gymnastics team.Yoga. Tumbling. Snowboarding.
Was the caboose on his swimming team ;-)
And surfing of course.
Martial Arts
Trained since he was 4 years old in his father Al Dacascos's system, Wun Hop Kuen Do, in which he has a third degree black belt - at least.Won his first international tournament at age 9 and competed throughout Europe until he was 18. Lived in Taiwan for 6 months, training in Black Tiger Northern Shaolin.
Capoeira - trained two months before auditioning and 5 more months after getting the role, before filming started. And trained capoeira for a year after filming ended.
Also trained in kung fu and boxing.
Skills
Languages: English, basic Mandarin, fluent German, French, a very little bit of Mohawk.Learned to play the guitar for The Crow: Stairway to Heaven.
Learned to ride for Brotherhood of the Wolf.
Started playing drums when he was 15.
Favorite movies and actors
Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart.Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Julia Roberts.
Ambition
When he was around 9, he wanted to be a monk - fortunately, he changed his mind ;-)1992: Doing a live action version of the cartoon "Speed Racer" ;-)
- and bring up the quality of martial arts in film.
Acting
Signed a 6 picture deal with Cannon after American Samurai, but unfortunately the company closed down.Is still taking acting classes and considers Howard Fine his mentor.
