Ron Smoorenburg

Ron Smoorenburg (born 30 April 1974) is a Dutch martial artist and actor. He is best known for his film debut as the high-kicking henchman in the final fight of Jackie Chan's Who Am I? in 1998. He currently lives in Thailand, where he works as an actor, stuntman, and fight choreographer.

Ron Smoorenburg
Born
Ron Smoorenburg

(1974-04-30) 30 April 1974
Nieuwegein, Utrecht, Netherlands
OccupationActor, martial artist

Early life

Born in Nieuwegein on 30 April 1974, Ron began his martial arts training at the age of seven, beginning with Judo and four years later, transitioned to Karate and Free Fighting, a form of Mixed Martial Arts. He admits he was influenced by the likes of Jackie Chan and Hwang In-Shik as well as Jean-Claude Van Damme. During this time, he was doing demonstrations, some appearing on television[1] and then it was in 1997, live on a local television program, Smoorenburg gained the record for the highest kick of 11 feet[2][3]

Film career

When Jackie Chan was filming Who Am I? in Rotterdam in 1997, Smoorenburg auditioned for a role in the film. Impressed with his kicking skills, Chan hired him to play one of two final opponents in which Chan would film the fight on the roof of the Willemswerf Building. It is here where Ron learned how to work in a fight scene for the first time and had some trouble adapting to Chan's trademark rhythmic movements. However, he eventually learned the pacing but for more complicated movements of the fights were doubled by Jackie Chan Stunt Team members Brad Allan, Andy Cheng, and Nicky Li. In 1999, Smoorenburg appeared as a top villain on an episode of the short-lived action series Der Puma: Kämpfer mit Herz, taking on the series' lead star, Mickey Hardt, with Donnie Yen serving as action director.[4][5]

The experience was a good one for Smoorenburg and he would take on a few bit parts in Hong Kong movies. He played a cage fighter in Gen-Y Cops having a short fight scene against Stephen Fung. The two would have a longer rematch with Smoorenburg playing a character resembling Bryan Fury against Fung's Iron Surfer, who resembled Hwoarang in the Tekken-inspired film The Avenging Fist in 2001. Smoorenburg would play another fighter in Born Wild opposite Louis Koo and moved up to play the main villain in Martial Angels opposite Shu Qi.

With learning the ropes in Hong Kong, Smoorenburg returned home to the Netherlands in 2002, where he began to craft his skills as a fight choreographer and actor. He appeared in the 2002 Belgian horror film Engine Trouble for director Marc Ickx and in 2004, co-starred and choreographed Fighting Fish, the Netherlands' first full-length martial arts film, starring Chinese-born Kim Ho-Kim.[6]

In 2005, Smoorenburg went to Thailand to work as a stunt fighter on Tom-Yum-Goong, where he is seen as one of many fighters in a one vs. many fight against Tony Jaa. Ron loved the experience and locales so much that he decided to move there. Since then, Smoorenburg has appeared in both film and television series in Thailand, where he has a chance to showcase his action style. He has become good friends with the likes of Swedish-Chinese born stunt ace Tim Man and French-born stunt ace Brahim Achabbakhe. He can be seen taking on Scott Adkins in Ninja: Shadow of a Tear and teams up with Achabbakhe to take on Kane Kosugi in the sequel Tekken 2: Kazuya's Revenge. In 2016, Smoorenburg had a bit role as a fighter who takes on Michael Jai White in the opening of Never Back Down: No Surrender and will be seen as the heroic Black Knight in Warrior's Gate opposite Dave Bautista. He has also appeared in Bollywood films such as Brothers and Sultan starring Salman Khan.

Personal life

Smoorenburg is married to Thai-born Tik and the couple have a son, Nicky.[7]

Selected filmography

References
  1. "Kung Fu Kingdom: Interview with Ron Smoorenburg", Kung Fu Kingdom, 11 August 2013.
  2. "The Ron Smoorenburg Story", Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  3. "Vechtsport-Acteur Ron Smoorenburg Timmert Aan de Weg". Show.nl. SBS Broadcasting B.V. October 14, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  4. Visscher, Marco (March 23, 1998). "Leven voor de vechtsport". deVerdieping Trouw. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  5. Chan, Jackie (September 1, 2003). 100% Jackie Chan: The Essential Companion. Titan Books. pp. 21, 68, 82. ISBN 9781840234916.
  6. Wu, Pete (March 5, 2015). "Ron Smoorenburg speelt al jaren de anonieme slechterik in buitenlandse actiefilms". Vice. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  7. Official Ron Smoorenburg Facebook Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  8. Vijayakar, R.M. (April 7, 2015). "Hollywood Actor Ron Smoorenburg Roped in for 'Waarrior Savitri'". India-West. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  9. Novanda, Regina (April 14, 2016). "Intip Aksi Salman Khan Jadi Penggulat di Teaser Film Sultan". Bintang. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  10. Kalafatis, Joanna (January 5, 2016). "First Look at Dave Bautista On Set for 'Warrior's Gate'". Greek Reporter. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
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