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Indonesia Iko Uwais, an Indonesian martial artist, has established himself internationally as an actor, stuntman, and fight choreographer in action films and television series.
Iko Uwais, along with producer Ryan Santoso, formed Jakarta-based production banner Uwais Pictures to handle film production, specializing in fight choreography, action design, and stunt performance. The company has produced and is selling films like 'Timur' (Uwais's directorial debut) and 'Ikatan Darah'.
After being discovered by director Gareth Evans in 2007, Iko Uwais signed a five-year contract with Evans' movie production company as his leading actor. This partnership led to his roles in acclaimed films such as 'Merantau', 'The Raid', and 'The Raid 2'.
Iko Uwais starred in the Netflix series 'Wu Assassins' as the lead character Kai Jin, also serving as a producer and lead fight choreographer for the series. He later reprised his role in the sequel film 'Fistful of Vengeance', also distributed by Netflix.
Iko Uwais collaborated with Reload Gym, specifically with bodybuilder and CEO Heintje Pojoh, in what was described as a moment when 'legends unite'. This partnership was highlighted on Reload Gym's Instagram.
Before his acting career began, Iko Uwais worked as an operational driver for Esia, an Indonesian telecommunications company. He resigned from this position after signing his film contract with Gareth Evans.
Iko Uwais was born Uwais Qorny in Jakarta, Indonesia, on February 12, 1983, to Maisyaroh and Mustapha Kamaluddin. His martial arts training began at the age of 10, learning silat from his grandfather, H. Achmad Bunawar, who was a silat master and founder of a silat school. His proficiency in silat led him to become a National Champion in the Silat Demonstration category in 2005. This background laid the foundation for his entry into the film industry, specializing in action and martial arts roles.
His career trajectory changed significantly in 2007 when Welsh film director Gareth Evans discovered him during a documentary shoot at Iko’s silat school. Evans recognized Uwais’s talent and charisma, leading him to offer Uwais a leading role in his films. After signing a five-year contract with Evans’s production company, Uwais left his job as an operational driver at a telecommunications company. This pivotal moment marked his transition from a martial artist to an actor, with his debut film, “Merantau,” released in 2009. He continued his collaboration with Gareth Evans on critically acclaimed films like “The Raid” (2011) and “The Raid 2” (2014), where he not only acted but also contributed as a fight choreographer.
Uwais’s international recognition grew with his appearance in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (2015) and subsequent roles in major Hollywood productions such as “Mile 22” (2018) and “Stuber” (2019). He also took on a leading role as Kai Jin in the Netflix series “Wu Assassins” (2019) and its sequel film “Fistful of Vengeance” (2022). More recently, Uwais has expanded his involvement in the film industry by launching his production company, Uwais Pictures, and making his directorial debut with the film “Timur” (2025), where he also serves as an executive producer. His dedication to martial arts and his craft has cemented his position as a prominent action star globally.
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