Thomas ian griffith biography books
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Before him are Victor Buono, Richard Portnow, George Nader, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Jeremy Wade, and Robert Stephens. We value your feedback and are committed to maintaining trustworthy content. In 2021, Griffith reprised the role of Terry Silver from The Karate Kid Part III in Season 4 of Cobra Kai.
BirthDay
1962-03-18
Known For
Acting
Popularity
1.1953
Thomas Ian Griffith Biography (1960?-)
Born March 18, 1960 (some sources cite 1962), in Hartford, CT; son of ThomasJoseph and Mary Ann (a dance studio employee; maiden name, O'Neil) Griffith;married Mary Page Keller (an actress and producer), 1991; children: Conner O'Neil, Eamon.
Griffith has also collaborated with director John Carpenter.
Thomas Ian Griffith
ACTOR
1962 - Today
Thomas Ian Griffith
Thomas Ian Griffith (born March 18, 1962) is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, musician, and martial artist.His best-known roles include Terry Silver in John G.
Avildsen's 1989 martial arts film The Karate Kid Part III, which he later reprised in the fourth through sixth and final season of the Netflix television series Cobra Kai (2021–2025), as well as voicing his character in the video game Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising (2022); head vampire Jan Valek in John Carpenter's 1998 neo-Western action horror film Vampires; warrior Taligaro in Raffaella De Laurentiis' 1997 sword and sorcery picture Kull the Conqueror; recurring character Larry Sawyer in the first season of The WB's teen drama series One Tree Hill (2004); and Catlin Ewing in NBC's soap opera Another World from 1984–1987.
He is best known for portraying Terry Silver in the 1989 film The Karate Kid Part III, a role he reprised in the 4th season of the Netflix series Cobra Kai. Griffith became obsessed with Tae Kwon Do while in high school and earned a black belt when he was 18. He played head vampire Jan Valek in the 1998 film Vampires and co-created the comic book series Asylum, together with Carpenter and producer Sandy King.
Griffith wrote, story edited, co-produced, or supervised produced over sixty episodes of NBC's fantasy police procedural drama horror program Grimm from its second through sixth and final season (2012–2017), and has written, supervised producer, or co-executive produced over thirty episodes of Netflix's romantic drama series Virgin River during its fifth through seventh seasons (2023–2025).
From 2013 to 2017, Griffith periodically wrote and worked as a story editor for the NBC television series Grimm and became a co-producer in 2015. Before him are Ally Sheedy, Vlado Bučkovski, Teri Weigel, Rosamund Kwan, Jack Irons, and Volodymyr Pravyk. After him are Dana Reeve, Jennifer Taylor, Han Ji-min, Campbell Scott, Rossella Falk, and Lucía Méndez.
Most Popular Actors in Wikipedia
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Richard Portnow
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George Nader
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Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
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Jeremy Wade
1956 - Present
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Robert Stephens
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Thomas Ian Griffith
1962 - Present
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Dana Reeve
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Jennifer Taylor
1972 - Present
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Han Ji-min
1982 - Present
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Campbell Scott
1961 - Present
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Rossella Falk
1926 - 2013
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Rank: 4,607
Lucía Méndez
1955 - Present
HPI: 56.04
Rank: 4,608
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1962, Thomas Ian Griffith ranks 255.
His first TV role was on the soap opera Another World, as Catlin Ewing, whom he played from 1984 to 1987. Addresses: Agent: Karen Forman, Metropolitan Talent Agency, 4526 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010.; Manager: Lou Pitt, The Pitt Group, 9465 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 480, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Actor, writer, producer
- Birth Details
- March 18, 1960?
- Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Famous Works
- CREDITS
- Film Appearances
- Terry Silver, The Karate Kid, Part III, Columbia, 1989
- Jack Blaylock, Ulterior Motives, Imperial Entertainment, 1992
- Kill Fee, 1992
- Terry McCain, Excessive Force, New Line Cinema, 1993
- Max Parrish, Hollow Point (also known as Rysk Roulette andArsenal de pointe), October Films, 1995
- General Taligaro, Kull the Conqueror, MCA/Universal, 1997
- Jan Valek, Vampires (also known as John Carpenter's Vampires and Vampire$), Columbia, 1998
- Neal Meekin, Avalanche (also known as Escape from Alaska),PM Entertainment Group, 1999
- Evans, For the Cause (also known as Final Encounter), Dimension Films, 2000
- Chris Quartermain, High Adventure, e-m-s the DVD-Company, 2001
- Gus, Black Point, Blockbuster Video, 2001
- Jeffery Thorpe, The Sea Wolf, The Asylum/Hermes Films/Prophecy Entertainment, 2001
- Agent Jim McGrath, XXX (also known as Triple X), Columbia,2002
- Brandon Miller, Timecop: The Berlin Decision, Universal, 2003
- Film Producer
- Night of the Warrior, Trimark Pictures/Vidmark Entertainment, 1991
- Ulterior Motives, Imperial Entertainment, 1992
- Excessive Force, New Line Cinema, 1993
- Television Appearances
- Series
- Catlin Ewing, Another World (also known as Another World: Bay City), NBC, 1984-1987
- Ray Angelotti (title role), The Guardian, beginning 1997
- Larry Sawyer, One Tree Hill, The WB, beginning 2004
- Movies
- Title role, Rock Hudson, ABC, 1990
- Frank Wusharsky, Angel of Death (also known as Beyond Forgiveness and Blood of the Innocent), Showtime, 1994
- Jack Wild, Crackerjack, HBO, 1994
- Mike Weston, Behind Enemy Lines, HBO, 1996
- Harry Withers, Secret of Giving, CBS, 1999
- Jack Farrell, The Unexpected Mrs.
