We at Florida Showtime would like to congratulate Oleg Taktarov on all of
his success as a Martial Artist and Entertainer.
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Oleg Taktarov
(UFC Champion / Actor) |
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"15 Minutes" |
His credits
include:
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"15 minutes"
"Bad Boys 2"
"44 minutes- shoot out in North Hollywood "
"Rollerball"
"Counter Measures" |
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Visit Oleg's
Official Website:
www.OlegT.com |
"Rollerball" |
About Oleg
Before joining the Army, Oleg trained in Sambo and Judo from the age of 10
– the same sports as practiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He
reached the level of Black Belt. Oleg’s life was very similar to a monk’s
life in an eastern temple – all training and no entertainment.
Oleg’s military experience has provided him with real survival skill
training and military fighting experience – as you can imagine, the winner
would stay in Russia and the loser was sent to Afghanistan. Running
through a forest for 20 miles with critical appendicitis despite an
officer’s order to stay behind was unacceptable. Training everywhere,
anytime, with a dream to come home from the Army a world champ was his
motto.
At the age of 24, Oleg was the youngest and most successful businessman in
his state, providing jobs to almost 1500 people during the hardest period
in the Russian economy -- 1990-1994, as the mafia and corrupt government
officials even took the lives of several friends and business partners.
For emotional relief, Oleg began fighting in full-contact competitions and
won all of them. Somehow, this hobby became his job in America for first 3
years upon arrival.
The idea to move to the US came when he felt he had achieved everything he
could in Russia to a level that did not endanger his life and career.
Without the ability to speak English, or even a green card, Oleg asked
himself, “What can I do?” Go back to Russia as a loser, or start the route
to the American Dream by way of competing in the new and brutal, yet
highly popular competition, the Ultimate Fighting Championship?
He chose the second option, and in 4 months became World Champion, having
fans running to him on the streets all day long! On top of it all, he
received his “Green Card” and learned to speak English.
He received movie offers shortly after his victory but he refused to work
without serious training in acting. Five years in the LA Playhouse paid
off with a co-staring role in a Robert De Nero movie -- “15 Minutes.” De
Nero provided encouragement with his statement, “You look very good in the
movie. Now you’ll be working a lot!” The press all over the world has been
saying, “Oleg stole the movie! No wander Oleg has played one of the
leading characters in the upcoming Michael Bays film “Bad Boys 2”, MGM
remake of “Rollerball” and “44 minutes. Shootout in North Hollywood” on
FX.
During the shoot, the director of “Rollerball,” John McTernen said,
“You’re a very good actor. I don’t usually say this, but you also do your
stunts better than any double, so I want YOU to do all of your stunts.”
Trying to keep up with young extreme skaters, Oleg tore ligaments in his
knee but finished the movie anyway -- thanks to habits he held from
fighting, the military and business.
Last winter, Oleg finished an action movie called “Red Serpent.” The movie
was shot in Russia during the winter. Oleg is playing “a washed up KGB
officer who has an old score to settle with drug-king Hassan (Roy
Schneider). And just recently, he finished work in Florida on a Michael
Bay film entitled “Bad Boys II,” playing…an accountant.
Next we’re going to see him in an FX movie called “44 minutes. Shootout in
North Hollywood” (based on the true story of the shootout during the 1997
bank robbery). He plays the part of the bank robber “Emil.”
WATCH OUT FOR HIM!
Click here to
visit Oleg's Official Website |
