Steven Seagal

Born: 10 April 1951
Where: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Seagal has defied Hollywood logic to make a name for himself as a martial arts supremo despite his ever-increasing girth and receding hairline.

Coming in at the tail end of the ascendancy of Arnie and Sly, Seagal set himself up as a bargain basement action hero.

Raised in southern California, he took up martial arts when he was seven and moved to Japan ten years later to master the skill.

He became the first non-Asian to organise a martial arts school (or Dojo) in Tokyo, which is apparently still in operation.

He co-wrote and co-produced his debut feature - Above The Law - and drew increasing levels of success with Hard to Kill, Marked for Death annd Out for Justice.

The enjoyably daft Under Siege was probably his artistic highlight and subsequent efforts have seen his standing slip.

He made his directorial debut with On Deadly Ground and saw his stock temporarily rise again with the surprise hit Exit Wounds.

Recent projects include the disposable Half Past Dead, in which the porky star remained practically motionless the entire running time.