Michael Dudikoff

Michael Dudikoff took a path of short and steady steps to get from a nobody to an action film star. While waiting tables, he was discovered by Esquire magazine fashion editor Max Evans, who asked him to give professional modeling a shot. Runway shows led to print advertisements, which eventually opened the door into acting via commercials for big-name clients such as Coppertone and Stridex. Television acting was the next step in the process; he showed up on the renowned sitcom "Happy Days" as the character Joanie's boyfriend (before she fell for Chachi, obviously). After taking bit parts on television shows (like the NBC sitcom "Gimme a Break!") and films (such as the genre-defining sci-fi flick "TRON"), Dudikoff landed the lead role that he is best known for, Pvt. Joe Armstrong in 1985's "American Ninja." In classic '80s action movie fashion, the film has its lead character dispatching an entire army with little assistance. The movie spawned three sequels, two of which have Dudikoff back in the starring role.