Steven Seagal has lived an eventful life. Constantly on the move and living in different parts of the world, the well-known actor took his first steps into showbiz on a leap of faith. He starred in numerous high-grossing films and was once among the top action stars, only to fade into relative obscurity. What happened? And what does he look like now?
Here’s everything you need to know about Steven Seagal!
Steven Seagal matured quickly, leaving his home country before his 18th birthday. The 6ft 4 actor, musician, and even cop has done it all, becoming both a film star and an accomplished martial arts master.
But despite how it might seem, Seagal’s life hasn’t always been just happiness and prosperity. He’s had his fair share of tough times as well. These days, he might look pretty unfamiliar to you.
Here’s all you need to know about Steven Seagal and why he stepped out of the spotlight.
Steven Seagal was born on April 10, 1952, in Lansing, Michigan. His mother, Patricia, worked as a medical technician, and his father, Samuel, was a high school math teacher.
Steven Seagal – Early Life
From a young age, Seagal was very interested in music. He often listened to the blues, which influenced him throughout his life.
“I got my first guitar when I was 12,” he explained. “The blues got into my blood, you know. I started to imitate them and tried to learn from them.”
Alongside his passion for music, Seagal was deeply interested in martial arts. A little white lie initiated his journey into karate.
When he was 5, his family moved to Fullerton, California. Steven had asthma and was frail as a child.
“He was a puny kid back then. But he really thrived after the move,” his mom told People about his childhood.
Seagal reportedly lied about his age to get a job as a dishwasher. The chef, who knew karate, saw Seagal’s swift movements and decided to teach him.
After finishing his studies at the local high school, Seagal left the US at age 17. In 1968, he moved to Japan to teach English and practice martial arts.
Seagal became a devoted martial arts student, learning every day. He stayed in Japan for 15 years, becoming a highly respected figure in the field by the end of his stint.
Steven Seagal – Martial Arts
Seagal rose to prominence, appearing in many martial arts magazines. He was the only Westerner at the time to operate his dojo – a school for self-defense – in Japan.
He perfected his martial arts and earned black belts in karate, judo, kendo, and aikido.
However, being a Westerner trying to learn martial arts in Japan was tough at first. Seagal explained that many Westerners thought they could pay someone to learn a few moves and then return to America to teach. But it wasn’t that simple.
“The path to enlightenment is through deprivation,” Seagal told the Los Angeles Times in 1986. “You’re not getting any approval, sleep, love, or attention. You’re getting your butt kicked, fixing meals, and cleaning before anyone else.”
“They push you to your limit, and when you’re so deprived and eager, a little window opens up in your mind,” he continued. “When they give you something, you understand and appreciate it, and you’ll see some deeper mystical meaning that becomes available to you.”
Entering Show Business
“Martial arts need to develop the physical man and the spiritual self simultaneously,” he added. “If you’re devoid of the spiritual essence, it’s just street fighting.”
Seagal spent 15 years in Japan before returning to the US in 1984. He opened his dojo there with stuntman Craig Dunn.
He was initially shocked by how teachers in the US taught a “fast-food approach” to martial arts, even criticizing Chuck Norris’ films for their martial arts skills.
Determined to make a difference, Seagal began teaching martial arts on his own. Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
Alongside senior student Haruo Matsouka, he opened an Aikido dojo in West Hollywood and worked as a martial arts coordinator on films.
He coordinated martial arts in films such as The Challenge (1982) and the James Bond film Never Say Never Again (1983) featuring Sean Connery.
Never Say Never Again was Connery’s final Bond film. But working with Seagal turned out to be painful for Connery.
Broke Sean Connery’s Wrist
Connery, a trained black belt in karate, got a bit cocky with his moves. Seagal made it clear that this wasn’t OK.
“During training, I got a bit flashy, and he broke my wrist,” Connery said on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 1996. Connery claimed he didn’t realize his wrist was broken until years later.
At this time, Seagal worked behind the scenes but wasn’t yet appearing in films himself. He became a bodyguard for celebrities, including future wife Kelly LeBrock.
Seagal also worked as a bodyguard for Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz, who became instrumental in his life.
Steven Seagal – Biggest Movies
Ovitz – a martial arts fan – was impressed by Seagal’s skills and thought he’d be great on-screen.
He paid for Seagal’s screen test with Warner Bros, and the executives were impressed. Seagal’s aikido display left them astounded.
“The demonstration was miraculous,” Warner Bros. President Terry Semel told the Los Angeles Times in 1988. “Steven effortlessly knocked these guys up in the air. It was astounding.”
Warner Bros. signed Seagal for his first film, Above the Law.
“Michael was one of Steven’s major supporters,” Semel explained. “He worked closely with Steven, far beyond his role as an agent. With his superstar client list, you wouldn’t normally see Michael working so closely with a first-time actor.
“Michael believes Steven can be a star. Michael knew Steven from the martial arts world, where Steven was already a celebrity.
“Michael and I are very close–we love each other,” Seagal said. “I’m like a guru to him.”
What is Steven Seagal Doing Today?
Steven Seagal turned into a well-recognized action film star overnight. In the 1990s, he starred in films like Under Siege (1992) and Under Siege 2 (1995), portraying Navy Seals counter-terrorist expert Casey Ryback. These films grossed $160 million worldwide, making Seagal an international star.
He directed the 1993 film On Deadly Ground, featuring Michael Caine, but it failed miserably, losing $50 million.
To date, Seagal has appeared in over 50 productions. Despite this, he never cracked the top Hollywood celebrity list.
What is he doing today? Seagal doesn’t live in the US anymore – he’s in Russia. According to News24, the US government is trying to collect $200,000 that Seagal owes for “failing to disclose he was being paid to promote a digital token.”
According to The Sun, Seagal was granted Russian citizenship in November 2016. Two years later, the Russian foreign ministry gave him the title “special representative for Russian-US humanitarian ties,” an unpaid position.
Seagal’s net worth is around $16 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
He posts frequently on Instagram, and he sure looks different from 20 years ago!
Steven Seagal: Family, Wife, Children
Seagal has lived a long and eventful life, with plenty of ups and downs. His career has been tumultuous, and his personal life hasn’t been stable either.
In 1975, Seagal married aikido master Miyako Fujitani. They had son Kentaro and daughter Ayake before divorcing in 1986.
Seagal had a three-year relationship with Adrienne LaRussa and then married Kelly LeBrock in 1987. They had daughters Annaliza and Arissa, and son Dominic. They divorced in 1996, and during their marriage, Seagal had an affair with the children’s nanny, Arissa Wolf. They had a daughter together named Savannah.
When Seagal left Japan for the US, it seems he lost contact with his children.
In an interview with RadarOnline, Seagal’s oldest son Kentaro revealed that he doesn’t speak to his father and Seagal hasn’t reached out to him. Kentaro explained that he doesn’t “even know” his father.
Steven Seagal has worked as a martial arts coordinator, actor, and bodyguard. Though older and looking different today, he’s still the same Steven Seagal at heart!
