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Steven Seagal biography
Photo Gallery:: Video Gallery Biography
A stern-looking martial arts wizard who studied and later taught his craft in Japan, Seagal (pronounced say-GAL) got his feet wet in motion pictures as a fight coordinator on John Frankenheimer's "The Challenge" (1982) and later set up a popular martial arts school in West Hollywood. He caught the attention of Michael Ovitz (then head of Creative Artists Agency) who arranged a martial arts demonstration for Warner Brothers president Terry Semel. Impressed by Seagal, Ovitz arranged a screen test and he was somewhat unexpectedly catapulted to action stardom. His first feature was the low-budget, urban cop drama "Above the Law" (1988), for which he provided the story, served as producer and played a CIA operative in Vietnam who later exposes the corruption of Chicago government officials.
Seagal cemented his popularity as an avenging action hero with the follow-up action/Aikido films "Marked for Death", "Hard to Kill" (both 1990) and "Out For Justice" (1991), in which his larger-than-life presence alternates between meditative serenity and vigilante violence. His persona represented an odd mix of the mainstreaming of Chinese and trendy New Age philosophizing with the contemporary taste for good guys who seemed sinister and yet satisfied an increasing taste for simplified notions of instant justice in a troubled USA, justified heroes who enjoy dispatching their enemies in as dispassionate a manner as possible.
The canny, pony-tailed actor has enhanced his mystique by creating a public image shrouded in mystery and surrounded by speculation about his possible past links with the CIA. Although critics have carped at Seagal's modest acting abilities, Janet Maslin of THE NEW YORK TIMES has summed up as the aspects of his star persona: "What Mr. Seagal offers is a clever, uncategorizable hybrid of physical prowess, fortune-cookie wisdom, law-and-order politics, street-smart bravado and, above all, the confident insouciant manner of a natural-born star." Segal earned mainstream status with "Under Siege" (1992), a "Die Hard"-style thriller that grossed over $80 million. Its villains were played with relish by Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey and it possessed welcome moments of deadpan humor. Seagal followed up this success with his directorial debut, "On Deadly Ground" (1994), a well-intentioned eco-thriller featuring Seagal as Alaska's last hope. The inevitable sequel to his earlier smash, "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" (1995), followed, with the inscrutable but increasingly accepted star receiving the occasional kudo for some lively action scenes. Indeed, although many critics found Seagal to be unchanged for his "guest star" supporting turn in the Kurt Russell actioner "Executive Decision" (1996), some found his cool dispatch, taken in measured doses, to constitute some of the best moments of his career to date.
Seagal took a break from the big-screen scene to concentrate on his love for music. After signing a seven year contract with OutWest Entertainment, Seagal returned back to his first love. He took on and mastered the role of Orin Boyd, a Detriot police detective in "Exit Wounds" (2001). The surprise success of "Exit Wounds" served as a breakout platform for newcomer rapper/actor DMX as well as a reclaiming-of-status for Seagal. In 2002, Seagal teamed up with Morris Chestnut and rapper Ja Rule for the action crime feature "Half Past Dead," portraying an undercover agent in a new high tech Alcatraz prison. In the months prior to the film's release, Seagal also made headlines when he was sued for $60 million by his longtime producing partner Julius Nasso, for allegedly backing out of a deal to star in four films, a development which took an unusual turn in June 2002 when Nasso was arrested and charged with extorting money from the action star. Federal investigators alleged that Nasso was acting in league with New York's notorious Gambino crime family, reportedly headed by Nasso's brother Anthony "Sonny" Ciccone, to extort $150,000 from Seagal for every film he made with the producer. The on-screen action hero said he was threatened with violence if he didn't cooperate. Later, allegations surfaced that Segall had hired private detective-to-the-stars Anthony Pellicano to stage a threatening incident against a Los Angeles Times reporter to make it look as if Nasso was behind it.
