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| James Milton Kelly (May 5, 1946 – June 29, 2013) |
Martial arts superstar and actor Jim Kelly succumbed to cancer over the weekend. Here's a great interview he gave in 2012.
Thanks to his iconic turn as William in the classic Bruce Lee pic Enter the Dragon,
Jim Kelly became the first black martial arts film star (Black Belt Jones, Black Samson, Hot Potato, Three the Hard Way),
inspiring subsequent generations with his film career and celebrated martial arts prowess. Along with the likes of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, Kelly is credited by many with inspiring the development of mixed martial arts that we know of today. Whatever the case, he was a star, and our world is better because we got a chance to behold his shine. Rest in peace.
-samax.
Damn, man. I did know this. Rest in peace, my man. You inspired generations of black (and non-black) people to become more than expected. You will be missed.
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