Ernie Reyes Jr.

This article is about the actor and martial artist. For his father, the martial artist and stuntman, see Ernie Reyes Sr.
Ernie Reyes Jr.

Ernie Reyes Jr. at a 2009 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th anniversary
Born Ernie E. Reyes Jr.
(1972-01-15) January 15, 1972
San Jose, California, United States
Residence San Jose, California
Los Angeles, California
Manhattan, New York
Nationality American
Occupation Actor, martial artist
Years active 1985–present

Ernie Reyes Jr. (born January 15, 1972)[1] is an American actor and martial artist.

Early life

Reyes was born in San Jose, California, to actor/stuntman Ernie Reyes Sr., and is the grandson of Filipino immigrants.[2] He has three brothers and two sisters, one of whom, Lee Reyes, is a boxer and another, Santino Ramos, is a filmmaker/artist. By the age of 6, Reyes had joined his father's group, the "West Coast Demo Team".

Career

Reyes Jr. is probably best known for his film debut at age 13 in the 1985 film The Last Dragon. The same year he shared the screen with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen in Red Sonja. During this time, he also had his own television series, Sidekicks, a spin-off of the original Walt Disney one-time special The Last Electric Knight, alongside Gil Gerard presented by Michael Eisner.[2] He also appeared in an episode of the hit television series MacGyver in 1988.[3] Reyes had starring roles in Surf Ninjas and the second Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, The Secret of the Ooze, as Keno, the pizza delivery boy. He also served as the martial arts stunt double for Donatello in the first Ninja Turtles film.[4] He later appeared in films such as Rush Hour 2 playing Zing[5] and in The Rundown alongside WWE wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.[4] Reyes guest starred in the TV series Kung Fu: The Legend Continues alongside David Carradine.[6]

In 2006, Ernie Reyes Jr. hosted the MTV martial arts reality show Final Fu.[7]

Ernie Reyes Jr. has a professional fight record of 3–0 in Strikeforce which was a large mixed martial arts organization but started out as a Muay Thai and kickboxing organization. Ernie fought Anthony Elkaim the WKA ISKA Champion. Reyes knocked out the champion in the 3rd round. His next two fights would be won by decision, including a unanimous decision over Veasna Thach[8] which aired on ESPN. Ernie Reyes Jr.'s fight against the champion Anthony Elkaim also aired on ESPN.[9][10][11][12]

Ernie Reyes Jr. has done motion capture stunts for blockbuster films such as Avatar and Alice in Wonderland.[13] Most recently, Reyes guest starred on NCIS: Los Angeles "The Frozen Lake" playing "Jay Thapa", a Nepalese soldier who is an expert in knife-fighting.

Personal life

In June 2015, it was reported that Reyes is currently suffering from kidney failure and is in need of a transplant. According to his sister, Reyes undergoes dialysis three times per week for four hours each day. His family set up a GoFundMe campaign to help raise $75,000 for his medical expenses.[14][15]

Filmography

As actor

Title Year Role Notes
The Last Dragon 1985 Tai (Karate Student)
Red Sonja 1985 Prince Tarn
Sidekicks (TV series) 1986 Ernie Lee
Ernie and Master Kim 1989 Ernie
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 Donatello (Martial Arts Stunt Double)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II 1991 Keno
Surf Ninjas 1993 Johnny Also Associate Producer
White Wolves II: Legend of the Wild 1995 Steve
Paper Dragons 1996
Small Time 1996 Marty
The Process 1998 Jesse Also Director
Rush Hour 2 2001 Zing
Poolhall Junkies 2002 Tang
The Rundown 2003 Manito
Redline 2007 Ernie
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 2008 Cemetery Warrior
The Red Canvas a.k.a The Art of Submission 2009 Johnny Sanchez Also Executive Producer
NCIS: Los Angeles 2013 Jay Thapa episode: "The Frozen Lake"
NCIS: Los Angeles 2015 Jay Thapa episode: "Expiration Date"

As stunt performer

Title Year Role
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 Fight/Stunt Double: Donatello
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II 1991 Fight Performer: Keno
Avatar 2009 Utility Stunts
Alice in Wonderland 2010 Stunt Double: Tweedledee
Act of Valor 2011 Stunts

Mixed martial arts record

Kickboxing record

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ernie Reyes Jr". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  2. 1 2 Wiltens, Jim (June 1987). "Big and Little Ernie Reyes: Sidekicks for Life". Black Belt. 25 (6): 59.
  3. ↑ Rizzo, Francis (2005-08-25). "MacGyver - The Complete Third Season". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  4. 1 2 Dornbush, Jonathon (2015-06-12). "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II's Ernie Reyes Jr. needs kidney transplant". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  5. ↑ Rothman, Michael (2015-06-12). "'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Star Ernie Reyes Jr. Needs Kidney Transplant". ABC News. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  6. ↑ Remer, Justin (2014-07-07). "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues: The Complete First Season". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  7. ↑ Iverson, Dan (2006-07-16). "The Final Fu". IGN. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  8. ↑ Fight Sports Championship Kickboxing – 'Ernie Reyes, Jr. vs. Veasna Thach' Episode Info – MSN TV. Tv.msn.com. Retrieved on 2011-07-25.
  9. ↑ Ernie Reyes Jr. the fighter – Ernie Reyes Jr. Fan Site. Officialerniereyesjr.com. Retrieved on 2011-07-25.
  10. ↑ ISKA Karate Ernie Reyes, JR fight. karateforums.com
  11. ↑ Ernie Reyes Jr. – Sherdog Mixed Martial Arts Forums. Sherdog.net (2007-02-13). Retrieved on 2011-07-25.
  12. ↑ Ernie Reyes, Jr. – MMA News Forums. Mmanews.com. Retrieved on 2011-07-25.
  13. ↑ West, Jay (2011-03-10). "'Star Tours' flashback: The rapping C-3PO of 1987". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  14. ↑ Takeda, Allison (June 12, 2015). "Ernie Reyes Jr., Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Actor, Needs a Kidney Transplant". Us Weekly. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  15. ↑ "'TMNT' Actor Ernie Reyes Jr. Needs Kidney Transplant". ABC News. 2015-06-13. Retrieved 2015-10-29.

External links

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