R.I.P. Jim Kelly "the Dragon"! [[May 5, 1946 – June 29, 2013)

[marv2]

Anyone that was around in the 70's would remember this man:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tol...36#fbLoggedOut



Jim Kelly [[Associated Press)Enlarged Photo
SAN DIEGO [[AP) - Actor Jim Kelly, who played a glib American martial artist in "Enter the Dragon" with Bruce Lee, has died. He was 67.

Marilyn Dishman, Kelly's ex-wife, said he died Saturday of cancer at his home in California.

Sporting an Afro hairstyle and sideburns, Kelly made a splash with his one-liners and fight scenes in the 1973 martial arts classic. His later films included "Three the Hard Way," ''Black Belt Jones" and "Black Samurai."

During a 2010 interview with Salon.com, Kelly said he started studying martial arts in 1964 in Kentucky and later moved to California. He said the role in the Bruce Lee film came about when his agent called him. It was his second film role.

"It was one of the best experiences in my life," he told Salon.com of working on "Enter the Dragon." ''Bruce was just incredible, absolutely fantastic. I learned so much from working with him. I probably enjoyed working with Bruce more than anyone else I'd ev er worked with in movies because we were both martial artists. And he was a great, great martial artist. It was very good."


Copyright © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed..



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[Jerry Oz]

I'm sorry to hear this. I'm a Bruce Lee fan but Jim Kelly had the best part in "Enter the Dragon". It pissed me off when [[SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!) that damned bird flew up in his face and he got killed. Anyway, RIP, Black Belt Jones.

[nosey]

Now that was the look I drooled over back in the 70s: you had to have a fro and sideburns with flair legged pants that hugged those thighs! RIP you fine thang you!

[Kamasu_Jr]

Fred Williamson once said Jim Kelly could barely talk and couldn't really act. Fred cast him as a mute Indian in Three the Hard Way. There was some debate over whether his voice was dubbed in Enter the Dragon. Many believe he was dubbed. It kind of explains why he didn't remain in Hollywod to do more films. He was still a presence. May he rest in peace.