CommonKnowledge
science | January 14, 2026

Martin Kove Net Worth



Martin Kove net worth is
$1.9 Million

Martin Kove Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family

Martin Kove (born March 6, 1947) is an American film and television actor known for his work in films such as Rambo: First Blood Part II and on TV series such as Cagney & Lacey. He is best known for his role as hard-nosed Karate sensei John Kreese in the Karate Kid film series. 
Full NameMartin Kove
Net Worth$1.9 Million
Date Of BirthMarch 6, 1946
Place Of BirthBrooklyn, New York, USA
Height1.85 m
OccupationActor
ProfessionActor
NationalityAmerican
SpouseVivienne Kove
ChildrenJesse Kove, Rachel Olivia Kove
NicknamesMartin Kove, Kove, Martin
IMDB
MoviesThe Karate Kid, Rambo: First Blood Part II, The Karate Kid Part III, The Karate Kid Part II, Death Race 2000, Without Mercy, Steele Justice, Shootfighter: Fight to the Death, Blood Tide, Crocodile 2: Death Swamp, The Last House on the Left, White Line Fever, Six Gun Savior, Project Shadowchaser, Tap...
TV ShowsHard Time on Planet Earth, Cagney & Lacey, Code R, We've Got Each Other
Star SignPisces
#Quote
1From the moment I got to Hollywood, I've always felt like I never really got to do what I wanted to do. In general, artists feel that you're never really allowed to accomplish what you would like to accomplish because there's just so much of this system that gets in the way, the business gets in the way of the art.
2[on one of his most famous roles, in The Karate Kid (1984)] Over the years, kids have come up to me in places like supermarkets, and hit me and said things like, "You hurt Ralph [Ralph Macchio]!". It makes me feel like the Darth Vader of the contemporary cinematic world. As Sensei John Kreese, I'm truly hated and I love it. I had no idea how much anxiety people would be releasing by hating this character.
#Fact
1Best known by the public for his role as Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese in The Karate Kid (1984) and its sequels.
2Profiled in "Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting" by Scott Voisin (2009).
3Injured his hand during the fateful fight scene between his character, John Kreese, and Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid Part II (1986). The effects team ill-timed one of the car window shattering shots, causing Kove to inadvertently break the prop window with his own fist. He sustained several injuries to his hand but continued filming.
4Has black belts in all of the following martial arts: Kendo, Okinawa-te and Tiger Kenpo.
5Has twins: son Jesse Morgan Kove; and daughter Rachel Olivia Kove. Jesse and Rachel were born November 2, 1990.
6During the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s, Kove was a well-known television spokesman for King Cobra beer: "Don't let the smooth taste fool you." However, in more recent years, he has sworn off alcohol.
7Honorary marshal of Tarzana, California

