Martial arts legend and quintessential action movie villain Mel Novak has battled a who's who of legendary Hollywood heroes and is best known as the iconic Stick the Assassin in Bruce Lee's Game of Death. Through his appearances in several highly regarded martial arts films, Mel quickly gained a cult following among action film fans. He has also starred in Black Belt Jones, The Ultimate Warrior opposite Yul Brenner, An Eye for an Eye opposite Chuck Norris, Christopher Lee and Richard Roundtree, Tom Horn opposite Steve McQueen and more recently in Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance opposite Tommy Wiseau several times. His first appearance was a villainous role, where he portrayed a Nazi opposite Jerry Lewis in Which Way to the Front. His first villainous TV role was as a hit man opposite Mike Connors and Abe Vigoda in the classic series Mannix. This role was also his first kill. While he is the ultimate villain on screen, in real life, he is a true hero. Mel is also inducted into five various Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He has been bestowed with numerous awards for his acting work as well as humanitarian awards for all his numerous charitable endeavors. He has been volunteering on Skid Row for over 30 years and has counseled prisoners at the most dangerous prisons in the country and has also volunteered with the Special Olympics.
Almost died in 1998 from peritonitis caused by an anti-inflammatory prescription medication.
Is an Ordained Minister and works as a skid row and prison minister.
Was a professional baseball player with The Pittsburgh Pirates in his youth, but his career was cut short by a massive rotator cuff injury.
Recipient of numerous entertainment,civic and humanitarian awards: The Golden Halo Award presented by The Southern California Motion Pictures Council, The Spirit Award presented by the Multicultural Motion Pictures Association, The Golden Mask award presented by The Hollywood Appreciation Society.
As an ordained minister he has performed the funerals and memorial services for numerous celebrities such as film director Tim Burtons father. The Riflemans Chuck Connors son, Jeffrey.
Best know by the public for his co-starring role as Stick in Bruce Lees Game of Death.
Has co-starred with some of Hollywoods past and current top sex symbols: Sybil Danning in Cat in a Cage, Gloria Hendry in Black Belt Jones Laurene Landon Bai Ling and Mindy Robinson in Samurai Cop 2:Deadly Vengeance. Krista Grotte in Check Point.
Novak has been inducted into The Martial Arts Master of Fame in 2015.
Has been in four Robert Clouse films: Black Belt Jones, The Ultimate Warrior, Game of Death and Force Five.
Has worked with two actors that portrayed Dracula- Christopher Lee in An Eye for An Eye & John Carradine in Missile X:The Neutron Bomb.
Mel Novak has been one of the finest screen villains of his generation,playing against a spectrum of Hollywood"s leading action heroes.His action film appearances span a multitude of genres and an who"s who of leading men:Black Belt Jones against Jim Kelly:Yul Brener and Max Von Sydow in The Ultimate Warrior:Game of Death opposite Bruce Lee:Tom Horn opposite Steve McQueen:and the ever-popular An Eye for An Eye opposite Chuck Norris.
Worked with Chuck Norris twice with An Eye for An Eye and A Force of One.
Worked with Director Garry Marshall on Exit to Eden and Dear God.
Was known to be the best of friends with Steve McQueen and Clayton Moore.
He was originally offered the role of Nicky LaBelle in an Eye for an Eye, which he turned down. The role eventually went to Stuart Pankin. He was then offered the more significant and memorable role of Tony Montoya in the film.
The only actor to work with the top eight blaxploitation stars of the 70"s: Jim Kelly and Gloria Hendry in Black Belt Jones,Isaac Hayes and Yaphet Kotto in Truck Turner, Ron ONeal in A Force of One, Richard Roundtree in An Eye for An Eye, Ruby Ray Moore in Vampire Assassin and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson in Check Point.