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Steven Seagal Lawman: A Look Back at Season One - Blogcritics.org (blog)
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogcritics.org%2Fvideo%2Farticle%2Fsteven-seagal-lawman-a-look-back%2Famp;usg=AFQjCNEAosEalxdH_tzkm2bDOFE1pMZqtQbbSteven Seagal/b Lawman: A Look Back at Season One/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fBlogcritics.org (blog)/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1The time has come for me to write one last time about bSteven Seagal/b Lawman. Throughout season one I#39;ve diligently tried to write weekly recaps of the series b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dGMGb3VRAhBpTxMnobrb/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table Pacquiao to crack Hollywood with Seagal - stv.tv
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fsport.stv.tv%2Fboxing%2F155913-pacquiao-to-crack-hollywood-with-seagal%2Famp;usg=AFQjCNG6r_uY9Oqq-2pXuk2uLjrY83K6XAimg src=http://nt1.ggpht.com/news/tbn/5Q9zaU857N81AM/6.jpg alt= border=1 width=80 height=80 /br /font size=-2stv.tv/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fsport.stv.tv%2Fboxing%2F155913-pacquiao-to-crack-hollywood-with-seagal%2Famp;usg=AFQjCNG6r_uY9Oqq-2pXuk2uLjrY83K6XAbPacquiao to crack Hollywood with bSeagal/b/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fstv.tv/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1Hollywood legend bSteven Seagal/b may be set to work alongside Manny Pacquiao after the pair discussed the possibility of a collaboration at a dinner party b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1a target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abs-cbnnews.com%2Fentertainment%2F02%2F06%2F10%2Fsteven-seagal-wants-movie-pacquiaoamp;usg=AFQjCNFh_b8HK2spy8q8ifMRbFNEtYK3VAbSteven Seagal/b wants movie with Pacquiao/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrABS CBN News/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1a target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fqueensberry-rules.com%2F2010-articles%2Ffebruary%2Fquick-jabs-steven-seagal-vs-manny-pacquiao-kangaroo-controversy-amir-khan-protection-rumors-true-more.htmlamp;usg=AFQjCNEvMvnOsZ39rIm1m3Sr8JGXfq0TPgQuick Jabs: bSteven Seagal/b Vs. Manny Pacquiao; Kangaroo Controversy; Amir Khan b.../b/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Queensberry Rules/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1a target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mb.com.ph%2Farticles%2F242088%2Fsteven-seagal-square-with-manny-pacquiaoamp;usg=AFQjCNGfrjPFQboIFILWtjAXrrlHdYu2QgbSteven Seagal/b to square off with Manny Pacquiao?/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrManila Bulletin/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1 class=pa target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Ffighthype.com%2Fpages%2Fcontent6899.htmlamp;usg=AFQjCNHnnV2sVyVozdC8_R3IOiQp33vEDwnobrFight Hype/nobr/anbsp;-a target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nowboxing.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fmanny-pacquiao-meets-steven-seagal%2F7929%2Famp;usg=AFQjCNGMfxxx71rKpwJk6hnFYNJTjey7rQnobrNow Boxing (blog)/nobr/anbsp;-a target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.411mania.com%2Fboxing%2Fnews%2F129109%2FGuess-Who%255C%255Cs-Coming-to-Manny%255C%255Cs-Dinner%3F.htmamp;usg=AFQjCNGEGiRRUPDyE2YdpYswKUAKhTCqGwnobr411mania.com/nobr/a/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dX3WEEf-8mTC9aMNEvt5bpOFlp1OMnobrball 132 news articlesnbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table DVD Giveaway: Steven Seagal in Dangerous Man - TheHDRoom
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehdroom.com%2Fnews%2FDVD_Giveaway_Steven_Seagal_in_Dangerous_Man%2F6310amp;usg=AFQjCNFhJrnZcOb1OjHgffdAX-YW9V392wbDVD Giveaway: bSteven Seagal/b in Dangerous Man/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fTheHDRoom/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1bSteven Seagal/b continues his ass-kicking ways in Dangerous Man, new to DVD on February 9. We are going to give Dangerous Man on DVD to three randomly drawn b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1a target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvdtown.com%2Freview%2Fdangerous-man-a%2Fdvd%2F7792amp;usg=AFQjCNG5YLBKvGVAvMCndXbW7-M0_5hcRADangerous Man, A (DVD)/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrDVDTOWN.com/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1a target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.movieweb.com%2Fnews%2FNErxpzvuBAnruAamp;usg=AFQjCNHf23yHT6znyMvrL8yS644gE0mcKgEXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Get Your First Look at A Dangerous Man on DVD!/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMovieWeb/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dNQNw3RgXB11aFMHuZhWLExUESeSMnobrball 3 news articlesnbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table TV Recap: Steven Seagal Lawman - Ruthless Judgment - Blogcritics.org (blog)
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogcritics.org%2Fvideo%2Farticle%2Ftv-recap-steven-seagal-lawman-ruthless%2Famp;usg=AFQjCNEIl5cE7SsHgdI3rykiwJxIMlTKggbTV Recap: bSteven Seagal/b Lawman - quot;Ruthless Judgmentquot;/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fBlogcritics.org (blog)/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1With these words still ringing in our ears, bSteven Seagal/b starts the season finale of Lawman. Sadly, the episode dives right into a tragic drive-by shooting b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dudfZspUxzzQ64Mnobrb/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table Wednesdays Highlights - Los Angeles Times
