Iko Uwais is an Indonesian actor, martial artist, and stuntman. He was born on February 12, 1983, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Uwais gained international recognition for his starring roles in the critically acclaimed action films "Merantau" (2009) and "The Raid" (2011) directed by Gareth Evans.
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| Iko Uwais |
Before his acting career took off, Uwais worked as a delivery man for a phone company in Jakarta. However, his life changed when he met Gareth Evans, a Welsh filmmaker who was in Indonesia at the time. Evans was impressed by Uwais' martial arts skills and cast him as the lead in his film "Merantau."
"Merantau" marked Uwais' debut as an actor and showcased his expertise in the Indonesian martial art form known as Silat. The film received positive reviews, both domestically and internationally, and opened the doors for Uwais to further explore his acting and action choreography skills.
In 2011, Uwais collaborated with Gareth Evans again on the highly acclaimed film "The Raid." The movie showcased his incredible skills as a martial artist and garnered widespread critical acclaim for its intense action sequences and Uwais' performance. The success of "The Raid" led to a sequel, "The Raid 2" (2014), where Uwais reprised his role as the main character, Rama.
Uwais has continued to work in the film industry, both in Indonesia and internationally. He has appeared in various action films, including "Man of Tai Chi" (2013), directed by Keanu Reeves, and "Mile 22" (2018), directed by Peter Berg and starring Mark Wahlberg. Uwais also starred in the Netflix series "Wu Assassins" (2019), where he played the lead role of Kai Jin, a chef who becomes a warrior chosen to fight supernatural forces.
Throughout his career, Iko Uwais has gained a reputation for his exceptional martial arts skills, performing his own stunts and fight choreography. His films have been praised for their realistic and intense action sequences, and Uwais has become a prominent figure in the martial arts film genre.
Outside of acting, Uwais is married to singer Audy Item, and the couple has two children. He remains an influential figure in Indonesian cinema and continues to contribute to the action genre with his unique talents and skills.