Atlantic City Weekly

Taimak

In 1985, Motown Entertainment’s film division was known for family friendly, but well-acted films including (up to that point) Mahogany, Lady Sings the Blues and Bingo Long’s Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings. With less than two decades left in the 20th century, the powers at Motown invested in the major motion picture The Last Dragon. Motown Films and television planned to become a force in the 1980s and ’90s much the same way Motown Records became a major player in music during the ’60s and ’70s. The film revolved around the good-natured Leroy Green, who battled to save his neighborhood from the evil master Sho Nuff.

More than 20 years after its release, lines from the movie are still quoted among fans. Through the magic of VHS, DVD, BluRay and YouTube, the first family friendly martial-arts film continues to gain new fans.

The actor who played Green in The Last Dragon, Taimak (pronounced tie-mock), will be here in Atlantic City on Dec. 8-9. Taimak will be my special guest at a networking/live entertainment event called After Dark on Dec. 8 at 7pm. After Dark will bring to the Tropicana’s Planet Rose an old school “cool” inspired by great talk/variety shows like Johnny Carson and, of course, Hugh Hefner in Playboy After Dark. Taimak, Lee Ann Paterson from HBO’s documentary Youth Knows No Pain, and Los Jones from the new 50-Cent DVD Before I Self Destruct will all be at After Dark along with a great cast of live performers doing rock, stand-up comedy, soul and songs from the Great American Songbook. Admission is $10 at the door, or $5 with the donation of a new toy, coat or warm-weather item for the third annual City Beat/Breakfast Club Drive.

On Dec. 9, Taimak will be visiting area schools discussing the secrets of his success with teachers and students. He took a few minutes to speak with me about The Last Dragon, his career and staying in shape.

He says he’s thankful about his unforgettable role in The Last Dragon.

“First of all, I am thankful just to have life and to be able to get up in the morning. That’s the most important thing that everyone needs to realize. Looking back on The Last Dragon, it was campy and that was a movie I did when I was 18. Sometimes the ‘Sho Nuff’ stuff gets old. However, I am proud people share this movie with their kids.”

Taimak says a sequel is in the works with Samuel L. Jackson cast as Sho Nuff.

Another project Taimak has worked on is a fitness video (Journey to Body Perfection).

Says Taimak: “People often overdo it at the start. You need to start with something you can easily do about three times a week so that exercise doesn’t become another problem in your life.”

Raymond Tyler hosts the Alternative Soul Sunday Breakfast Club radio show each Sunday from 7–8am on 96.1FM WTTH - The Touch.