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calendarlive.com%2Ftv%2Fcl-et-tvhighlights3-2010feb03%2C0%2C2796054.storyamp;usg=AFQjCNEf-oPN0CrTQYJVhd2dCXdIzzV5CQbWednesday#39;s Highlights/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fLos Angeles Times/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1bSteven Seagal/b Lawman: Deputy Chief bSeagal/b and his team rush to the scene of a fatal drive-by shooting in the season finale (10 pm Aamp;E). b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dx6Z6jHR2nO5VMMnobrband morenbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table Jonathan Storm: Supernatural hokum | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/09/2010 - Philadelphia Inquirer
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Finquirer%2Fmagazine%2F83865037.htmlamp;usg=AFQjCNHypBihsAG_rLGjk43jQA2ZefCmhgbJonathan Storm: Supernatural hokum | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/09/2010/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fPhiladelphia Inquirer/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1b.../b which just had its highest-rated quarter in history and features shows such as Intervention and Psychic Kids and the wonder of bSteven Seagal/b trying to b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dspzALKm4pOV_bMnobrband morenbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table Jessica Alba Talks About Her Roles As Sexy Identical Twins In Machete - MTV.com (blog)
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoviesblog.mtv.com%2F2010%2F02%2F08%2Fjessica-alba-talks-about-her-roles-as-sexy-identical-twins-in-machete%2Famp;usg=AFQjCNEpT6ts8uHWxEXX1Xf9mjyhhlY7uQbJessica Alba Talks About Her Roles As Sexy Identical Twins In #39;Machete#39;/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fMTV.com (blog)/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1b.../b Mr. bSteven Seagal/b, Mr. Don Johnson and Mr. Danny Trejo). And an online script review revealed Alba would be playing at least one half of a set of twins. b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dRJKYRsBWjDOQMMnobrband morenbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table Movie Man: Having a blast in Zombieland - Rockford Register Star
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fgo.rrstar.com%2Fu%2Fx1431749031%2FMovie-Man-Having-a-blast-in-Zombielandamp;usg=AFQjCNG81SzBeyYL1gU0g_Hb8q8MS8HRgAbMovie Man: Having a blast in #39;Zombieland#39;/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fRockford Register Star/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1“Dangerous Man”: How does bSteven Seagal/b find time to star in movies like this when he#39;s busy fighting crime for his TV show, “bSteven Seagal/b: Lawman”? b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dD3tcgkNAOwUrPMnobrband morenbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table TV Review: Steven Seagal Lawman - Street Justice - Blogcritics.org (blog)
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogcritics.org%2Fvideo%2Farticle%2Ftv-review-steven-seagal-lawman-street1%2Famp;usg=AFQjCNEjpxmqjAycL5kg_cI4aXr6KpXOOAbTV Review: bSteven Seagal/b Lawman - quot;Street Justicequot;/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fBlogcritics.org (blog)/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1Not a lot has been missing from season one of bSteven Seagal/b: Lawman. Each episode has buzzed with a wholesome singularity, the rules of society gloriously b.../b/fontbr /font size=-1a target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogcritics.org%2Fvideo%2Farticle%2Ftv-recap-steven-seagal-lawman-narc1%2Famp;usg=AFQjCNEySaHI8-x623zrvu6uZejHLN1JUATV Recap: bSteven Seagal/b Lawman - quot;Narc Forcequot;/afont size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBlogcritics.org (blog)/nobr/font/fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dcVaMYNs3G5U9FM3lpz9I9iUL1y8Mnobrball 3 news articlesnbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table Jonathan Bernsteins aerial view of America - The Guardian
table border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7 style=vertical-align:top;trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ftv-and-radio%2F2010%2Fjan%2F30%2Faeriel-view-america-jersey-shoreamp;usg=AFQjCNFi3qHqvWi4-Jh8J83x8fR-CjlSgAimg src=http://nt3.ggpht.com/news/tbn/W5UH7PEe1LN5VM/6.jpg alt= border=1 width=80 height=80 /br /font size=-2The Guardian/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbr /div style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1 //divdiv class=lha target ='_blank' rel='nofollow' style='text-decoration:none;color:#aaaaaa' href=http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=Ramp;sa=Tamp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Ftv-and-radio%2F2010%2Fjan%2F30%2Faeriel-view-america-jersey-shoreamp;usg=AFQjCNFi3qHqvWi4-Jh8J83x8fR-CjlSgAbJonathan Bernstein#39;s aerial view of America/b/abr /font size=-1bfont color=#6f6f6fThe Guardian/font/b/fontbr /font size=-1For all that bSegal/b laudably forgoes personal vanity in order to show us his other life, bSteven Seagal/b: Lawman is a total vanity project./fontbr /font size=-1 class=p/fontbr /font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news/more?ned=usamp;ncl=dN_zPYixOgMNUkMnobrband morenbsp;raquo;/b/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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