Michel qissi aka tong po biography

1. Biography of Michel Qissi
2. Partnership with Jean-Claude Van Damme
3. Continued Role as Tong Po

Biography of Michel Qissi

Michel Qissi is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and stuntman of Moroccan descent. He began boxing at the age of 7 and soon met and befriended a young Jean-Claude Van Damme, who was practicing Shotokan karate. They grew up together and dreamed of becoming action movie stars. In 1982, both of them arrived in Hollywood in search of their chance. In 1984, the young friends appeared in their first film, "Breakin'," but only as extras.

Partnership with Jean-Claude Van Damme

In 1986, after a successful interview with Menahem Golan from Cannon Pictures, they signed a contract to star in three films together. Their first successful film was "Bloodsport." In the film "Cyborg," Qissi worked as Van Damme's trainer but did not participate in the actual filming. However, when he heard they were looking for a tall Asian-looking guy for a role in the film "Kickboxer," specifically someone familiar with Thai boxing, Qissi fit the criteria and was cast as Tong Po. Interestingly, Qissi did not appear in the credits, as it was stated that Tong Po played himself. He even used a lot of makeup to enhance his Eastern appearance. Their last collaboration with Van Damme was the film "Lionheart" in 1990, where Qissi played a legionnaire sent to bring Van Damme back to the army.

Continued Role as Tong Po

In 1991, Qissi returned to portray the role of Tong Po in the sequel "Kickboxer 2: The Road Back." He continued to establish himself as a versatile actor, director, and screenwriter in the action genre. Qissi's partnership with Van Damme helped him gain recognition in the industry, and he became known for his intense and physically demanding performances. Despite not achieving the same level of fame as his friend, Qissi's contributions to the action film genre have left a lasting impact.