Brooklyn native Paul Mormando is an internationally recognized martial artist. Proving himself as a child prodigy he became an expert in Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu and Kung Fu, and developed his own style called Cha Ki Do. Paul’s particular set of skills were recognized by the prestigious World Professional Karate Association and he has continued to share his talents as a highly successful martial arts instructor at his Mormando Martial Arts System schools.
The New York Police Department hired him to teach his skills with new officers, and the New York Board of Education engaged him to lecture students. Nicknamed in the press “Mr. Karate USA,” Paul achieved worldwide fame when he set a world record at Shea Stadium in front of 25,000 people and a TV audience of two million by breaking 56 boards in 58 seconds! This was followed by exhibitions at Madison Square Garden and Nassau Coliseum in which Paul was the headliner.
It was inevitable that Hollywood would come calling, and Paul signed to star opposite Mark Wahlberg in an action movie called Double Fist. He was poised to become a major action star when tragedy struck – he was injured by a drunk driver and came close to losing his life. Doctors told him he would have to give up martial arts and perhaps would never walk again, but Paul triumphed over tragedy and through indomitable will and drive, regained his strength. He returned to teaching while pursuing an acting career. He turned Double Fist into a TV series, and has enjoyed credits on Law And Order and The Four Of Us, while starring in and producing the feature film Bound By Debt, represented for international sales by Arthur Schweitzer and Cinevest Interactive.
Teamed with iconic writer/director John Gallagher and an all-star cast, Paul will step up to the next level of his acting career with his starring role in The Last Hero. He is also working on a project called “Justified Vengeance,” recently featured in Variety.