All pictures

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Police Story1974TV SeriesOfficer #2
Road Movie1974Weigh Station Cop
The Wide World of Mystery1974TV SeriesRollo
Cops and Robbers1973Ambulance Attendant
The Last House on the Left1972Deputy
Savages1972Archie, a Bully
Women in Revolt1971Marty (as Marty Kove)
Little Murders1971uncredited
The Edge of Night1956TV SeriesRomeo Slade (1981)
The Highwayman2018filmingRoan Blackthorn
Bring Me a Dream2017post-productionSheriff Jack Miller
Paint It Red2017filming
Inferno by Dante2017post-productionSpeaker - 8th Circle: Bertran De Born
Echo One2017TV Movie announced
Garlic & Gunpowder2017pre-productionAgent Tracey
Untitled TV Series2017TV Series pre-productionSheriff Lonnie Dugan
Dark Games2016completedDetective Dave Reinhart
Hospital Arrest2016post-productionWarden Jeffries
3 Tickets to Paradisepost-productionFelix
Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksenpost-productionMarty
HOLLYWOODLAND of HOPE & LIESannouncedMartin Kove
Stuff ItannouncedBig Hank
When the Storm God Ridespre-productionRattlesnake Dick (rumored)
Renaissance Man2016Marty
2 Lava 2 Lantula!2016TV MovieColonel Jester
Assassin X2016Frank
Six Gun Savior2016The Mentor
Traded2016Cavendish
Show No Mercy2016ShortFrank
Joker's Wild2016Graham Palace
Wild Bill Hickok: Swift Justice2016Rayord
Beyond the Game2016/IIJames Star
Gathering of Heroes: Legend of the Seven Swords2015Galaron
The Shadow2015/IShortWill Troncalli
Hardin2015Mannen Clements Sr.
The Dog Who Saved Summer2015Vernon
Price for Freedom2015Ayatollah Khalkhali
Criminal Minds2015TV SeriesJohn Folkmore
The End2015/VIIShortJohn Doe
Running Forever2015Carson
As Night Comes2014Projectionist
The Extendables2014
Rice Girl2014Captain Ron Williams
Number Runner2014VideoBingo Brown
Snapshot2014/IIJack Adams
Tapped Out2014Principal Vanhorne
Red Sky2014/INavy Intel Commander
Eternity: The Movie2014Barry Goldfield, Sr.
Falcon Song2014Caspian
Tumbleweed: A True Story2014Silver Bush
Friend Request2013Captain Meyers
I'm in Love with a Church Girl2013Terry Edgemond
Reality Terror Night2013Othello Lazarus
Sketchy2013TV Series
Bare Knuckles2013Sonny Cool
Our Wild Hearts2013TV MovieGrizz
Jet Set2013John
Silent But Deadly2012Hodge
Smokewood2012TV MovieRex Burnett
Assassins' Code2011Tony Brill
NTSF:SD:SUV2011TV SeriesCell Leader
Savage2011Jack Lund
The Life Zone2011Randy Graves
The Great Fight2011John Cooper
Tosh.02011TV SeriesJohn Kreese
Memphis Rising: Elvis Returns2011Highway Patrol
Carmen's Kiss2010Drayton
The Grove2010ShortShuffle - Mike
Dante's Inferno: Abandon All Hope2010Documentary shortSpeaker: 8th Circle - The Sowers of Discord
The Ascent2010Lewis
Ballistica2009Riley
Middle Men2009US Senator
War Wolves2009TV MovieMalick
Immortally Yours2009Steven Miles
Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves2008Sheriff Jones
Man of a Thousand Faces2008DocumentaryJ. Carrol Naish
Beyond the Ring2008Uncle Patrick
Lost Warrior: Left Behind2008VideoCommander James Star
Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter2007Detective Karpov
The Dead Sleep Easy2007Bob Depugh
Revamped2007VideoDetective Reeger
Messages2007DCI Collins
Exit 382006VideoReese
Fallen Angels2006Daniels
Max Havoc: Ring of Fire2006Lt. Reynolds
Crooked2006Jake Lawlor
A-List2006Red Carpet Star
Seven Mummies2006Kile
Miracle at Sage Creek2005Jess (scenes deleted)
Glass Trap2005Corrigan
Illusion Infinity2004Taxi Driver
The Hollywood Mom's Mystery2004TV MovieSandy Palumbo
Alien Lockdown2004TV MovieAnslow
Hollywood, It's a Dog's Life2004The Clown / Martin Kove
Devil's Knight2003Zeff
Hard Ground2003TV MovieFloyd
Barbarian2003VideoMunkar
Gentle Ben 2: Black Gold2003TV MovieCully
Sting of the Black Scorpion2002VideoJack Ames / Firearm
Curse of the Forty-Niner2002Caleb
Trance2002Robert Leoni
American Gun2002Theodore Huntley
Crocodile 2: Death Swamp2002Roland
Gentle Ben2002TV MovieCully
Shattered Lies2002Tom Reynolds
Savage Season2001Frank
Con Games2001VideoTimothy Redick
Extreme Honor2001Packard
Going Back2001/IIFather Brazinski
Black Scorpion Returns2001Video
Final Payback2001Captain Peter James
Black Scorpion2001TV SeriesJack Ames / Firearm
Bad Guys2000The Commander
Hollywood Off-Ramp2000TV Series
The Thief & the Stripper2000Crow
Nowhere Land2000Hank
A Drug Called Pornography2000DocumentaryNarrator
Assault on Death Mountain1999TV MovieAndy Powers
Diagnosis Murder1998-1999TV SeriesCaptain Walter Newman Captain Newman Capt. Walter Newman
Hyacinth1998J. B. Walker
Joseph's Gift1998Thompsonn
The Waterfront1998James Ricks
V.I.P.1998TV SeriesMr. Scornabacho
Sliding Home1997Samuel J. Weber
Grizzly Mountain1997Marshal Jackson
Assault on Devil's Island1997TV MovieAndy Powers
Top of the World1997/IICarl
Timelock1996Admiral Teegs
Judge and Jury1996Michael Silvano
Baby Face Nelson1996John Dillinger
Mercenary1996VideoPhoenix
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys1995TV SeriesDemetrius
Final Equinox1995Torman
Without Mercy1995Wolf Larsen
Walker, Texas Ranger1995TV SeriesFred Kimble
Cagney & Lacey: The Return1994TV MovieIsbecki
Death Match1994Paul Landis
Gambler V: Playing for Keeps1994TV MovieBlack Jack
Savage Land1994Jabal
Endangered1994DeVoe
Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone1994TV MovieEd Ross
Wyatt Earp1994Ed Ross
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues1993-1994TV SeriesChi'Ru Master
Burke's Law1994TV SeriesJoe Tanner
Future Shock1994Dr. Langdon
Lightning in a Bottle1993Duane Furber
Tales from the Crypt1993TV SeriesDetective
To Be the Best1993VideoRick Kulhane
The Outfit1993Agent Baker
Renegade1993TV SeriesMitch Raines / Goliath
Shootfighter: Fight to the Death1993Mr. Lee
Without a Kiss Goodbye1993TV MovieSheriff Harding
Firehawk1993VideoStewart
Shadowchaser1992VideoDesilva
White Light1991Sean Craig
President's Target1989Sam Nicholson
Hard Time on Planet Earth1989TV SeriesJesse
The Karate Kid Part III1989Sensei John Kreese
Higher Ground1988TV MovieRick Loden
Cagney & Lacey1981-1988TV SeriesVictor Isbecki
Steele Justice1987John Steele
The Karate Kid Part II1986Kreese
The Twilight Zone1985TV SeriesJoe Farrell (segment "Opening Day")
Rambo: First Blood Part II1985Ericson
Wildside1985TV SeriesLyle Rainwood
Murder, She Wrote1985TV SeriesDr. Ellison
The Karate Kid1984Kreese
The Optimist1983TV SeriesThe Rival
Bloodtide1982Neil Grice
Partners1982Man in Phone Booth (uncredited)
Cry for the Strangers1982TV MovieJeff
Laboratory1980
Trouble in High Timber Country1980TV MovieWillie Yeager
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe1980TV SeriesHell Hound Leader
Beyond Westworld1980TV SeriesJack Edwards
A Man Called Sloane1979TV Series
CHiPs1979TV SeriesSherwood
Barnaby Jones1978-1979TV SeriesStan Benson / Greg Saunders
Seven1979Skip
The Runaways1979TV SeriesMike
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color1979TV Series
Quincy M.E.1979TV SeriesJoe Kirby
Starsky and Hutch1979TV SeriesJimmy Lucas
Donovan's Kid1979TV MovieKeslo
The Incredible Hulk1978TV SeriesHenry 'Rocky' Welsh
We've Got Each Other1977-1978TV SeriesKen Redford
Charlie's Angels1977TV SeriesGeorgie
Code R1977TV SeriesGeorge Baker
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries1977TV SeriesPete Miller
The November Plan1977TV MovieStan
The White Buffalo1977Jack McCall
The Rockford Files1977TV SeriesHarry Smick
Mr. Billion1977Texas Gambler (uncredited)
The Streets of San Francisco1976TV SeriesWillis Hines
Kojak1976TV SeriesBurl Slote
Captains and the Kings1976TV Mini-Series
Kingston: Confidential1976TV SeriesDealey
Petrocelli1976TV SeriesFrank Harris
The Rookies1975TV SeriesJimmy Jay
Three for the Road1975TV Series
Switch1975TV SeriesBud Ewing
White Line Fever1975Clem
The Four Deuces1975Smokey Ross - the 'Deuce of Diamonds'
Death Race 20001975Nero the Hero
Capone1975Pete Gusenberg
The Wild Party1975Editor
Rhoda1974TV SeriesGary
Gunsmoke1974TV SeriesGuthrie
McMillan & Wife1974TV SeriesJoe Smith
The Groove Tube1974Butz Beer (as Marty Cove)
McCloud1974TV SeriesPunk