Pollifax, CBS, 1999
- Doug Brister, A Vision of Murder: The Story of Donielle, CBS, 2000
- Cornelius Loudermilk, Beyond the Prairie, Part 2: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, CBS, 2002
- Episodic
- Roger Totland, "Le lacrime d'amore: Parts 1 & 2," Wiseguy, CBS, 1989
- Appeared as Luke Potter, In the Heat of the Night, NBC and CBS.
- Stage Appearances
- Twelfth Aggie, camera operator, and stage manager, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (musical), Forth-Sixth Street Theatre, New York City, between 1978 and 1982
- Passenger, Dodger rookie, Brooklyn Eagles photographer, and Pittsburgh Pirate, The First (musical), Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1981
- Season, Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, 1982
- Thomas Jefferson, 1776 (musical), Los Angeles, 2001
- RECORDINGS
- Music Videos
- "What Do You Say," by Reba McEntire, 1999
- WRITINGS
- Screenplays
- Night of the Warrior, Trimark Pictures/Vidmark Entertainment, 1991
- (Story) Ulterior Motives, Imperial Entertainment, 1992
- Excessive Force, New Line Cinema, 1993
- Black Point, Blockbuster Video, 2001
If you spot an error or have additional details, please contact us at [email protected].
Griffith appeared in the 2002 film XXX, in which he portrayed Agent Jim McGrath.
Griffith attended Glastonbury High School in Connecticut and later studied at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, though specific details about his degree are not publicly available.
He began training in tae kwon do as a teenager, eventually earning a black belt, which shaped his career in action films.
His ethnicity is Caucasian, and his religious beliefs are not publicly known.
Career
Thomas Ian Griffith began his acting career in the mid-1980s, making his Broadway debut in 1984 as Saint Peter in The King and I opposite Yul Brynner.
His transition to film came with his breakout role as Terry Silver, the cunning antagonist in The Karate Kid Part III (1989), where his martial arts skills and commanding presence earned critical attention.
Throughout the 1990s, he starred in action films like Excessive Force (1993), which he also wrote, and Crackerjack (1994), establishing himself as a versatile performer in the genre.
Griffith’s career evolved as he took on diverse roles in both film and television.
He appeared in Vampires (1998) alongside James Woods and played a recurring role in the soap opera Another World in the early 1990s.
After a brief hiatus from acting to focus on writing and family, he returned to prominence with Cobra Kai, a continuation of the Karate Kid franchise.
As a co-creator and writer for the series, Griffith helped shape its nostalgic yet fresh narrative, and his reprisal of Terry Silver earned praise for its depth and intensity, particularly in Season 4 (2021).
Griffith remains an influential figure in martial arts-driven storytelling.
His work on Cobra Kai continues to resonate with audiences, blending action, drama, and humor, with Season 6 marking the series’ final chapter in 2025.
Beyond acting, his contributions as a screenwriter and producer highlight his creative range.
Griffith’s ability to portray complex characters, combined with his behind-the-scenes work, has solidified his legacy in the action and drama genres.
Social Media
Thomas Ian Griffith does not have any active social media accounts.
Personal Life
Thomas Ian Griffith married actress Mary Page Keller in 1991 after meeting her during their work in theater.
The couple has two sons, Conner and Eamon, and resides in Los Angeles, California.
Griffith maintains a private lifestyle, focusing on family and his passion for martial arts.
Filmography
- The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
- Excessive Force (1993)
- Crackerjack (1994)
- Hollow Point (1996)
- Vampires (1998)
- The Pirate (1998)
- Black Point (2001)
- XXX (2002)
- Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision (2003)
- Cobra Kai (2018–2025)
Net Worth
Thomas Ian Griffith has an estimated net worth of $2 million.
His wealth primarily comes from his acting roles in films like The Karate Kid Part III and Cobra Kai, as well as his contributions as a screenwriter and producer for Cobra Kai.
Additional income stems from earlier television work and residuals from his action films syndicated on streaming platforms.
NOTICE!!
His knowledge of Tae Kwon Do helped him land his first feature film: 1989's The Karate Kid Part III, in which he played Terry Silver. NOTICE!! NOTICE!! At TheCityCeleb, we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date biographies and entertainment news, focusing on celebrities. 1991)
Early Life and Education
Thomas Ian Griffith was born on March 18, 1962, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Thomas Joseph Griffith, a college professor, and Mary Ann Oakes, a dance instructor.
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He grew up with one sibling, Mary Beth Griffith.
He has made guest appearances on a number of television shows, including In the Heat of the Night, Wiseguy, and One Tree Hill. In 1996, Griffith starred in the film Hollow Point alongside Tia Carrere, as DEA agent Max Parish and FBI agent Diane Norwood respectively.
With a career spanning over three decades, Griffith has appeared in various films and television shows, often leveraging his black belt in tae kwon do to portray dynamic action roles.
After him are Anthony Downs (1930), Beatrice Mintz (1921), Dana Reeve (1961), Taylor Hawkins (1972), Stephen Hopkins (1707), and Jennifer Taylor (1972).
Others born in United States
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Anthony Downs
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Taylor Hawkins
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Jennifer Taylor
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Among ACTORS In United States
Among actors born in United States, Thomas Ian Griffith ranks 2,115.
In 1999, he starred in the TV movie Secret of Giving with Reba McEntire; earlier in 1999, he had appeared in Reba's video for the song "What Do You Say".