Ted Prior (actor)

Last updated
Ted Prior
Born (1959-08-09) August 9, 1959 (age 65)
Newark, New Jersey, United States
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • bodybuilder
  • model
Years active1983–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1990⁠–⁠1992)​
Children4
Relatives

Ted Prior (born August 9, 1959) is an American actor, film producer, and bodybuilder. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Prior moved to Los Angeles in the late 1970s to pursue a career as a bodybuilder. With his brother David A. Prior directing, he acted in the horror film Sledgehammer (1983), and starred in Killzone (1985). Eventually, David co-founded Action International Pictures, which specialized in making low budget genre films. In their first effort for the company, Ted had a supporting role in the horror film Killer Workout (1987) and the lead in the action film Deadly Prey (1987).

Contents

Moving forward, Prior became an action film leading man for Action International Pictures until the 1990s. Separately from them, Prior acted in Hardcase and Fist (1989), Possessed by the Night (1994), Day of the Warrior (1996), among others.

Ted and David Prior made several films together, including Future Zone (1990), The Final Sanction (1990), Raw Nerve (1991), and Night Claws (2012). Upon noticing the cult following that had arisen around Deadly Prey, they made a sequel, Deadliest Prey in 2013, which proved to be their final film together due to David Prior's death in 2015.

Early life and bodybuilding

Ted Prior was born on August 9, 1959.[ citation needed ] Prior said "I got into bodybuilding when I was 15 years old. I won the Teenage Mr. Maryland contest along with 10 other titles by the time I was 19. The reason I moved to California was to go to “gold’s gym” and become a pro bodybuilder." [1]

Career

1983-1985: Early works

In 1983, Prior acted in the horror film Sledgehammer with his brother David directing. Katie Rife of The A.V. Club said the film "has the distinction of being the first shot-on-video slasher movie. That film established patterns that would persist throughout Prior’s (David) career, namely, extremely low budgets, hammy dialogue, outrageous action, and, most importantly, the presence of his brother Ted". [2]

In 1984, was the centerfold model for the magazine Playgirl for their March edition.[ citation needed ] Prior said of the experience "I never really wanted to model. That was just something that fell into my lap. I did it because I was dancing for Chippendales at the time and it helped to promote us and make money." [1]

In 1985, Prior starred in a lead role in Killzone. [3]

1987-1999: Action film leading man

In 1987, Prior acted in two Action International Pictures releases. The first was a supporting role in the horror film Killer Workout . [4] [ additional citation(s) needed ] Prior's second Action International Pictures film was in the leading role in action film Deadly Prey , co-starring Cameron Mitchell. [5] [ additional citation(s) needed ]

In 1988, he acted in Hell on the Battleground, and The Lost Platoon. [6] [7]

In 1989, Prior was a lead in Hardcase and Fist , Jungle Assault, Hell on the Battleground, and Born Killer. [8] [9] [10] [11] That year he also acted in Heaven can help. [12]

In 1990, Prior was a lead in two films directed by his brother: Future Zone, and The Final Sanction. [13] [14]

In 1991, Prior acted in Raw Nerve and Maximum Breakout. [15] [16]

In 1992, Prior acted in Center of the web. [17]

In 1993, he acted in Double Threat and Possessed by the Night. [18] [19]

In 1994, Prior acted in Raw Justice. [20]

In 1996, Prior acted in Day of the warrior. [21]

In 1998, Prior acted in Dead by dawn. [22]

In 2000, Prior started managing Next Level Acting Studios in California and became a partner of the production company All American Pictures.[ needs update ] Prior said of the experience: "I taught acting in Hollywood for a number of years. There’s many ways to approach developing a character. For me it starts with the role. Who am I , What do I want , why do I want , and how do I get it. There’s all kinds of silly answers to these questions but at the end of the day you get out there and do it." [1]

In 2003, Prior acted in Mutant Species. [23]

In 2012, Prior acted in Night Claws. [24]

In 2013, Prior acted in Deadliest Prey. [25] On making a sequel to Deadly Prey, Prior said that he and his brother "decided to do a sequel based on fan mail, screenings, and all that stuff. I’ve talked to lot of fans of the movie, and after having all kinds of ideas thrown at us, Dave and I have decided to stick to the basic formula as the original. Fast pace and hard hitting." [1]

In 2015, Prior acted in The Last House. [26]

Filmography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shannon Lee</span> American actress (born 1969)

Shannon Emery Lee Keasler is an American actress, businesswoman, singer, and martial artist. She is the only living child of actor and martial artist Bruce Lee and retired martial arts teacher Linda Lee Cadwell, and is the younger sister of actor Brandon Lee. Through Bruce Lee she is a granddaughter of Cantonese opera singer and film actor Lee Hoi-chuen.

Matthew Joseph Willig is an American actor and former professional football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL).

<i>Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!</i> 1989 film by Monte Hellman

Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! is a 1989 American slasher film written and directed by Monte Hellman. A direct-to-video release, the film is the second sequel to the 1984 film Silent Night, Deadly Night and centers around the Christmas-obsessed killer Ricky Caldwell awakening from a coma and stalking a blind teenager with psychic powers, while she travels to her grandmother's house for the Christmas holiday with her brother and his girlfriend. It was the last to follow the storyline set by the previous two films, the next two sequels being standalone entries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Dudikoff</span> American actor

Michael Joseph Stephen Dudikoff Jr. is an American actor. Born in New York City, his family later moved to Los Angeles. Dudikoff did different jobs to pay for his education, during this time he became a model. This led him to do acting auditions. He played supporting roles in films and television shows, until he got his break as the lead in the martial arts action film American Ninja (1985).