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Six Gun Savior2016associate producer
Ballistica2009associate producer
Curse of the Forty-Niner2002associate producer

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Silk Stalkings1994TV Series 1 episode

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
15 Till Midnight2010special thanks
Smash Cut2009the producers wish to thank
The Way of the Karate Kid2005Video documentary short special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs2017Documentary filmingHimself
Meratus Rain Forest Should Not Die2017Documentary filmingHimself
I'm Not BruceDocumentary filmingHimself
Pat Morita: Long Story ShortDocumentary pre-productionHimself
Trailer Park Kids2015TV SeriesHimself
Actors Reporter Interviews2014TV SeriesHimself
Actors Entertainment2011-2014TV SeriesHimself
Daytime2013TV SeriesHimself
Actor's Day in LA2012TV SeriesHimself
Sabrina Parisi Awards & Fashion Facts2012TV SeriesHimself
DPTV Networks2012TV SeriesHimself
FightZone Presents2010TV SeriesHimself - Interviewee
Breaking the Laws of TV: The Making of 'Cagney & Lacey'2007Video documentary shortHimself
Playing the Game: Looking Back at 'Death Race 2000' - Death Race 2000 Special Edition DVD2005Video documentary shortHimself
The Way of the Karate Kid2005Video documentary shortHimself / Kreese
Living in TV Land2004TV Series documentaryHimself
Super Secret Movie Rules2004TV Series documentaryHimself
Celluloid Crime of the Century2003Video documentary shortHimself
It's Only a Movie: The Making of 'Last House on the Left'2002Video documentary shortHimself
Dobe and a Company of Heroes2002TV MovieHimself
Voices that Care1991TV Movie documentaryHimself - Choir Member
The New Hollywood Squares1988TV SeriesGuest Appearance
Star's Table1986TV SeriesHimself
CBS All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade1985TV SpecialHimself
Just Men!1983TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2013Festival AwardHoboken International Film FestivalBest Supporting ActorThe Ascent (2010)
2009Lifesaver Achievement AwardAtlantic City Cinefest
2007Golden BootGolden Boot Awards

Known for movies

Kreese

The Karate Kid (1984)
as Kreese

Victor Isbecki

Cagney & Lacey (1981-1988)
as Victor Isbecki

Ericson

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
as Ericson

Kreese

The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
as Kreese

You Might Also Like

Ritu Arya Height, Weight, Body Measurements, Bra Size, Shoe Size

Arden Cho Height, Weight, Measurements, Bra Size, Shoe Size

Jaime Bayly’s Sister Dies In A Traffic Accident