Taimak

Taimak Guarriello was born on June 27, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, to an Italian father and an African-American mother. His early life involved relocations to London, UK at age seven, then to Rome, and eventually to Manhattan, New York at age twelve. During his youth in New York, he developed an interest in martial arts and comic books. He trained in various martial arts disciplines, including Karate, Aikido, and Taekwondo, and excelled in wrestling and fencing at Brandeis High School.

Taimak achieved his breakout role at the age of 19, starring as Leroy Green (“Bruce Leroy”) in Berry Gordy’s 1985 martial arts film, “The Last Dragon.” The film was a financial success, grossing over $25 million at the box office. Following this, Taimak appeared in various television roles and music videos, including Janet Jackson’s “Let’s Wait Awhile.” He also pursued a career as a model and briefly as a stand-up comedian, while continuing his martial arts training and teaching, notably instructing Robert De Niro’s son, Raphael.

Throughout his career, Taimak has demonstrated a commitment to martial arts, earning black belts in Goju Ryu Karate, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun, Hapkido, Jujutsu, Taekwondo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He officiated preliminary MMA bouts at UFC 6 and UFC 7, highlighting his deep involvement in the martial arts community. In 2016, he published his autobiography, “Taimak, The Last Dragon,” further cementing his legacy. He has also ventured into directing and writing, with projects such as the short film “I’ve Seen Things” (2017) and an Indiegogo campaign for “Master,” a follow-up to “The Last Dragon.”