21st Century Film Corporation Inc. was a theatrical distribution company formed sometime in the 1970s as a production company and distributor. Menahem Golan was CEO of the company from 1989 to the company's bankruptcy.

Gary Edward Daniels is an English actor, producer, martial artist, fight coordinator and former world light heavyweight kickboxing champion. Born and raised in London, England, Daniels started to take martial arts lessons at the age of eight. By his late teens, he became a competitive kickboxer. In 1980, Daniels moved to the United States to continue the sport. In 1990, he won the WKBA California State Light Heavyweight Championship and the PKA World Light Heavyweight Championship.

<i>The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu</i> American black-and-white martial arts comics magazine

The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu was an American black-and-white martial arts comics magazine published by Magazine Management, a corporate sibling of Marvel Comics. A total of 33 issues were published from 1974 to 1977, plus one special edition. Additionally, a color Marvel comic titled simply Deadly Hands of Kung Fu was published as a 2014 miniseries.

Philip Kwok is a Hong Kong–based Taiwanese actor, martial artist, and stuntman. He rose to fame as a member of the Venom Mob, an ensemble of martial arts actors who starred in several films for Shaw Brothers Studio in the 1970s and 1980s. He played "Mad Dog", the main villain's henchman with high morals in John Woo's Hard Boiled (1992).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Stroup</span> American actress (born 1986)

Jessica Stroup is an American actress, best known for her role as Silver on 90210 (2008–2013), Max Hardy on The Following (2014–2015) and Joy Meachum on Iron Fist (2017–2018), which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). She is regarded as a scream queen for starring in the horror films Vampire Bats (2005), Left in Darkness (2006), The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007), Prom Night (2008) and Homecoming (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Winters (choreographer)</span> American actor, dancer, and choreographer (1939–2019)

David Winters was an English-born American actor, dancer, choreographer, producer, distributor, director and screenwriter. At a young age, he acted in film and television projects such as Lux Video Theatre,Naked City; Mister Peepers,Rock, Rock, Rock, and Roogie's Bump. He received some attention in Broadway musicals for his roles in West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959). In the film adaptation of West Side Story (1961) he was one of the few to be re-cast. It became the highest grossing motion picture of that year, and won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

<i>Raw Nerve</i> (1991 film) 1991 American film

Raw Nerve is a 1991 film directed and written by David A. Prior. The film stars Glenn Ford in his final film role, Jan-Michael Vincent and Traci Lords.

<i>Deadly Prey</i> 1987 American film

Deadly Prey is a 1987 action film written and directed by David A. Prior. The film, a very loose adaptation of the short story "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell, stars Ted Prior, David's brother, as a former soldier who is kidnapped for participation in a human safari.

Wong Fei-lung is a Taiwanese actor, director, and action director. With a career spanning over 150 films, he was a prominent face during the golden age of Hong Kong cinema. He has been alternatively credited as Wong Lung, Fei Lung, Nam Siu-Foo, and Huang Fei-Lung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David A. Prior</span> American film director

David A. Prior was an American director, screenwriter, and producer. Prior started his career with the horror film Sledgehammer (1983), and the action film Killzone (1985). Shortly after, he co-founded Action International Pictures (AIP), his first directorial effort with this enterprise were Deadly Prey, Aerobicide, and Mankillers released in 1987. Subsequently, Prior made action films until the late 1990s.

<i>Killer Workout</i> 1987 American film

Killer Workout is a 1987 American slasher film written and directed by David A. Prior, and starring Marcia Karr, David James Campbell, Fritz Matthews, Ted Prior, and Teresa Van der Woude. The story revolves around a Los Angeles fitness club owned by Rhonda Johnson, whose twin sister burned in a tanning salon five years ago. Detective Morgan begins to investigate the gym, after several of its members are brutally murdered by an unknown attacker.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Interview with cult B-action film actor Ted Prior". 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  2. ↑ "R.I.P. David A. Prior, direct-to-video legend and director of Deadly Prey". 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Kill Zone". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  4. ↑ "Killer Workout". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  5. ↑ "Deadly Prey". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  6. ↑ "Hell on the Battleground". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  7. ↑ "The Lost Platoon". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  8. ↑ "Hardcase and Fist". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  9. ↑ "Jungle Assault". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  10. ↑ "Hell on the Battleground". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  11. ↑ "Born Killer". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  12. ↑ "Heaven Can Help". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  13. ↑ "Future Zone". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  14. ↑ "The Final Sanction". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  15. ↑ "Raw Nerve". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  16. ↑ "Maximum Breakout". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  17. ↑ "Center of the Web". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  18. ↑ "Double Threat | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Possessed by the Night". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  20. ↑ "Raw Justice". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  21. ↑ "Day of the Warrior". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  22. ↑ "Dead by Dawn". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  23. ↑ "Mutant Species". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  24. ↑ "Night Claws". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  25. ↑ "Deadliest Prey". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  26. ↑ "The Last House". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.